Upon my return, the Knights were waiting for me, whom during all this time I could not fully perceive as a father and mother. Yes, they are excellent relatives, and I perfectly understand that a family is not a list of who gave birth to whom. However, the understanding that I was not born into this family does not allow them to be treated entirely as relatives. Even though for them, as they say, I will tear. They did not pressure me with overprotection, but they were not categorical in their decisions either. They always took into account my interests, but they did not hesitate to give advice and strong recommendations. I got a lot of new things, at least take the same etiquette. This does not mean that I was an uncouth pig in a past life. No, but I did not have an understanding and knowledge of specific various rules. And now even the posture is good.

Here, however, Sensei should also be given credit. In general, I recall the canon Hermione … Could I just take and erase from the life of these people all those years that they devoted to me? Eliminate their joys at my success and disappointments at rare failures? Cross out pride in education, warmth and tenderness, the joy of the first step of such a small and charming me? No. Definitely not. For the sake of your peace of mind, that relatives are safe? Never. Find a way to keep them safe but not erase the memory … ​​

Well, something I digress.

For almost a month, I have now worked hard on the magic books. The impressions are ambiguous. On the one hand, it is new and exciting. Still, on the other hand, the presentation of the material is merely awful. I have never seen such a concentration of material “about nothing.” Abstract thoughts and arguments, no material base, justification. Unless potion-making still somehow resembled something scientific. Then, only due to the table of compatibility of ingredients with numerical coefficients, otherwise – a recipe book.

Perhaps the older courses’ books will be closer to the educational literature, but for now – just “nothing.” Maybe I should pay attention to some scientific works in the Hogwarts library? However, the general trend in the first-year textbooks is alarming.

I didn’t practice with the wand because there’s something like Watching the Magic of Muggle-borns. The Statute of Secrecy, etc. Therefore, I just analyzed the movements with a regular stick. I didn’t memorize it – I just took it apart, and at the same time, did various exercises for flexibility of the hand. I developed them very well due to the violin and piano. Well, I think so.

On Potter’s birthday, I went to Diagon Alley in the morning. First by bus to Charing Cross, then to the Leaky Cauldron on their own. I didn’t put on my robe, so I went in a suit and a black shirt. The bartender didn’t even ask me where I was going and why. Having touched the necessary bricks with a stick, I got to the street I needed. At this time, there were a lot of people here – more than on my first visit.

I walked to Cafe Fortescue, a pleasant milky-colored establishment. I sat down at the far table so that I could see the whole street through the large windows and ordered tea. Earlier I thought, out of my stupidity, that there was nothing to order except ice cream. I was wrong, I admit. A full-fledged cafe, although it is known precisely for the ice cream – high-quality, tasty and varied.

I waited for Hagrid and Potter. What for? It is on this day that I know for sure that I can meet Narcissa. Not the smartest move, but I damn want to see her.

When Hagrid appeared in Diagon Alley, hairy, shaggy, in a brown coat, towering dangerously above the crowd of ordinary people, I paid for the tea and moved to Ollivander’s shop. If I remember the essence of Malfoy and Potter’s conversation in Madame Malkin’s shop correctly, Narcissa went to choose his wand. Stupid, as for me, because without Draco himself, this trick is almost impossible. Unless they already know what approximate parameters, wood, and core the stick should have.

Maneuvering through the crowd of people, I finally got to the place I needed and, opening the door of Ollivander’s shop, stepped inside.

Nothing has changed since my last visit. The same dim light from the lamps under the ceiling picked up from the gloomy darkness, the same light dustiness, the same counter, and the shelves’ rows behind it. At the counter stood a rather tall, stately slender woman with a simple but pleasant-looking hairstyle of very light hair, like mine. She stood with her back to me and talked about something with Ollivander. The master noticed me and smiled affably, nodded invitingly.

“Good day, master” I nodded and went to the counter.

“Oh, good day! What are you for, Mr. Knight?” On my last name, he somehow sarcastically grinned. Of course! It may be that his hazy gaze of pale blue eyes can mislead someone. Still, the old man was definitely not blind, both literally and figuratively.

“I would like to ask you what you recommend for the care of my wand specifically. Forgive me, but I don’t believe in universal remedies.”

