Noticing the strange look on Astoria's face, Draco had little difficulty guessing what the girl with that faintly fragile beauty was thinking.
It was true. Harry Potter's performance at school could not be called mediocre, but it was far from exceptional. Aside from his obvious talent in Quidditch, nothing about him truly matched the fame and halo that came with being the Chosen One.
No wonder Astoria looked so unconvinced.
In fact, if Draco had not spoken privately with Snape before, and if his mother had not hinted at certain hidden truths, no one would have known that the "black bat" in the eyes of young wizards also had a youthful… no, a deeply devoted side.
That was why Snape's feelings toward Harry Potter were so complicated.
And it was also because of that conversation that Draco had finally understood, through his somewhat unconventional mother, why Astoria had appeared by his side.
This time, both families had kept him completely in the dark.
Should he call that a surprise?
"You… your stare is rather impolite."
Only then did Draco come back to himself. In front of him, his fiancée, Astoria, had turned her head aside awkwardly. Half-hidden behind the steaming cauldron, her face was flushed with a softness that did not quite suit her age.
As if to cover her fluster, she picked up a potion bottle from the table and used it to block his line of sight. Yet through the translucent pink liquid, the hazy blur only made her look even more striking.
Realizing that his gaze had lingered too long, Draco raised a fist to his lips and coughed lightly.
"I was just thinking of something important."
"Something important? Have you figured it out?"
"No. If it were that simple, it wouldn't be giving me such a headache."
Cornelius Fudge's attitude toward Harry Potter had clearly changed, and that shift was precisely what troubled Draco most.
If they had tried to convict Harry Potter in the Wizengamot because they believed he could never be one of them, then what did Umbridge's attempt to win him over mean now?
Was it merely to provoke Dumbledore?
Or was there something about Harry Potter that they wanted?
Draco knew there were far more pressing matters waiting for him. And yet, his instincts told him that getting to the bottom of this was important.
That was why he had seemed so preoccupied lately.
...
Elsewhere.
Unlike Goyle and Crabbe's training, which required long hours to build coordination, Pansy and Hermione had far more freedom.
After making arrangements for the others, Pansy brought her adorable Patronus over to Hermione.
Ever since successfully casting the Patronus Charm that day, Pansy summoned her Patronus whenever she still had magic to spare.
Officially, she claimed it was to refine her control and prepare for more advanced applications in the future.
But Hermione, who knew her far too well, understood the real reason.
"Parkinson, can't you go somewhere else?"
"Hm? I came over out of kindness. Don't you want to master the Patronus Charm as soon as possible?"
"..."
Hermione shot a glance at Pansy Parkinson, who stood there with her hands on her hips, striking the pose of a self-proclaimed senior. Veins throbbed faintly at Hermione's temple as she tightened her grip on her wand.
At first, Hermione might have believed that Pansy truly meant to help.
But after several days, she no longer thought so.
Because Pansy was clearly here to show off the fact that she had mastered the Patronus Charm before her.
Sure enough.
"Honestly, the Patronus Charm isn't difficult at all. Look, I succeeded on my very first try. Granger, your talent may be just a tiny bit below mine, but as long as you work hard and listen to my guidance, you'll definitely manage it. After all, you have a genius like me helping you."
"..."
"I'll demonstrate again. Make sure you watch carefully and admire… observe my elegant casting technique."
"..."
Hermione's eye twitched.
Every time, Pansy claimed she was helping, but in truth she was flaunting her advantage and deliberately provoking her.
It was not outright malicious. She did cast the Patronus Charm seriously for Hermione to see. But that smug, teasing tone was enough to irritate someone as proud as Hermione.
"Don't get so full of yourself. If it weren't for the wand I'm using not being…"
"Mhm, mhm. I believe you."
"…You're impossible!"
Hermione refused to believe Pansy did not understand her training situation.
After long practice with her specially modified wand, her control over her magic had indeed improved significantly, and she could now cast some spells properly.
But that did not mean she could use this seemingly ordinary wand, which actually interfered with her magical control, to successfully perform a complex spell like the Patronus Charm.
If she could, Pansy would not have the chance to tease her like this.
Still, when Pansy saw that Hermione was on the verge of exploding, she restrained herself slightly.
She gave her wand a casual flick.
"Don't look at me like that. In your current mood, you'll have an even harder time casting the Patronus Charm."
"Hmph!"
Hermione knew perfectly well that casting the Patronus Charm required the right state of mind. Pansy was not wrong.
But that did not mean she would let her off so easily.
"If you really want to help, then tell me how you succeeded."
"Hm… there's nothing I can't share. You just need to think of something happy."
"I know that. What I want to know is what you were thinking about at the time. I need something specific to reference."
"..."
"Wait. Why are you blushing?"
Hermione had not paid much attention at first, but then she noticed Pansy's face suddenly turning red in a very obvious way.
She froze.
Then she caught Pansy's gaze drifting briefly toward someone not far away.
Hermione's cheeks flushed instantly as well.
Something happy?
"You have no shame!"
Feeling heat rush all the way up her neck, Hermione shook her head vigorously and, flustered, nearly flung her wand out of her hand.
Pansy: ???