Chapter 612: Analysis
Chapter 612: Analysis
After chatting with Liam for a few more minutes, Professor Dumbledore left. This was partly because he was very busy and didn't have much free time, and partly because, given Headmaster Dumbledore's age, most of the people present had been his students. If he were to sit there, many would feel uncomfortable relaxing.
"Professor Dumbledore, what did he want?" Hermione, holding two glasses of chilled Butterbeer, sat down next to Liam and asked after the Headmaster left.
"He told me that tomorrow morning I'll be going to Azkaban with him to pick up Malfoy's father", Liam said, taking the Butterbeer from Hermione. "Lucius Malfoy has been granted bail, and we need to take him to a safe place."
"Bail?" Hermione asked, sounding incredulous. "Is it really possible for Lucius Malfoy, a core Death Eater, to be granted bail?"
"It is", Liam nodded. "Before I wrote to Headmaster Dumbledore, I got Percy to obtain internal records from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. To my surprise, Lucius Malfoy only participated in a few attacks involving Muggles and never engaged in any killings. That's why he was granted bail."
Liam was initially shocked when he first saw these records, but he quickly understood. In the original story, after the Second War, the Malfoys weren't imprisoned for their involvement with the Death Eaters, not just because they provided help. Both Harry and Hermione are fundamentally just people, and if the Malfoys had been truly guilty of indiscriminate killings, it's unlikely that Harry and the others would have let them off without any punishment.
"Incredible", Hermione said, sounding amazed. "I find it hard to believe that a staunch blood purist like Malfoy has no blood on his hands."
"But that's the truth", Liam explained, taking a large sip of Butterbeer. "The Malfoy clan is more interested in power and wealth than in Pureblood status. Before the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was enacted in 1692, the Malfoys were active in Muggle noble circles. According to notes I found in Sirius Black's family archives, the Malfoys were strong opponents of the statute because they would have to withdraw from Muggle society to comply with it."
"That's a fascinating piece of history", Hermione said, her interest piqued. She placed her glass of chilled Butterbeer on the table and asked, "What else do you know?"
"According to some rumors, a direct ancestor of Lucius Malfoy once unsuccessfully courted Elizabeth I, and some historians of magic claim that the queen's later opposition to marriage was due to the Malfoy Curse", Liam revealed, further piquing Hermione's interest.
"For centuries, the Malfoys have adhered to a principle of self-preservation. After the Secrecy Statute took effect, they severed ties with Muggle nobility. They believed that further opposition and protests would only distance them from the new center of power—the newly established Ministry of Magic. Their stance did a complete 180, and they began to support the statute as fervently as those who had supported it from the beginning, denying any past association with Muggles."
"It seems each generation of Malfoys has been this cunning", Hermione commented, reflecting on something.
"Indeed", Liam nodded. "They prefer to use their wealth and influence to manipulate events from behind the scenes rather than take center stage. That's why I believe they genuinely haven't engaged in indiscriminate killings."
"You're right", Hermione agreed. "Based on what you've said, the Malfoy clan seems to prioritize their interests and prefer to operate in the shadows. Such people wouldn't act like street thugs, committing random killings for the sake of ideology or to vent their frustrations. That would be counterproductive."
"Exactly", Liam said. "According to the records I found, during the last war, the Malfoy clan primarily used their influence and wealth to gather intelligence and personnel for the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters, and to provide financial support. They have no documented record of direct combat. Or, more precisely, before the Ministry of Magic battle, no Malfoy clan member had ever openly appeared on the battlefield."
"What about the battle at the Ministry of Magic last time?" Hermione asked curiously.
"After the Dark Lord's resurrection, he developed a strong distrust for the Death Eaters who managed to avoid Azkaban and escaped trial. So, he demanded that Lucius Malfoy, who had always operated behind the scenes, publicly fight Harry to ensure the Malfoy Clan would stand by his side one hundred percent."
"Like a Pledge of Loyalty in China?" Hermione said in Mandarin.
"Exactly", Liam confirmed. "The Dark Lord needed to ensure that the Malfoy Clan would no longer hedge their bets and would be fully loyal to him. The public attack on the Ministry of Magic was meant to achieve this."
"So, after everything went wrong, Malfoy had no choice but to turn to Dumbledore and us. Only then could he and his clan be safe", Hermione interjected. "But do you think a Pureblood supremacist like Malfoy can truly integrate with us?"
"You're misunderstanding. We don't need him to integrate with us", Liam corrected. "Just as the Dark Lord has been trying to divide us, we should also use the same tactics to divide the Death Eaters. Accepting Malfoy is to show them that they have other options besides the Dark Lord. Even if it doesn't split the Death Eaters, it can create more fissures and distrust between the Dark Lord and his followers. What Malfoy and his clan truly think doesn't matter."
"Besides, the Malfoy Clan are pure opportunists. I believe they will actively seek us out once they see the situation clearly. At least in public, they will", Liam deduced based on the Malfoy Clan's past behavior. "Of course, it won't be out of genuine loyalty, but the surface act is enough for us. More complex matters can wait until after the war."
"Then, I wish you and Dumbledore the best of luck tomorrow", Hermione said, raising her glass. Liam immediately clinked his glass against hers, and they both finished the remaining Butterbeer in their glasses.
Liam had attended many weddings, both in his past life and this one with his parents, but he had never seen a wizard wedding.
For a while, he and Hermione toured the entire wedding venue. They saw bottles of champagne floating in the air among the crowd, and in the center of the tents, a massive cake with two Phoenix models on top. Once the cake was cut, the Phoenixes would spread their wings and fly away.
The wedding lasted a long time, as it was one of the few occasions where everyone could gather. As night fell, golden lanterns floating in the air illuminated the tent, and moths began to swarm beneath it. The festive atmosphere grew more intense and unrestrained. Fred and George had already disappeared into the darkness with Fleur's cousins. Charlie, Hagrid, and a short, plump wizard wearing a purple pie hat were singing "The Ballad of Aldo" in a corner.
After a few hours of revelry, Liam and Hermione grew tired. They held hands and walked to a quiet spot by the bushes. As they turned a hedge, they saw Lupin and Tonks, along with a few disguised Werewolf representatives, preparing to leave. Lupin looked a bit tipsy, his steps unsteady, while Tonks, looking amused, was supporting him and chatting with him.
"Are you leaving now? I think the Weasleys have arranged accommodation for all the guests", Liam said to them.
"We don't want to trouble them", a robust-looking Werewolf replied. Liam remembered his name was William, a former Auror. "The British Ministry of Magic isn't friendly to us, and we're already grateful to be able to attend the wedding. We shouldn't burden the kind Weasley family."
"Where are you going next?" Hermione asked Tonks, who should now be called Mrs. Lupin.
"We plan to travel to Northern Europe for a month", Tonks said. "Lupin has been working too hard and needs a good rest."
"Then, I wish you a safe journey", Liam and Hermione said as they watched the Werewolves walk away before returning to the festive wedding scene.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
