I should have known better!
This magazine? My grandma's bikini shows more skin than this!
However, considering that the present era was far less open than later generations, Argus did not hesitate any longer.
He casually stuffed the magazine under his pillow and went to bed.
He was sleeping soundly.
But on the eighth floor of Hogwarts, someone could not sleep...
...
Inside the principal's office.
Dumbledore held the several sheets of paper and read them over and over again.
His trembling hands hinted at his inner turmoil.
"Gellert... I'm sorry, I... I really didn't expect you to end up like this!"
"If, if I could, I would rather..."
He leaned back on the bench, as if he had lost all his strength.
Now, he seemed to be just an ordinary, decadent old man.
Longing for the company of family and loved ones.
It took him a long time to recover from his sadness.
He murmured softly.
"You've really given me a tough challenge."
"This child... looked exactly like you back then..."
"No, even better than you were back then!"
"What should I do... Gellert…"
At this moment, atop the tower of Nurmengard.
An old man with white hair and heterochromatic eyes lay on a recliner.
Enjoying a comfortable starlight bath.
...
The next morning.
Argus didn't want to get up so early, but his biological clock made it impossible for him to continue sleeping.
Reluctantly, he cleaned himself up and headed to the Hogwarts dining hall.
After entering the restaurant and briefly greeting Draco and the others, Argus headed towards Gemma Farley and the others.
"Argus!"
At the Gryffindor table, Harry saw his friend arrive and waved to him.
"Hey, Harry, don't be so impatient."
"Now is not the time to say hello to your best friend!"
Percy, who was sitting not far from Harry, grabbed his hand and pressed it down.
"Why?"
"Let us explain!"
George and Fred suddenly appeared out of nowhere and shoved Ron, who was next to Harry, aside.
"On the night of each new student's enrollment, Slytherin would choose the first student leader through a duel."
"The chiefs determine their rankings through a chief ranking battle."
"The next day, we'll announce the battle results to the other colleges based on their seating arrangements in the cafeteria!"
"This is a big deal, didn't you see? Many professors are secretly paying attention to it!"
Fred pointed to the professor's seat.
Harry did indeed see Flitwick and Professor McGonagall talking while glancing toward the Slytherin table.
"Sigh, in previous years, there would definitely be a lot of people bidding for the Slytherin top spot. Maybe we can take this opportunity to raise some seed money."
"It's a pity your good friend is too strong, so strong that even trolls know he will be the head of Slytherin."
George sighed and made funny faces, which made many people burst into laughter.
"I just don't know if the top rankings will change this year."
"You know how powerful Argus is! I heard that Derrick spent the whole night at Madam Pomfrey's place last night!"
Fred seemed to remember something and looked at Ron with ill intent.
"Hey, little Ronnie, wanna make a bet with your dear brother?"
"What are we betting on?"
Ron had been tricked by his own brother too many times, so he instinctively became wary.
"Let's bet on how far Argus can get this time. If you win, I'll do your potions homework for you this week."
"If you lose, you just need to lend me Trevor to play with for two days..."
"Cough cough!"
Before Ron could speak, Percy coughed twice.
Reminding the others that they were still there!
Are you sure you're only going to play for two days?
Ron was traumatized by the scam and clutched his pocket tightly.
He knew that his two older brothers always needed experimental subjects.
However, the Galleons in their pockets weren't enough for them to afford a pet.
The purpose of borrowing Trevor was obvious!
But the Weasley twins, having finally found an opportunity, were not about to give it up easily!
Fred's expression held a hint of seduction.
"Little Ronnie, just think about it, that's a whole week's worth of Potions homework!"
"If you win, you can play freely for a whole week... With me around, you might even get a few big Os on your Potions homework..."
"Think about the envious looks from your classmates when you get your results..."
Fred and George worked together, fooling Ron into a daze.
Ron looked at Argus, who was walking toward the Slytherin table, and remembered what Fred had just said.
Someone spent the night at Madam Pomfrey's!
