NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 22: Chapter 21:
Chapter 21:
...
After receiving several valuable gifts from the guests... enchanted robes, high-quality quills, and other luxury items..... Lucius Malfoy finally approached his son with an expression of pride and expectation.
As was tradition, the most significant gift had to come from Lucius Malfoy himself.
"Draco," he said in his usual refined yet cold tone, "for a Malfoy heir, turning ten is an important milestone. It is the age at which you must begin to understand our family's prestige beyond books and formalities. And, as a Malfoy, a mere object is not a sufficient gift. Instead, I have arranged an experience that you shall remember"
Adam raised an intrigued eyebrow.
"An experience?"
Lucius allowed a small, knowing smile.
"Tomorrow, you will attend the Quidditch match between the Appleby Arrows and the Falmouth Falcons. But this will not be just another evening in a private box"
"I have arranged for you to sit alongside former professional Quidditch players who will share their expertise with you throughout the match"
Adam stared at his father for a long moment, blinking.
The other children in the room widened their eyes with pure envy.
Even among the wealthiest pureblood families, VIP boxes weren't uncommon.... but sitting with legendary Quidditch players was another level entirely.
Quidditch was, after all, one of the most prestigious and beloved sports in the wizarding world. The sheer energy of the matches—the roar of the crowd, the rush of broomsticks slicing through the air, and the glimmering gold of the Snitch darting between players—it was electrifying.
Yup.
Adam loved it.
Pansy, of course, crossed her arms and couldn't resist a snide remark.
"Typical of the Malfoys…" she muttered.
Adam barely contained his smirk at her irritation.
"Thank you, Father. I am sure it will be… interesting," he replied with the expected formal gratitude.... though, deep down, he was genuinely excited.
"I have also invited your friends, including Blaise Zabini," Lucius added neutrally. "Though his family no longer has the same business ties with us, you have been spending a considerable amount of time with him lately. I thought it would be appropriate"
Adam felt a quiet sense of satisfaction.
Over time, Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaise had become a solid group.
And, with families like theirs, Lucius had no issue with him keeping their company.
....
....
-June 6, 1990
The next morning, Adam was up early, preparing for the occasion. He wore an elegant yet comfortable robe, suitable for a high-profile sporting event.
When Lucius Apparated them to the stadium, they were received with the highest level of deference.
The Zabinis were already waiting.
Lucrezia Zabini, always elegant and effortlessly charming, greeted Narcissa with a polite smile before casually gesturing for her son to go along.
"Have fun, Blaise."
"Yes, mother," Blaise responded, before stepping forward to join Draco.
Crabbe and Goyle arrived shortly after, and the group was then escorted to the private box—an exclusive section reserved only for high-status wizards, located at the very top of the stadium, offering a flawless view of the entire field.
From up there, one could clearly see the players preparing in mid-air, their robes billowing in the wind, showcasing the proud colours of their respective teams.
But what truly made this private box special wasn't just the privileged view—it was the presence of former professional Quidditch players.
Among them were Thaddeus Spillman, a renowned retired Seeker from the Chudley Cannons, and Garrick Trosem, a former Beater of the Falmouth Falcons—both of whom, apparently, had attended Hogwarts and played for Slytherin.
"Draco, lad!" Trosem greeted with a deep, booming laugh, his voice rich with amusement. "Your father's told me about you. So, you're a Quidditch fan, then?"
Adam gave a polite yet confident smile.
"Let's just say that so far, I've only been able to fly in very restricted spaces… but yes, a huge fan"
Thaddeus Spillman, a wizard with silver hair and sharp, perceptive eyes, smirked with mild amusement.
"Well, there's no better way to learn about Quidditch than watching it with those who used to play it"
The boys settled into their seats alongside the retired players, and soon, the match began—the stadium erupting with deafening cheers as players soared across the sky, executing spectacular maneuvers while the Quaffle sped from one side of the field to the other.