“And you are doing the right thing, young man!” Ollivander shook his forefinger instructively. “Now, I’ll find something specifically for your wand. Mrs. Malfoy?”

“It’s okay,” I heard a familiar voice full of detachment. “I still have something to decide on.”

It was only now that I noticed – there were open boxes of wands on the counter in front of her. Ollivander went away, and I began to shamelessly considered Narcissa. She has grown old. Too much. Wrinkles near the eyes and on the forehead, pits appeared near the mouth, small folds … The skin is not the same … And the look is kind of empty, extinguished, or something. Well, a sorceress in the world of magic cannot look like that in her … And how much? Thirty-five? Thirty-six? Around this range.

“It’s incredible how quickly time flies, isn’t it?” I said neutrally, drawing the woman’s attention to myself.

“You’re right…” As soon as Narcissa looked at me, almost hidden surprise and misunderstanding appeared in her eyes. Not every time you look at a stranger and see in his face almost your reflection, except that he is much younger.

“Knight. Last name of my adoptive parents.”

“Mr. Knight.” Narcissa returned the mask of detachment to her face. A dramatic pause was brewing.

“It seems that only yesterday you become a happy parent, and now it’s time to collect your child to Hogwarts. Amazing.”

“Excuse me, do we know each other?”

It’s strange. Does she even have no suspicions about our similarities? I would even say an absurd resemblance. Well, she couldn’t forget … Although …

I looked at her, trying to give my face a slight concern.

“What do you think, Mrs. Malfoy? What in the wizarding world can make a happy mother forget about the very existence of her child? Perhaps it is worth turning to an independent Legiliment? And no, oddly enough, but we do not know each other. What a magical world! Full of miracles. I wonder what would have happened to me if my hypothetical wife had a Legiliment friend and Potions Master? Curious, isn’t it?”

This phrase finally put Narcissa into a state of incomprehension. But she answered.

“That would be a pretty reasonable thing to do. And the situation from the outside … Really intriguing.”

The doorbell rang behind me, and I turned to look at the new visitors – an average height man in a black suit and robe. Straight, almost white hair fell just below the shoulders, an arrogant face, a contemptuous gaze, lazy mannerisms. A rare accessory in these places caught the eye – a black cane with a silver snake-shaped top. Next to him stood a small, stunted boy with the same practically white hair slicked back. He tried to copy the elder’s demeanor, but it turned out frankly funny, so I could not help but smile. My brother is a weakling. My father is a prude. My mother has grown old prematurely, having lost that irrepressible live shine of blue eyes. It’s kinda sad.

Lucius clearly recognized me, and the slight contempt gave way to bewilderment and recognition. So he immediately guessed, and Narcissa? Oh, what a disgusting world.

“And I brought a remedy here” sudden Ollivander defused the situation. I don’t even know what allowed me not to twitch when he appeared literally a step away from me. – To care for your wand.

“Oh, master! Thank you very much! How much do I owe you?” I took in my hands a small, simple wooden box with the initials “G.O.”

“A trifle,” the master dismissed with a smile. “Twelve sickels.”

I quickly took out one Galleon and handed it to the master. Ollivander immediately fished out five sickels from somewhere for a change. I looked again at the faces of those present. Narcissa was thoughtful, but it was hard to see it – a mask of indifference and almost the same extinct look. Nearly. Lucius was in an even more surprising state. The petty Draco looked from everyone in the hall, trying to find a clue for further action.

“If I were you, I would have looked more closely at my feet, Mr. Malfoy,” I said with a slight grin. “Otherwise, you risk trampling your own lost face.”

“Fortunately, you are not in my place.” Lucius quickly regained his composure.

“Do you even know who you are talking to!” Small Draco flared up, whose face slightly went red spots. However, his outburst of emotion was abruptly crushed by Lucius’s cane’s handle that suddenly fell on his shoulder.

“Son.”

“Sorry, father,” the guy obeyed, taking a step back.

I just grinned and headed for the exit from the shop.

“Have a good day” I nodded goodbye to everyone, and with a clear conscience, but with a heavy burden on my soul, I went home. I do not want to build my assumptions about everything around me, and I will not. It’s just that all this is somehow sad.