#471 - Chapter 471: Haggard Malfoy (for all readers who tipped)

The atmosphere was quiet for a second.

Immediately, the entire hall erupted in thunderous laughter, with some pounding the tables, others spitting out drinks, some busy covering their noses, and others imitating Sebastian by putting on Bubblehead Charms. It was a sight to behold.

Even the usually stern Professor McGonagall couldn't help but gently cover her lips.

Umbridge's face instantly turned crimson, and she could no longer bother to maintain her composure, staggering out of the hall.

"Merlin! Is this some kind of special performance art?" George laughed, unable to stand up straight.

"Or a specially practiced tone," Fred added, tears in the corners of his eyes.

"I know," Ron said loudly, laughing, "This must be the nitrogen acceleration they talked about in Muggle Studies. Look how fast she ran."

Amidst the laughter, Dumbledore once again ascended the head table, briefly addressed a few points of attention, and directly announced the end of the dinner.

The students left in twos and threes, heading towards their respective common rooms. Sebastian wasn't in a hurry. He picked up his cup and took small sips of Coke, waiting for the crowd to thin out before getting up and walking towards the office with Mia.

Full and satisfied, he now only wanted to return to Swann Manor through the fireplace as soon as possible and enjoy a peaceful night's sleep.

However, to his surprise, there was a figure waiting early at the door of the office.

"Professor, could I trouble you for a moment to have a chat?"

Malfoy turned around, his face appearing unusually pale in the lamplight, coupled with heavy dark circles under his eyes, leaving no doubt that he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time.

"No problem, come in quickly." Sebastian opened the door to the office, gestured for Malfoy to enter, and guided him to sit on the sofa.

Then, he turned to look at Mia, gently instructing, "Don't wait for me after you get back, go to bed early."

"It's okay, you guys talk slowly." Mia nodded, walked into the fireplace, and disappeared directly into the office with a flash of green light.

"How does it feel to be a prefect?" Sebastian sat down opposite Malfoy. "Would you like something to drink? How about a butterbeer?"

"No, Professor, I don't want to drink anything."

Malfoy stiffly shook his head, his eyes lowered, constantly staring at the ground, as if avoiding something.

"As for being a prefect... it's so-so, nothing special."

He really wanted to skip the pleasantries and directly pour out the bitterness in his heart, but the words reached his lips, yet he couldn't say them.

He even wanted to directly release Occlumency and let the professor see the thoughts in his mind, but he didn't want the other party to see all his vulnerability over the past two months.

Damn it!

He was the one who took the initiative to find Professor Swann, so why was he backing down now that the moment had arrived?

This broken mouth, failing at a critical moment, wasn't it usually quite talkative?

Malfoy's hands hung down, unconsciously fiddling with the patterns on his robes, seemingly trying to conceal the restlessness in his heart.

As if realizing that keeping his head down was impolite, he forced himself to look up, and after meeting Sebastian's gentle gaze, he mustered his courage and said with reddened eyes.

"Sorry, Professor... my mental state has been terrible recently. I... I'm really too tired. I've been forcing myself to act for the past two months, and now that I see you, I... I really don't want to act anymore."

Sebastian didn't show impatience because of his gaffe, but instead spoke even more gently.

"No need to apologize, Draco. Here with me, you don't need to pretend, and you don't need to force yourself. Just be yourself."

Hearing these words, Malfoy's eyes flickered for a moment, then he slowly closed them. He took a deep breath, but couldn't suppress the churning emotions in his chest.

Be himself?

Such a simple sentence, yet so difficult to do.

It's only been two months, how could he already be unable to distinguish what he really was?

Was it the spiritedness in the Triwizard Tournament?

Was it the pride of winning the championship?

Or was it the timidity in the face of that person?

Which appearance was the real him?

After a few seconds, Malfoy seemed to give up resisting, buried his face in his hands, and tears slipped through his fingers, dripping onto his black robes.

He didn't make a sound, only sobbing silently.

Sebastian quietly watched all of this, not rushing to speak. At this moment, all verbal comfort was pale and superfluous, it was better to let the boy cry it out and let this tired teenager release his suppressed emotions to his heart's content.

However, he didn't just sit there idly, but gently flicked his wand, using emotional magic to slowly regulate Malfoy's chaotic emotions in a subtle way.

To be honest, Sebastian could imagine the kind of bitterness the boy was holding in his heart.

Voldemort occupied Malfoy Manor, like a poisonous snake coiled in his home, making every inch of space suffocating.

In such an environment, Malfoy couldn't confide in his parents, and he couldn't even find a place for his own freedom. Even when he came to Hogwarts, he was equally lonely and helpless. He couldn't contact his only friend Harry, and he didn't want to drag his little girlfriend into the quagmire. He seemed to be trapped in a huge cage, even breathing carefully.

Thinking of this, Sebastian couldn't help but sigh inwardly. These pressures were indeed a bit too much for a teenager.

Then, he couldn't help but secretly rejoice that he had won the title of emotional master among the young wizards last year, letting these children know that here, there was someone willing to listen and someone able to understand. Otherwise, who knows when this little guy would have bottled up all his feelings.

Sebastian didn't think Malfoy was fragile. On the contrary, the boy had been able to avoid completely collapsing after spending two months with the Dark Lord, and his psychological quality was far beyond that of ordinary people.

Under his adjustment, Malfoy gradually relaxed. He loosened his hands, revealing a face full of tears, with shame, helplessness, and a hint of longing hidden in his red and swollen eyes.

"Professor... thank you." His voice was low and hoarse, but it carried a hint of ease, as if the boulder pressing on his heart had finally been moved away.

Sebastian smiled slightly, nodded, didn't say much, and handed over a pack of clean tissues.

Malfoy took the tissues and carefully wiped the tears from his face. Then, he looked up and looked at Sebastian with a serious gaze.

"Professor, I've decided to take on the responsibility of the Malfoy family heir and find a way out for the Malfoy family!"

(Thank you to all the readers for your rewards. As of now, the rewards from everyone have met the requirements for two bonus chapters.

Therefore, two chapters are presented together, let everyone be happy together ~ ~)