Chapter 417: Blood Curse

After the engagement.

John and Hermione spent a period of calm and sweet time.

Every day they stayed in their new home, occasionally went out for walks together, and even found time for an overseas trip.

But life inevitably had to return to the ordinary.

The day Hermione officially started her job arrived.

She looked enthusiastic, as if ready to make a splash at the Ministry of Magic.

She had been preparing for days, already ready with the formal attire and documents for work, and kept muttering the various regulations of the Magical Law Enforcement Agency.

Just like when she was at school, she strives for perfection in everything.

Early this morning, she changed into a crisp dark‑blue formal skirt, her hair neatly pinned at the back, looking both professional and spirited.

John stared with his eyes widened.

"What are you looking at?" Hermione, feeling a bit embarrassed under his gaze, lifted her hand to smooth her collar.

"I was just thinking, why didn't I have you change into this outfit a few days earlier?"

Hearing that, Hermione's cute face flushed, and she glared at him reproachfully.

"Alright, stop teasing," Hermione lightly patted his shoulder, turned to fetch her briefcase, "You can't be late on the first day of work."

John smiled and continued, "Do you need me to see you off?"

"I'm not a child, I don't want that. Later the colleagues will think I'm the kind of little woman who needs her fiancé to take care of her."

Hermione put on a strong‑willed front and refused.

John shrugged, unsurprised by this.

Now the most famous person in the wizarding world is undoubtedly John.

If he personally escorted Hermione to the Ministry of Magic, it would likely cause quite a stir.

Hermione evidently thought of that, which is why she declined so decisively.

She doesn't want to be treated as a trophy; she hopes to secure her footing at the Ministry of Magic through her own abilities.

John understood her thoughts, so he no longer insisted, merely gently readjusted her collar,

"Fine, be careful on your way."

"Okay, I got it. You're also heading to Titus's place today, right? The earlier you go, the earlier you return."

They exchanged a kiss at the doorway, and Hermione stepped out into the sunlight.

Watching her upright silhouette disappear around the corner, John finally turned back into the house, a faint smile still on his lips.

He indeed has to go to Titus's place today.

A few days ago he wrote a letter inviting Titus to hang out.

After the engagement, John spent every day cooped up with Hermione, leaving no time to gather with his good friends.

Since Hermione is at work today, he finally has free time and accepted Titus's invitation.

Titus's house.

John met an unexpected person here.

"Draco?"

"Oh, John, you're here."

He didn't expect that Draco would also be here.

"Why are you also here?" John asked Draco, puzzled.

Draco shrugged and pointed toward the kitchen.

"My mother insisted on catching up with Titus's mother, so I came along."

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, laughter and chatter from Narcissa and Mrs. Claude drifted from the kitchen.

Since that war, the Malfoy Family has drifted apart from the Pure‑blood circle.

Not only because they betrayed the Pure‑bloods.

Also because Lu Xiu Si Malfoy, during the post‑war trials, fully sided with justice, providing abundant crucial evidence that saved his family.

Now the Pure‑blood circle has essentially offended most of the Malfoys.

Only a few Pure‑blood families that never followed Voldemort are still willing to associate with them.

And the Kelaoer House, once a long‑standing ally that sheltered the Malfoy Family and had cut ties, has now surprisingly resumed contact.

Especially the ladies of the two families; the period when they sheltered the Malfoys made their relationship even closer than before.

Narcissa also learned to lower herself, working together with Mrs. Claude in the kitchen, occasional light laughter drifting out.

As for Lu Xiu Si, he's a man who clings to his pride, still unwilling to lower himself.

But at least he's willing to let his wife and son help maintain these relations.

John and Titus exchanged a glance, and John could see a helpless smile in Titus's eyes.

"Alright, come in and have a seat; Ryan and Ethan will be here soon."

Titus ushered the two into the room.

Soon, Ryan and Ethan arrived; they were slightly surprised by Draco's presence but didn't mind.

After all, they had already bridged the gap earlier.

The few gathered together to chat about this and that.

Mostly the conversation revolved around Hogwarts and future matters.

The three brothers all plan to continue their studies into the sixth and seventh years.

Ethan intends to pursue research in botany; he heard that Neville has now been promoted to Herbology teaching assistant and may soon succeed Professor Sprout.

Ryan plans to keep playing Quidditch, aiming to make the national team in the future.

Titus then said he wanted to just find a dead‑end job at the Ministry of Magic to while away his days.

But that's still the Ministry of Magic, so getting hired still requires some qualifications.

Draco needs no further explanation; although the Malfoy Family's enterprises were severely damaged during the war, a gaunt camel is still larger than a horse, and after graduation he will naturally take over the family business.

Only John remains who hasn't figured out his future direction.

"Ah, then I guess I'll just wait for Hermione to support me..."

John said lazily.

Ryan: "Shameless."

Ethan: "No ambition."

Titus: "Nice, I also want to be kept."

Everyone: "?"

A few of them couldn't help but laugh.

At that moment Draco suddenly fell silent, as if weighing something.

"John, have you heard of the Blood Curse?"

John was slightly startled, and the others also fell quiet, their gazes turning to Draco.

"I've probably heard bits of it; why are you asking? The Malfoy Family wouldn't have that thing, would they?"

The Blood Curse is a family curse that runs through the bloodline.

It persists through successive generations—simply put, it's a hereditary disease of the Magical World.

But unlike ordinary hereditary diseases, this Blood Curse only manifests in females.

Blood Curses come in many varieties: some turn a person into a certain animal, some gradually erode magical power and even shorten lifespan, and some merely make the body weak.

The most famous example is the legendary blood curse Beast-man.

Once it manifests, the victim completely becomes an animal, cannot regain human form, eventually loses sanity and devolves into a pure Beast.

"It's not our family."

Draco shook his head and spoke gravely.

"It's Astoria's family."

Hearing that, John furrowed his brows.

During the past year, Jor had received considerable care from Astoria, and from his observations John also noticed that Draco seemed to be growing closer to Astoria.

Now Draco bringing this up suddenly is probably not just offhand.

"This is what my father told me: the Gringlass Family has an ancestral Blood Curse."