Sebastian, with a smile on his face, presented the carefully prepared gifts to Lucius and Narcissa.
The gift for Lucius was a snake-shaped cane, with a smooth silver serpent coiling upwards, its eyes set with emerald green gems.
Narcissa, on the other hand, received an exquisite lady's brooch, which was based on golden vines, adorned with delicate gemstones, showcasing elegance and nobility.
"Thank you for your kindness, Sebastian," Lucius said with a smile, "You are always so thoughtful."
After the pleasantries, Lucius led Sebastian into the mansion behind him.
Sebastian glanced around and found that after nearly a decade, Malfoy still maintained that ancient, luxurious atmosphere.
The interior decoration of the house was still full of the ornate details of Victorian style, with stone carvings and tapestries complementing each other, appearing solemn and elegant.
Although it was slightly inferior in modernity compared to Swan Manor, the two had their own merits in style and temperament.
Soon, the group arrived at the dining room.
The magnificent dining table was covered with exquisite tablecloths, Goblin-made tableware sparkled, and a lavish spread of delicacies was placed in the center of the table, with red wine glowing charmingly under the candlelight.
The dinner began in a pleasant atmosphere.
Sebastian conversed easily with the Malfoy couple, and the topic quickly shifted to Draco's performance at Hogwarts.
"Sebastian, Draco has been spoiled by us. We'll rely on you to look after him at school."
"Don't worry, Draco is very diligent in his studies. There are few in the entire Slytherin who work harder than him."
Listening to Sebastian's praise, the smiles on Lucius and Narcissa's faces never ceased.
The atmosphere at the dining table became increasingly harmonious, with clinking glasses and continuous laughter, and for a time, guests were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
After the dinner, Lucius led Sebastian to his study, which had top-tier protective magic. When the door was closed, it could prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
After sitting down, Sebastian went straight to the point: "Senior, I am here today to share important news with you."
"Oh?" Lucius raised an eyebrow slightly, "What important news requires your personal explanation?"
He picked up the tea from the table and took a light sip.
Seeing Lucius's indifferent expression, Sebastian grinned and said softly, "Senior, you might not know, but the Dark Lord has reappeared."
A bombshell!
Lucius gave a violent start, losing his grip on the cup, letting it fall to the floor.
Clang--
Hot tea spilled everywhere, with some even splashing onto his shoes.
How could that be?!
Lucius could barely believe his ears.
Hadn't the Dark Lord been dead for over a decade?
And he had died inexplicably while trying to kill that child.
That brat named Harry Potter was called the Savior precisely because of that incident.
How could he reappear?
Moreover, even if he did appear, why hadn't any Death Eater received the news?
Instead, you, an outsider, knew first.
Lucius completely disregarded the tea spilled on his feet, just staring intently at Sebastian, lowering his voice and saying, "Do you know what you're saying?"
"Of course," meeting Lucius's gaze, Sebastian repeated word for word, "The Dark Lord has reappeared."
"Furthermore, based on various signs, the Dark Lord will definitely make a comeback within three to five years."
"Sebastian, you're lying to me, aren't you?" Lucius's voice trembled slightly, "The Dark Lord... isn't he already dead?"
Looking at Lucius, who was full of panic, Sebastian lightly teased, "Everyone says he's dead, does that mean he's definitely dead?"
"Back at Potter's house, no body of the Dark Lord was found."
Sebastian leaned forward slightly: "The year before last, I personally saw the Dark Lord in a remnant soul state secretly infiltrate Hogwarts, attempting to steal the Philosopher's Stone."
"You see, not only is he not dead, but he has been constantly trying to find an opportunity to revive."
"What, hearing this news, shouldn't you be very happy, Senior?"
"Happy... of course I'm happy..." Lucius was somewhat incoherent, no longer maintaining his previous composure.
But was he truly happy?
Lucius's heart was a mix of emotions.
When they followed the Dark Lord, the House of Malfoy was indeed infinitely glorious.
As a favored person in the Dark Lord's eyes, he did enjoy a lot, receiving deference wherever he went.
Even when he met the Minister of Magic, the other party would speak to him politely.
If he had known this news two years before the Dark Lord disappeared, he would have been overjoyed to seek him out.
But over a decade had passed, things had changed, and the House of Malfoy had grown accustomed to not having anyone giving orders from above.
What's more, to escape punishment back then, he had vehemently distanced himself from the Dark Lord during the Wizengamot trial.
Lucius felt somewhat uneasy.
The Dark Lord reappearing without contacting him and other Death Eaters, did it mean he no longer trusted him?
Otherwise, how could he know nothing about the Dark Lord stealing the Philosopher's Stone?
He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to defend himself: "Of course I'm happy. If the Dark Lord returns, I will still be his favored person."
"Senior, you can lie to me with that, but don't lie to yourself."
Sebastian smiled faintly: "I still clearly remember how you emphasized at the trial that you were under the Imperius Curse."
"Do you think the Dark Lord, making a comeback, will still trust you?"
"If he really trusted you that much, why didn't he ask for your help to revive him?"
"You know, the House of Malfoy holds significant weight in the Wizarding World. With your help, his revival should be simpler."
"But it seems he never sought your help."
Listening to Sebastian's words, beads of sweat appeared on Lucius's forehead.
He opened his mouth, attempting to refute something, but ultimately said nothing.
"Senior," Sebastian said earnestly, "The relationship between our two families is good, and our cooperation has always been pleasant."
"Back then, the Swann family was able to remain neutral entirely thanks to your mediation."
"In return, when I first became an Auror, I used my position as an Auror to help you eliminate some competitors, making your position more stable."
"To this day, Swan Alchemy still maintains close business ties with the House of Malfoy."
"Therefore, I am willing to share this news with you."
Sebastian adjusted his posture, leaning back on the sofa, and said meaningfully.
"Senior, it's time for the House of Malfoy to re-align."
...