The moment they entered Malfoy Manor, Lucius, still holding Harry's hand, hurried deeper into the estate.
Cassandra and the others exchanged glances, feeling a touch of bewilderment at Lucius's apparent urgency, but they didn't dwell on it. They followed in Lucius's footsteps, moving further into the manor.
However, as they reached the entrance to the great hall, they heard a cacophony of voices from within. Draco, curious, couldn't help but ask, "Father, have you invited others?"
A flicker of guilt crossed Lucius's eyes, vanishing almost instantly, but he replied, "Of course, Draco. Your father naturally invites his friends when he hosts a feast. Now, no more questions, let's go in quickly!"
With that, Lucius, still gripping Harry's hand, pushed open the door and entered. Seeing this, the others had no choice but to continue following Lucius into the hall.
Yet, the moment Cassandra and the rest stepped into the hall, the hubbub within ceased abruptly.
Upon entering, the group was surprised to find a long dining table set in the Malfoy Manor's grand hall. The table was laden with an abundance of food, certainly fitting the atmosphere of a feast. However, both sides of the table were already filled with people.
As they saw Lucius enter with Draco and the others, all conversation stopped, and piercing gazes fixed on the entrance, their expressions unreadable and strangely unsettling.
What made Cassandra frown even more was the disturbing aura emanating from these individuals seated at the table. It was an unsettling chill that she couldn't quite explain but felt nonetheless, a pervasive coldness.
This atmosphere reminded Cassandra of a time when, as a small child, she had accidentally stumbled into Knockturn Alley and found herself surrounded by a group of unknown wizards.
Thankfully, her father hadn't been far, and he swiftly arrived, stunning several of them before leading her out of Knockturn Alley. It was from that day forward that her father insisted on assigning two Aurors as bodyguards whenever she left the house, just like the first time she met Wentworth.
Just as Cassandra was contemplating whether she should turn and leave, she saw Lucius had already led Harry to the long table and taken a seat. Seeing this, Cassandra, feeling a touch of helplessness, had no choice but to follow.
It was then that Cassandra suddenly felt someone pull her back from behind. Cedric then stepped past her, moving to the very front. As they brushed past each other, Cassandra heard Cedric whisper in her ear, "Be careful, I feel like the atmosphere is off!"
Hearing Cedric say the same thing, Cassandra's heart sank, and she quietly clutched her wand.
Even after Cassandra and the others awkwardly walked to the table and sat down, the group who had been there before continued to brazenly scrutinize them, unsettling smiles playing on their faces.
Among them, one witch had the most exaggerated smile. Her gaze was fixed solely on Harry Potter, and beneath her wild, tangled hair, her eyes held a hint of ferocity as she stared at him.
Before Cassandra and the others could ponder further, Lucius Malfoy picked up a piece of cutlery from the table and gently tapped the glass in front of him, then announced, "Now, everyone is here. Welcome to Malfoy Manor! The feast is about to begin!"
"First, allow me to formally introduce to our young friends my master, who is also the greatest and most feared wizard in history!"
As Lucius's voice faded, a shifty-looking wizard cradling what appeared to be an incredibly weak infant slowly entered. The seemingly infant-like body in his arms, however, had a pale, drawn face.
At this moment, Harry suddenly shot to his feet, pointing at the shifty-eyed wizard, his voice filled with outrage and disbelief: "Peter Pettigrew?! What are you doing here?!"
Hearing Harry's accusation, Peter Pettigrew grinned menacingly, "Harry Potter, why am I here? Well, of course, it's because you are here!"
Harry seemed about to say more, but Cassandra's voice came from behind him, her tone heavy with gravity: "Harry, say no more!"
But Harry, still agitated, continued to blurt out, "Cassandra, that's Peter Pettigrew! He—he killed my parents and led to Sirius being imprisoned in Azkaban for over a decade, he—"
"I said! Be quiet!"
This time, Cassandra sharply cut Harry off with an angry roar. Though Harry still glared fiercely at Peter Pettigrew, he truly did fall silent, no longer speaking.
Cassandra, however, fixed her gaze on Peter Pettigrew, or more accurately, on the infant in Peter Pettigrew's arms, and spoke with caution, "Instead of focusing on that filthy rat, you should be more concerned with the master Mr. Lucius Malfoy spoke of!"
"I truly didn't expect that Tom Riddle, once so infamous, who struck fear into the entire British wizarding world, would be reduced to this state. It's quite astonishing!"
No sooner had Cassandra finished speaking than the witch who had been staring at Harry Potter, Bellatrix Lestrange, immediately rose, seething with rage. "Do you know who you're speaking to, you little half-blood?!"
Cassandra retorted, equally defiant, "My conversation with your master is none of your business, you truly are your master's good bitch!"
Hearing Cassandra's insult, Bellatrix instantly erupted in fury, unhesitatingly drawing her wand. Even Harry, standing nearby, couldn't help but look at Cassandra with surprise, never expecting her to utter such words.
Just then, a somewhat weak voice echoed through the room. It emanated from the infant in Peter Pettigrew's arms, Lord Voldemort, Tom Riddle:
"Enough!"
At Voldemort's command, all the Death Eaters, including Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, immediately fell to their knees.
At this, only Cassandra and her companions remained standing in the entire room. They exchanged troubled glances, their hearts heavy.
Then, a voice filled with sorrow and indignation suddenly broke the silence in the hall:
"Father, what is the meaning of this?! You… you lied to me!"
Cassandra looked in the direction of the voice and saw Draco Malfoy, still standing, his eyes fixed on his father, Lucius Malfoy, tears streaming down his face.
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