Chapter 33. 1:

Chapter 33. 1:

...

October 20, 1990

Getting Narcissa's permission to do something outside the meticulously planned schedule was nothing short of a miracle.

It wasn't that she was overly strict in the traditional sense....she didn't enforce harsh punishments or lose her temper. No. Her control was much more subtle. Elegant, woven into layers of expectations and etiquette as intricate as the enchanted carpets in the Malfoy Manor's grand hall.

Oh yea.... Adam hated it.

But at least he knew that, unlike Lucius—who always acted with the family's prestige or his own interests in mind—Narcissa genuinely cared about him. Even when she was strict, it was because she truly believed she was doing what was best for him.

And yet… today, he had won.

Yeppp.

Against all odds, Narcissa had allowed him to visit the Lovegoods' home, after receiving a formal invitation from Pandora.

Lucius, of course, was not home. And that was probably for the best. If he had been around, Adam was certain he would have found a way to shut this down immediately.

But with his father away, and Narcissa in a surprisingly lenient mood lately, the opportunity had presented itself.

And so, as the afternoon arrived, Adam found himself standing in front of the grand fireplace in the Malfoy Manor drawing room, a pinch of Floo Powder in his hand, ready to travel to the Lovegoods' home.

"Behave yourself, Draco," Narcissa said in her usual calm tone, though there was a slight edge of warning in her voice.

Adam turned his head toward her and flashed a small, knowing smile.

"I always do, Mother."

She observed him for a moment longer before giving a slight nod, the faintest of smiles on her lips. She didn't need to say anything else.

Taking a deep breath, Adam tossed the powder into the flames and spoke clearly:

"The Rookery!"

....

The moment Adam stepped out of the emerald-green flames, the first thing he noticed was the scent.

Most wizarding mansions he had visited carried an air of antiquity.... polished wood, refined incense, or the comforting musk of old books. But here…

Here, everything smelled kinda alive.

Fresh herbs, newly mixed ink, and something else… a faint trace of spiced sweets, like freshly baked pumpkin biscuits.

The room where he had landed was nothing like the cold, meticulously arranged spaces of Malfoy Manor. Instead, it was a charming blend of eccentricity and warmth.

Books stacked haphazardly on shelves, tiny floating pots with enchanted plants drifting lazily in the air, and scrolls filled with sketches of magical creatures scattered across a well-worn wooden table.

Behind him, the fireplace still shimmered with a soft green glow when a familiar voice greeted him.

"Hello, Draco!"

Adam turned his head and saw Luna Lovegood, her ever-serene expression and dreamy, wide eyes studying him with the same curiosity one might have for a rare magical creature in an enchanted forest.

Next to her, standing with arms crossed and a far less welcoming gaze, was a little red-haired girl his age.

Ginny Weasley.

'Ah… well, this is certainly unexpected.'

A Weasley and a Malfoy in the same room was never a good sign for anyone.

...

Luna, as always, seemed blissfully unaware of the tension in the air as she approached him with her usual calm demeanor.

"Mother had to go back to work," she explained with a slight tilt of her head, "but she said Ginny and I could show you around the house."

Adam gave her a small, easygoing smile.

"Well, it'll be a pleasure having two guides."

Ginny, however, did not look convinced.

Her brown eyes narrowed slightly, scanning him from head to toe in quiet suspicion. Though her posture radiated distrust, there was also something undeniably shy about her demeanor.

'Definitely wary.'

And honestly? Adam couldn't blame her.

He was a Malfoy. She was a Weasley.

Their families stood on opposite ends of the social spectrum in the wizarding world. And while Adam had no intention of playing the arrogant pureblood role, he knew Ginny had probably already made up her mind about him.

Which, frankly, kind of irritated him.

He had never liked being judged before being given a chance, but if there was one thing he excelled at, it was playing with people's expectations.

So instead of responding with the same coldness, he chose to do the exact opposite.

With an easy, carefree air, he turned to Luna.

"So, what magical wonders does this house hold?" he asked with a playful tone..... though he had a feeling there were actually plenty of interesting things to see in this rather unusual home.

Luna beamed with enthusiasm.

"Oh, so many! There's a library full of ancient scrolls, an enchanted telescope in the tower, and if you're lucky, you might even spot a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."

Adam raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

"Well, let's hope luck is on my side, then."

Ginny still didn't say a word, but Adam could tell she was watching him more closely now.

