As for the Wizard Strike Force Draco had mentioned.
Everyone present actually knew something about it. After all, they were all members of it themselves.
As for the mission of this armed force.
During ordinary times, they carried out training, and the content of that training was naturally the new tactics Draco had previously taught Goyle and Crabbe.
Rather than focusing on a wizard's individual strength, Draco hoped Goyle and Crabbe would put more effort into teamwork.
Therefore, according to Draco's final goal, this Wizard Strike Force needed to reach a level where, in small-scale battles, they could stand against the Dark Lord's subordinates without being defeated.
Achieving that in such a short time might be difficult, but at the very least, they had to be able to hold out for a while. Failing that, they had to be able to retreat in one piece.
That was Draco's most basic requirement.
And in order to meet Draco's goal, Goyle and Crabbe had indeed worked very hard and taken it seriously.
After all, during this period.
Aside from regular training and security patrols, they also set aside several days each week to conduct practical combat training with the Magical Creatures led by Norberta.
It could be said that only Draco, as a Dragontongue, could use a Dragon as a sparring partner.
But because of that, Goyle and Crabbe's progress had also been astonishing.
...
In any case.
As the meeting continued.
Everyone present came to understand the preliminary plan, as well as the important tasks Draco had assigned to them and needed them to carry out.
For example, the most important thing was to make everyone understand why they could not return to school and continue attending classes, as well as the crisis they would soon face.
This was information that had to be accurately passed down.
Especially to the little lions, who were especially adventurous. They needed to be warned properly.
And once Draco Constellation's first Round Table meeting ended.
Everyone left the Round Table Chamber one after another with complicated expressions.
After all, each person had tasks to handle, so the once lively Round Table Chamber quickly became cold and empty, leaving only Draco still seated at the head of the table.
No... in truth, a few girls had stayed behind as well.
Mm, there was no need to guess who those girls were.
Among them.
Hermione, who had carried the strongest presence just now and had been responsible for the most work, stretched her slightly stiff body while removing the glasses from the bridge of her nose. Then she looked at Draco with some concern.
"Will it really be all right? Our plan, I mean."
"All I can say is that we'll have to adapt as things happen. After all, we really had very little time to prepare. A lot of things had to begin before they were finished."
"Even you aren't confident?"
"Confidence? That word doesn't really suit the outcome of a war."
Draco shrugged and murmured softly.
Beside him, Pansy saw Draco's furrowed brow and exhausted expression.
Feeling that she could not help much, Pansy quickly came up behind Draco and placed her cool little hands against his temples.
A pleasant fragrance.
A gentle massage.
And the wonderful sensation of the back of his head resting lightly against something soft.
Although Pansy was no professional at this sort of thing, and as a pampered young lady, she certainly had no experience serving anyone.
But this clumsy yet heartfelt gesture made it all the more precious.
As for this sudden bit of special treatment, Draco naturally did not feel embarrassed. He accepted Pansy's care with complete peace of mind.
As he felt Pansy's fingertips rubbing gently against his temples, Draco could not help closing his eyes and enjoying the girl's tenderness.
The tension he had been holding inside finally relaxed at this moment.
"You two..."
Pansy's sudden action made Hermione, who had originally wanted to interrupt them, pause.
In the end, she even lightened the movements of her own hands.
Because she realized that Draco, who had only closed his eyes a short while ago, seemed to have fallen asleep in that brief span of time.
The sound of his even breathing proved that this was not Hermione's imagination.
As for why Draco had fallen asleep so quickly, Hermione naturally would not interpret it as Draco having stayed up late playing games the night before.
In the end, the reason was actually very obvious.
Other than everything that had happened recently, Hermione truly could not think of any other cause.
...I didn't even notice.
Seeing the obvious exhaustion on Draco's face, Hermione began to blame herself. Just now, she had actually wanted to drag Draco into discussing the details.
Thinking of this, Hermione's heart ached for Draco, and her expression looked as if she was about to cry.
...
Although this did not really have much to do with Hermione.
Seeing Draco like this still left her at a loss, her face full of uncertainty.
After seeing Pansy's actions, Hermione even felt a subtle sense of relief that Pansy was there.
Even though Pansy was supposed to be her romantic rival.
In any case.
This really was not like Draco's usual behavior.
Because in front of Pansy and Hermione, Draco was always confident and calm. Even when faced with difficult problems, he could always smile and look perfectly at ease.
It was precisely because he gave that impression that people subconsciously overlooked the fact that Draco, just like Hermione and the others, was also a seventh-year student at Hogwarts.
And yet, Draco had not said a word, nor had he complained even once. He had simply borne the heavy pressure that might affect the transformation of the entire magical world.
Perhaps Draco had chosen to do all of this himself, and no one had ever thought it was only natural for him to carry it.
But Hermione still felt that she should have noticed.
Draco was tired.
The Round Table Chamber was quiet.
Only the faint sound of Draco's breathing could be heard as he slept.
In an exceedingly rare moment, Pansy and Hermione, who had come together in the same space, did not bicker over some small matter.
At this moment, after exchanging a glance, they quickly looked away.
Although neither of them said anything, it was as if everything had already been said.
Because in the next second.
Pansy, whose hands had grown sore, suddenly stepped back. Hermione, standing to the side, immediately took over and continued the work Pansy had just been doing.
Throughout the whole process, they did not wake Draco in the slightest.
It had to be said that the seamless way the two of them handed over the task was enough to make one wonder whether they had anticipated this situation long ago and secretly rehearsed it in private.
But in truth, there was no such thing.
It was only because they shared the same feelings that they were able to cooperate so smoothly in this moment.
Serious gazes.
Heartbroken eyes.
At this moment, Pansy and Hermione rarely found themselves in agreement.
They probably had never imagined such a day would come.