At this moment, inside the Headmaster's office, Albus Dumbledore sat calmly behind his desk, hands lightly folded.
Kai Adler and Lucius Malfoy sat opposite each other, tension crackling in the space between them. Without acknowledging either Lucius or Cornelius Fudge, Kai deftly summoned a teapot from the tray and poured black tea into two cups—one for himself, one for Dumbledore.
The two ignored men were clearly displeased. Lucius stared at Kai, his voice sharp with venom.
"Mr. Adler," he said, each syllable clipped and cold. "Do you have anything to say about this matter?"
Kai blinked lazily, then tilted his head as if he'd just noticed him. "Hmm? I'm sorry, were you speaking?"
"You impudent brat!"
As expected of an old pure-blood aristocrat, Lucius maintained his expression of aloof grace, but his voice trembled with barely controlled fury—like a serpent hissing through clenched teeth.
Behind him, Fudge stood awkwardly—dignified in name only—looking more like a servant than the Minister for Magic. He watched Kai carefully, trying to gauge the young man's temperament.
Kai leaned back in his chair with composed elegance. One hand rested lazily on the armrest, the other lightly twirled a silver spoon in his cup. The black tea stirred in sync with the slow motion of his fingers. He took a measured sip, then raised one brow, evidently pleased with the flavor.
He still hadn't acknowledged either of them.
Lucius's face, already pale, had turned a stony grey.
Dumbledore cleared his throat lightly, the ghost of amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Mr. Malfoy," he said gently, "I understand your concern. However, as Headmaster of Hogwarts, I reserve the right to accept gifted students from across Europe. Recruiting a promising young wizard from Germany is hardly cause for accusation."
Lucius narrowed his eyes, though his imposing manner lessened under Dumbledore's calm gaze.
"And what of the Portkey?" Lucius countered. "The one belonging to the Rosier family?"
At this, a flicker of understanding passed between Dumbledore and Kai.
So that's how he arrived—via a Portkey arranged by Nurmengard. In hindsight, those overly polite wizards who'd ushered him out of Germany now seemed far more suspicious.
Dumbledore laced his fingers, eyes glinting behind his half-moon spectacles. "The Ministry has not, to my knowledge, outlawed Portkeys, Lucius. And I believe my authority as Headmaster gives me leeway in matters of student recruitment."
"Technically, yes," Fudge interjected with a half-hearted chuckle. "Cross-border students aren't against the law."
Lucius threw Fudge a glare sharp enough to cut glass. Whose side are you on, you imbecile?
Adjusting his silk cloak with a sniff, Lucius pressed on. "The problem lies not with the Portkey itself, but who it belonged to. The Rosiers remain one of Grindelwald's most devoted loyalists, even to this day."
He stepped closer to the desk, voice rising. "What I want to know is this, Headmaster: is it you who has ties to Grindelwald—or this boy?"
Kai raised his eyes slowly and met Lucius's gaze without flinching. His expression was mild—almost amused.
In truth, the answer was both. But naturally, he didn't say that.
"Of course," Lucius went on, affecting a smooth tone, "I have no doubt that the great Albus Dumbledore, the man who defeated Grindelwald, would never knowingly harbor a servant of the Dark Lord."
Dumbledore's brow twitched faintly.
"But perhaps your judgment has begun to fail, Headmaster. After all… you allowed a known Dark wizard to infiltrate your school under the guise of being a student. I believe this matter should be brought before the Board of Governors. There will surely be disagreement… about your continued position here."
Then he turned to Kai, eyes glittering. "And as for you… Minister Fudge is here representing the Ministry. He demands to know the true identity of a suspected Dark wizard who deceived the school and may be in league with Grindelwald himself."
Fudge shifted uncomfortably, as if suddenly regretting his presence in the room. Still, he cleared his throat and attempted to look stern.
Kai set his teacup down gently, then rose from his seat. He smoothed the front of his robes, his voice calm and graceful.
"It seems the esteemed pure-blood noble, Mr. Malfoy, has some deep misunderstandings about both Headmaster Dumbledore and myself."
The words "pure-blood noble" rolled off his tongue with mocking precision.
Lucius's face turned a dangerous shade of red, remembering exactly what Kai had said to him in Diagon Alley months ago:
"Only dogs boast of pure bloodlines."
"You—"
He was about to lash out, but then Kai looked at him—eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
Lucius froze.
Was he actually frightened? Of a Eleven -year-old boy?
Realizing it only made him angrier. "You—!"
"Mr. Malfoy," Kai said smoothly, cutting him off, "are you suggesting that anyone who enters Britain via a Rosier Portkey is automatically in league with the Dark Lord?"
Lucius seized the opportunity. "Exactly!"
Kai's smile widened slightly. "Then I suppose we should also investigate you, Mr. Malfoy. After all, weren't you once Voldemort's most trusted follower?"
Lucius paled instantly.
Fudge blinked.
"You… how do you—" Lucius stammered, his fingers clenching the handle of his cane.
Kai didn't answer. He simply gave a small, knowing glance toward Dumbledore, who remained silent but watchful.
Of course, Dumbledore had briefed him thoroughly on the political climate and Lucius's carefully concealed past. Kai had only needed to press the right nerve.
"The Ministry of Magic," Lucius hissed, recovering slightly, "has already cleared me. My name has been cleared. Do not twist the facts, boy."
Kai smiled again—warm, polite, and devastating.
"Ah, of course. Forgive me. But… you may want to be more careful about throwing stones."
He took a small step forward, voice dropping slightly.
"You see, during the Chamber of Secrets incident, we recovered a black diary. An artifact filled with residual traces of Voldemort's presence."
Lucius went rigid.
Kai continued softly, "Do you know who it was found with?"
Silence.
Lucius's hands gripped his cane tightly.
A pause. And then Kai tilted his head slightly.
"Draco Malfoy."
The color drained from Lucius's face entirely.
At that moment, one thought screamed through his mind:
Draco… you've ruined your father.