The corridors of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries were adorned with garlands woven from holly and berries, and healers in emerald-green robes bustled about, rare smiles gracing their faces.
Lucius Malfoy's brow was slightly furrowed, his face betraying a subtle hint of annoyance as his expensive snake-headed cane tapped a rhythmic beat on the polished floor.
Beside him, Narcissa Malfoy maintained her perfect composure, but a trace of confusion lurked in her blue eyes beneath her golden hair.
They had been dragged here by their son, Draco.
"Draco, I must reiterate," Lucius said in a low voice, "visiting a… former Defence Against the Dark Arts professor on sick leave is not a necessary social engagement for our family. Especially at a time like this."
He was referring to Christmas, which was supposed to be a crucial time for pure-blood families to solidify their social networks.
Draco Malfoy walked a step ahead of his father, his platinum-blond hair meticulously styled.
"Father, you don't understand."
Draco's voice was lowered but clear. "Professor Lumina… what she taught last semester wasn't just for show. It was practical skill that could be used in critical moments. It was…"
He paused, not mentioning specific incidents.
"Well… anyway, what she taught helped me a great deal. I believe it's necessary to thank her in person."
Lucius let out a soft snort, clearly disdainful of such "pragmatic" gratitude.
A professor's job was simply to teach. Was it worth the heir of House Malfoy visiting in person?
Draco noticed his father's indifference, so he stopped, turned around, and dropped the crucial information.
"Besides, Father, Professor Lumina is Professor Greengrass's friend. A very good friend."
"Greengrass's friend?" Lucius's voice suddenly tightened.
He quickly exchanged a glance with his wife. Narcissa also stiffened imperceptibly when she heard that name, her eyes filling with wariness.
"Absolutely."
Draco nodded firmly. Seeing his parents' immediate change in attitude, he inexplicably felt relieved, even a little smug.
Lucius took a deep breath, as if making a decision. All the reluctance and arrogance on his face were torn away like a mask, replaced by an impeccably concerned expression.
"Narcissa," he said, turning to his wife, his tone becoming unusually solemn, "I think we came a bit too hastily. Visiting a patient—especially Mr. Greengrass's friend—how can we come empty-handed? I remember there's a nice magical flower shop in the lobby downstairs…"
Less than a quarter of an hour later, Lucius Malfoy was personally holding a valuable bouquet of moon grass and holly berries, exuding a soft magical glow, while Narcissa carried an exquisitely packaged box of sweets.
Draco looked at his parents' dramatically different efficiency and "enthusiasm," his mouth twitching slightly, but he still led them toward Professor Lumina's ward in the Curse Injuries Department.
Knock knock knock.
The ward door was politely knocked.
"Come in!"
Kestrel's voice still carried her characteristic vitality, though it was a bit weak.
The door opened, and Draco Malfoy walked in, followed by his parents—Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy.
"Professor Lumina?" Draco cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound natural and proper. "Merry Christmas. My parents and I… came to see you."
Kestrel blinked, clearly surprised.
Her gaze swept over Lucius and Narcissa, finally settling on Draco, and a bright but slightly weak smile bloomed on her face.
"Oh! Draco Malfoy! I remember you! The Slytherin Seeker, good at Quidditch—though you lost to Gryffindor last year, hehe~!"
"…"
She exposed his shortcomings without reservation, but there was no malice in her tone, more like a straightforward evaluation.
Draco's cheeks flushed slightly, and he coughed awkwardly.
"Uh, yes, Professor…" He wore a smile different from his usual one. "Are you feeling better?"
"Of course, much better!"
Kestrel waved her bandaged arm nonchalantly. Then her gaze fell on the Malfoy couple behind Draco, especially the obviously expensive magical flower bouquet in Lucius's hand.
"Oh! You two—this… this is too kind! You came to see me, too?"
Lucius Malfoy immediately put on an impeccable smile of concern.
"Professor Lumina, Merry Christmas. Hearing of your ill health, Draco was very worried and insisted on visiting you. As parents, we naturally wish to express House Malfoy's respect and concern for an excellent professor. We hope this small gift can lift your spirits and help you recover soon."
His words were watertight, subtly attributing the "credit" for the visit to Draco's "filial piety" and the family's respect for "excellent educators."
Narcissa also nodded gracefully, placing the candy box on the bedside table. "A small token, Professor. Wishing you a happy holiday."
"Oh, thank you so much! You are truly thoughtful!" Kestrel was clearly very happy, a slight blush appearing on her pale face.
"Please sit down quickly! Oh my, I never expected you to come…"
Kestrel greeted them warmly. "Please forgive me for not being able to stand up. By the way, have you eaten? St. Mungo's food is alright. It's just that Sister Rollson always wants me to eat those green nutritional purées, saying they're good for curse residue, but the taste… tsk tsk!"
She began to complain about the hospital food, chattering away rapidly.
Narcissa maintained an elegant smile, listening quietly, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the simple furnishings of the ward.
Lucius, however, was somewhat restless. His purpose for this visit was not to listen to a patient complain about hospital food.
Finally, taking advantage of Kestrel's pause for breath, Draco seemingly casually mentioned, "Professor Lumina, how is your recovery? Will you be returning to Hogwarts next semester?"
"Ah, about that… probably not…" Kestrel said with some regret. "Headmaster Dumbledore told me that the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor position is special and does not allow re-employment…"
Lucius and Narcissa continued to maintain perfect listening postures, nodding from time to time, but Lucius's eyes were rapidly shifting in their depths.
While engaging in Kestrel's small talk, he subtly steered the conversation toward the crucial point. "Draco has always praised you, saying your teaching is very practical, especially in… well, some special circumstances. Does Professor Greengrass also visit you often? I heard you two knew each other before you started teaching?"
"That's right!" Kestrel said artlessly and frankly. "We've known each other for many years…"
As she spoke, she seemed to remember something. Her words paused, and her eyes flickered for a moment, appearing a little guilty.
It was nothing that needed to be concealed; it was just that the ward window was gently tapped.
A raven was pecking at the glass with its beak.
It was holding a small, exquisite gift box in its mouth.
"Ah! It's Noctis!" Lumina exclaimed in surprise, struggling to sit up.
Narcissa walked to the window and opened it. The raven skillfully flew in.
It placed the small gift box on Lumina's quilt, then landed on the bedside table, tilting its head and surveying the Malfoy family in the room with intelligent eyes.
Lumina eagerly unwrapped the gift box.
Inside was a delicate crystal vial, its body carved with intricate protective magic runes. Within the vial was a liquid that emitted a warm golden glow, like flowing gold.
A card was tucked under the vial, bearing Sagres's sharp, elegant handwriting:
"Can you attend the party on Saturday evening? I need your help confirming and interpreting a prophecy."
"Oh ho ho! It's Felix Felicis!"
Lumina gasped in delight, carefully holding the crystal vial in her hands.
She looked at the golden Felix Felicis in her hand, her face beaming with pure joy, almost forgetting that there were other people in the room. "…I haven't been out for so long…"
She mumbled, then suddenly remembered that the Malfoy family was still there.
She quickly tucked the Felix Felicis into her hospital gown pocket like a treasure, a smile returning to her face as she tried to bring the conversation back.
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