NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 13: Chapter 12:
Chapter 12:
...
Once Adam had changed and finally arrived dressed "appropriately" in the guest lounge, he noticed two figures in the distance dressed entirely in black—one tall and one shorter. The taller figure wore a black wizard's robe, while the shorter one was clad in what appeared to be a black frilly dress. These were undoubtedly today's guests: the Parkinson family.
"Paris, it's been quite a while since you disappeared. Still the same as ever," Lucius said, showing a rare smile. Few people knew that the smile was actually somewhat genuine.
"Yes, it has been a long time, Lucius," Lord Paris responded, offering a symbolic bow.
"Draco, come here," Lucius motioned to his son.
"This is Lord Paris, one of my trusted companions and a great friend back then. And that hasn't changed," he added.
"Lord Paris," Adam greeted respectfully and courteously, inclining his head slightly.... a gesture he was growing accustomed to when introduced to other Lords by his father.
"Is it true you're a bookworm?" a shrill, girlish voice suddenly chimed in.
The owner of the voice was none other than the second guest at Malfoy Manor... and the one Lucius considered a potential candidate for the future Lady Malfoy.
"Pansy! Is this the etiquette I've taught you all this time?" Lord Paris quickly reprimanded his daughter. He couldn't allow her to offend the son of his old friend and the future heir of the Malfoy family.
"Apologize immediately to Lord Lucius and young Draco," he added, his gaze stern as he addressed his daughter.
"Humph," Pansy opted to stay silent, turning her head to the side in clear defiance, signaling that she had no intention of apologizing.
Adam couldn't help but find her attitude a little amusing. Sure, she seemed bratty, but her behavior was far more refreshing than the pretentious airs of the other spoiled noble children who tried to imitate their parents' excessive mannerisms to such an extreme that they came across as caricatures.
"No need to get upset, Paris. Draco isn't offended by something like that, right?" Lucius said lightly, glancing at his son.
"My father is correct, Lord Paris. It's not an issue," Adam responded calmly, perfectly imitating the optimal behavior Lucius expected of him. Lucius seemed more than satisfied with his son's composed and formal response, nodding in approval.
Little did Lucius know that for Adam, this was just another performance.
"And to answer your question, I just really enjoy reading about magic," Adam added, now looking at young Pansy with a playful smile, clearly irritating the girl for reasons she couldn't quite understand.
"Very well, Draco, take Pansy on a tour of the manor. Lord Paris and I have some matters to discuss," Lucius said casually, following his usual pattern of leaving Adam to entertain the children of his business associates or friends.
"Of course, Father," Adam replied with a polite nod, showing no visible complaint or hesitation. Internally, however, he was practically cursing Lucius for the thousandth time that day.
It was moments like these that made Adam grateful for his Natural Occlumency and Perfect Acting skills, which allowed him to mask his true emotions, thoughts, and frustrations.
"Pansy, go with Draco and behave yourself," Lord Paris instructed firmly.
"I don't want to follow a boring bookworm!" Pansy muttered under her breath, essentially insulting Adam again.
"Pansy!" Lord Paris scolded sharply this time, his tone much more serious, causing Pansy to lower her head slightly in frustration.
"Miss Parkinson," Adam said with a slight bow, performing a gentleman's courtesy that felt mortifying but was made effortless by his Perfect Acting skill. It ensured that he came across as the ideal son Lucius wanted, allowing him to later enjoy his peaceful life of reading and doing whatever he liked—except for moments like these, of course. To maintain that peace, Adam had to avoid unnecessary conflicts with Lucius and keep him pleased.
"Our fathers still have matters to discuss. It's best we don't disturb them," Adam added, gesturing for Pansy to accompany him on a tour of the manor.
"As expected of your son, Lucius. His etiquette is impeccable. It's clear he's been well-educated, and I have no doubt he'll go far. Congratulations, old friend. If only Pansy were the same… her mother spoiled her far too much at an early age," Lord Paris commented with a mix of envy and frustration in his voice.
"Well, she's still young. It's understandable. Children often speak without thinking things through. Draco understands that, so don't worry. I'm confident they'll get along soon enough," Lucius replied, brushing off the matter while subtly highlighting that his son was an exception to this rule. Despite being the same age as Pansy, Draco measured his words carefully, understood situations better, and knew how to meet Lucius's high standards.
"Draco, entertain Pansy as our distinguished guest. Lord Paris and I will be heading to my study. Once we're done, we'll come find you," Lucius added, looking at his son.
Adam gave a courteous nod before leaving the guest lounge with a still-reluctant Pansy following behind.
...…
The relationship between Adam and Pansy Parkinson hadn't started on the best terms, and things didn't seem to be improving as they walked through the seemingly endless hallways of Malfoy Manor. The silence between them was awkward, and although Adam didn't particularly like Pansy, walking alongside someone who refused to say a single word was tedious.
Finally, he decided to break the ice.
"Look, even if you don't like me, I think walking in silence is even more boring than just being around me," Adam said with a slightly amused tone. "If you tell me what you're into, maybe I can take you somewhere interesting in the manor."
He was genuinely trying to reason with her, hoping they could find a way to enjoy themselves a bit. There were so many magical games and activities that he wished he could share with someone who wasn't completely insufferable.
Pansy looked at him for a moment, clearly weighing his words. She seemed torn between maintaining her sulky attitude or going along with Adam's suggestion. Finally, with visible reluctance, she nodded.
"Fine, but this better be worth it," she replied in her usual sharp tone. At least she seemed to have concluded that what Adam was saying made sense—or perhaps she was just too bored to continue walking in silence and decided his offer was the lesser evil.
Adam suppressed a smile. Pansy might be difficult, but at least she had agreed. Maybe they could find something fun to do together after all.
"Hmm, how about I take you to the game room?" Adam suggested, thinking of the space his family had created for him.
Yes, the Malfoys had built him an enormous game room, though he didn't use it as much as he probably should. Playing alone wasn't particularly entertaining. But he figured Pansy might find it interesting—it was packed with magical toys and even a flying broomstick.
To Adam, the novelty of flying never wore off. He spent several hours a day on the broom, though Narcissa didn't allow him to fly outside the room, which took away some of the excitement. Still, he couldn't help but think about how his dad and brother Matthew—both avid pilots—would lose their minds if they could try a magical broomstick. For them, it would be a dream come true.
Pansy raised an eyebrow, responding with a mix of disdain and curiosity.
"Fine, I'll show you mercy and let you play tour guide," she said, though there was a faint hint of anticipation and excitement beneath her dismissive tone.
Adam chuckled to himself, amused by her attitude, and responded with an exaggerated bow.
"Of course, as you wish, my lady."
The two began walking through the dimly lit corridors of the manor. Magical lamps cast a soft glow on the walls adorned with portraits of Malfoy ancestors, giving the place a solemn and slightly eerie atmosphere.
Because the internal structure of Malfoy Manor was vast and complex, it had numerous hallways and staircases that could easily confuse someone unfamiliar with the layout.
"Make sure to stay close, or you might get lost," Adam warned, emphasizing his point.
"You've said that three times already…" Pansy replied with obvious impatience. "Weren't you taking me to the game room? Where is it?"
Before Adam could answer, Pansy, in her impatience, decided to take matters into her own hands. Ignoring his guidance entirely, she sped up her pace and took a random turn down a hallway without waiting for Adam to lead the way.
Adam let out a deep sigh and quickened his steps to catch up with her.
"Why do I have the feeling she's going to get us into trouble?" he muttered to himself. For once, he wished he had a normal friend his age… though he wasn't exactly normal himself.