分卷阅读71（2 / 2）

“Welcome gentlemen,” Fudge’s smile oozed of forced politeness. “Shall we begin?”

“By all means,” Draco replied, nodding serenely to the members of the Wizengamot seated before him.

“Minister, if may ask one thing. Before we start I would like it made clear why Harry Potter is present. He was not mentioned in my late ex-husband’s will and is not a part of the family. His presence here is completely irrelevant.” Narcissa’s voice was low and lilted, as if it was beneath her to even use the words “Harry Potter” in a sentence.

“Harry Potter is family. He is my Veriae bonded and has every right to be here,” Draco drawled.

The witch to the right of Fudge, a shallow, stick-like woman with graying auburn hair cocked an eyebrow at that declaration. “Then are we to believe that you are indeed a Veraie, Mr. Malfoy?”

“I am.”

“And a magical creature cannot inherit in a wizard’s will,” Narcissa stated primly.

“Miss Black, let us begin by stating exactly what is at stake,” Fudge smiled at her indulgently. “And then you may bring up such motions.”

The chubby man cleared his throat and unrolled a parchment that he had been holding. “This is the latest will of the deceased Lucius Sergius Malfoy. It was signed three days before his death.”

The man handed the parchment to Fudge who began to read it as he continued speaking.

“Proper authenticity charms have been placed upon it as you will see. In the will, Lucius Malfoy left the entire property of Malfoy Manor here in England, the entire property of the Malfoy estate in France, and the entire property of the Malfoy villa in Capua, along with anything found within those properties to his son Draco Lucius Malfoy. He stated that all of his monetary vaults in Gringotts should be transferred to his son’s possession. Familiar guardianship of his son until his son has completed his seventh year of Hogwarts, Mr. Malfoy stated, was given to Professor Severus Snape.”

“Thank you Mr. Archeron for your assistance, you may leave now.” The chubby man nodded to Fudge and waddled out of the room.

“Now, Miss Black,” Fudge set the will down before him and turned to look at Narcissa. “You have challenged the right of Draco Malfoy—” he nodded in Draco’s direction, “to accept this inheritance on many charges. Would you please state them now?”

“Certainly Minister.” Narcissa smiled sweetly at the Wizengamot and began to speak. “My son, Draco Malfoy, inherited the complete dominance of the Veriae blood in my late ex- husband, Lucius Malfoy. As such, he is considered under the Ordiance of Magical Creatures, to be outside of the wizarding race and therefore unable to legally inherit anything from a wizard. Also we must question the use of a ‘familial guardian’, if Lucius intended for my son to inherit immediately after his death. Which brings me to my last point, that if my son were to inherit under wizarding law, he is not over the legal age. Thus he cannot manage property or anything that is on that property.”

The smile Narcissa Black sent at her son was venomous. Draco, however was unfazed, calmly twirling the Malfoy signet ring on his finger.

“Well, Mr. Malfoy, we first shall see if we can quell Miss Black’s qualms.” Fudge’s voice dripped honey but Harry could almost see the laughter in Fudge’s eyes, as if he already wished Draco to fail. “Now, you have already stated that you are a full blooded Veriae?”

“I am a pure blood Veriae, Minister. However that has no bearing on my inheritance since, under the amendment of 1869 to the Ordinace of Magical Creatures, pure blood Veriae are to be treated as pure blood wizards in all legal matters.”

Fudge blinked, the wizard two seats to his left nodding approvingly at Draco’s statement.

“Well…then that is one problem solved.” Fudge tried to look cheerful and failed. “Now, Mr. Malfoy your birthday is?”