Happy times always seem to pass in the blink of an eye.
Just as the wizarding world was beginning to grow unsettling, and Pansy and the others still hadn't fully mastered the Patronus Charm, the new school term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrived right on schedule. It appeared completely unaffected by the Dark Lord's return. After all, a child's education couldn't be put on hold…
In any case.
After receiving their acceptance letters, Draco and the others began preparing for the new term: buying the required textbooks, replacing their robes to accommodate their growth, and thinking carefully about the elective courses tied to the fifth-year Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) exams.
All of this had to be prepared or decided before school started.
Electives, in particular, were crucial. They determined which subjects you would be tested on in your O.W.L.s and, more importantly, the direction you would take after graduation.
Put simply, your O.W.L.s shaped your future.
"Hermione, if your goal is to become Minister of Magic, then your O.W.L. results are extremely important. And after that, you'll still have the N.E.W.T.s waiting for you."
At the moment, Draco and the others weren't at the Romanian Draco base, but aboard the Hogwarts Express, heading toward Hogwarts.
After boarding the train, Hermione's curiosity about the details of the O.W.L.s got the better of her, so she asked Draco to explain the structure of the exams and what they truly meant. Once Draco learned about Hermione's ambitions, he even added a pointed reminder in that direction.
"Mm… I really don't think you need to worry about Granger at all, Draco. I can already imagine her getting Outstanding in all twelve subjects."
"…I do have confidence in my own results, but hearing that from Parkinson somehow makes it sound like you're mocking me?"
Although it was meant as praise, the moment Hermione saw Pansy clinging to Draco's arm, she felt that comment was just an excuse to drop the topic and move on…
...
As the Hogwarts Express thundered along the tracks.
For Draco and the others, who had already taken the train eight times, the scenery outside the window had long since lost its novelty. Instead, the journey felt drawn out and increasingly hard to endure.
There were clearly faster ways to reach Hogwarts, yet they stubbornly relied on this inefficient means of travel.
Perhaps that was simply tradition.
Unlike most students, Draco and the other Prefects had responsibilities during the trip. They needed to meet this year's newly appointed Head Boy and Head Girl, along with the Prefects from other years, and hold a brief meeting.
Sure enough, not long after boarding the train, Draco and the others received a notice instructing all Prefects to gather in the Head Boy's compartment.
"Draco, it's about time."
"Mm. Let's go see. I wonder who the Head Boys are this year?"
At that moment, silver badges symbolizing their status as Prefects were pinned neatly to the collars of both Draco and Pansy. These weren't just marks of status, but official proof of the school's recognition.
To become a Prefect, a wizard needed more than good grades and proper conduct. They also had to earn the approval of most students and receive the consent of the current Headmaster. Only then could they be granted such an honor and responsibility.
Even so, the final decision ultimately rested with the current Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore.
The Slytherin fifth-year Prefects were Draco and Pansy, now pushing open the compartment door.
And… Hermione of Gryffindor.
"Wait for me!"
"Granger, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to come along with us?"
"What's inappropriate about it? We're not even going out of our way."
"Hmph! Don't you need to bond with your House's male Prefect? Just like Draco and me."
Veins practically popped.
As if deliberately showing off, Pansy reached out and looped her arm through Draco's.
Those deliberately provocative words, coupled with the unmistakable intimacy of the gesture, struck a nerve. Hermione, proud and prickly as ever, was so irritated she nearly snapped her wand in half.
For some reason, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind…
Why wasn't she a Slytherin!
"I don't need to. On the contrary, Parkinson, since you seem so interested in our House's Prefect, I could introduce you to him."
"Hah? I'm not even from your Gryffindor House! And I have no interest in getting to know some random wizard."
"Well, what a coincidence. I don't want to build any kind of relationship with random wizards either."
Random this, random that. Whoever that unfortunate Gryffindor male Prefect was, if he ever found out what Pansy and Hermione were saying about him, it would probably leave him mentally scarred…
Fortunately, this was Draco's Prefects' compartment. No wizard lacking basic tact would dare show up here, which neatly eliminated any chance of these remarks spreading.
In fact, anyone hoping to reach Draco's compartment would first have to break through the multiple layers of "security" set up by Goyle and Crabbe before they could even catch sight of him.
In any case.
As a fifth-year Prefect herself, Hermione was also supposed to head to the Head Boy's compartment at this time, just like Draco and the others.
And judging by the presence of Pansy and Hermione, a pair who got along like cats and dogs, Draco's walk there was guaranteed to be anything but boring…
...
Draco had long expected that this school year wouldn't be a peaceful one.
He just hadn't anticipated seeing such a major move from the Ministry of Magic so early on.
When Draco and his group arrived outside the compartment assigned to the Head Boy, they were immediately greeted by a whole series of notices plastered across the door.
"Educational Decree No. 23. We already know about that. Let's see what's below…"
"Educational Decree No. 22, No. 24, No. 25, No. 26… Merlin, what is going on? Is Dumbledore really just letting the Ministry do whatever it wants?"
Without even reading the contents in detail, Hermione felt her scalp tingle as she blinked in unease.
Pansy, on the other hand, completely ignored the decrees, utterly unconcerned.
As for Draco, his gaze had already settled on one particular notice.
[Educational Decree Number 22: Should the current Headmaster be unable to provide a candidate for a teaching position, the Ministry of Magic shall recommend a suitable individual.]