Harry had no idea what "pure-blood families" or "wizarding lineages" were supposed to be.
But from one look at Lucius Malfoy, he could tell this was not an ordinary man. The way he carried himself—Harry had never seen anything like it.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy," Harry said politely.
Lucius looked him up and down, remembering everything Karmit had told him.
"Hello, Harry. You are quite famous in the wizarding world. I hope you and Draco become very close friends."
At this moment in his life, Harry had no real opinions of his own. All the beliefs he would later hold were things others planted in him.
Ron. Hagrid. Dumbledore.
Once Harry started school, all three would slowly but surely guide his loyalties.
This was exactly why Karmit had said Dumbledore was always setting the stage.
The timing of the Weasley family arriving at King's Cross? Too coincidental.
Just in time to impress Harry.
Then Ron shared a compartment with him and spent the entire ride insulting pure-blood families.
Then Draco—arrogant, clueless Draco—approached Harry like a snobbish prince.
All of that, a coincidence?
Karmit didn't think so.
But fate can be strange.
Draco met Harry early, before Hagrid arrived. And Draco had just been lectured by Karmit—so he behaved well, even charmingly.
If Karmit's guesses were correct, Dumbledore's carefully laid plan… now had a crack in it.
And all because of the butterfly that was Karmit Black.
Draco stepped forward holding the gifts. "Harry, these are for you. Will you invite me in?"
Harry's face lit up— no one had ever brought him a gift before.
But soon his smile faded.
He remembered what his home was like.
Lucius frowned. Why was the boy suddenly shrinking into himself?
Just then, a voice barked from inside the house. "HARRY! I told you to throw out the trash—what are you doing now?!"
A bald, red-faced man stormed out of the doorway.
Harry flinched violently.
Lucius noticed instantly.
The man was Vernon Dursley.
Vernon looked Draco and Lucius up and down, irritated. "Where did you find these people, boy? Are they freaks like you?"
The moment he said it—
Draco exploded. "You filthy Muggle! How dare you talk to us like that?! Father, did you hear him?!"
Yes.
Once again, the legendary "father-caller" Draco Malfoy had activated his ultimate skill.
Seven years of Hogwarts awards for "Most Likely To Shout 'Father!'" were well earned.
Lucius' grip tightened on his cane.
He was seconds away from teaching this Muggle a permanent lesson.
Ministry laws? Please. That nonsense was for ordinary wizards, not a rising titan like the Malfoy family.
But before he could act—
A hand pressed down on his own.
Lucius froze.
Draco's face brightened. "Cousin?"
Karmit had arrived.
"Uncle," Karmit said calmly, "don't be rash. Killing a Muggle is easy—but still inconvenient."
"He insulted me," Lucius hissed. "He deserves to die."
"Muggles can be handled… differently."
Karmit glanced at Belinda beside him.
Belinda understood instantly. She strode up to Vernon and threw a black card onto the ground before him.
Vernon frowned, picked it up— And turned white as chalk.
The card had only two things on it:
The Black family crest.
And the name: Karmit Black.
Vernon began shaking violently. He ran over to Karmit like a trembling robot.
"S-sir Black—my apologies—I didn't know—"
"You should be grateful you still have a life to apologize with," Karmit said coldly.
Vernon nearly collapsed.
Karmit continued, tone even colder, "Your nephew is my cousin's friend. I expect them to have a pleasant afternoon. Do you understand?"
"I—I understand! Yes! Absolutely!" Vernon babbled, bowing repeatedly.
He rushed to Draco and Harry with a shaky smile. "Harry! Bring your friends inside! We have… fresh cookies!"
Draco clicked his tongue. "Funny, you were insulting us a moment ago."
Draco looked smug—delighted by the turn of events.
Vernon wiped his forehead. "I was blind! I'm sorry—terribly sorry—please forgive me!"
Draco turned to Harry. "What do you think?"
Harry had been frozen in shock this entire time.
Finally, he blinked and woke up. "Oh—uh—thank you, Uncle Vernon… Draco, let's go inside."
Vernon sighed with relief.
Draco added threateningly, "If I ever catch you bullying Harry again, I'll—I'll… have my cousin deal with you!"
After "calling father," Draco had now unlocked his second talent:
Calling cousin.
He was becoming an expert at summoning people to solve his problems.
Vernon nodded frantically. "Of course not! I would never hurt my dear nephew. Come in, quickly!"
Draco lifted his chin proudly. "Let's go."
Harry followed, feeling a rush of satisfaction.
Seeing Vernon reduced to this was… wonderful.
He glanced once more at Karmit.
His curiosity about Karmit skyrocketed. Only someone truly terrifying could make Vernon behave like a mouse.
When the boys went inside, Lucius turned to Karmit.
"So this is your influence in the Muggle world?"
Karmit shrugged. "Not much. Vernon is a manager at Grunnings. Coincidentally, that company belongs to the Black family."
Lucius stared.
"You have such a foundation in the Muggle world already?"
"It was simple," Karmit said cheerfully. "Belinda used the Imperius Curse on the former owner.
He willingly handed the company over. I compensated him, of course. He's probably traveling the world right now with his family."
Lucius' expression darkened instantly.
So that was how Karmit handled business in the Muggle world.
Lucius thought, 'I could have done that too! Why didn't I think of that?!'
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