Narcissa abruptly broke the silence with a stiff tone:
"Draco, you're starting sixth year soon. What would you like as a back-to-school present?"
"I want those smoke bombs from the new joke shop in Diagon Alley!" the previously quiet Draco suddenly shouted. "I just saw them in the window... they look brilliant! I want to throw ten of them into the Gryffindor dormitory at Potter and Weasley!"
Narcissa's face immediately darkened, her expression thunderous as she snapped:
"You're not a child anymore—stop being so immature, Draco! A joke shop? You're the real joke here!"
"I've told you countless times—don't buy anything from those disreputable blood traitors! They'll charge you ten times the normal price!"
Draco snorted arrogantly through his nose, waving his hands wildly and sending all the pins on the counter clattering to the floor, throwing a proper tantrum:
"This isn't allowed, that isn't allowed—if you won't buy it for me, then I'll become a thief and a robber! I'll chop off my own hands and steal everything from that joke shop! I'll steal your opal jewelry and sell it at Borgin's! And while I'm at it, I'll drag that Vanishing Cabinet home just to drive you mad!"
Such outrageous declarations would make anyone frown deeply, and even Madam Malkin, who was hemming Draco's sleeves, pursed her lips in disapproval.
If Jane hadn't known Draco was performing, she might have believed all those tabloid stories about the Malfoy family—convinced they'd truly raised a mentally deficient and thoroughly rebellious son.
Narcissa was so furious she closed her eyes, gradually losing control of her right hand before delivering a sharp slap to her precious son:
"Enough! Your father and I have spoiled you rotten!"
"You're just like your brainless cousin—a complete wastrel! Look at yourself! Giving away family treasures—what's next, handing over the ancestral home like he did?"
Hearing Sirius being scolded even here made Jane raise an eyebrow and glance at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore began coughing violently, immediately drawing Narcissa's attention.
"Well then, Headmaster Dumbledore, do you have any brilliant insights on how I should raise my son?" she said icily.
"Please calm down, Mrs. Malfoy," Dumbledore advised. "One must have patience with underage children."
Narcissa immediately exploded, glaring at Dumbledore with contemptuous eyes, tilting her head back and speaking with pure mockery:
"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore, with your grand estate and fortune, you'd never encounter our sort of petty household problems. You can easily claim victory and deal with a sweet, obedient child—not like us Blacks, with one ungrateful wretch after another becoming murderers, going to prison, giving away ancestral homes, and having creditors watching our every move!"
She suddenly raised her voice another octave:
"Addled brains, completely mad... In such circumstances, what would you do—?"
The shop's atmosphere grew tense. Seeing customers about to start a proper row, Madam Malkin looked ready to burst into tears.
"Please... please don't argue... not in my shop..."
Noticing Madam Malkin's pins had nearly jabbed her neck several times in her agitation, Jane quickly tried to calm the overwrought woman before any blood was shed:
"Don't be angry. At least Draco is still well-behaved—law-abiding and not in Azkaban."
She felt rather exhausted; this entire trip seemed to involve either comforting people or trying to calm them down.
"That's hardly certain," Narcissa sneered coldly. "First a thief, then a robber, next a murderer. What if he really does end up in Azkaban? Will he end up like his worthless cousin, having his brains sucked out by Dementors?"
Jane looked sympathetically at Draco, giving him a "good luck with that" expression, and made one final attempt at reassurance:
"Don't worry—even if he did end up there, Azkaban doesn't have Dementors anymore."
She recalled her last visit to Azkaban:
The black waves of the North Sea were magnificently turbulent—truly scenic.
The sound of waves crashing against the coastal rocks was practically therapeutic white noise.
The Dementors inside were quite delicious—excellent for improving one's diet.
Plus there were inmates who hadn't served their full terms but were already making early exits.
"And... er... private cells, decent food, beautiful scenery... you can even escape halfway through your sentence..."
Narcissa's angry tirade stopped abruptly, her lips trembling and pupils dilating in shock!
