Daphne's memory suddenly drifted back to the summer that had just passed.
Faced with wave after wave of threats and harassment from former business partners who were now Death Eaters, the entire family was shrouded in invisible terror.
Because of this, her father seemed to have aged ten years in just a few months, spending his days lost in sighs and despair.
Even her excellent O.W.L. results had only managed to coax a weak smile from him.
On the last day before term began, he suddenly sought her out.
"We can no longer remain neutral," her father sighed heavily. "I'm not sure whether encouraging you to grow close to Miss Jane was the right decision."
"Of course it was the right decision!" Daphne instinctively defended her friend. "She's different!"
Her father stared at her intently, something different flickering in his eyes. He suddenly remarked:
"You don't usually contradict me, Daphne."
Sweat beaded on Daphne's forehead. She wasn't sure what he meant—whether it was criticism for her disobedience or just a casual observation.
"This month, the Malfoy family sent one letter, old Crabbe visited twice, old Goyle came four times..."
Her father didn't continue that topic, instead calmly explaining the Greengrass family's predicament:
"We've exhausted every excuse. Clearly, their goal is to drag us down with them, using your close relationship with Jane Yu to strike at her and Dumbledore."
"I can't do it." Daphne felt cold sweat soaking her back as she contradicted her father for the second time. "I don't want to join the Death Eaters. I couldn't... and I don't have the ability to attack Yu..."
She suddenly remembered how Jane Yu had extended a helping hand during her second year when she felt helpless...
She thought of their daily life together as roommates...
She remembered the Muggle books Jane had left her, the gaming consoles updated every year...
She thought of the vast future world Jane had shown her...
For the first time, she felt the fog lifting, her eyes opening to see the truth...
"Perhaps I should transfer you and Astoria to another school," her father continued. "The Greengrass family isn't a great house like the Malfoys. We should keep our heads down, seek balance, and avoid becoming a focal point for either side."
"No, Dad." Daphne contradicted her father for the third time, feeling hot blood rushing to her head. "I want to return to Hogwarts."
Her father said nothing, quietly watching her.
"Yu's ambitions are greater than anyone else's."
Daphne stood up, her gaze meeting her father's directly for the first time without flinching:
"I see the future in her—a different world! She'll lead the entire wizarding world toward spiritual and material glory!"
Daphne thought of the Slytherin students:
Whether half-blood or pure-blood, all the young snakes looked up to Jane Yu as their role model, an insurmountable mountain...
She treated everyone equally—pure-blood, half-blood, or Muggle-born; whether from prominent families or unknown backgrounds...
Wherever she was, everyone united and progressed together, fighting for Slytherin house's honor...
She led them against unfair professors, defeated the oppression of Ministry Under-Secretary Umbridge, giving Slytherin students the courage to resist for the first time...
And gradually, through assignments and classroom interactions with other houses, barriers broke down, prejudices slowly dissolved, and friendships formed...
Looking at Slytherin now, who didn't have several half-blood friends?
Some young snakes even secretly kept the Muggle books Jane Yu had left behind!
But now, Voldemort was extending his claws toward the school!
He wanted to use Death Eater children to destroy this hard-won unity and friendship!
He wanted Slytherin students to split apart, pointing their wands at classmates they lived with day and night!
All wizards fighting each other, making their already small numbers even more precarious!
"I want to return to Hogwarts." Daphne felt her voice had never been so resolute. "The Dark Lord won't succeed—Yu will stop him! She's a leader fighting for wizards' future, not a dictator making wizards slaughter each other!"
"Then what about me, your mother, and your sister?" Mr. Greengrass asked quietly.
Daphne didn't notice that the subject in her father's words had already changed.
"You can move to America, like those families similar to ours—Astoria can attend Ilvermorny and receive the most progressive, enlightened education."
"But no matter what, I'll stay here. I'll follow Yu, and when everything ends... we'll build a new world!"
