Chapter 132: The Malfoys’ Ball

Much like our Lunar New Year, Christmas is a vibrant and bustling affair in Western countries. Perhaps due to the lower population density, there is no equivalent to the massive seasonal migration that leaves such a deep impression in China. Despite living in London—a city steeped in the spirit of the holiday—Ma Jun felt absolutely no desire to celebrate. In his view, it was Christmas, not his own birthday, so what was there to be excited about?

Wizards in the magical world celebrated Christmas as well, and the atmosphere was every bit as lively as that of the Muggles. Ma Jun only realized the holiday had arrived because of a gift sent by Harry. Perhaps due to his upbringing, Harry had few friends. After entering school, while other students frequently exchanged letters with friends or family, Harry could only chat with Ma Jun. He clearly trusted Ma Jun deeply, sharing everything that happened at school. Harry told him about his suspicions that Professor Snape was trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone, his budding friendship with Ron and Hermione, and various other events. Ma Jun encouraged Harry to live happily and explore everything the school had to offer, as he had no desire to disrupt the plot at that stage.

In addition to Harry’s gift, Ma Jun received many presents from his readers, though they sent them to a different address. Over the past few months, Ma Jun had gained thousands of followers. Publishers had even approached him to discuss book deals. Ma Jun gladly accepted these opportunities to expand his influence, leaving the administrative details to Qian Xuduo. Thanks to his travelogues, Ma Jun had become a widely recognized and powerful wizard. Consequently, he began attending various balls and parties hosted by the wizarding elite, allowing him to make many new acquaintances. Unfortunately, however, the main characters of the plot had yet to make an appearance.

Beyond the smooth progress of his personal affairs, Qian Xuduo had successfully established the Steed Group. Driven by a large force of loyal, bio-enhanced super-soldiers, the company’s growth was rapid. Today, it held significant influence across Europe. Meanwhile, the trio of Qian Duoduo and his companions had also advanced quickly within the Ministry of Magic. Qian Yaoduo had become a qualified and capable Auror. Qian Boduo had transferred to the Department of International Magical Cooperation, similar to a foreign ministry, where he navigated the social landscape with ease and performed well. The most talented of them, Old Qian, had secured a position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, becoming a minor official with a fair amount of authority.

After half a year of initial integration, Ma Jun and his subordinates had firmly established their footing in the Harry Potter dimension. By comparison, his progress in learning magic had been far less substantial. On the open market, spellbooks were limited to common charms; powerful dark magic remained the closely guarded secret of ancient families and schools of magic. Even when Ma Jun offered gold, no one was willing to trade such knowledge without the use of force. Fortunately, based on his interactions with most wizards, Ma Jun had gained a clear understanding of his own strength. The telekinetic abilities of Qian Duoduo and the others were comparable to those of top-tier Aurors like Alastor Moody. Ma Jun himself could handle all four of the Qian men with ease, meaning his power was at least on par with Dumbledore’s. Since they had never dueled and he had yet to learn more advanced spells, he could not judge with absolute precision. However, based on the intelligence gathered, Ma Jun was confident that once he mastered more powerful incantations, dealing with Dumbledore would not be difficult.

After Christmas, the wizarding elite held a ball, and Ma Jun was among those invited. The venue was Lucius Malfoy’s manor in Wiltshire, England, a considerable distance from London. As he had not yet learned Apparition, Ma Jun chose to travel by plane. He went alone, and to blend in with the local customs, he wore an elegant, floor-length black wizard’s robe with his hair neatly groomed, which accentuated his tall, sturdy frame. In the dead of night, with no streetlights, the eerie silhouette of the manor was visible only by the light of the moon. Many wizards arrived by carriage, while others rode brooms with effortless flair. Ma Jun kept his hands hidden in his robes, his tall figure striding quickly along the long path, greeting those around him with practiced warmth. After passing through a black iron gate and entering the manor, the crowd began to thicken. Guests gathered in small groups, chatting as they walked into the house. At the entrance to the hall, Lucius stood leaning on his cane, greeting his guests with enthusiasm.

Once all the guests had arrived, the ball officially began. To be honest, Ma Jun had no interest in balls, but sometimes, when playing a certain role, one must make an appearance. Compared to this, parties were far more interesting. At that moment, the guests were mingling in groups, holding glasses and laughing. Ma Jun was chatting with a lady when someone approached him. The man was dressed in an ostentatiously flamboyant style, his hair slicked back as if coated in cooking oil, flashing a standard eight-tooth smile.

"Mr. Ma Jun?" the man asked, head tilted, a strange glint in his eyes. "Your travelogues are quite good, but honestly, when I was your age, I was still busy looking for work. I remember your book mentioned you fought off an ambush by three dark wizards? That is… quite interesting, isn't it?"

"Mr. Lockhart, oh, it is a pleasure to meet you!" Ma Jun said with a brilliant smile. "You know, you are my idol! I have read all of your books. The stories within are truly breathtaking and incredible!"

The middle-aged man before him was the famous Gilderoy Lockhart, a master of the Memory Charm and the greatest fraud in the magical world. Clearly, Ma Jun’s emergence posed a threat to him. Both had gained fame through such "interesting" tales. Lockhart was mocking Ma Jun’s youth and questioning his strength, while Ma Jun was firing back, ridiculing the other man’s bizarre stories as pure fabrication. Their interaction drew the attention of those nearby. Lucius Malfoy, the host, walked over with his wife. He gave a slight nod to Lockhart before looking at Ma Jun. "And you are…?"

"Ma Jun!" Ma Jun said with a grin.

"Oh!" Lucius nodded, then looked at Lockhart. "What are you two discussing? Comparing travel stories? I don’t think Mr. Ma Jun’s tales would be of much interest to you!"

"Quite right, I was just advising a junior to be humble and not to lie," Lockhart said cheerfully.

"Heh," Ma Jun chuckled. "Mr. Lockhart, would you dare to have a duel? You are my idol, after all. Please, do give me some pointers and teach me a few combat techniques—you wouldn't be stingy, would you?"