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  Harry looked at Cedric with a hint of surprise.

  “Cedric was the top student in third year.”

  “Harry,” Cedric said with a shy smile.

  “I’ve heard about your group of friends from Harry, and I’m very interested,” Cedric continued after a brief pause. “And… after talking with him, I don’t think you’re the kind of people the rumors make you out to be.”

  Amanda was surprised by the idea. After all, the most enthusiastic rumors about them came from Hufflepuff, which loved to gossip.

  It seemed they owed this to Harry.

  Harry looked extremely proud. “See? I told you I could do it.”

  He gave a double thumbs-up before asking challengingly, “Draco, what did you win?”

  “…” Draco looked as if he’d just been rejected by Snape and snorted.

  Amanda shook Cedric’s hand, the first member of her group from another house.

  …

  At midnight, they also had Astronomy class, the only lesson scheduled for that hour.

  Amanda followed the familiar path she had taken earlier that day; it was where Pansy had agreed to meet her.

  But Amanda had nothing to worry about at the moment, at least, nothing urgent.

  Still, as they observed the constellations one by one through their telescopes, Harry occasionally glanced around.

  “It’s so painful… Standing here, I can’t help looking down and thinking about what happened to Amanda today.”

  “It’s all over now.” Amanda tried to comfort him. She was the one who had fallen, but Harry hadn’t forgotten it.

  Draco stared at the sky through his binoculars. “Looking at the sky… it makes me feel better.”

  “My vision’s getting blurry. The sky is full of tiny bright dots,” Harry complained.

  “I just discovered a constellation, talked to you for a second, and now I can’t find it anymore.”

  Amanda was also a little confused by the class. After arriving at Hogwarts, she realized she had underestimated most of the subjects.

  She now admitted that she might only have real talent in spellcasting, and that she currently understood nothing about Herbology or Astronomy.

  Especially in Astronomy, there wasn’t even a textbook. You simply watched the tiny points of light in the sky and followed their movements.

  They moved only very slowly over a long period of time, yet after half an hour, the entire sky looked completely different.

  Each star moved at a completely different speed.

  She couldn’t even imagine how terrible things would be in Professor Trelawney’s Divination classes.

  …

  The following afternoon, she went to the Quidditch pitch, as arranged with Marcus, the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team.

  With Marcus’s permission, Harry and Draco also came to the pitch and sat in the stands to support her training.

  Of course, Amanda thought they were just using it as an excuse to watch Slytherin’s Quidditch practice.

  After all, her task was simply to avoid her teammates and catch the Golden Snitch. She didn’t think it was anything special.

  Her broom hadn’t arrived at Hogwarts yet, so she used one of the school’s shared brooms for now.

  “Is that a Quaffle? Oh my God! It must be a Bludger!”

  Harry sat in the stands, occasionally pointing at people and shouting excitedly.

  He had never seen witches and wizards practicing sports before, and from time to time he stood up, watching the players’ movements with intense curiosity.

  “I’m definitely joining the Slytherin Quidditch team next year… If they made one exception, why can’t they make another?”

  Draco crossed his arms, indignant.

  However, after watching Amanda narrowly dodge a ball, flipping several times in the air before finally steadying herself, his resentment gradually faded. He began watching her closely, afraid something might happen to her.

  “What is Boole doing?! Isn’t he afraid that ball will knock Amanda off her broom?”

  Boole, Slytherin’s new Beater, was chasing the rogue ball and striking it clumsily. Draco’s scolding unsettled him, and he was nearly hit on the shoulder by the Quaffle as it flew toward him.

  Marcus whistled repeatedly. “Relax, Boole, play to your strengths!”

  “You have to admit, Quidditch really is a dangerous sport.”

  Harry stood up, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted to Amanda.

  “But… this is just… so cool!”

  …

  On Friday morning, as usual, Amanda was sitting in the Great Hall having breakfast with Draco and Harry. As usual, owls flooded into the hall, something everyone was already accustomed to.

  However, something strange happened today, even stranger and more noticeable than yesterday’s dramatic message.

  Six long-eared owls flew in together, but what caught the students’ attention wasn’t the owls themselves, it was the long, thin, enormous package they were carrying collectively.

  Everyone’s attention was drawn to the peculiar sight.

  “My God, it’s huge! What is that?”

  “I bet it’s some kind of super telescope.”

