There were certainly sharp-minded individuals among wizards.
But perhaps because they relied too heavily on magic, the wizarding world seemed to lack anything resembling psychology, let alone a complete system of criminal investigation.
After all, with spells like Prior Incantato to trace a wand's history, or Legilimency to freely delve into another person's mind, Aurors could resolve most cases with ease.
There was simply no need for the Sherlock Holmes–style detectives currently so popular in the Muggle world, nor for any elaborate investigative techniques to serve as support....
As a result, Umbridge made no effort at all to hide the expression on her face.
Criminal psychology was a discipline that required only a single flaw or a fleeting microexpression to uncover what a person was truly thinking or what secrets they were hiding.
Perhaps Draco's age was deceptively misleading. Or perhaps Umbridge was simply too confident in herself.
Either way, she had no idea just how much she had already revealed to Draco at this very moment....
…
Every wizard in the dining hall had stopped eating. Even those whose plates had long since been cleared had no intention of leaving now and missing what was about to unfold.
Everyone wanted to see how Umbridge, who had quietly come to resemble a tyrant ruling over Hogwarts, would handle facing someone like Draco, whose background and influence were equally formidable.
Especially with the hesitation she was showing now, it became clear to everyone that something was off.
Could it be that the final outcome would really end in Draco's victory?
They had assumed Draco's earlier silence was a sign of retreat. No one expected the situation to take such a dramatic turn at the very end....
Snap!
The dull sound of the pink notebook slamming shut perfectly reflected its owner's true mood.
"Very well, Mr. Malfoy. Considering that Educational Decree Number 27 has only just been issued, I will deduct five points from Slytherin this time... but there will not be a next time!"
After adding that final line, which sounded very much like a threat, Umbridge turned on her heel and left without another word.
Although Draco hadn't escaped punishment entirely, it was a far cry from the expulsion he had been facing moments ago.
This outcome was worlds apart from the treatment Luna had received, making it difficult for anyone to reconcile the Umbridge they thought they knew with what had just happened.
Most of the wizards present had never imagined this would be the ending....
...
The moment the pink figure disappeared from the dining hall, the space that had been terrifyingly quiet just seconds before was instantly flooded with gasps and heated discussion.
Several wizards who were close to Ginny were already itching to step forward and ask what had happened. If not for Goyle and Crabbe blocking their view at just the right moment, and the Slytherins who had come to their senses and sent out sharp warning looks, those overly excited students might have swarmed the table entirely.
Even so, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the young wizards.
Compared to watching a Slytherin like Draco stand out, most of them still wanted to see Umbridge driven out of Hogwarts....
"Why?"
The faint murmur by his ear made Draco glance toward the red-haired Ginny Weasley nearby.
He didn't know what kind of dilemma the youngest Weasley girl was wrestling with, but judging by her distant expression, she didn't seem to be looking for an answer from him.
So Draco merely spared her a glance before withdrawing his gaze, with no intention of approaching her or responding.
Luna, who had been staring blankly into the distance just moments ago, unexpectedly heard Ginny's question.
"Ginny?"
"...It's nothing, just...."
"Hm?"
Faced with her friend's adorable look, head tilted and eyes fixed on her in earnest confusion, Ginny rubbed her temples in irritation. A sudden thought struck her.
Had she made a mistake?
Had she been too self-righteous all this time, constantly stopping Luna from getting close to Draco?
Especially after what had just happened, Ginny found it hard to even look in Draco's direction.
Perhaps only Gryffindors would think this way. Filled with a strong sense of justice and fiercely protective of their friends, how could they simply ignore what Draco had just done?
Faced with a wizard who had stepped forward without hesitation to help her friend, Ginny couldn't remain unmoved....
What is this supposed to be? This makes me look like the bad guy instead...
She shot an annoyed glare at the friend who was staring back at her in utter confusion, then sighed quietly to herself.
Compared to her own inaction, Draco was the one who had truly helped Luna. That realization left her feeling conflicted.
Or rather, it felt completely different from everything she had heard before, from what she had always believed.
How was that possible?
Even if he didn't kick someone while they were down, he wouldn't actually help, would he?
He was a Slytherin!
More importantly, what excuse was she supposed to use from now on to stop Luna from continuing to seek Draco out...?
…
Compared to the tangled emotions churning inside Ginny and whatever misunderstandings she held about Draco, Luna beside her seemed much calmer. That vacant, absent-minded look made it seem as though the wizard who had nearly been expelled just moments ago wasn't her at all.
Luna's reaction struck Draco as amusing, and he studied her with interest.
Should he call it a big heart?
That unusual sense of composure alone was enough to show just how special Luna was. It was precisely this quality that Draco appreciated about her, and not merely because she happened to be a fellow tea drinker who also liked Gurdyroot Infusion....
As Draco continued to look at her, Luna seemed to notice his gaze and looked back. She met his eyes, blinked adorably, then appeared to remember something and gently pressed her lips together.
"Thank you."
So she did understand.
There was no need to ask what that "thank you" was for. Those two simple, direct words were very much Luna's style.
If it had been an ordinary girl, her first thought might have been whether Draco, who had just helped her, harbored some blush-inducing feelings.
Was it because he liked her that he couldn't bear to see her expelled?
Otherwise, why would he go that far?
Those were the kinds of guesses most wizards would make. In fact, that was exactly why Goyle and Crabbe were so conflicted.
Should they report this to the boss lady?
If they covered for Draco, wouldn't they be the first ones to get into trouble...?
But these sticky, youthful romance-filled imaginings never seemed to apply to Luna. At least, judging by her current demeanor, there was no sign that she was thinking along those lines.
And Draco didn't seem to have any such intentions either....
"If you really want to thank me, then help me pass on a message to your father."
"...Huh?"
The voice of surprise didn't come from Luna, but from Ginny, who had been eavesdropping nearby.
She clearly hadn't expected Draco to make a request like that.
Ignoring the strange noise from Ginny, Draco simply looked quietly at Luna Lovegood, as if waiting for her answer.
A trace of confusion flickered across Luna's face. After confirming that there wasn't even the slightest hint of a joke in Draco's eyes, she slowly nodded her head.
She didn't agree or refuse, nor did she ask about his reasons. She simply said,
"I understand."
"Good. Then lend me The Quibbler for now. Let's go, Goyle, Crabbe."
"...Mm."
As Draco stood up and left with Goyle and Crabbe, Ginny and Luna were immediately surrounded by students who had been waiting impatiently, all talking at once as they fired off questions.
What they didn't know was that Ginny had no energy to deal with any of it. She pushed through the crowd, grabbed the still-dazed Luna, and quickly pulled her away.
Ginny felt she needed to find somewhere quiet to think. Because of what had just happened, she suddenly realized that maybe she didn't understand Slytherin at all.
So maybe Hermione wasn't brainwashed or deceived by Draco, the way Ron always said she was?
Perhaps... not all Slytherins were bad after all....