Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

Chapter 955 Stonefield Manor
As the last rays of the setting sun sank below the horizon, they dyed the surface of the Hudson River estuary in New York a molten gold-red hue.

At this moment of transition between day and night, Stonefield Manor seemed to awaken from its slumber, with lights turning on one by one, making the exquisite white stone palace within the manor appear to float in a soft amber halo.

This is a private estate covering approximately two hundred acres, resembling a colossal beast lurking along the coastline, luxurious and magnificent.

The air was filled with a faint, refreshing scent of tuberose and cedar.

Vehicles were constantly entering the wide, tree-lined avenue that could easily accommodate four cars side-by-side.

Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maybach, Ferrari, Bugatti, Koenigsegg...

Various luxury cars, emitting pleasant hum, drove into the manor like a school of fish swimming into the sea.

The vehicle stopped on the vast circular driveway in front of the palace. A waiter in a black tailcoat and white gloves quickly stepped forward and respectfully opened the car door.

The men and women who got off the car were all wearing masks.

Instead of the ornate and extravagant masks of the Venice Carnival, these are more refined and intimate designs—

Some are half-face silver mesh masks, with tiny diamonds inlaid along the edges, sparkling brilliantly under the lights;

Some are feather masks made of rare bird feathers, with colors that gradually change from peacock blue to deep purple, presenting a color transformation that is difficult to imitate with technology;

Even more remarkably, the surface of the mask refracts laser-like patterns, presenting different designs when viewed from different angles.

The masks concealed their faces, but not other things: such as gemstone necklaces the size of pigeon eggs, antique bracelets worth over seven figures, cufflinks made of rare black diamonds, and so on.

The fabric of the dresses shimmered with a unique, luxurious sheen under the light, complemented by the unhurried gait, confident demeanor, and commanding manner of the people present.

They nodded to each other, and while they chatted and laughed, their tone lacked the relaxed joy of a ball; instead, it was filled with a suppressed excitement mixed with anticipation and nervousness.

Guests entered the palace through its tall oak doors and were guided by attendants through the foyer to the main banquet hall at the back.

Footsteps echoed softly on the polished marble floor, mingling with the faint strains of classical music.

Wade got out of a low-key dark gray Lincoln.

He was currently disguised as John Stonefield, wearing a gray wolf mask that covered most of his face.

Meanwhile, his left hand was in his trouser pocket, his right shoulder was slightly forward, and he walked with a slightly dragging gait—this was because John had suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, and the aftereffects had not yet completely disappeared.

To perfectly disguise oneself as a person, one needs more than just a bottle of compound decoction and a few strands of hair; it also requires attention to detail.

Fortunately, in addition to his rigorous training in Occlumency, Wade had also mastered Legilimency quite well, which allowed him to observe all the details of John's life and how he interacted with his family members from John's memories.

As soon as I got off the bus, a voice rang out in front of me:

Good evening, John.

It was Mark Paul, William Stonefield's personal assistant.

Paul was also wearing a mask, as if to match the atmosphere of the evening; the pure black, openwork metal blindfold only covered the area around his eyes, serving a purpose that was better than nothing. At this moment, Paul smiled slightly, revealing a friendly smile, and stepped forward to shake hands with Wade.

"Was the journey smooth?" Paul asked. "I heard there was a car accident on Long Island Boulevard today, and it caused a traffic jam."

“It’s alright, I took Merrick Road instead,” Wade replied in John’s slightly tired, hoarse voice. “Although it was a longer route, it was quieter. How has Grandfather been lately?”

"Much better. The newly hired doctor is quite skilled." Paul gestured, "Please come with me. Most of the family members are already in the private room."

“Who didn’t come?” Wade asked.

“Grayson,” Paul sighed, “unfortunately, he has fallen ill recently and is unable to come.”

A face covered in bruises flashed through Wade's mind, but as if he were hearing about it for the first time, he curled his lips into a mocking smile and said, "Poor guy."

They walked through the bustling foyer and onto a relatively secluded corridor to the side of the main banquet hall. Several guests nodded to "John" along the way, and Wade responded to each one, following John's memory.

At the end of the corridor was a heavy mahogany door. Paul pushed the door open, revealing a medium-sized private box. Through the glass railing, one could overlook the main stage and most of the audience seating area in the banquet hall.

There were already seven or eight people in the private room, all wearing masks, talking in hushed tones. When they saw "John" enter, they all looked up.

“Uncle John.” Several young men stood up to greet him, their tone respectful but lacking warmth.

"Good evening, everyone," Wade replied casually, and like John himself, found a seat near the front.

The atmosphere in the private room was somewhat awkward.

A middle-aged man leaned closer and said in a low voice:

"I heard Grayson is 'sick' again? Perfect timing! Such an important occasion."

Another older woman scoffed, "Maybe it was intentional. Grayson is different from us; he's in politics and prefers his resume to be clean."

Wade simply responded with a faint sound, without adding any complaints, and just looked at the audience below with a bored expression.

John himself wasn't exactly one of the most powerful or influential people in the family, but he held a special position and was highly trusted by Old Master William. He didn't have any deep relationships with others, so his reaction was just right.

The conversation in the private room quickly shifted to other topics: the latest scandals involving certain politicians, unusual fluctuations in the stock market, changes in the EU monetary system...

Although most of the people in this private room were from the Stonefield family and not exactly core members, the information they revealed in their conversation was from channels of information that ordinary people could never access in their entire lives.

At 8 p.m. sharp, the banquet hall was already full. The circular hall was furnished with about two hundred velvet chairs, arranged in a fan shape around the central stage, with each tier higher than the last.

The masked guests nearly filled all the empty seats, forcing their bodyguards to remain outside. Meanwhile, a Stonefield family bodyguard stood every five meters, all dressed in black suits, their expressions serious, and their posture ramrod straight.

A faint, refreshing fragrance filled the air, reminiscent of grass and mint after rain. Waiters pushed carts, serving champagne and appetizers to each table.

Just then, Vito's low voice came from the mini communication pea hidden deep in Vader's ear:
"Master, all entrances and exits to the manor were sealed off five minutes ago, and no one is allowed to enter anymore. The weapon systems also appear to be activated... You must be very careful!"

(End of this chapter)