She watched her father anxiously, waiting for the final judgment—
She didn't know whether it would be reproach, anger, or something else...
She felt that as the eldest daughter, perhaps she was being recklessly impulsive about the family's fate...
But she was surprised to see relief in her father's eyes, and the wrinkles on his face relaxed.
"You've grown up, Daphne."
She had never seen her father show such an expression—as if he'd finally set down a heavy burden he'd carried for months.
"Your sister said the same thing," Mr. Greengrass continued. "Your mother and I have already bought tickets to America, traveling with the newlywed Zabinis. Perhaps now I should cancel your two tickets."
Daphne gaped, suddenly realizing her father hadn't mentioned building relationships with the Malfoys or befriending excellent boys at school for quite some time.
"Dad, you mean—?"
"Do what you want, Daphne. Take care of your sister. I don't know if Miss Jane's decision is correct, but at least I see that following her has finally given you some thoughts of your own, the ability to actively make choices for yourself... for the family's destiny."
Pansy's shrill voice pulled Daphne back to reality. In a daze, she realized Blaise had been tugging at her sleeve under the table several times, trying to bring her back to her senses.
Daphne knew what she had to do. Perhaps three years ago, her instincts and subconscious had already made the choice ahead of her conscious mind...
"She won't come to school!" Crabbe and Goyle continued mocking with Pansy. "She's abandoned you! Run away first!"
Daphne suddenly stood up from her chair, staring directly into Pansy's eyes:
"No, she'll return to school."
Some inexplicable courage made the words spill from Daphne's mouth before her brain could catch up:
"She's different from people like you. She would never arrange Slytherin seats by family wealth, by which master they serve, by blood status. She would never make food available only to those who obey her! She would never force others to aim tormenting curses at their own classmates, at fellow wizards!"
The Slytherin table fell silent. The young snakes exchanged glances—
There was a hidden excitement, like a concealing curtain waiting for the wind to lift its corner...
"She'll lead all wizards to create the world's future, not make wizards slaughter each other like some people!"
Daphne, knowing Slytherin nature well, struck at the heart:
"Can't you see who victory is bowing to? Don't you want your weak families to rise again?"
"You can't possibly think that by submitting to those people, relying on your own cowardice, they'll respect you and let your families leap to the top tier, can you?"
"Brilliant, Daphne," Blaise whispered. "You sound like a Gryffindor—not an insult this time, that's the complimentary version."
He also suddenly stood up, arrogantly raising his eyebrows at the neutral family young snakes around them:
"Opportunity won't wait for anyone!"
Thinking of his mother who had already gone to America for her honeymoon... honey-year with her new husband—
Blaise, having observed Jane Yu's words and actions for years, felt he had no worries and was ready to roll up his sleeves for action!
The Zabini family's revival would start with him!
Seeing two members of neutral pure-blood families stand up and express firm support for Jane Yu—
The Slytherin table grew even more restless!
Daphne nodded to Blaise, then glanced at the tightly closed doors.
She knew why Jane Yu hadn't appeared yet—she never did anything useless...
She must be quietly observing everything happening at the Slytherin table!
She was evaluating the Greengrass family's loyalty to her...
She was watching which people would join her camp... who would firmly stand by her side even when she wasn't present...
She was choosing who would become her companions in creating the wizarding future!
Only these people deserved her protection, only they were worthy to follow her!
"Think about how to choose!" Daphne suddenly turned around, addressing the young snakes on the other half of the table. "Everyone knows how much harassment you endured from those people over the summer! If you want protection, let Yu see your attitude!"
"Don't forget who has maintained Slytherin's stability all these years, who won us five years of honor, who made other houses respect us, who helped us make like-minded friends!"
Her words had barely finished when the Great Hall doors were suddenly thrown open—
There were many figures at the entrance, but Daphne only saw one figure in black house robes with a silver-green scarf...
That was Jane Yu!
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