bookandnovel Chapter 205 Donations and Invitations
Chapter 205 Donations and Invitations
Chapter 205 Donations and Invitations
Lucius took a deep breath, as if just recovering from Lynch's narration. He spoke first, his voice carefully crafted, a mixture of sorrow, concern, and indignation: "It's truly—so shocking! So tragic!"
He shook his head, his gaze shifting to Dumbledore. "That Weasley girl, so young..."
To think that such an innocent child could suffer such a fate in Hogwarts Castle, which we all considered the safest place, and be harmed by such an evil and dangerous dark magic artifact—this is simply—an unforgivable oversight!
After a pause, Lucius continued, "I believe that, both morally and logically, the school should, and must, cover all of her medical expenses to help this poor child recover as soon as possible and make up for the suffering she and her family have endured."
He looked at Dumbledore, his tone becoming more "earnest," and said, "Professor Dumbledore, if the school has any difficulties with the annual budget or special funds, I, Lucius Malfoy, am willing to personally and unconditionally cover these costs to ensure that Miss Weasley receives the best and most comprehensive treatment at St. Mungo's. This is both my responsibility as a member of the Board of Trustees and—an obligation as a compassionate wizard."
Dumbledore's blue eyes peered at him through his half-moon spectacles, his gentle smile still on his face. He placed his dry fingers on the table and said slowly, "Thank you very much for your generosity and concern for your student, Lucius. This sentiment is very valuable. However, please rest assured that Hogwarts has the ability and will certainly take responsibility for covering all of Miss Weasley's medical expenses related to this incident, ensuring she receives the best care. You need not trouble yourself with this personal expense."
Lucius nodded, not insisting too much on the matter. He knew Dumbledore wouldn't accept it; his main purpose was to make a statement to Lynch.
He then spoke in a more solemn tone: "It is truly heartbreaking that such a horrific incident has occurred at Hogwarts, this prestigious school with a history of thousands of years. This is undoubtedly a challenge to our entire magical education system."
He straightened his back, tapped the soft carpet on the floor lightly with his cane, and said in a serious tone, "As a member of the school board, and more importantly, as a father—my son Draco also attends school here, his safety is my responsibility—I feel a deep sense of duty and must contribute to improving the school's safety environment."
At this point, he raised his voice slightly, both out of grief and to ensure his words were clearly remembered: "Therefore, I have decided, in the name of the Malfoy family, to donate a batch of powerful protective magical alchemical artifacts, treasured for generations within our family, to Hogwarts. These artifacts are ancient, exquisitely crafted, and embody the wisdom of ancient magical masters, effectively resisting and providing early warning of various forms of dark magic. I believe they will undoubtedly better protect the students' future safety and prevent similar tragedies from happening again."
After saying that, he listed several props that sounded quite valuable, in order to show his sincerity and value.
"On behalf of Hogwarts, I thank you again for your generous and meaningful donation, Lucius." Dumbledore thanked him again, his tone much more sincere. After all, he hoped for as many precious magical items as possible that could truly bring safety to the students. "We will certainly not let you down."
Finally, Lucius turned his gaze entirely to Lynch, his grey-blue eyes filled with an unusually sincere expression, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible flattery.
He bowed slightly and said solemnly, "Professor Lin Qi, as the key figure in the investigation and handling of this incident, you have worked tirelessly and uncovered the truth. Your contributions are truly invaluable. Thank you for your hard work."
Lucius paused briefly, as if choosing his words carefully, "Hereby, I solemnly assure you that in any subsequent investigation, tracing the missing diary, or strengthening the castle's defenses, if you have any needs—"
Whether it's information channels, personal connections, Galleon support, or any other form of assistance, please be sure to...
Please don't be shy. The Malfoy family, and I myself, will do everything in our power and mobilize all available resources to provide you with all necessary, and even extraordinary, support. Please, you must give me—give the Malfoy family this opportunity.
Lynch still wore the same warm smile he had when they first met. He met Lucius's "sincere" gaze, showing neither flattery nor suspicion, but simply nodded calmly and replied in a clear and steady tone, "Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I appreciate your kindness and support. Rest assured, I won't hesitate to lend a hand if I need your assistance in any future work."
Upon receiving this seemingly affirmative response, Lucius's tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, as if he had accomplished a difficult task.
He greeted Dumbledore and Lynch again, then, using the excuse that he hadn't seen his son in a long time and needed to "check on Draco's studies," he picked up his exquisite snake-headed cane, turned, and left the headmaster's office with slightly hurried steps.
As the heavy oak door closed gently, shutting out the sounds of the corridor outside, the principal's office returned to its usual tranquility.
Dumbledore slowly turned his gaze from the doorway to Lynch, who was still sitting in his chair. Behind his half-moon spectacles, his eyes gleamed with a thoughtful, even playful, light.
He spoke softly, his voice not loud, but clearly echoing in the room: "I've known Lucius Malfoy for many years—I've seen him in all sorts of situations and in all sorts of ways. But today, he is the most—well, the most 'philanthropic,' 'caring for others,' and 'active' I've ever met."
Such a dramatic change is truly thought-provoking.
Lynch's calm smile remained unchanged as he replied, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather: "Perhaps Mr. Malfoy suddenly had a change of heart and realized the importance of social responsibility and family warmth. Or perhaps, the special atmosphere of Hogwarts awakened some long-dormant qualities deep within him."
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Then I hope that Mr. Malfoy's rare quality will remain clear-headed for a long time, and the students of Hogwarts will thank him."
Lynch didn't continue the topic. Instead, he extended an invitation to Dumbledore: "Would you like to take a walk in the Chamber of Secrets?"
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