A surge of secret joy welled up inside him!
Foolish twins!
You've already told me the answer, and you still dare to bet with me!
This time, he was going to take back everything he'd lost!
He slammed his hand on the table, his tone extremely confident!
As if afraid others wouldn't hear it.
"Let's gamble!"
"I bet he can only get to second year!"
"You can't choose the same option as me!"
George and Fred exchanged a glance, their lips curling into wild smiles.
Foolish little brother!
They've been scammed for so many years, and they still haven't learned their lesson!
Why would we do a losing business!
Last night, while they were sneaking a bite in the Hogwarts kitchen, they overheard some of their Slytherin classmates talking about finding a chance to teach Argus a lesson.
If Argus hadn't taken down the opposing leader, they would never have said such a thing!
The two, brimming with confidence, exclaimed in unison, "Of course!"
"We bet Argus can make it to the third year!"
"Harry, you be the notary!"
"Huh? Me?"
Harry looked at Ron, then at the Weasley twins, and nodded hesitantly.
Not far away.
Argus did not hear their conversation.
He walked straight toward Gemma Farley's location.
The chief's seat was at the very front of the long table.
Many people were eating, but their eyes kept glancing at the Slytherin table.
They were clearly curious about just how far Argus could go.
"Filius, what rank do you think Argus can achieve?"
Professor McGonagall had always been very interested in Argus.
Hearing about the Weasley twins' bet, she couldn't help but feel a little curious.
"I was in the lounge when I heard from a new Ravenclaw student that he had used Accio to recall Neville Longbottom's pet in the carriage."
"Second and third graders can't do that."
Professor Flitwick had no prejudice against Grindelwald.
He admired Argus's talent more than his background.
"really."
"So, do you think he can reach the third-year level?"
Professor Flitwick thought for a moment: "Third year is about right."
"He's only eleven years old this year. Even if he's been exposed to magic since he was young, his own magical power won't be too strong."
"I also think third grade is about right."
As the two were talking, Argus had already crossed the Slytherin table and arrived at the head seat.
The fourth seat on the right is the seat for the first-year student leader, and it's also the starting point for all new student leaders.
But many well-informed people know that Derrick was taken to Madam Pomfrey last night.
Few people were surprised when Argus stepped over the seat.
"This year's freshmen are pretty good. When Derrick comes out, I'm going to give him a good laugh!"
"Hahaha... Who told him to look down on people all the time!"
The third one on the right, exclusively for the second-year top student.
When Argus reached this point, many people whispered among themselves, convinced that he could not possibly go any further.
Only a few people wore enigmatic smiles.
"Little Ronnie! You lost, so hand over Trevor now!"
As Argus strode past, Fred grabbed Ron, fearing he would try to escape.
On the other side, George's hand had already reached into Ron's arms.
He kept searching for the location of the toad.
"Let me go! You all knew all along, didn't you!"
Just then, Harry's voice came.
"Wait a minute, Argus doesn't seem to have stopped!"
Before he finished speaking, Argus had already passed the position of the second-year leader and was walking towards the next one.
He showed no sign of stopping!
"He's in third grade! And he's still continuing!"
"That's unbelievable! A freshman can beat the top third-year student!"
"Stop joking! What are the top Slytherins doing?!"
Incredulous gasps echoed from the crowd.
But Argus's journey continued!
Third grade!
Fourth grade!
Until he sat across from Gemma Farley!
Slytherin's number two spot!
At that moment, everyone fell silent.
The Slytherin seventh-year leader, nearing graduation, frequently asked for leave to go home.
There's no doubt that sixth-grader Gemma Farley was sitting in the first seat.
Why should Argus, a freshman, be seated in the number two position?
Given Slytherin's strict hierarchical system, even if the fifth-year class leader was not present, it was impossible for anyone to sit there casually!
unless...
A sense of disbelief arose in everyone's minds.
Unless the Slytherins thought that even the fifth-year top student was still at Hogwarts.
They were no match for Argus!