Throughout the match, the former professionals took their time to explain strategies, formations, and the significance of each position.
"Quidditch," Spillman began, sitting calmly to Draco's right, his gaze unwavering as he observed the game like someone who already knew exactly how it would unfold, "is more than just a game. It is a display of skill, speed, and intelligence. Talent alone is not enough—you need strategy, precision… and a cold head."
Adam and his group listened intently, absorbing every word.
"That's why the best players are usually Slytherins," Trosem added with a proud smirk, crossing his arms.
"If you intend to play once you're at Hogwarts, make sure you're the best and give it your all," Spillman remarked, ignoring Trosem. "And if you're not the best, or if you can't give it your all… then step aside and let someone else take the position. Nothing disgraces this sport more than a player who can't meet those standards"
Adam tilted his head slightly, raising a single brow.
"So I just need to make sure I am the best at whatever position I choose?"
"Ha ha. That's the attitude, lad," Trosem grinned, while the group continued watching the match unfold.
....
From the very start, the match was thrilling.
The Appleby Arrows played with remarkable speed, executing fast, aggressive plays, while the Falmouth Falcons held their ground with a solid, nearly impenetrable defense.
The match went on for over two hours, the tension steadily building—until finally, the Appleby Arrows' Seeker pulled off a risky aerial maneuver, diving sharply before snatching the Golden Snitch, securing the victory for his team.
The crowd exploded into cheers and applause.
Adam exhaled, thoroughly impressed.
....
At the end of the match, the former players offered the boys a few more words of advice—and, to Adam's surprise, Trosem even extended a rare offer.
"If you're ever up for it, Draco, I could take you out on a proper broom someday. Let you try flying one of the professional models"
Adam's eyes glinted with interest.
"That… sounds incredible," he admitted.
Spillman, however, gave one final piece of advice before they left the stadium.
"Just remember that if you decide to play once you're at Hogwarts, you better be good"
Adam smirked slightly.
Oh, he would be.
After that, Adam took a few photos with the former Quidditch players before they left the stadium.
He also noticed how some reporters and journalists, having recognized the ex-players, approached them to discuss the match and take a few more pictures.
It was quite funny to see how naturally they posed for the cameras, as if they were completely used to it and were even enjoying the whole process.
And It was then that Adam remembered just how uncomfortable he had felt posing for photos a few weeks ago.
It all started with his manager, Estelle, and her determination to push him to stardom.
Estelle had fully capitalized on his sudden rise in fame as Beaver Cleaver, securing various deals with clothing and accessory brands….. most of which were looking for a young male model for their children's or teen product lines.
And just like that, Adam had found himself spending his free time—after filming on set—going to different locations with Andrew to pose for promotional shoots for these brands, all for a very generous paycheck.
In fact, Adam was starting to believe that one could make more money modeling than acting.
His manager had managed to negotiate between $5,000 and $10,000 per photoshoot! This depending on the brand and campaign. And with Adam having already completed five sessions for various products, that meant he had earned nearly $40,000 in just a few days…. yup, just for posing for pictures that would soon be plastered everywhere, promoting these companies.
Although Adam would never admit it aloud, acting and modeling were two entirely different worlds—and if he were being honest… he didn't particularly like modeling.
It wasn't just boring, it was awkward.
Being constantly told exactly what to do, what pose to hold, which outfits to wear, switching clothes repeatedly, adjusting expressions….. it was just sooooo tedious.
Yeah, he definitely preferred acting over modeling.
But Estelle had been very persuasive when explaining how, for now, this was a great way to get his face out there—which, in turn, would increase his chances of landing more roles in the future.
Essentially, this was free publicity for him.
Well… not even free, considering they were literally paying him for it.
So, really, it was a win-win from every angle.
And at the moment, he was actually making more money modeling than acting, since these photoshoots took far less time than filming an entire movie—plus, he only did them in his free time.
That's right, crazy world we live in.…