  As the owls slowly flew toward the Slytherin table, a chorus of boos erupted from the Gryffindor table.

  “Tch, typical Slytherin.”

  “Slytherin, could it be from the Malfoys? They’re making such a spectacle out of it.”

  Still, everyone kept staring at the owls, wondering who the package belonged to and what was inside.

  The six owls swooped down and dropped the package into Amanda’s lap. Before she could open it, a letter fell onto her knees as well.

  “I bet it’s a Nimbus 2000, open it and see!” Draco insisted.

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  At the words “Nimbus 2000,” many envious and curious glances were cast by those nearby.

  She opened the package. Inside was a long, elegant mahogany case. She pressed the brass clasp, and the box opened with a click.

  “Oh!!!”

  Harry exclaimed in astonishment.

  The broom bore the inscription “Nimbus 2000” in gleaming silver letters along the shaft. Its body was a polished jet black, shaped into an exquisitely curved arc. The straight, neatly trimmed bristles were gathered tightly at the end and secured with a refined silver ring.

  It was exactly like the one she had seen in the Quidditch shop on Diagon Alley, except the color seemed slightly different.

  “This is a specially customized Nimbus 2000,” Draco said sourly. “No wonder it only arrived today. My father promised to buy me an even better one next year.”

  Amanda opened the letter resting in her lap.

  —

  My dear Miss Merlin,

  Thank you for taking care of Draco at school. Severus informed me that, as a member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors and a distinguished Slytherin graduate, it is my honor to sponsor a talented member of an ancient wizarding family such as yours. I have commissioned a Slytherin-style broom for you, in the hope that you will bring honor to Slytherin.

  Lucius Malfoy

  …

  When people heard that it was a specially customized Nimbus 2000, many could no longer contain themselves and stood up to look in Amanda’s direction.

  At first, they merely rose from their seats. Then, as those in front proved too tall, people began grabbing onto one another’s shoulders, squeezing closer and closer.

  Eventually, a large crowd gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of the Nimbus 2000.

  They were likely still wary of the rumors surrounding Amanda, the so-called third generation of the Dark Lord, and instinctively kept a distance of two or three meters around her.

  Even so, the gap continued to shrink as more people crowded in from behind, craning their necks to sneak a look at the broom.

  Realizing that order in the Great Hall was on the verge of collapsing, the prefects stepped forward and called out to students from their respective houses.

  “Symmo!”

  “Michael!”

  “Susan!”

  “Back to your seats!”

  Amanda sighed and placed the Nimbus 2000 into the Ring of the Sage.

  Bang!

  A large number of people tumbled to the floor.

  After a chorus of yelps and gasps, they shoved one another aside, complaining as they rubbed their sore backs and knees.

  “Where’s the Nimbus 2000?! How did it disappear all of a sudden?!”

  Someone pointed at Amanda and shouted.

  “I already put it away,” Amanda said innocently, shrugging.

  “Cheater…”

  “That’s not fair…”

  They booed loudly before dispersing in disappointment and returning to their seats.

  “This is ridiculous. Ever since I met you,” Draco said, looking away with envy and jealousy, “I’ve started wondering whether I’m really my father’s biological son.”

  “Hedwig!”

  Harry suddenly exclaimed, surprised, to her left.

  Amanda saw Harry’s snowy owl swoop overhead with a note tied to her leg.

  Harry opened the letter eagerly, skimmed it, then handed it to Amanda and Draco so they could read it together.

  —

  Dear Harry,

  It’s Friday afternoon, and you, Amanda, and Draco don’t have classes, correct? Would you like to come over for tea this afternoon? I’d love to hear about your first week of school. Please give my regards to Amanda, what happened the day before yesterday was truly dreadful, the poor thing. Ask Hedwig to bring me your reply.

  Rubeus Hagrid

  After they finished reading, Harry asked, “Would you like to come with me?”

  “I don’t have any objections,” Amanda agreed immediately.

  Draco shook his head, but seeing that Amanda had already agreed, he said reluctantly, “I didn’t want to go, but since Amanda is going, we’ll go together.”

  He added, “Even though I don’t have high expectations for that place, it’s still better if we stay with Amanda.”

  Harry nodded. “That’s right. We can’t lose sight of Amanda, not even for fifteen minutes, unless we’re heading back to our dormitories tonight.”

