In the wizarding worlds of other countries, every magical school stands backed by an organization capable of influencing the balance of power in the magical world.
Take Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Ministry of Magic, Beauxbatons and the Magical Executive Council behind it, or Ilvermorny across the Atlantic, supported by the Magical Congress that once stood against Gellert Grindelwald. Their relationships are close and mutually reinforcing.
Magical schools are responsible for nurturing talent, while the Ministry absorbs that talent into key positions. After graduation, these witches and wizards give back to the magical world using everything they've learned, helping it grow stronger and better.
It's a healthy, orderly cycle.
But now, something seems to have gone seriously wrong between Hogwarts and the Ministry…
"Educational Decree Number 22…"
"What is it, Draco?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking that the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor is the Ministry's first move."
"First move…"
Yes.
Without Educational Decree Number 22, the Ministry would have had no way to place one of its own people into Hogwarts, let alone into such an important teaching position.
After all, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is granted immense authority. Whether appointing or inviting a wizard to teach a subject, the Ministry has no right to interfere. Only the current Headmaster has the authority to decide who becomes a professor for any given class.
More than that, the Headmaster even holds the power to veto any attempt by the Ministry to meddle in education…
In theory, such authority, which exists only within Hogwarts, shouldn't pose a threat to the Ministry's control over the wizarding world.
But after Dumbledore took office, the balance of power and prestige between the two began to tilt.
At times, the Ministry's long-winded speeches were less effective than a single sentence from Dumbledore. Some wizards might even answer "Dumbledore" when asked who the Minister of Magic was.
In other words, in certain respects, Headmaster Dumbledore already influenced nearly half of Britain's wizarding world. Calling him the Minister of Magic for the other half wouldn't be much of an exaggeration.
Perhaps that was precisely why Cornelius Fudge eventually turned against Dumbledore…
...
Draco, having made no attempt to explain what he meant by "first move," shifted his gaze away from the densely written decrees and looked toward the compartment reserved exclusively for the Head Boy and Head Girl in front of him.
[The Head Boy and Head Girl.]
Elegant, artistic cursive lettering had been inscribed on the door by magic. Anyone who saw it would be drawn in by the beauty and subtle sophistication of the spellwork.
Draco also noticed that, compared to the Prefects' compartment assigned to him, this one was considerably larger, more ornate, and far more refined.
"Head Boy and Head Girl?"
Seeing this, Draco found himself growing curious about who this year's Head Boy and Head Girl might be. After all, to most wizards, the Head Boy and Head Girl were exceptional and highly trusted figures.
Powerful, approachable, and reliable, they were usually admired by younger students and favored by professors. Even Draco still remembered a few of the previous Head Boys and Head Girls.
Like Prefects, both the Head Boy and Head Girl were appointed by the Headmaster of Hogwarts. The difference was that the positions were only filled by seventh-year students and changed every year.
Once appointed, the Head Boy and Head Girl had the authority to oversee all Prefects across every House and, in certain situations, step forward to lead the entire student body, with even ordinary professors unable to interfere.
That alone made it clear just how important the positions were.
And that wasn't all.
If you paid attention, you'd notice that witches and wizards who had once served as Head Boy or Head Girl tended to enjoy smoother careers and far richer connections later in life. These were benefits that weren't immediately visible after taking the position.
It was also worth noting that being a Prefect wasn't a prerequisite for becoming Head Boy or Head Girl. For example, Harry Potter's parents had never served as Prefects, yet upon reaching their seventh year, they became Head Boy and Head Girl respectively.
More amusing still, the likelihood of a pair of Head Boy and Head Girl marrying after graduation was said to exceed eighty percent.
That probably explained why Pansy looked so pleased.
She and Draco would start as Prefects, then move on to becoming Head Boy and Head Girl, and finally…
Well.
Perfect.
…
The Head Boy and Head Girl's compartment.
After giving the faintly glowing lettering on the door a brief glance, Draco raised his hand and knocked lightly.
Come to think of it, it wasn't only the Head Boy and Head Girl who had a private compartment. Prefects enjoyed the same privilege, and once back at Hogwarts, each year's Prefects were even assigned their own dedicated dormitories.
For most young wizards, that was an almost irresistible temptation…
As Draco was lost in thought, a pleasant voice sounded from inside the compartment. At once, Pansy and Hermione, who had just been looking around with curiosity, both sharpened their expressions.
"Please, come in."
Clack!
The moment Draco stepped into the compartment with Pansy and Hermione, their attention was immediately drawn to the witch seated neatly in a chair.
What stood out at first glance was her Ravenclaw-blue robes, along with the gleaming golden badge at her collar that marked her as the Head Girl. Beyond that, her long legs crossed with ease, her assessing gaze, and the refined, intellectual air unique to Ravenclaw all combined to make her striking at first sight.
If one were to describe her in Muggle terms, she was the very definition of a cool, intellectual older sister.
It seemed that the relaxed, almost lazy voice that had invited Draco in belonged to this beautiful and composed senior.
Seated beside her was the Head Boy, dressed in Gryffindor robes. By comparison, his presence was faint, as though he existed solely to highlight the elegance of the senior beside him.
Put simply, he was the sort of character who appeared in books for a single line and then faded into the background.
Hmm… that earlier claim about an eighty percent chance of Head Boy and Head Girl ending up as couples?
Judging by appearances, these two were probably part of the remaining twenty percent who didn't.