This night, Lin An slept very sweetly.

At Malfoy Manor, Draco refused to sleep.

"My dear," Narcissa sat beside him, her satin-like wavy hair falling from her shoulders, her whole being as tender as she exuded, revealing a hazy glow—

"It's time for you to rest."

"Mom, I'm not sleepy right now."

Draco pretended to look up from the book.

Narcissa reached out and touched her son's delicate cheek, then laughed:

"Waiting for your gift? You know, the estate stops all the owls that haven't been there during the holiday season, and then delivers all the presents under your Christmas tree in the middle of the night—"

"It's a big surprise, you can wake up tomorrow morning and see it...... It doesn't matter who sent it."

She meant something, but Draco pursed his lips, still insisting, "No, I'm not sleepy right now."

But he remembered his promise in a flash: "Mom, if I invite my classmates to the manor to play in the summer, will Dad ......?"

He didn't say any more, for Narcissa's expression had cooled.

She touched her son's fluffy hair, her voice was gentle, but her tone was firm:

"Draco, you should know where Malfoy's glory lies. The manor doesn't welcome mixed-race and unadulterated ......."

For Draco's sake, she didn't say the rest of the words, not even using any insulting words.

But at this moment, Draco still felt his heart tighten.

"But Dad didn't say she was very aristocratic, Mom, you also helped me choose—"

"Draco."

Narcissa straightened his clothes, "Grace can be cultivated, but bloodline is the foundation of our nobility."

"Your dad is right, you're very discerning, and you've made a great potential wizard among the freshmen - but that's about it."

"Those Muggle things that we sent over last time are already very patient for the sake of her being your friend."

"Honey," Narcissa looked at him, "do you understand?"

Draco stood up, his face pale, "I understand."

"But I don't want to comply."

"Draco!"

Outside the door, Lucius, who had just finished attending a gathering of the nobles, smelled of Floo powder all over his body.

At this moment, the cloak was unfastened, and the house-elf took it silently, and quickly disappeared without a trace.

"Don't let me down."

His face was gentle and serious, but his words were unmistakable.

But Draco shook his head, "Dad, I told you that Lynn is my best friend. If I can't treat her with respect – from bloodline to identity. Then I don't deserve this friendship."

"Dad, you once said that grandfather used to be with that ......" His face turned pale for a moment, and at this moment he said with a lake: "...... I had a deep friendship when I was a student, so I didn't hesitate to follow ......"....

"Shut up! Draco! Who is allowed to say this?"

Lucius changed his usual caution and manners, and now took two awkward steps in the room, then turned around and scolded, "I don't allow you to mention him in the house!"

"Not a word!"

Draco looked back at her fixedly, and half-loudly, he suddenly softened his voice:

"I mean, Dad, since we don't have a good reputation anymore, the Savior doesn't consider me a friend."

"In that case, isn't it another layer of protection for me to be an ignorant child and have an ordinary friend of unknown origin?"

"Draco......" Narcissa covered her mouth in surprise

。

Lucius looked at him fixedly, and then a satisfied smile appeared on his cold face:

"I will not allow anyone to tarnish Malfoy's glory. But, Draco, you've grown up."

Draco was not as happy as he had imagined to be complimented and allowed to do so.

He even lowered his head, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable in his heart, as if a giant hand was holding his heart fiercely, constantly pulling and pulling......

And just then, Arik flapped his wings and flew in from outside the manor.

！！！

Draco stood up excitedly.

He read the hastily written text over and over again, and then let out a long sigh of relief.

His joy was so palpable that neither Narcissa nor Lucius could ignore it.

And at this moment, Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly, and said meaningfully:

"It seems that your good friend is already able to influence your mood at any time - then, maybe I can open the passage of the manor now and let her gifts come in, and let me see if her heart is worthy of your friendship."

"—if she had a gift."

"Of course!"

Draco said proudly, and then firmly defended Lin An, "Whatever she gives, as long as I think it's good!"

Lucius tugged at the corners of his lips, "Dobby!"

There was a slight crunch in the air, and the ugly house-elf who looked like an aging baby, with big ears and tattered clothes, was beside him, and lowered his head and said in a shrill voice, "Command, sir."

"Go and bring all of Draco's gifts."

A moment later, under the Christmas tree in the living room, large and small gift boxes were stacked on top of each other.

Draco tried to show his steadyness, but he endured and endured, but he still didn't hold back, and at this moment he plunged headlong into the pile of gifts, and effortlessly pulled out the overly large and heavy box.

Narcissa glanced at it, then suddenly covered her lips and smiled, "It seems that Draco and your good friend are very similar. At the very least, the gifts are heavy."

She looked at Draco, who hesitated and didn't move, "Why don't you open it and take a look?"

Draco thumped his gray-blue eyes, and solemnly opened the box under the gaze of Lucius and Narcissa.

Wizards and Muggles, pure-blooded and unblooded, are the world's best in the Malfoy family.

But...... Who cares about the moats!

He could tell who was sincere.

The gift box is opened——

I saw that the gifts that were neatly packed inside were arranged one by one, and there was a sense of order.

And the gift itself......

"What is this?"

Draco first saw the Tokarev pistol, then picked it up curiously.

Lucius and Narcissa turned their heads and said patiently:

"Some...... Muggle stuff."

But at this moment, Draco didn't listen to them anymore, because he saw the letter from Lynch.

Plain envelopes and stationery, Muggle stuff, slightly haphazard handwriting...... Everything was out of step with Malfog.

But Draco was happy for some reason.

Because the letter in front of me is like ...... Just like she wrote to Harry Potter countless times.

Song of Thorns