"Dana, how did you do that?!"
Harry was the first to break the silence.
Dana didn't answer, but Lupin stepped in to explain:
"Do you know where Dana's surname comes from?"
Harry and Ron shook their heads, but Hermione looked thoughtful.
"I read a Muggle book about Merlin," she said slowly. "It mentioned that the Druids called Merlin Emrys."
Lupin smiled and nodded approvingly.
"Miss Granger has an impressive breadth of knowledge. If we were still at Hogwarts, I'd definitely award Gryffindor five points. Yes, Emrys means 'immortal'—a respectful title the Druids gave Merlin. Those who later bore the surname Emrys typically carried some trace of Merlin's bloodline. The legendary Merlin was a prophet."
Ron suddenly understood.
"A descendant of Merlin! That's so cool! No wonder Dana's divination talent is off the charts!"
Harry also made the connection.
"Ron, do you remember the portrait of Merlin on the Chocolate Frog card?"
"Of course I do! You said Merlin and Dana looked kind of alike back then! If Dana's really Merlin's descendant, that explains everything!"
Hermione let out a soft sigh, not knowing whether she had accepted fate or simply given in to it.
"Merlin was also a renowned master of Transfiguration," she added quietly. "That explains Dana's achievements in that area as well..."
Dana shook his head slightly.
"Don't be a bloodline supremacist. Having a special lineage isn't something to boast about. If one can't realize their own worth, then having noble blood makes no real difference."
The trio fell silent, momentarily stunned by his words. Lupin gave a quiet nod of approval.
The atmosphere became slightly awkward. Dana rubbed his nose—these three hadn't yet been exposed to the Fire Serpent Party's advanced ideology, so it was no wonder they didn't quite grasp what he meant.
To change the subject, he turned to Ron.
"Where are Fred and George? I didn't see them today."
"Oh, them?" Ron came back to his senses. "Some prominent families in Merlin City formed the Merlin City Alliance. They invited all local merchants to discuss the city's future development. Fred and George, as owners of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, were invited."
Dana raised an eyebrow.
Ah, so it's beginning.
After stepping down from the carriage, Dana walked directly to the Thestral carriages.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped to greet Hagrid as usual. But when they turned around after saying hello, Dana was already gone.
Just like the year before, Dana had quietly found an empty Thestral-drawn carriage and climbed in. As usual, few students wanted to sit with him. Reactions to Dana were polarized—some were too intimidated to sit near him, only managing a quick greeting or request for an autograph. Others were still uneasy about his origins in Azkaban, or felt guilty for having given him the cold shoulder during his first semester.
The first to enter his carriage was Hannah Abbott.
Today, she wore her golden hair in a single braid down her back instead of her usual pigtails. A summer of hard work had taken away most of her baby fat, giving her a leaner appearance.
"Dana!"
"Hello, Hannah."
Dana smiled and scooted slightly to the side, making room for her.
Hannah sat down comfortably. Dana was an old acquaintance, so she didn't feel nervous around him. Still, her natural shyness made conversation difficult to start.
"Is the shop doing well?"
As soon as Dana mentioned the Leaky Cauldron in Merlin City, Hannah's face lit up.
"Business is amazing! Mum hired a few helpers, but even with them, we're completely swamped!"
Dana nodded.
"I noticed your mum's health wasn't too great. Don't let her overwork. St. Mungo's is just next to your shop—I'd suggest getting her checked."
Hannah gasped, covering her mouth.
"Oh, Dana, thank you for reminding me! I totally forgot she had a serious illness before. I'll write to her tonight and ask her to go for a check-up!"
"Dana, you're here—"
A girl in gypsy-like attire climbed into the carriage, her voice light and musical.
"Sister Abbott, I think paying attention to your mum's health is absolutely the right thing to do."
"Luna," Dana greeted warmly.
"Hannah just forgot because she's been busy. Her bond with her mother is strong."
Luna nodded solemnly.
"I know. I just... envy her."
Dana shook his head gently.
"No need to be envious—you still have your father, and he loves you deeply."
"Yes!"
Luna's face lit up.
"Sales for The Quibbler have gone up a lot lately. Dad even hired some reporters and workers. That's something we never dreamed of before. Now he's in a much better mood, and he spends way more time with me."
As Dana and Luna continued chatting, Hannah felt awkward—both of them had lost their mothers. With both her parents still alive, she felt a bit uneasy and unsure of what to say.
"Dana, you're here!"
Miss Granger entered the carriage.
Dana raised an eyebrow.
"Hermione, why aren't you with Harry and Ron?"
She shrugged.
"They're riding with Neville and Seamus."
Dana nodded thoughtfully, then Hermione asked:
"Dana, you finished your third year early. That means your grades won't count toward the end-of-term rankings, right?"
A new school year meant new professors.
This year, not only had the Defense Against the Dark Arts position changed again, but Rubeus Hagrid had also become the new Care of Magical Creatures professor.
Dana hadn't paid much attention to the new students this year. In the original timeline, only one name stood out to him—Astoria Greengrass.
She would one day become Draco Malfoy's wife. Because she refused to raise her son with the belief that Muggles were inferior, her marriage with Draco—a battle-hardened man—grew tense. Eventually, she succumbed to a family curse, passing away when her son Scorpius was in his third year at Hogwarts.
To Dana's surprise, this particular first-year walked straight up to him during the opening feast.
"Astoria, what are you doing at the Gryffindor table?!"
Her sister, Daphne Greengrass, called out "with restraint" from the Slytherin table.
"Come back, Astoria!"
But Astoria simply waved at her sister, then turned to Dana, raising her pretty eyebrows.
"Senior Emrys, I'm your fan. Can I get your autograph?"
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