Chapter 331 Special Guests, Superficial Loyalty
Platform 9 3/4.
This time, there were no Dementors blocking the way, and the Hogwarts Express arrived on time.
Aaron pushed his suitcase off the train, while Abey dutifully squatted in front of the case.
"Welcome home, Young Master." Gines took the suitcase and pushed it forward.
As soon as he stepped out of the platform, Aaron sensed the two hidden guardians following him in the shadows, and couldn't help but sigh.
In truth, with his current strength, he didn't need their protection. From the day he became a Archmage, he was qualified to travel independently. But later, he realized that some things were never up to him; they would follow him no matter what.
Moreover, Gines's strength was still a mystery to him. Until he had absolute confidence in defeating these guardians, he could only pretend not to know.
"I wonder if it's just my imagination, but Abey seems to have lost some weight."
"I've controlled his diet very well," Aaron said proudly.
A hint of grievance flashed in Abey's eyes. His master had emptied his storage pouch, and during that period, his mood was exceptionally low, leading to a significant decrease in appetite.
Gines noticed this but didn't say much.
After all, it was a good thing for him to lose weight. As for the method the Young Master used, he couldn't interfere.
"Oh, and the Head of the Family and Madam will be back in mid-July.
They will be staying at the Castle for about a month this time."
"Really?" Aaron asked, a little excited.
A month's time was nothing before he turned eight, but after understanding some of the Gaius Family's mission, he realized how difficult it was for Vico and Lisanna to spare a month.
"Of course it's true, and they're not the only ones returning," Gines said with a profound smile.
Aaron was stunned, almost crying with joy.
If it wasn't just Vico and Lisanna, then it could only be his grandfather, the most senior member of the Gaius Familyon the surface.
Heaven has eyes!
Although he hadn't seen his grandfather in several years, his elder loved him the most.
When the time came, he would definitely tell him about the grievances he had suffered in the past three years and ask his elder to make decisions for him.
Gines placed the suitcase in the car's trunk, then opened the car door, signaling Aaron to get in.
"How about I drive!"
Aaron looked at the car, which was countless times more luxurious than usual, and felt a little eager to try.
"This time... it really won't do," Gines said with difficulty. "There are still some things to discuss later, and it's not impossible for Young Master to accidentally mistake the accelerator for the brake."
Aaron blinked, then dazed, he sat in the back row.
After Gines drove the car unhurriedly on the road for a while, he carefully spoke, "Young Master, regarding your holiday course arrangements..."
"Uncle Gines, do you really have to be a spoilsport right now?" Aaron said unhappily.
He had just gotten off the train and hadn't even recovered before he started talking about tutoring classes. It was truly infuriating.
"Alright! Then let's change the subject.
Madam wrote me a letter half a month ago, saying that once you returned, I must ask you clearly how you've considered it."
"Considered what?"
"Uh... the choice of a fiancée."
Pfft!
Aaron almost couldn't catch his breath.
At this moment, he only felt that Gines had foresight. If he had heard this news while driving, he probably would have thrown the steering wheel away.
"Young Master, are you alright!"
"Drive your car," Aaron said irritably. "They really are persistent!"
"There's no other way, Young Master needs to fulfill the family's mission.
The Head of the Family and Madam can't help much in this regard, so they can only worry about other things for you," Gines patiently explained, then changed the subject, "So, Young Master, which one do you prefer? It's better to arrange a blind date sooner rather than later."
"Heh heh!" Aaron's mouth twitched. "Let's talk about tutoring classes instead!"
"Young Master, you should know that avoiding problems doesn't solve them."
"Uh... the files they sent me, I didn't even look at them."
Gines:... "Alright! This holiday's tutoring classes are different from before."
"Don't tell me I have to learn new things again."
"No, Young Master has already gotten a basic grasp of what needs to be learned. The next stage is improvement, which will be relatively easier.
Adult Lant's Botany, Adult Wehert's magic Arrays, Adult Diat's Library, and Adult Flo's psychological counseling require daily check-ins. Other classes can be taken as electives."
"Hmm?" Aaron raised an eyebrow, asking somewhat suspiciously, "Are you really that kind?"
"Young Master truly misunderstands me, this holiday's timetable is just that simple," Gines said earnestly, but for some reason, Aaron could detect a hint of unnaturalness in his tone.
"Alright, you said it, don't go back on your word."
"Of course."
Aaron nodded, and his resentment towards tutoring classes immediately lessened by more than half.
"There's one more thing." Gines glanced at Aaron's expression through the rearview mirror, hesitating as he spoke, "We have guests at the Castle, Young Master should pay attention."
"Oh!" Aaron drew out the sound. "No wonder you changed to a luxury car, so there are guests at the Castle.
