You have to give something to gain something.
Although Slytherin lost the House Cup, what they gained in return was an astonishing sense of unity.
And that unity all stemmed from the pale golden figure leading their group.
Watching the scene, some of the wizard parents who had also once graduated from Hogwarts looked momentarily dazed, as if reminded of someone. Back when they were students, they too had witnessed something like this...
Back then, there was also someone like that...
"Hermione, what's going on?"
"..."
It was Ginny Weasley who came over to Hermione. Thanks to Mrs. Weasley's special fondness for Harry, the two girls had become familiar enough to at least exchange a few words. Their gazes were fixed on Draco and the younger Slytherins behind him.
Interestingly, Ginny's demeanor now was nothing like the shy, soft-spoken girl she usually was around Harry Potter.
In truth, she shared the passionate nature of the Weasley family. At least when dealing with people she knew, Ginny behaved fairly naturally—none of that constant blushing or nervousness. In fact, when Goyle mocked Harry back then, it was Ginny who had bravely stepped up first...
"That robe... is it Slytherin's?"
For Ginny, who had just stepped out from under her parents' protection, the scene before her was a lot to take in. Judging from the student robes they'd already changed into, the wizard at the front looked like he was only a second-year, right?
Hermione pressed her lips together, unsure how to explain this to Ginny.
Honestly, if they hadn't taken the House Cup from Slytherin at the last minute, Draco's reputation probably wouldn't have risen so high. At the very least, the upper-year students wouldn't have so easily acknowledged a student who had just entered second year.
But after Draco stood firm under Dumbledore's gaze and did something no one else dared to do, he won over those proud Slytherins...
Hermione's hesitation made Ginny glance at her curiously—and with that glance, Ginny noticed something.
Hermione seemed especially focused on the pale-haired wizard... who, frankly, looked quite handsome.
"I feel like I've seen him somewhere before... but I can't place it."
Ginny would never have guessed that the wizard she was asking about was actually a member of the Malfoy family—the same family that had once clashed with her father.
But she couldn't really be blamed. Draco Malfoy wasn't exactly a household name like Harry Potter.
In fact, unless you were a pure-blood aristocrat, there was little chance you'd know anything about Draco's identity. And the Weasleys—labeled as blood traitors—naturally had no idea what the Malfoy heir looked like.
"Draco Malfoy."
"So... he's a Malfoy?"
Ginny's face clearly froze for a second. Then her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the pale golden figure who had left a good impression on her. She hadn't expected him to belong to that detestable family.
With Hermione's reminder, Ginny suddenly recalled—the wizard who stopped the confrontation in front of Flourish and Blotts had seemed to be this very Draco Malfoy...
Just like the other young witches and wizards watching Draco and his group, Hermione and Ginny's eyes stayed fixed on them. And at that moment, Draco's gaze happened to sweep in their direction.
If that had been all, it would've been nothing—but the issue was, Draco gave a little wave with the book in his hand toward Hermione.
"..."
"Hermione, you know him?"
"..."
Faced with Ginny's curious and somewhat suspicious look, Hermione suddenly felt uneasy.
This Ginny was nothing like the girl she'd met before. Caught off guard and flustered, Hermione turned and quickly walked toward the rear carriages...
Still, as she walked away, Hermione seemed worried Ginny might get the wrong idea, so she added casually, "At Hogwarts, you'll find there's no wizard who doesn't know that guy."
The vague comment made Ginny glance curiously at Hermione as she hurried off.
Had she just called him "that guy"?
Unbeknownst to her, if she hadn't been busy picking up the books in front of Flourish and Blotts that day, Ginny might've noticed—Hermione and Draco were definitely more than just classmates...
Draco didn't care much about the stir he'd caused.
Just like his first year, he walked along with a book in hand, completely absorbed in magical theory. The only difference was that this time, a number of Slytherin students followed behind him.
Still, when he noticed Hermione, Draco did something unexpected—he gave her a greeting. Not that the little wildcat appreciated it one bit.
Just as he was about to step onto the Hogwarts Express, Draco paused.
That's magical fluctuation... is someone casting a spell?
He lifted his head from the book, brows furrowed, and scanned his surroundings.
Truthfully, the old Draco wouldn't have been able to sense such subtle shifts in magic.
But over the summer, with his power growing and more time spent refining it, Draco had developed a sharper sensitivity to magical fluctuations.
And with that, he finally understood why the stronger a wizard was, the harder they were to ambush. At that moment, Draco sensed someone nearby casting a mid-level spell.
"Draco, what is it?"
"Nothing. Just noticed something interesting."
"Oh? If the know-it-all's reaction is interesting, then it must be."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing! Just keep reading your book—try not to knock yourself out with it!"
"..."
Draco twitched the corner of his mouth, completely lost on why the little princess was acting up. He shot a confused look at Goyle and Crabbe, who hadn't stopped talking the entire time.
That one glance from Draco nearly made them choke on their food. The last thing they wanted was to draw attention from that witch.
"Cough cough!"
"Interesting thing... Oh, right—I just realized the Chosen One and his tagalong still haven't shown up."
"Yeah, yeah! I haven't seen them either."
That caught Draco's attention, and he glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Still not here? They must be running late."
Wooooo—
And just as Draco finished speaking, the train whistle blew right on cue. If Harry Potter and the others didn't show up now, they'd miss the Hogwarts Express.
Draco turned his gaze toward a clearly uneasy Hermione and another red-haired Weasley.
Looks like they'd realized it too...
...
[Up to 50 chapters ahead for now]
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