NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Chapter 9:
Chapter 9:
…..
-Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
-March 9th, 1990
"Finally finished," Adam sighed deeply, sitting in a chair as Draco Malfoy, closing a thick book.
"Hard to believe it's been over two months since I got this strange system and ended up in this world as Draco," he murmured, gazing at the standing mirror in the study and noting the one distinct physical difference… his platinum hair.
All of this still felt surreal to Adam, even if he had already adapted quite well to his constant double life. What was two months actually for him was really practically four months.... well, about four months and two weeks since actually today was March 9th and he got the system on January 2nd.
Having such a unique and magnificent opportunity to live in a literal magical world, he had naturally decided to make the most of it and learn everything he could about this realm.
He had to; otherwise, he'd never forgive himself.
Not doing so would feel like an insult to anyone who would dream of being in his position.
He had set many goals for himself, but all of them required a solid foundation of knowledge.
'And that's why I won't leave a single book unread from this enormous library filled with so much knowledge' he thought, looking at the pile of books he had already read.
A great wizard could only use magic to its fullest potential with a strong theoretical base.
Even extraordinarily powerful wizards like Dumbledore and Voldemort stood out because of their extensive knowledge of magic.
Having realized this, Adam didn't want to waste any time. Although he couldn't yet use a wand due to his age, he spent all his free time reading about all kinds of magic, spells, and countless other subjects that would benefit him in the future.
'Who would've thought I'd turn into a nerd… although at least I'm a magical nerd' he thought with an amused smile. 'Yup. Just that thought alone makes up for any annoyance about being a nerd now heh'
After growing accustomed to Draco's memories and accepting them as an integral part of himself, Adam managed to adapt to the role of Draco quite well without needing to rely much on Perfect Acting.
Now, he was a calm, studious child. He also generally carried himself like a perfect gentleman… or, as Lucius would put it, "a proper Malfoy"
His family doted on him endlessly.
He quite literally received everything he wanted; if he asked for it, they provided it.
It was strange, but he wasn't about to complain.
Yup. He was more than satisfied with the arrangement, especially since there were so many things he wanted from this magical world.
So… Having a wealthy family to provide for him without issue was incredibly convenient.
At first, Adam had limited himself to asking just for basic things, but now… Heh, he'd lost any shame about it.
Narcissa and Lucius seemed more than happy to indulge his every whim, and he would be a fool not to take advantage of that. After all, Adam had gone from inheriting hand-me-downs from his older siblings in his real life to being an only child surrounded by brand-new, luxurious, and outrageously expensive items.
Adam considered it a fair compensation for having to endure Lucius' unpleasant behavior or the tedious lectures about blood purity and other headache-inducing topics.
So yes, he was more than willing to accept their compensatory generosity for those nuisances.
Lucius, in particular, seemed delighted by the idea of his son being somekind of a genius. He believed Draco's rapid advancement in magical knowledge promised a brilliant future as the sole heir of the Malfoy family.
Adam's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door, pulling him back to the present.
"Young master, the master requests your presence," came the voice of Dobby, the house-elf, from outside the door.
Ah, yes. Draco had explicitly requested that they knock on his door from now on since their tendency to appear out of nowhere was unnerving.
Yup… He still wasn't entirely used to it. However, he had grown more comfortable with the house-elves over time and even got along well with Dobby… though he kept that hidden from Lucius.
If his father ever found out, he'd raise hell over such "sacrilege."
Yeah... Lucius could be very very dramatic.
"Very well, I'll be there shortly," Adam replied.
After setting aside the book he had just finished reading, Adam opened the door, walked down the corridor, and made his way to Lucius' study after turning a few corners.
When he entered, he found his father seated in a large armchair in front of the fireplace, writing on a parchment bearing the Malfoy family seal.
"Ah, Draco, have a seat," Lucius said in a low voice.
"What is it, Father?" Draco asked calmly as he sat down, already knowing that this overly formal way of speaking was his father's preferred style for conversations.
"How is your progress with your studies? How are the new books I acquired for you?" Lucius asked, showing significant interest in Draco's progress. He regarded his son as a genius and was exceedingly proud of him.
Naturally, this pride also came with extremely high expectations.
"Good, Father. I still have a few books to read, but I've finished most of the ones you gave me last time" Having to talk and behave like this was almost like performing in a shoot for Adam.
"Excellent, as expected from my son and the future heir of the Malfoy family," Lucius nodded with satisfaction.
"Oh, by the way, the Parkinson family will be visiting us tomorrow, and they'll be bringing their daughter, who is the same age as you. Remember, maintaining good relations with a family like theirs is essential," Lucius said, fixing Draco with a steady gaze. But unlike his previously cold, piercing stares, his eyes now held a warmth that reflected genuine interest in Draco.