Her persistence had finally paid off—Jane had finally spoken!
Though Narcissa had seemed to be criticizing Sirius, she was actually describing Malfoy Manor's current state: the estate occupied, finances devastated, the entire family under surveillance.
After hinting and providing countless pieces of intelligence, when she'd desperately asked "what should I do," Jane had finally offered her a stunning solution—
As long as Draco behaved himself, he could be arranged to go to Azkaban just like Sirius!
At first hearing, this suggestion seemed utterly absurd... completely beyond her imagination...
Her initial reaction was rejection, but she knew Jane would never make pointless suggestions!
In a flash of inspiration, Narcissa's thoughts raced far ahead—
What if their entire family went to Azkaban to keep their son company?
Their reputation in the wizarding world would be ruined, the manor completely seized by Death Eaters, all business terminated, fortunes handed over, freedom lost...
But then again—
This had always been an impossible mission. Jane had already hinted that forcing Draco to carry out the orders would only lead to his death.
But if they continued providing her with intelligence about this mission, then staged a failure and got sent to Azkaban, it meant they'd chosen option C in an A-or-B scenario—removing themselves from this war entirely.
Their manor was already being steadily consumed; complete occupation was just a matter of sooner or later. Better to get it over with in one go.
Some of their Galleons could even be laundered through continental transfers to Jane, asking her to hold them in trust...
The family of three could reunite together in Azkaban...
Long-term, as long as they survived until the war's end—if the Death Eaters failed, having provided intelligence to Jane would naturally lead to her clearing their names, early release, freedom, and returning to rebuild their estate;
And if the Death Eaters won, as a family willing to go to prison and sacrifice their estate for the Dark Lord, they wouldn't lose their lives...
Perhaps short-term losses would be devastating, but long-term, this was a guaranteed profitable deal no matter what!
Most importantly, when it concerned her son's life, she'd walk through fire and brimstone—what did Azkaban and a material estate matter?
"He should be sent to that wicked place," Narcissa said after a brief silence, sounding much calmer and leveling her voice. "My ungrateful son is as filthy and dark as Azkaban itself—"
Jane wasn't sure if this mother who loved her son dearly had finally gone mad.
"That was the old Azkaban," Dumbledore suddenly interjected. "After the Dementors left, at the Minister's request, the place underwent reforms—bright, clean windows, three balanced meals daily with dessert, prisoners can read newspapers and books for mental cultivation, and the top-floor cells are exceptionally spacious."
Narcissa felt the massive weight on her heart completely lift, her mood brightening as if sunlight had pierced through the gloom!
She understood what Dumbledore was saying—
This wasn't Azkaban at all—it was clearly a custom-designed Malfoy family resort!
If only they could provide a family suite, it would be perfect!
Sorry, Dark Lord—the Malfoys are off to prison and won't be serving you anymore!
Narcissa's eyebrows twitched slightly, a flash of deeply hidden surprise and joy flickering in her eyes—
But her expression remained that of offended anger:
"Such mental cultivation is beyond our humble means—save it for yourself, Dumbledore!"
She lifted her head, snorted contemptuously through her nostrils, and gave everyone present a dismissive look.
The next second, she ended the conversation:
"We're leaving, Draco. I see you're itching for another taste of the whip and the manor gates!"
Draco leaped down from the fitting platform, threw his half-adjusted robes on the floor, and rushed out the door with a flushed face.
He didn't look at Jane—in fact, he just wanted to find a hole to bury his head in.
Though his acting had been honed to perfection over the entire summer, and his coordination with his parents was flawless—
Playing this arrogant, spoiled brat and half-wit character made him feel too embarrassed to even look at her!
But before the mother and son left, Narcissa turned her head slightly and glanced at Jane.
Watching their retreating figures, Jane suddenly caught a look from this mother that she'd never seen before...
That gaze made her heart tremble!
Because it was a look filled with pleading, gratitude, vulnerability, and resilient strength!
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