They walked up a sumptuous marble staircase topped with ornate carpets, a stone wall next to it with blazing torches every few steps, and a ceiling painted with various patterns......

Whenever the house-elf Haud passes a fork in the road, he stops, makes a gesture of please, and then continues to lead the way.

His steps were light, his bare feet walking a few steps down the carpet without making a sound, and Jon could understand why he had been unaware of the sight of a man and a bird when he had appeared next to him and Fawkes.

They passed through a dimly lit but lavishly decorated corridor, where the pale statues on the walls stared intently at them, and the oil paintings whispered from time to time.

Finally, Hodder stopped in front of the heavy wooden door that led to the next house.

"Madame is waiting for you inside, Mr. Hart!" he whispered.

Jon nodded, calmed his breath, and turned the brass handle.

......

The room inside was smaller than Jon had expected, and looked like a study.

The room is lit up by the roaring flame of the marble fireplace, and the walls except the fireplace are filled with all kinds of books, and in the center of the room is a desk......

On the desk, a statue of a golden elk's head was placed closest to the wooden door, with sharp horns pointed at the doorway.

And behind the statue, a noblewoman sitting at her desk removed her glasses, and then she stood up—

"Mr. Hart, is it?" said Mrs. Diana-Greengrass gently.

On the train to Hogwarts two years ago, the fake Alastor Moody had mentioned that Astoria looked alike her mother.

Now it appeared that the Death Eater was not lying, and Mrs. Greengrass and her daughter were almost like dolls made of the same mold...... The same blonde curls, except that Mrs. Greengrass's hair was tied up, leaving only a small strand of bangs at the front.

Compared to Astoria, she has experienced more years of baptism, and her gestures are full of suave and elegance...... Jon was skeptical that even if she lived another twenty years, Astoria would not be able to behave as calmly as her mother.

"Yes, ma'am. Jon hurriedly walked over to her and saluted respectfully, "It's an honor to meet you!"

The lady held out her right hand to Jon, then smiled at him.

Jon knelt in a half-kneeling position, then took the woman's right hand in both hands and kissed the back of her fingers symbolically.

"Sit down!" she whispered, gesturing to one of the chairs facing her.

"Thank you!" Jon said quickly, then straightened up and sat down in the chair.

"Don't be so restrained!" Mrs. Greengrass smiled and shook her head gently at Jon, "It's just like in your own home!"

"Okay...... Madame......" Jon nodded awkwardly, and then tried to make his movements appear a little more casual.

......

"Mind if I smoke a cigarette first?" asked Mrs. Greengrass.

"Of course not...... Feel free to ......," Jon shook his head.

"Thank you!" she said, opening the cigarette case beside her, and at the same time her slender white fingers pinched out one of them.

She leaned back in her chair a little lazily, her mouth spraying smoke softly, all the while her eyes stared at Jon and looked him up and down.

This made Jon even more embarrassed...... It would have been rude to keep looking at her, and he could only focus on the golden elk's head, pretending to be interested.

A few minutes later –

With a gentle press of the remaining cigarette butt in the ashtray, Mrs. Greengrass spat out the last puff of smoke.

"I'm sorry, but I always like to smoke a cigarette when I think. She calmly explained, "Of course I will avoid my two daughters so that they do not fall into such a bad habit." ”

Then don't you avoid me, I'm still a child, younger than your two daughters...... Jon whispered.

"Your smoking is very elegant!" but he naturally did not show it on his face, but smiled complimentarily.

"Thank you...... I wasn't surprised when Hodder told me it was Jon Hart and not Christopher Patrick!" Mrs. Greengrass continued, "because I vaguely guessed that the two identities were actually the same person......"

Looking at Jon's stunned gaze, Mrs. Greengrass waved her hand slightly:

"My simple little daughter is not a person who can hide secrets, and although she does her best enough, as a mother, I can easily see a little flaw in her face...... Of course, Mr. Hart, rest assured, I didn't tell anyone about it, not even Daphne!"

"Then I'm so grateful to you!" Jon pouted as he tried to feign a tone of gratitude.

"I've been secretly watching you when I was just smoking. Mrs. Greengrass continued.

Aren't you blatantly observing...... Jon continued to scold.

For some reason, in front of Mrs. Greengrass, Jon felt a lot of pressure, or aura, from beginning to end...... The initiative of this conversation was firmly controlled by the other party from the very beginning.

I have to say, this feeling is very uncomfortable!

"I've heard a lot about you...... It's hard for a sixteen-year-old boy to be better than you!" Mrs. Greengrass commented, without much emotion in her voice, "so I understand that Astoria has been secretly promising you all these years......"

"You're overdone, ma'am......" Jon quickly denied.

"But because of this...... Mrs. Greengrass paused, as if organizing the language.

Jon raised his head, knowing that the conversation was about to get to business.

"If you're interested in Daphne, I'm not going to stand in the way of you!" Mrs. Greengrass raised her tone and changed her tone completely, her voice becoming solemn, "To be honest, I don't care about bloodlines or family lineage, and the Greengrass tradition doesn't care about those ......"

"But Astoria...... Her situation is a bit more peculiar...... So I hope she can leave you......" Diana Greengrass shook her head gently at Jon: "I know my daughter, and she will think the same way, because it's all for your good!"

The look on Jon's face didn't fluctuate, he was already organizing his words......

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