Hermione wasn't foolish. Seeing the completely motionless feather in Draco's palm, along with the sudden uncooperative behavior of her magic, the know-it-all immediately understood where the problem lay.
It wasn't that she had somehow turned back into a Muggle, nor had she forgotten how to properly cast the Levitation Charm.
She could feel it clearly. Even if the wand in her hand wasn't her own, Hermione didn't believe that with her level of ability, simply switching wands would make her incapable of casting something as basic as Levitation.
Which meant…
"What is this? This definitely isn't a 'normal wand,' is it?"
Noticing that Hermione's attention had been completely drawn to the so-called wand in her hand, Draco finally leaned against the sofa, a relaxed expression appearing on his face.
"A very rare Dark Magic artifact. Its effect is to slow and interfere with a wizard's use of magic, making it impossible for the wielder to properly control their magical power."
"Huh?!"
The moment she heard the words Dark Magic, Hermione almost instinctively raised the wand, as if she were about to smack it straight into Draco's face.
Thanks to her experiences with Draco, Hermione didn't view Dark Magic with the same instinctive fear, rejection, or disgust as most young witches and wizards.
After all, it was the wizard who used magic who mattered, not the magic itself…
Even though she had already begun to accept this idea, the instant she realized she was holding a Dark Magic item in her hand, Hermione's eyes still widened uncontrollably.
After all, by definition, Dark Magic artifacts were illegal items that were forbidden to possess.
But once the initial shock passed, it was quickly replaced by intense curiosity…
"You're saying this is… a Dark Magic artifact?"
"Mm. According to the wizard who sold it to me, it's usually used to sabotage a dueling opponent. I thought it was interesting, so I bought it."
"Sabotage… That makes sense. If you don't actually try casting a spell, you'd never realize how difficult it becomes to even use magic at all. So…" Halfway through, Hermione suddenly thought of something and looked at Draco.
"Just like you're thinking. Under these conditions, forcing yourself to cast spells can be used to improve a wizard's magical control. At least, that's my idea."
Draco lightly shook the feather in his hand as he explained his reasoning.
It was like training with weights tied to your body. Once you could cast spells normally with this wand, then switching back to your original wand would make spellcasting feel far smoother and easier.
Hermione glanced down at the utterly unremarkable Dark Magic artifact in her hand, then looked back at Draco. She pressed her lips together slightly.
"So… does that mean Parkinson and the others also—"
"No. They can't use this method."
"Huh?"
"If every wizard could improve their magic this way, it wouldn't be something left sitting untouched in a Dark Magic shop."
"Hmm…"
"Hermione, this is your talent. I'm really looking forward to seeing you use it to cast even stronger spells."
After saying that, Draco patted his robes and walked away.
Left behind was Hermione Granger, gripping the wand tightly, her gaze firm and resolute.
"Of course I will. I'm second in the year, after all!"
Leaving behind the clever witch who ranked second, Draco headed toward where Pansy was.
Compared to Hermione, who was now training on her own, and Astoria, who was quietly researching potions with the others, Pansy's side of the room was far livelier and more energetic.
Pansy was leading several of her followers, casting Transfiguration spells on suitable materials, turning them into various transformed objects, and then engaging in mock combat within the only practical training area.
Looking out over the training field…
Humanoid figures clad in knightly armor, beast-type forms that moved low to the ground on all fours, and a handful of avian creatures capable of flight filled the square arena, moving freely as they stretched their bodies and clashed with one another.
Among them, the one that caught Draco's attention the most was a predominantly white Transfiguration creature flying through the air.
Its movements were smooth and agile, rising and diving with ease. Compared to the other creatures on the field, whose actions appeared somewhat clumsy, it felt almost alive, as though it were a genuine living being rather than something formed by a Transfiguration spell.
Seeing this, Draco immediately knew who its creator was…
"Hmm… she's already reached this level?"
"Draco, look! This is a Transfiguration spell I've been working on recently!"
Noticing Draco walk over, Pansy immediately latched onto his arm, swaying it excitedly like a puppy wagging its tail, clearly seeking praise.
That Transfiguration creature's creator was, of course, none other than their young lady, Pansy Parkinson.
Pansy's confidence and pride were well earned, and Draco was fully aware of how difficult this was to achieve.
In truth, Transfiguration occupied a unique position among magical disciplines.
It was a powerful form of magic capable of altering non-living objects, even pushing as far as imitating life, though never creating true life itself.
When judging the level and difficulty of a Transfiguration spell, it wasn't just about how drastically the object was altered. How long the transformation could be maintained was just as important.
As for the spell in front of him now, one that resembled a summoned entity, it was an advanced combat-oriented Transfiguration. These spells demanded not only duration, but also smoothness and flexibility in movement.
In other words, without a certain level of innate talent, it would have been impossible for someone Pansy's age to reach this standard.
Not to mention that creating a flying Transfiguration required an even higher level of mastery, which only highlighted just how hard Pansy had been working lately…
"Very impressive. It exceeded my expectations."
"Right?!"
Watching the Transfiguration creature circle around him, Draco narrowed his eyes slightly.
"This one is…"
"That's right. I got the idea from that match of yours. It's missing some important abilities, but its speed is nothing to scoff at."
"A speed-focused creature, huh? If someone lets their guard down, it could definitely cause serious trouble."
Draco raised his arm, allowing the creature, shaped like a miniature Thunderbird, to land on it. He nodded, agreeing with Pansy's approach.
Yes, Pansy had clearly used the Thunderbird as the basis for her design.
As someone who had once faced a Thunderbird head-on, Draco was more than qualified to judge its strengths.
And just the ability to fly already gave it a massive advantage…
Lowering his arm and letting the small Thunderbird take to the air again, Draco finally shifted his attention to the other Transfiguration creatures being controlled by the rest of their followers.
For a group as small as theirs, Transfiguration spells that could both withstand attacks and deal damage were an extremely valuable source of combat power.