Adelaide | Forgotten Malfoy.

chapter 4

A/N : I'd love to imagine Rose Weasley as Millie Bobby Brown not gonne lie, I think it suits her. Without any further yaps . .

In the grand, stone hallway of Malfoy Manor, Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge entered Draco's sitting room, their footsteps echoing throughout the hall. Draco stood by the fireplace, his brow furrowed in suspicion at the unexpected guests.

"Father," Draco said, "what brings you here today, and Mr. Fudge?"

Lucius turned to face his son, his expression unreadable yet cold. "Your daughter is in trouble," he said flatly. "She has the crystal."

Draco was taken aback. "The crystal? So that's what fudge was telling me? I need a proof, Mr. Fudge." Fudge looked uneasy under Draco's intense glare.

"Borgin told me someone stole it," he muttered, looking around the room, "and I saw Lucian leaving Borgin’s that night. I assumed she must have taken it."

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Ah," he said slowly, his voice filled with incredulity. "You might be wrong about that, Mr. Fudge. I asked my daughter to sell one of my items, and when she returned, she had only money and no crystal."

Lucius, who had been quietly listening, now fixed his sharp gaze on Fudge. His voice was laced with a chilling calm. "You dare accuse my granddaughter, Cornelius?"

Fudge stiffened under Lucius' severe tone but stood his ground. "Mr. Malfoy, I- I am not mistaken," he said resolutely. "I saw her leaving the shop. She had the crystal."

"Saw what?" Draco demanded, stepping forward. "Mr. Fudge, you're playing a dangerous game here. You'll get my daughter in trouble with these absurd accusations. She has nothing to do with that crystal, father. Believe me."

Lucius's icy stare remained on Fudge as he carefully considered his next words. His voice was low and threatening. "I’ll come back here once I’ve found the truth," Lucius stated coldly. "And you, Cornelius, would be damned if my granddaughter is innocent, and you’ve accused her wrongly."

The room filled with tension, the air thick with the weight of Lucius’s words. Fudge looked increasingly uncomfortable but remained silent.

Draco stood between the two men, seething with frustration. "This is madness," he muttered, but knowing better than to argue with his father when Lucius was this cold and determined.

On the other hand, Lucian’s footsteps echoed softly as she walked through the shadowy streets of Knockturn Alley, the lanterns glowing faintly ahead. Eleanor had helped her slip out of Hogwarts, using his knowledge of the hidden tunnels, his father had helped rebuild parts of the school, and the secret paths were still open. Lucian kept her hood pulled low, her eyes sharp as she moved through the alley, aware of the suspicious stares that followed her every step.

The witches and wizards lurking in the shadows seemed to sense her presence even before she stepped into Borgin and Burkes. They gave her wary, calculating looks, but Lucian didn't back down. She returned their stares with defiance, refusing to show fear. Her heart beat faster, not just from the eerie atmosphere of the alley but because of what she was about to confront. She had to figure out what was going on with the crystal, especially after those disturbing dreams.

The door to Borgin and Burkes creaked open, and Lucian stepped inside. The dark, dusty shop felt strangely familiar, its shelves lined with cursed objects and strange artifacts that seemed to hum with power. She moved cautiously through the shop, scanning the items, until she reached the counter, where a voice suddenly broke the silence.

"You shouldn’t be here," a raspy voice said, sending a shiver down Lucian’s spine.

Lucian looked up to find Borgin behind the counter, his pale face shadowed in the dim light. His beady eyes were fixed on her, filled with suspicion and caution. His long fingers gripped the counter tightly, ready for something.