Chapter 311

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Delphine walked over to the fireplace and ran her hand over certain bricks, triggering a rather interesting mechanism: the fireplace increased in size. In one of the books, I had read about the collective movement in the Floo network, but I was too used to seeing this very movement performed by only one wizard.

We stood in silence, waiting for the right time. Thirty seconds before dispatch, Delphine tossed a handful of Floo powder into the fireplace, the coaster for which stood at a safe distance from the fire, and the flames turned green, signaling that we could go inside. Daphne and Astoria were the first to go in, and so they would be at our backs. We went in next.

"Malfoy Manor," Delphine said five seconds before the correct time and threw another handful of powder into the flames underfoot.

We were literally sucked in and dragged along the green spatial corridor, mercilessly twisting. Other corridors stretched in different directions from it. Still, the cruel whirling in front of my eyes made it impossible to see anything until Rowena decided to let the signals from the senses pass through herself, playing the role of a stabilizer. I never thought that it was possible so cleverly to send all physiology to hell and, on one will, conduct signals along other nerve connections.

<That's Magic, my boy.>

Argh!

Magic was pulling us along one particular route in this spatial green corridor that looked more like a pipe, but it seemed as if just one small volitional effort and I could jump into an entirely different stream. However, one should not take traveling through the Floo network lightly. Such a maneuver with a change of address in-flight can indeed be performed, only it is dangerous, and you can be left without an arm or a leg, sending that to someone in the fireplace.

Rowena, can you hide in the shadow of Delphine and the girls?

<Absolutely. Do you want to be always up to date?>

Yes.

All my thoughts about going through the Floo network and a mental conversation with Rowena did not take even a couple of seconds, and now there was a feeling of leaving the fireplace soon. A small effort of will, an attempt to make a step…

We emerged in a large and spacious hall with high ceilings and walls of massive stone blocks the color of gray granite. Everything was elaborately decorated. There was expensive carved furniture against the walls, a couple of large paintings of landscapes hung, and the tall windows in the wall opposite were hung with massive curtains. As I stepped onto the carpet that covered most of the floor, I met my eyes with Draco in a black tailcoat and robe. Beside him stood Narcissa, in a dark dress with beige embroidery of plant motifs and a tall hairdo of blond hair.

Of course, I went out at the same time as Lady Greengrass, and we took a step forward to meet the house owners, and Daphne and Astoria came out behind us almost instantly. I was pleased with Draco's inability to take surprises with fortitude, and therefore his surprised face. Out of the corner of his eye, he immediately assessed the situation. Apparently, in this hall, they only meet guests who arrive according to the schedule and then escort them to another, behind one of the doors - either to the left or to the right. Most likely to the right, because that's where some man in his thirties was standing, with his back against the wall, and Delphine's appearance in my company clearly didn't make him happy.

"Lord Malfoy," I decided to match Lucius' intonation perfectly. "Please accept my congratulations. The duties of the Head of the House are a heavy burden, and I hope you will bear it with honor."

Draco huffed, smirking.

"Don't doubt it, Knight."

"Lady Malfoy, you are unfailingly beautiful."

"Thank you, Mr. Knight."

The standard greeting lines went on for another dozen or two seconds between all of us, and then Draco and Narcissa led us into another hall, just as I thought, to the right door.

The second hall, where those who had already arrived were located, and more characters would certainly appear, was, in principle, similar to the previous one, except that it was longer and was clearly meant as a ballroom. There were tables and buffets and things like that here and there, but judging by the arrangement, there was no dancing involved, but that's obvious - it wasn't a ball. The lighting was good, and there were two big chandeliers under the ceiling, but towards the walls where there were tables with sofas and armchairs, the light was dimmed a little, giving the illusion of a more private space. There were quite a few wizards and witches of various ages, about forty in number, but only a few of the fairer sex could boast of the wealth of color in their clothing. The men preferred classic black or navy blue.