Harry Potter: Magic and Guns

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"How is your mother doing now?"

After successfully capturing Voldemort that night, the Malfoy family lost their ancestral manor. However, they gained their freedom.

Lucius was no longer under Voldemort's Imperius Curse, and the gravely ill Narcissa had finally received meticulous care. But since the incident, Lucius Malfoy had rarely appeared in England's magical society. Rumors circulated that they were selling off their properties in England, perhaps seeking a safer place to start anew—a decision that might indeed be for the best.

With wealth amounting to tens of millions of Galleons, no matter where they chose to live, the Malfoy family could still maintain their dignity and luxurious lifestyle. Compared to staying entangled in the chaos of England, completely severing ties with anything remotely connected to Voldemort seemed not only better but also much safer.

"Mother is doing much better now," Draco said, a faint smile appearing on his face. "The doctors said that as long as she continues resting for another year or so, she'll fully recover. She was terribly ill before. Thankfully, Professor Snape's potions made the recovery much smoother—otherwise, things might not have gone so well."

Lucius, however, had hidden certain truths from Draco. Perhaps as a father, he feared that Draco would act irrationally if he learned the real reason for his mother's frailty—that it was caused by Voldemort draining Narcissa's life force and magic. Having been one of Voldemort's former subordinates, Lucius knew better than anyone how terrifying and cruel the Dark Lord could be.

"I finally understand now why Father acted so strangely before," Draco continued. "I can't believe the Dark Lord stayed in our house for over a year. He controlled Father and made him do his bidding. And the sister I once thought I had—she was nothing but a pawn Voldemort placed at Hogwarts."

"Thank goodness Professors Grindelwald and Dumbledore uncovered the truth. Otherwise, I can't even imagine how much worse things could have gotten."

Draco shuddered, as if the mere memory of those events sent chills down his spine.

"You can always trust Professor Grindelwald's reliability," Harry said with a grin. The cleanup after the incident had been handled by Grindelwald. He had erased Harry's traces, and that night, it was Grindelwald and Dumbledore who took care of everything. After all, fame often invited trouble, and Harry no longer needed such empty recognition. What he needed now was time to grow.

"Captain." Draco raised his head to look at Harry, his gaze filled with a mixture of hesitation and guilt. Something seemed to weigh heavily on his mind, and it took him a long moment to muster the courage to continue:

"I might have to leave Hogwarts."

Draco took a deep breath. "Recently, I've been distracted, neglecting my training. It's because I didn't know how to bring this up to you. I also never found the chance to speak with you alone."

Although Harry had allowed himself some extra breaks over the past few months, he was rarely seen around. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students had more classes together, and even when Gryffindor and Slytherin shared lessons, Draco couldn't bring himself to stop Harry after class to have this conversation.

"Father said that the Dark Lord will return. He's not truly gone. Professors Grindelwald and Dumbledore might not fear him, but the Malfoy family cannot endure his wrath."

"Perhaps going into hiding and starting over elsewhere would be better. It might not seem brave, I know. I think so too, but..."

Draco lowered his head in silence, his voice barely audible. "But I know Father is right. He's already begun liquidating the family's properties worldwide, converting them into Galleons, and preparing to take root in an unfamiliar place."

"Running away is shameful, but we have no choice. The Dark Lord will have his final demise one day. Perhaps I'll even get the chance to witness it. But before I see that happen, I need to preserve some things, even if it means letting go of others."

After everything that had happened to his family, Draco was no longer the naïve boy he once was. Compared to other wizards, carrying the name of Malfoy meant that both Lucius and Draco bore far greater burdens. Especially when faced with life-and-death decisions, the priority for them had to be ensuring the Malfoy family's survival and stability.

"What a pity," Harry said with a slight sigh. He understood Draco's decision. After all, everyone has their own way of surviving, and families have their own methods of self-preservation. Historically, the Malfoy family had never been known for bold, heroic displays. Instead, they excelled at staying behind the scenes, prioritizing survival above all else. While there were one or two exceptions who basked in the spotlight, most of the Malfoy heirs had chosen a low-profile path.

Making such a seemingly cowardly choice was, in fact, very much in line with the Malfoy way—no surprise at all.

"I'll be rooting for you. If everything goes well, maybe I'll watch your match at the Quidditch World Cup," Draco said, forcing a slightly strained smile. He, too, wanted to participate in the Quidditch World Cup, to let fans worldwide know his name. Yet such a bold display was something he could neither do nor dare to consider now.

"I'm truly grateful for everything you've done for me, Captain. To be honest, these past two years at Hogwarts, training with everyone, have been the most fulfilling and happiest time of my life."

"Do you know where you'll go next, Draco?"

"Probably somewhere outside of Europe. The world is big, and there are plenty of places that can accommodate the Malfoy family, though we might have to stop using the Malfoy name for a while." Draco shook his head with a bitter smile. He couldn't change his father's decision.

"Here's some advice: don't go to North America. It's a bit chaotic over there—not a good fit for you."

Chaotic was putting it mildly. Ever since Harry, under Voldemort's name, wreaked havoc there, the mere mention of Voldemort sent chills down spines. If the Malfoys' ties to the Death Eaters were exposed, the Magical Congress wouldn't show them any mercy. Even though North America might seem like a capitalist haven, where money could buy a luxurious life, it was far too risky for a family like the Malfoys, wealthy but carrying such a tainted history.

"I'll let Father know," Draco said, without doubting Harry's words. "And in this year's European Championship, I'm sure your team will stun everyone!"

"That's a given," Harry said with a dazzling grin. "Maybe I should find someone to place a heavy bet on me. This could be a golden opportunity to fleece the goblins for a fortune!"

Harry's smile grew even brighter. Money-loving goblins would never pass up the highly profitable business of gambling. The European Championship every year, and the World Cup every four years, were their prime opportunities for raking in massive profits. While some lucky gamblers might strike it rich, the house—the goblins—always came out on top.

(End of Chapter)