Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

“I… I understand!!!”

As enlightenment dawned, Draco's previous depression and grievances vanished in an instant.

As if rejuvenated, he retrieved his wand, which Charlie had returned to his pocket, left the shade of the trees, and eagerly returned to the spot where he had been practicing to continue casting spells.

He wanted to immediately consolidate the knowledge he had gained from Charlie through his own practice, turning it completely into his own.

“Transfiguration!!”

“Transfiguration!!”

… … …

Not far away, Draco's voice echoed again and again.

Charlie stood on the spot, gazing at Draco's figure in that direction, his eyes complex, as if pondering something.

After a long while, he finally stopped looking.

He simply sat back down under the shade of the trees, leaned against the thick trunk, closed his eyes slightly, and exhaled a long breath.

… … … … … … … … … … …

“Ding-dong…”

At noon, as the grandfather clock in the center of the Ministry of Magic's hall emitted a deep and prolonged chime, the Ministry of Magic's civil servants, who had been busily working in their respective departments, all stopped what they were doing.

“Bye! Andrew…”

“See you this afternoon, Weiss.

“Robert, don't forget to put the newly revised report on the integration of Muggles and the British wizarding world in my office this afternoon, understood?”

“Yes, Minister Fudge.”

… … …

The scattered voices filled the originally somewhat empty Ministry of Magic hall.

Lucius did the same, nodding slightly to his colleagues, then draped his robes over himself, casually picked up a few documents that needed simple processing, and headed towards the fireplace with the flow of people.

However, just as he was about to step into it, a somewhat cloying voice suddenly came from behind, calling out his name.

“Malfoy—”

“Hmm?”

Lucius, who had just raised his foot, stopped.

His brow furrowed slightly, and he subconsciously turned his head to look in the direction from which the voice came.

He saw a particularly conspicuous pink figure挤coming towards him through the crowd, raising her arm and waving it above her head.

She rudely挤pushed aside the people blocking her path with her short, fat body. There was no apology in her eyes, but rather an air of entitlement.

And the people she pushed aside, although angry, could only helplessly suppress their anger when they saw that striking color.

“Umbridge…” Lucius looked at the figure, his pursed lips moved, and he silently spoke her name.

His slightly furrowed brow furrowed even more at this moment, and even his eyes could not help but reveal a trace of disgust.

However, as the other party gradually approached, the furrowed brow and the disgust in his eyes instantly disappeared, returning to the same formulaic expression as usual.

“Hello, Undersecretary Umbridge.”

Lucius turned and stood still, facing Umbridge, who had already come before him, leaning his body slightly forward and greeting her.

Umbridge seemed to like others addressing her by her title of Undersecretary very much, her mouth stretched upwards, revealing an ugly smile.

“Hello, Malfoy.”

She nodded towards Lucius with a slightly haughty air, and replied in an even more cloying voice.

As she spoke, she twisted her neck, which was covered in fat, and looked towards the grandfather clock in the center of the hall.

“Time flies so fast at the Ministry of Magic… You know, it seems like every time I sit behind my desk, in the blink of an eye, it's time to get off work again.

I once told Minister Fudge that as employees of the Ministry of Magic, we should have a stronger sense of serving the entire wizarding world.

To this end, we should cancel or shorten the lunch break in order to carry out more efficient work.”

As she spoke, Umbridge could not help but smack her lips, and finally revealed a rather regretful expression.

“Unfortunately, the benevolent Minister Fudge did not accept my suggestion.”

“I'm sorry… Undersecretary.”

Lucius's eyes narrowed. Clearly, he did not want to listen to Umbridge's narration of her proposal and her flattering remarks about Fudge.

To this end, he deliberately added the title "Your Excellency" after the words Undersecretary to imply that they were not that familiar.

“Although I would very much like to have an in-depth and detailed discussion with you about the idea of canceling or shortening the lunch break… But unfortunately, it so happens that my wife's brother is currently visiting my house, and I need to go home to entertain him. So let's talk about the main thing.”

Upon hearing Lucius say "wife's brother", Umbridge's eyes lit up immediately, and that ugly smile became even more radiant, as if she really was like her private nickname, "the pink toad."

“Yes, yes!!”

She quickly nodded excitedly and took two steps forward with her short legs.

“I came to find you because of this matter.”

“Oh?”

Lucius's eyebrows rose, emitting a long sound of doubt. But the meaning within was naturally self-evident.

“If I'm not mistaken… Malfoy, your wife's brother is probably Mr. Charlie Black!”

After Lucius heard Charlie's name, his original vague idea was immediately confirmed. In an instant, he also understood the other party's meaning completely.

Without hiding anything, he simply nodded and admitted.

“That's right, it is indeed Charlie. In a few days, it will be my son Draco's day to enter Hogwarts, and my wife invited him, hoping that he could come to attend Draco's graduation banquet and stay at Malfoy Manor for a few days.”

Speaking of this, Lucius subconsciously raised his chin, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

“After all, Charlie has been busy with work in his factory before, and rarely has the opportunity to rest… Narcissa feels sorry for her brother and wants to take this opportunity to let him have a few days off.”

“That's right! That's right!”

Umbridge nodded quickly as she listened to Lucius's words, looking deeply moved.

“Mr. Charlie is a very busy man! He hardly ever puts down the work at hand. Minister Fudge has always wanted to have dinner with him, but every time it's because of the factory's affairs that Mr. Charlie and the Minister regrettably miss each other!”

Speaking of this, Umbridge paused, looked at Lucius, and continued.

“Just now, Malfoy, you said that your son, Draco Malfoy… has a graduation banquet in a few days, right?”