Karmit smiled faintly at Draco.
The boy followed Narcissa out to prepare the drinks, while Karmit took a seat opposite Lucius. He knew perfectly well that Lucius had something to say to him.
Sure enough, the moment Narcissa and Draco left the room, Lucius went straight to the point. "The incident in Knockturn Alley," he said coolly, "that was your doing, wasn't it?"
Karmit didn't bother to deny it. He nodded.
Lucius was a man who valued pure-blood lineage and personal gain above all else, but in truth, he and Karmit were allies—bound by shared interests.
From the moment Narcissa had extended her help to Karmit, the Malfoys and the Blacks had become tied together in mutual benefit.
Lucius frowned slightly. "You struck too hard—and too fast. That kind of haste makes men like old Yaxley nervous."
Karmit replied calmly, "Even if I hadn't acted, he wouldn't have left me alone.
I've interfered with Yaxley's business interests—or rather, I've touched the profits of many families. They'll never tolerate my existence."
Lucius's brows furrowed deeper. "Then why rush into the affairs of the wizarding trade? Your clothing and cold-goods shops already earn you a respectable fortune.
You could have taken your time, grown quietly, and when the opportunity arose, reclaimed the Black family fortune from the Ministry.
"With time, when Sirius and Bellatrix die in Azkaban, their remaining estates will also pass to you—the last heir of the House of Black. So what's the hurry?"
Karmit shook his head. "It's not the same. The Blacks were a pure-blood family. These businesses were ours to begin with. I'm merely reclaiming what's rightfully mine.
"As for the other families, it doesn't matter what I do—the outcome won't change.
From the day I was born, I represented a threat to their interests. Too many people want to see the Blacks destroyed, because they once feasted on what was ours."
Lucius narrowed his eyes. "So you're planning to start a war?"
Karmit waved his hand lightly. "Uncle, that word sounds far too harsh. It's not a war—it's debt collection."
Lucius leaned back against the sofa. "You can't win, Karmit. You know as well as I do—what gives pure-blood families their strength isn't just heritage.
It's power, wealth, and the countless wizards who choose to serve under them. Those followers are the true power of pure-blood houses."
"And you, Karmit… you may be the heir to the House of Black, but you're still young. The family has fallen. To rebuild it will take time—more time than you seem willing to give."
Karmit shook his head again. "I don't have that kind of time. And honestly, I don't believe the current pure-blood families deserve that much patience. I have greater ambitions.
"The pure-bloods… they're nothing but obstacles in my path. Others might try to step around a stone that blocks their way. But me? I'll grind it into dust. That way, it will never stand in my way again."
Lucius studied him intently, a flicker of intrigue in his cold gray eyes. "You're even more arrogant than I thought."
Karmit smiled faintly. "Perhaps. The Yaxley family will vanish soon—very soon. Old Yaxley is near the end. Better I 'safeguard' his fortune now than let the Ministry and other vultures pick it apart."
Lucius was silent for a long moment. Then he asked quietly, "And what if one day, the Malfoys stand in your way?"
Karmit's smile widened, though his eyes gave nothing away. "Now that's a curious question, Uncle. Draco is my cousin, and you're my uncle. Tell me… would you stand in my way?"
Karmit's expression was unreadable—calm, almost serene. Lucius met his gaze, and for over a minute, the two simply stared at each other, neither yielding.
Finally, Lucius's lips curved into a polite smile. "Of course not. We're family—always have been, always will be. The Malfoys will remain loyal allies to the Blacks.
"Draco will inherit the family one day. He's still young and far too naïve. He'll need your guidance, your experience."
Karmit smiled back. "Naturally. I'll be glad to teach him—after all, he's my cousin."
The two exchanged courteous smiles. They looked harmonious enough on the surface, though neither of them considered what might have happened had Lucius answered differently.
Their conversation drifted into lighter topics, and the tension in the room eased.
Not long after, Narcissa returned with Draco, who was carrying a tray with two cups of coffee and two mugs of hot chocolate.
Narcissa glanced between Lucius and Karmit, noting the relaxed expressions on both their faces.
"It seems the two of you had a pleasant talk," she said warmly.
Karmit stood, taking the tray from Draco and setting it on the table. "Of course. My uncle is a man of great knowledge. Every conversation with him leaves me with something new to think about."
Lucius lifted a cup of coffee, inhaled its aroma, then took a small sip.
"You always know how to flatter, Karmit. But truth be told, even though I'm much older—and your elder—I often find myself impressed by your talents.
If only Draco could learn a bit more from you, I'd have far fewer worries."
Draco scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "But Father, I've been learning from Cousin Karmit. You're the one who told me he's busy and not to bother him. I haven't seen him in over a month."
Narcissa reached out and affectionately patted Draco's hair. "Hogwarts will start soon. You'll be studying alongside Karmit in Slytherin. You'll have plenty of time to learn from him."
Draco's eyes lit up instantly. "Cousin, you're going to Hogwarts too?"
Karmit nodded. "Yes. I've already received my acceptance letter."
Draco jumped to his feet, excited. "Then let's go to Diagon Alley together tomorrow! Father said we're going, and I've been looking forward to it for weeks!"
Karmit turned to Lucius, who gave a small nod. "Yes, we planned to go tomorrow. If you haven't bought your supplies yet, you should come along."
"Alright," Karmit said with a smile. "See you in Diagon Alley, then."
Draco cheered out loud, earning a sharp tap of the table from Lucius. "Draco, mind your manners."