Karmit had retreated to the garden to enjoy some peace and quiet.
He spent the afternoon flipping through his book, and by the time the sun began to dip, he had already mastered two new spells.
His progress was, as always, astonishingly fast.
Just then, a sharp, mocking voice cut through the calm. "Well, look who it is — the head of the Black family, hiding away in a corner reading a book.
What's wrong? Never seen a proper gathering before? Afraid you'll wet yourself if you go inside?"
Karmit's brow twitched for a moment, but he relaxed almost immediately, his lips curling into a pleasant smile.
"Oh, I was wondering who it could be. Uncle Yaxley — shouldn't you be at the Black Family General Store buying our newest toothpaste? It's remarkably effective at curing bad breath."
Yaxley's eyes narrowed, his expression cold.
"I don't think I'll need any. I don't like changing toothpaste. If I get used to one and the shop suddenly disappears, I'd have to waste time adjusting again."
Karmit smiled lightly. "Uncle Yaxley, you're worrying for nothing.
The Black family has a long legacy. Our history and wealth aren't something minor families can compare to. Our shops don't vanish overnight.
Ah, I almost forgot — your family recently opened an ice cream shop, didn't you?
Shame it went out of business within a week! The location was quite good, actually. I was thinking of talking to you about buying that property sometime."
Yaxley's face darkened with fury.
"You dare bring that up!" he snarled, taking two threatening steps forward.
"Uncle," Karmit said mildly, "take one more step and I might not be able to hold back. After all, watching the great Lord Yaxley losing his temper — I'd hate to pretend I didn't see it."
Yaxley froze, glaring at him warily.
He and Karmit both came from pure-blood families, and Yaxley had long harbored ambitions of swallowing up the Black estate.
He knew better than most how dangerous this young man was.
Karmit looked harmless — polite, well-mannered, and even a little lazy — but in truth, he was a beast that devoured others whole.
Yaxley couldn't understand how someone Karmit's age had such power, but that only made him more cautious.
Karmit's lips curved. "What's the matter, Uncle? Are you afraid?"
Yaxley's voice turned low and venomous. "Don't get cocky, Karmit Black. Our little game has only just begun.
There are things in this world you can't possibly understand. If you're wise, you'll take your fortune and disappear — the farther, the better. That way, you might even keep your life."
Karmit shrugged. "Unfortunately, I'm not a generous man. When someone takes something from me, I make them give it back. And if they refuse… I'll knock out their teeth and take it myself."
Yaxley's eyes flashed with killing intent.
"Then we'll see if you're capable of that."
With a cold snort, he turned and stalked off.
Karmit watched his retreating back, still smiling.
If it weren't for the inconvenient timing, Yaxley would already be dead. But that was fine — let him dance a little longer.
A life like his — the life of a pure-blood patriarch — had value. And Karmit intended to extract every bit of it before taking it away.
Compared to the reward, a little patience was nothing.
Checking the time, Karmit closed his book and slipped it into his bag, then headed toward the banquet hall.
By now, the hall was buzzing with guests.
A long table stood at the center, with six seats on each side, not counting the main one at the head — thirteen pure-blood families were in attendance tonight.
Aside from the Weasleys, who had long been struck off the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and a few lines that had gone extinct entirely, there were only thirteen pure-blood houses left in Britain.
And every single one of them, except the Blacks, had produced Death Eaters.
Ridiculous.
Karmit took his seat at the right-hand side of the main table. Directly across from him sat old Yaxley.
The moment their eyes met, Yaxley sneered. "Bloody hell, just seeing you ruins my appetite."
Karmit smiled sweetly. "Then why not leave? I'm sure my uncle and aunt wouldn't mind.
After all, you don't have any heirs — maybe you're in a hurry to go home and try for a child? Otherwise, once you die, the Yaxley family won't even have anyone left to sit in your chair."
The words hit Yaxley like a hex.
"What did you just say?!" he shouted, his face contorted in rage.
Around the table, several pure-blood guests struggled to keep straight faces, barely stifling their laughter.
For Yaxley, childlessness was a wound that never healed.
He didn't just lack heirs — he didn't even have a wife. It was a problem shared by many old wizarding families these days: no new blood, no next generation.
Lucius gave Yaxley a sharp look. "Yaxley, this is a Malfoy gathering. Try not to embarrass yourself."
Yaxley huffed and sat back down, fuming silently. Karmit kept his polite smile, utterly unbothered.
Lucius picked up a silver spoon and tapped it gently against his glass. The room quieted at once.
Rising to his feet, Lucius raised his wine glass. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Malfoy Manor, and thank you for joining this year's pure-blood gathering. Let us toast — to pure blood."
Everyone raised their glasses in unison.
"To pure blood!"
Karmit took a sip — and blinked.
Milk.
He turned to look at Narcissa. She smiled warmly and nodded at him. Karmit returned the smile.
In truth, these pure-blood banquets bored him senseless. A room full of dark wizards, talking about nothing but business and bloodlines.
How utterly pointless.
Their ancestors' glory had blinded them to the truth. "Pure blood"? What a laughable obsession.
If this hadn't been a Malfoy-hosted event, he wouldn't have bothered showing up at all. A complete waste of time.
The banquet dragged on until around nine o'clock, after which the guests began to take their leave.
At the front entrance of Malfoy Manor, Narcissa and Draco personally saw Karmit off.
Draco looked a little reluctant. "Cousin, why don't you stay the night? Tomorrow we can go to Diagon Alley together!"
Karmit shook his head. "No, we'll meet there tomorrow. My treat — I'll buy you one of the new Black sundaes."
Draco's eyes lit up at the mention of food. "Deal!"
Karmit nodded with a smile.
Narcissa stepped forward to straighten his collar. In a soft, worried voice, she said, "Go straight home by Apparition. Don't linger outside."
As she spoke, she glanced toward Yaxley, who happened to be stepping out of the manor at that moment.
Yaxley snorted coldly and Disapparated on the spot.
Narcissa frowned. "Maybe I should take you back myself."
Karmit shook his head. "No need, Aunt. Don't worry — I'll be fine."