Draco's newfound interest and notable improvement in magical knowledge had positively influenced Lucius' demeanor. Since Voldemort's downfall and the loss of a significant portion of their fortune, Lucius had been in a perpetually grim mood.
Although the lives of most witches and wizards became more peaceful after Voldemort's defeat, for the Malfoys… and many other pureblood families… things became significantly more complicated from that point onward.
Having Draco's memories, even from his early childhood, allowed Adam to see and recall moments from Draco's perspective. Things that Draco himself probably didn't recall since those were things that lay in his subconscious, but Adam was easily able to see all of his memories.
One such moment was the tumultuous months after Voldemort's fall, when Draco's father, Lucius, went through an extremely difficult time. During the day, Lucius was barely present at Malfoy Manor, and at night, he returned home with deep bags under his eyes.
Adam quickly realized this was because Lucius had spent countless late nights fighting to avoid being sent to Azkaban. He had to bribe numerous people, from influential politicians to healers and expert wizards, who helped him fabricate excuses and reasons for his actions during the war.
Of course, this endeavor cost Lucius a fortune.
Nobody truly believed his claims of being controlled by the Imperius Curse. However, there were always people willing to sell their integrity for the right price, and the Ministry of Magic wasn't in a position to fight all the wealthiest families in Britain. The Ministry desperately needed funds to recover and rebuild the ruins left by the war.
But losing money wasn't a significant concern for the Malfoys. Their fortune would replenish over time… they had all the means to accumulate more wealth. What mattered most to them now was their reputation within the wizarding community.
As part of the magical aristocracy, they needed to command respect and could not allow other wizards to look down on them or dare to challenge them because of their wartime mistakes.
No, the Malfoys had to maintain their position of power. To do so, they needed to secretly secure the support of many influential witches and wizards who would stand by them regardless of the situation. These allies would ensure that others wouldn't dare challenge the Malfoys.
And with Voldemort gone, most people saw the Malfoys as less of a threat or potential danger to the community.
The Malfoys were infamous for always siding with the victors… they were not ones to engage in direct conflict. Instead, they used their wealth and political influence to fund wars and secure their place among the winners.
This time, however, the Malfoys had chosen the wrong side. Despite being perpetrators of the war and accused by countless witches and wizards of a variety of crimes, the noble Malfoy family emerged unscathed, retaining their power and influence.
The only thing the Malfoys truly lost in the end was a considerable amount of money… so much that it equaled the total wealth of an average pure-blood noble family in the wizarding world.
Yet, Lucius was confident that the money would be restored in time. For now, respect and power were more important than even his beloved wealth.
With so many noble houses and pure-blood families losing their reputations and influence, others would inevitably grow stronger at their expense.
The Malfoys wouldn't miss such a golden opportunity, regardless of how much money it required. And while Lucius Malfoy's first love was likely money, he wasn't stingy when it came to spending what was necessary.
"I understand, Father. It won't be a problem," Adam said calmly, fully aware he could easily handle a girl his age.
"Good. It's reassuring to hear you say that. After all, the Parkinson girl is among the potential candidates to become Lady Malfoy in the future," Lucius remarked casually, not expecting his son to fully grasp the weight of such a statement at his age.
But Draco… no, Adam… was far from an ordinary 9-year-old boy. He understood precisely what his father meant.
'Damn Malfoy traditions of arranging marriage contracts at such a young age' Adam thought bitterly, trying to devise a logical way to prevent his father from betrothing him to anyone. He had already read extensively about the Malfoy family, from ancestral histories to autobiographies penned by their own members, including Lucius himself.
Yes, the Malfoys were that narcissistic.
To Adam's surprise, all this knowledge had proven far more useful than he had initially anticipated.
...
...
The following day, back in the non-magical world, Adam finally traveled to Canada.
He couldn't help but dwell on his conversation with Lucius Malfoy.
This entire marriage contract issue was downright annoying and unpleasant.
Adam was one of the last actors to fly to Canada, as his presence wasn't required until everything was ready to begin filming. Naturally, he was accompanied by Andrew, who continued to serve as his guardian.
Although Adam wasn't thrilled about spending so much time with his brother, he had to admit Andrew had done a good job so far. He was always around when needed, ensuring Adam had everything required and that he fulfilled his responsibilities.
"Ready for the next stage, movie star?" Andrew teased as he packed his laptop into his backpack.
Adam, adjusting the strap of his bag, gave a small smile.
"I guess so"
The flight to Canada was uneventful. Andrew spent most of the time working on his laptop, leaving Adam free to read his script and rehearse his lines. It also gave him time to think about other matters, such as how to navigate his increasingly complicated situation in the magical world.