Even with all its restrictions and dangers, Apparition was absolutely indispensable to wizards.
That was precisely why students were introduced to this magic in their sixth year, and why there was even a separate exam specifically for it...
In everyday life, Apparition was undoubtedly the best way to travel quickly and cover distance.
On a strategic level, it held even more irreplaceable tactical value.
Especially in wizard duels, your level of mastery over Apparition could absolutely determine the outcome of a fight.
Because of that, the professors, who understood this spell's importance far better than the students below, were even more aware than the young wizards of just how significant it was that Draco had mastered Apparition.
He simply had never had the chance to show it before...
His casting speed.
The clarity in his eyes.
The precision with which he landed inside the hoop.
Every one of those things showed just how highly proficient Draco was with Apparition.
In other words, this was absolutely not the state or result a beginner at Apparition should have been capable of.
The moment they realized that, every professor present turned strange looks toward Snape, who was standing off to the side watching the scene with a blank expression.
Could it be that Severus had already known this would happen?
...
The young wizards, completely unaware of what the professors were thinking, were all staring at Draco with burning eyes as he slowly tucked his wand back into his cane.
The Prince of Slytherin.
For some reason, that title that had once spread through all the Houses suddenly surfaced again in everyone's mind...
It had to be said.
Draco's perfect demonstration had not only made the professors widen their eyes in surprise, it had also reignited the students' interest in and enthusiasm for this spell.
After all, it really had been incredibly cool.
Especially when Apparition was performed by Draco, it even gave people the illusion that they were looking at a work of art.
And that final motion of putting away his wand, combined with the effortless expression on his face and his elegant bearing, made it fair to say that Draco had become the perfect spokesperson for Apparition.
The visual impact was so strong that some wizards even found themselves wondering whether they should have a cane custom-made too...
Clap clap clap!
After that subtle moment of silence, no one knew who started it, but the little witches around them, who had taken in the whole scene, suddenly broke into piercing shrieks and frantic applause without the slightest hesitation.
As they clapped excitedly, they also tried to speak to Draco.
"Can you teach me, Draco?"
"That was amazing!"
"If you're willing, Draco, maybe we could talk in the garden tonight."
If all they were doing was expressing their admiration and enthusiasm out loud, that would have been one thing. Pansy and the others could still tolerate that.
But there were always a few bolder witches. Some of them were already on the verge of throwing themselves at Draco...
Seeing this, Pansy and Hermione, who had just been shyly watching Draco themselves, immediately moved to his side like little cats protecting their food, using warning looks to stop those witches who kept trying to edge closer.
"Don't let your guard down, Granger."
"I don't need your reminder, Parkinson."
"Then I'm relieved."
"That's my line!"
Maybe it was because they had experience by now, but the two girls actually worked together rather well.
Still, for some reason, the sight made Draco's brows twitch, and he couldn't help feeling a subtle concern for his future self...
In any case.
Since there were naturally people drawn to Draco, there were also, of course, wizards who couldn't stand how smug he was acting.
Only, given Draco's magical strength, those people dared to do no more than quietly badmouth him and secretly spread guesses meant to belittle him.
"Who knows, maybe Malfoy already learned Apparition outside school."
"If I had that kind of background, I could do it too."
"What's there to be proud of? It's just Apparition."
Leaving aside both the admiring and hostile comments directed at Draco, at the very least, the somewhat oppressive atmosphere that had settled in after the accident was stirred back to life by Draco's performance in that instant...
Just as Pansy and Hermione were about to drag Draco away from the scene, Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a delighted expression.
"Quiet. And very well done, Mr. Malfoy."
Professor Flitwick, standing beside her, nodded as well. "I must admit, very few wizards your age can master Apparition. Perhaps you should have come to Ravenclaw."
"Hmph... I can't pretend I didn't hear that."
Although Draco irritated him often enough, Snape was still proud of him, and he immediately let out a series of cold sneers at the short man beside him... ahem, Professor Flitwick.
In Snape's eyes, Slytherin was the House Draco belonged in...