Still distant. Still silent.

But perhaps… just a little curious.

...

As Luna led them through the house, Adam took in every detail with genuine curiosity.

The walls were covered with star maps and sketches of magical creatures..... some he recognized as real, others… yea., probably not.

The kitchen was a perfectly circular room, with a stove, sinks, and cupboards curved to fit the walls. Every surface had been painted in bright primary colors, decorated with flowers, insects, and birds..... most likely hand-painted by Luna herself. Since it was a rather compact space, the effect of the artwork was a bit overwhelming.

In the center of the kitchen stood an iron spiral staircase, winding its way up to the upper levels.

The first floor above the kitchen was slightly smaller but far more cluttered. This round room served as both a living space and workspace for Xenophilius, the father of Luna, whenever he was home, as Luna explained.

It felt almost like a maze, with piles of books and papers covering every available surface. The ceiling was dotted with delicate models of creatures, their tiny wings fluttering or jaws snapping as if alive. In one corner stood Xenophilius' printing press, the very machine responsible for producing copies of The Quibbler.

A stone bust of Rowena Ravenclaw sat prominently in the room..... though it had been modified with a rather peculiar headdress crafted by Xenophilius himself. The room had a window and various pieces of mismatched furniture, giving it a warm yet eccentric charm.

And then, there was Luna's room, located on the floor above the sitting room.

The moment Adam stepped inside, he could tell this space belonged to her.

The room had a pale blue carpet and a large window that let in plenty of light. But the real masterpiece was the ceiling.

It was painted with portraits of her mother, father, and herself, each one surrounded by golden ink lettering, forming a circle that connected them all with a single word..... "Family."

The paintings did not move, yet they somehow seemed to breathe, as though filled with a quiet, living magic.

Beside her bed, Luna had a framed photograph of her and her mother embracing. There was also a small wardrobe tucked into the corner, its doors slightly ajar, revealing colorful, mismatched robes inside.

But what stood out most to Adam wasn't just how different the house was…

It was how different it felt.

Unlike Malfoy Manor, there was no rigidity, no obsession with perfection, no constant pressure to display status.

Everything in the Lovegood house carried an air of genuine warmth.

It was messy, a little chaotic.... but it was full of life.

And, much to his own surprise…

He liked it. It was rather resembling his home in his original world, just far more chaotic. And they were a pretty big family.... The Lovegood No.

....

Ginny still kept her distance, but as time passed, Adam noticed that she was starting to pay more attention to the conversation.

It was when he casually mentioned the VIP box at Quidditch matches that she finally reacted..... almost instinctively.

"You have access to the VIP boxes?"

The words slipped out before she could stop herself. As soon as she realized it, she seemed to regret speaking, shrinking back slightly and avoiding Adam's—or rather, Draco's—gaze.

Adam smirked internally.

"Of course. The Malfoys always have their own section at the major matches."

Ginny, who clearly hadn't expected that answer, crossed her arms, but her expression had shifted subtly.

She was no longer just wary. Now, she was interested.

"It must be amazing to watch the matches from so close..." she murmured, almost to herself. As if she wasn't really expecting him to hear her. Or maybe... she was?

Adam leaned casually against the wall.

"You like Quidditch?"

Ginny looked at him as if he had just insulted her entire family.

"I love it!"

Adam was genuinely surprised.

Just moments ago, she had been speaking so softly that he could barely hear her, and now—this?

He let out a small chuckle.

"Well, seems we have something in common, then."

For the first time, Ginny seemed to relax.... just a little.

"Um, er... What team do you support?" she asked, curiosity slipping into her voice before she could stop herself again.

It was as if one part of her was still hesitant to talk to him, but the other simply ignored that completely..... especially when it came to Quidditch.

Adam pretended to think about it.

"Depends on the season. But if I had to choose..." he leaned in slightly, his tone almost conspiratorial, "I'd say the Holyhead Harpies aren't bad at all."

Ginny's eyes widened in shock.

"That's my favourite team!"

And just like that, it was almost impossible to believe that this was the same quiet, distrustful girl from moments ago.

Adam gave her a smug grin.

"Well, Weasley, seems I'm not so terrible after all."

Ginny huffed, but this time, she didn't look so tense.

Yep.... It was official. He had broken the ice.

And with that, the afternoon at the Lovegood house became a lot more interesting.