After all, Wade could truly be called Dumbledore's personal student. What other student received Dumbledore's private instruction every evening?
Moreover, Grindelwald, whom countless pure-blood families were desperate to befriend, could chat and laugh with Wade as an equal, and had even relied on Wade to help design the challenge trials during the educational reforms.
And then there was the club Wade had founded...
During the holidays, Mr Malfoy had tested his son's abilities.
He had discovered that Abraxas was vastly stronger than before he had joined the club. It was obvious that joining Wade's organisation had transformed him completely.
For that reason alone, Mr Malfoy owed Wade a debt of gratitude.
"Please, come in," Mr Malfoy said with a smile, inviting Wade and Tom inside.
He then glanced at Andrews.
Wade smiled.
"Don't worry about him. He'll find somewhere to park the carriage himself."
"Oh... very well." Mr Malfoy nodded.
In truth, he had already been observing Andrews.
With the judgement he had honed over many years, Mr Malfoy could tell at a glance whether someone was capable.
Andrews' gaze was sharp, and when he moved, his right hand would unconsciously hang straight at his side from time to time. That was a habit only developed through extensive combat experience.
This was an expert.
And yet, when such a powerful wizard looked at Wade, his expression was filled with respect.
This settles it!
If even a wizard of this calibre treated Wade with such deference, what greater proof could there be of Wade's own strength and that of the family behind him?
His gamble had paid off!
Overcome with excitement, Mr Malfoy coughed softly again.
"My apologies. I've not been feeling well lately. Please forgive me."
"No, no, I'm the one imposing," Wade replied. "How could someone my age deserve to be personally welcomed by you, especially when you're unwell?"
"You're far too modest. I'm deeply grateful to you. Without you, my Abraxas would never have changed so much for the better."
Watching the exchange, Tom couldn't help clicking his tongue inwardly.
Mr Malfoy was behaving as humbly as if he were greeting the Minister for Magic.
And yet Wade had only said a few words!
Tom took a deep breath.
He had known it.
None of Wade's earlier preparations had been for nothing.
The carriage, himself, Toby, Andrews...
Every one of them had been part of the performance Wade had carefully staged for Mr Malfoy.
As for what conclusions Mr Malfoy drew and how he chose to interpret it, that was entirely his own business.
And judging by the results...
The effect was astonishing.
After all, wealth alone was not enough to make a pure-blood traditionalist like Mr Malfoy act with such humility.
Which meant that, before coming here, Wade had already thoroughly understood Mr Malfoy's personality and way of thinking.
Then again...
That was just the sort of person Wade was. He always prepared meticulously before doing anything.
Mr Malfoy led Wade and Tom into the drawing room, where Wade began chatting casually with Mr and Mrs Malfoy.
Most of the conversation revolved around amusing stories about Abraxas at school.
Mr and Mrs Malfoy listened with great interest.
After all, what parent wouldn't enjoy hearing stories about their own child?
Especially when those stories were being told by someone of such status, and were full of praise for their son.
After chatting for quite some time, even Tom received a polite expression of gratitude from Mr Malfoy.
In the past, such a thing would have been almost unimaginable.
After all, Tom carried half Muggle blood.
Yet now, Mr Malfoy showed not the slightest trace of disdain.
It was only then that Tom truly understood what Wade had meant by a "shrewd pure-blood family."
Pure-blood supremacy was merely a slogan. What benefited the family always came first.
The Gaunt family had been the exact opposite.
And that was why they had fallen.
In that respect, they truly could not compare to the Malfoys.
You could mock the Malfoys for being opportunists, but you could never say they weren't clever.
So what if they bowed and scraped? So what if they made fools of themselves?
Many people looked down on their character, but there were very few pure-blood families wealthier or more successful than the Malfoys.
Even in the original story, when Abraxas's son, Lucius Malfoy, became a Death Eater under Voldemort, the Malfoy family still avoided complete ruin after Voldemort's death.
Draco Malfoy and his family continued to live very comfortably.
Not everyone could manage that.
"Ahem..." Mr Malfoy wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I've thoroughly enjoyed speaking with you, but I'm afraid I'm really not feeling very well."
He genuinely was unwell. Earlier, he had only forced himself to get up to receive Wade.
Now, however, he could no longer endure it.
Otherwise, he would never have given up such a valuable opportunity to become closer to Wade.
"The one who should apologise is me," Wade said, carefully examining Mr Malfoy's complexion. "You don't look well at all. Perhaps you should go to St Mungo's. You can take my carriage."
"No... no need. I'll be fine after lying down for a while..." Mr Malfoy struggled to his feet. "We can continue our conversation properly over dinner."
Suddenly, Wade said, "Would you allow me to examine you? While studying Potions under Professor Slughorn, I've seen a number of illnesses."
"That wouldn't be appropriate. How could I ask a guest to diagnose me?"
"Then consider me rude and overly curious. May I have a look?"
"...Very well." Seeing Wade insist, Mr Malfoy reluctantly agreed.
Wade took out his wand and performed a brief examination.
A moment later, he frowned.
He had initially assumed that Mr Malfoy was suffering from nothing more than a minor illness.
For wizards, minor ailments were usually insignificant.
But now...
Wade realised that things were not nearly so simple.
"Toby, go to St Mungo's and bring back a Healer," Wade said gravely.
The house-elf, who had been standing nearby the entire time, bowed slightly before Apparating away from Malfoy Manor.
"What is it? Is it serious?" Mrs Malfoy asked in alarm.
"His skin has developed a bluish tint, and there are pustules beginning to form around his neck." Wade looked at Mr Malfoy. "Mr Malfoy, have you also been suffering from frequent sneezing?"
"Yes!" Mr Malfoy froze.
He had indeed been sneezing constantly for some time. When he learned that Wade would be visiting, however, he felt that sneezing in front of a guest would be terribly impolite, so he had reluctantly taken a suppressive potion. The uncontrollable sneezing had then turned into the mild cough he was experiencing now.
"I suspect you've contracted dragon pox," Wade said slowly. "But I can't be certain. We'll need a professional Healer to confirm it."
As he spoke, he couldn't help glancing at the stunned Abraxas beside him, his expression becoming somewhat complicated.
If he remembered correctly, Abraxas Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's grandfather, had also died of dragon pox in the future...
Could this disease somehow run in families?
Mr and Mrs Malfoy both froze.
To a wizard, dragon pox was a terrifying diagnosis.
For a wizard, hearing that they had dragon pox was much like a Muggle hearing they had cancer.
For a moment, Mr Malfoy's face became utterly ashen.
Only now did everyone notice that his complexion really had taken on a faint bluish hue.
Tom couldn't help looking at Wade.
Yet he found no further emotion on Wade's face.
Surely...
You don't happen to know how to cure dragon pox too?
After all, dragon pox was closely connected to the Peruvian Vipertooth...
And Wade just happened to own a dragon with countless bloodlines mixed together.
"Sss..."
For the first time, Tom felt a chill run down his spine.
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Read 12 Advance Chapters—P@t- Captain69