Who are the guests? The Head of the Order of Merlin, or the Minister for Magic, or perhaps some esteemed elder with great achievements in their professional field?"
"None of them. This person is Young Master's good friend.
The eldest son of the Darwin Family, Leon Darwin."
Hearing this, Aaron opened his mouth in surprise, then smiled with emotion, "This is truly a rare guest!"
"Young Master Leon arrived this afternoon and will be staying at Gaius Castle for a period of time.
The Head of the Family asked me to give him the key to the Gaius Library, so he can enter and exit freely."
"I don't have an issue with that. Their family loves reading the most; I wouldn't be surprised if he moved into the Library," Aaron said. "But he's not just simply visiting, is he?"
"Of course not, it has something to do with Miss Clea.
Young Master Leon learned that you might be allied with his sister and specially came over..."
Grass!
Aaron cursed, several clear black lines appearing on his forehead.
He almost forgot about this; a sis-con can be uncommonly troublesome when he gets serious.
"Stop the car, I want to get out."
Gines shrugged and pulled over to the side of the road.
"Young Master, you can hide today, but you can't hide tomorrow.
If you don't come back tomorrow, I can only consider this your third runaway," Gines said helplessly. "Also, if Young Master Leon wants to find someone, he probably won't even have to wait until tomorrow."
"Motherfucker!" Aaron cursed in frustration. "Drive, let's go home."
"Alright!"
Aaron took several deep breaths in the back seat before he finally managed to calm down. Gines was right; a monk can run, but his temple cannot.
At home, he still held a certain degree of initiative, but if he ran, his momentum would be weakened by three points.
Besides, why should he run?
He hadn't agreed to the alliance, and the parents on both sides only had an intention.
Nothing was set in stone yet, so he had nothing to feel guilty about.
Most importantly, he couldn't run even if he wanted to. The Darwin Family controlled most of the information in the Wizarding World, and Leon was the family heir. As long as he wanted to find someone, it would be a matter of minutes... Malfoy Manor.
After Draco returned home, he had his mother, Narcissa, inform Lucius to come back.
Then he locked himself in his room, securing the doors and windows, drawing the curtains, and patiently waiting.
About half an hour later, Lucius's voice came from outside the door.
"Draco, because of the urgent matter you mentioned, I had to interrupt my conversation with Fudge.
You'd better make sure this isn't a joke, or we'll be angry."
The door suddenly opened. Draco looked at Narcissa and Lucius outside the door, relieved.
"What's so urgent?" Lucius asked, somewhat displeased.
"Aaron gave me a note on the train. He said it was very important and asked me to personally hand it to you."
"Gaius gave it to you?" Lucius and Narcissa exchanged glances, the anger on their faces dissipating considerably.
Draco being on good terms with the Gaius Family heir would definitely be very helpful for his future.
"Where's the note?"
Draco looked at his mother, hesitating to speak, "He said only my father could see it."
Lucius raised an eyebrow, "Your mother isn't an outsider."
"I know that, but that's what I promised him.
You can decide whether or not to tell us after you've read it."
"Alright!" Lucius gave his wife a smile. "You might have to wait for me for half a minute."
With that, he walked into Draco's room and gently closed the door.
Draco took out the note from his pocket and carefully handed it to Lucius.
"Is it really that tense?"
Lucius smiled indifferently, then opened the note in front of Draco:
Uncle Lucius, I guarantee, in the name of Gaius, that the following content is absolutely not a joke.
Professor Trelawney, the Divination Class Professor at Hogwarts, made a prophecy on the day of the final exams this term: 'Tonight he will return, tonight the one who betrayed his friends, the one who became a murderer, will break free from his chains, and the blood of the innocent will flow.
The Dark Lord will return with the help of his servant, stronger and more terrifying than before...'
Also, this is a true prophecy. The first half has already come true, and the second half is only a matter of time.
After a glance, Lucius's pupils trembled violently, and his hands unconsciously shook.
"Draco, you haven't shown this note to anyone else, have you?" Lucius asked in as calm a tone as possible.
"No, Father, you are the first to see its contents.
What does it say?"
"Nothing," Lucius feigned casualness, putting the note away. "You rest well, I still have some matters to attend to."
After Lucius left, he took Narcissa to the Manor's Chamber of Secrets and showed the note to his wife.
"Is this true?" Narcissa asked, somewhat uneasy.
"It doesn't seem fake. The worst fears have come true," Lucius took a deep breath, then threw the note into the fireplace. "If nothing unexpected happens, the Death Eaters will contact me soon. We must prepare early; at least on the surface, our loyalty cannot waver."
Narcissa nodded. "Then Draco..."
"Don't tell him yet," Lucius said in a deep voice. "He will know eventually, but that person is too dangerous. Try not to involve him."