The Slytherin common room.
Because they had deliberately distanced themselves from Draco last year, nearly every little snake who passed by him now looked somewhat uncomfortable.
No one wanted to offend someone destined to become powerful, especially not a Slytherin.
Beyond their guilt, some even wore obvious regret on their faces, as though they were bitterly regretting what they had done before.
The reason for such a dramatic shift in attitude among the little snakes was naturally Lucius's maneuvering and that article.
Although the situation still wasn't entirely clear, almost no one now believed that Draco would fail to rise...
In short.
Whatever one might say about how pragmatic these people were, or how much of it was sincere, this scene was immensely satisfying to Pansy, Goyle, and the others who followed Draco, making them feel proud and pleased with their choice.
What they didn't know was that when Goyle and Crabbe had first read about what Draco had done in the Daily Prophet, they too had been stunned and full of disbelief...
And while Goyle and Crabbe were swaggering around the Slytherin common room with several followers, Pansy tugged at Draco's robe with a strange expression. "Sneaking around... ahem, what's wrong with Granger? Why does she look like she failed an exam?"
Using "failed an exam" to describe Hermione's current state was actually very fitting.
In fact, ever since Draco and the others had finished Potions and returned to the Slytherin common room, Pansy had wanted to ask about it.
Because this was the first time she had ever seen Hermione Granger wearing such a life-doubting expression and looking so absent-minded.
Naturally, Draco knew exactly what Pansy meant.
He said with a hint of amusement, "It's nothing. She just took a blow."
"You mean... she got hit that hard? Don't tell me she lost to you again."
Faced with Pansy's suspicious stare, Draco twitched the corner of his mouth. "Not me. If it had been me, do you really think Hermione would look like this?"
"True. It's not like this is the first time she's lost to you. She should be numb to it by now... so who was the wizard?"
While saying something that darkened Hermione's expression, Pansy also grew curious about the mysterious wizard Draco was talking about.
From what she knew of the sixth-years, there shouldn't be anyone like that among them.
Otherwise, Draco and Hermione could never have dominated their year for five straight years...
Glancing toward Hermione, Draco spread his hands. "Honestly, I was surprised too."
"You were too?"
"No. All I can say is that I handled enough of the details in the potion-making process. Otherwise, the result really would've been hard to say."
What Draco didn't mention was that the other person's technique had felt strangely familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
And after learning that even Draco had nearly capsized, Pansy became even more curious about this mysterious wizard...
But in the very next second, the curiosity on her face turned into utter shock.
All because of Draco's answer...
He gave the small bottle in his hand a little shake. A faint stream of golden light shimmered within it, and through the glass, his eyes seemed to carry a strangely fractured look. "It was close. Just a little closer, and this prize in my hand would've been his."
"..."
"That Potter, the one who had no business being in the Advanced Potions class."
Pansy blinked. "Potter? Which Potter?"
Draco gave her a teasing blink in return. "Other than that Potter, what other wizard do you think is called Potter?"
"..."
Pansy's mouth fell slightly open.
That was impossible!!
How could it be Harry Potter?
...
If it really was that Harry Potter, then Pansy could understand why Hermione looked so badly shaken.
Although he was called the Savior, everyone knew Harry Potter put almost no effort into studying.
Especially when it came to Potions.
Because of Snape, Harry Potter, who hated the man and everything connected to him, had not only never seriously settled down to study it, but had also thoroughly loathed and rejected everything about Potions.
For Harry Potter, it wasn't so much that he disliked Potions as that he hated Snape himself.
Strictly speaking, Harry Potter might not actually lack talent in Potions. It was just that because of Snape, he had been unwilling to learn any of it...
So with all that being the case, there was absolutely no reason Hermione should have lost to Harry Potter in potion-making.
More importantly, Harry Potter's performance had nearly surpassed even Draco's.
Perhaps that was exactly why Hermione was reacting so unusually.
Hearing the two of them talking, Hermione slowly wiped the expression from her face. "I'm not that fragile. It's just..."
"You're just doubting yourself?"
"..."
Well, Hermione's silence was as good as admitting Draco's guess.
Seeing Hermione sink back into dejection, Pansy quietly poked Draco with her hand.
The worried look she sent him made Draco smile in understanding.
Whenever those two were together, they were always noisy and bickering.
But if something happened to the other, they couldn't help worrying. That made Draco gently rub Pansy's little head, his gaze softening. "Actually, I don't think Potter has that kind of ability."
"Huh?"
Although Pansy hadn't been there at the time, she trusted Draco's judgment completely.
So while Hermione let out a startled sound, Pansy added her own opinion and guess. "That's what I'm saying. Maybe he cheated, and that's why he did so well."
"Cheated... is that possible?"
"Of course. The effects of dark magic artifacts are beyond your imagination. Maybe, just maybe, he happened to have one in his hands."
"That does sound possible. If there really is a tool like that."
"Hmph, who do you think I am!"
"I wasn't complimenting you."
Completely led around by the nose by Pansy, Hermione finally nodded hesitantly.
She didn't quite believe Harry Potter could cheat so openly right under the professor's nose, but this did seem like the only explanation that made sense.
Otherwise, Hermione truly couldn't believe she had lost to Harry Potter, who even copied other people's homework...
While Pansy and Hermione were whispering to each other, neither of them noticed Draco resting his chin on his hand, looking like he was thinking about something.
"Cheating?"
Because of Pansy's careless remark, a thought faintly flashed through Draco's mind.
If it wasn't a dark magic artifact, then what was it that had caused Harry Potter's change?
And that technique... he felt like he had seen it somewhere before...