  “Pansy was taken to the Ministry of Magic,” Amanda reminded them.

  Draco and Harry shook their heads in unison, both looking deeply worried.

  “You’re far too easy to deceive,” Draco said seriously.

  Harry nodded in agreement. “We can’t let anything happen to you again, or we’ll regret it for the rest of our lives.”

  “All right,” Amanda said helplessly.

  So this is what it means to have friends?

  For the first time, Amanda suddenly realized that she had two friends who were genuinely sincere.

  …

  Today was Friday, which meant their first Potions class was about to begin.

  Although Snape would never deduct points from Slytherin, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t make things especially difficult for Harry.

  “Harry, what would I get if I added powdered asphodel root to an infusion of wormwood?” Amanda suddenly asked.

  “Huh?” Harry was momentarily confused by her abrupt question. “Amanda, what are you talking about? What kind of powder?”

  “I heard Snape likes to make things difficult for people during the first lesson, so I’m testing you in advance, especially since he doesn’t seem to like you very much.”

  Amanda spoke quickly and repeated the question. “What would I get if I added powdered asphodel root to an infusion of wormwood?”

  “A Draught of Living Death,” Harry replied. “It’s an extremely powerful sleeping potion.”

  “What is a bezoar?”

  “Stones found in a cow’s stomach can be used as an antidote,” Harry said, puzzled. “I remember you making us memorize things like this before classes even started.”

  “Good,” Amanda sighed in relief. It seemed her intensive training over the summer holidays had been quite effective.

  …

  The Potions classroom was located in the dungeons, just as cold and gloomy as the Slytherin common room. Shelves lining the walls were filled with jars and bottles containing various animal specimens.

  They were taking this class with the Gryffindors, and it was currently the only subject they shared with them.

  When the lesson began, Snape swept into the room, his dark expression instantly silencing the chatter of the first-year students.

  Like the other professors, Snape paused briefly when he reached Harry’s name, though it wasn’t the first time he had called on him since the start of term.

  “Harry Potter, oh yes, our celebrity. The boy who lived.”

  Laughter erupted from the Gryffindor side, and Snape shot them a cold glance.

  “No talking during class. One point will be deducted from Gryffindor.”

  The Gryffindor students immediately fell silent.

  “Potion-making is a subtle science and an exact art,” Snape continued. “As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I do not expect you to truly understand the delicate perfume of simmering draughts, nor the fragile power contained in the fumes that rise from a gently bubbling cauldron. You will not comprehend the magic I brew, the liquid that creeps through the veins, ensnares the mind, and clouds the senses…”

  “I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death, but only if you are not the bunch of dunderheads I usually have to teach.”

  Her voice was soft and melodious, not loud, yet everyone present could hear her clearly.

  “Potter.” Suddenly, Snape called out Harry’s name.

  “Professor?” Harry stood up abruptly.

  “What are the differences between Aconitum lanceolatum and Aconitum scabrum?”

  “Professor, they are the same thing. They are all called aconite.”

  “And what do you obtain by crushing scarab beetles into powder?”

  “……”

  Amanda’s heart tightened. This question wasn’t part of the original storyline, and she hadn’t prepared Harry for it.

  Harry’s eyes looked momentarily unfocused.

  Just as Snape curled his lips in disdain, Harry suddenly answered:

  “A substance that enhances brain function, Professor.”

  “It seems you studied your textbooks well before the start of term. Slytherin, five points.” Snape snorted.

  Harry sat down cheerfully and winked at Amanda. The Gryffindors were clearly unhappy with Snape’s favoritism.

  They had lost a point at the very beginning of class, while Slytherin gained five points for answering just a few questions.

  Ron made a subtle gesture with his hand, signaling discontent.

  The movement did not escape Snape’s notice.

  “It seems Weasley is dissatisfied. If you can answer better than Potter, I will return the points deducted from Gryffindor.”

  Ron’s face went pale. “No, Professor.”

  Snape clearly ignored the refusal. “What can you make by grinding lionfish spines into powder?”

  Ron stammered, “I, I don’t know, Professor.”

  “And what kind of fairy wings can be made from it?”

  “I don’t know, Professor.”

  “Weasley, did you not even open your books before term started? Five points from Gryffindor.”

  Snape barked, “Grinding lionfish spines into powder produces healing potions, and fairy wings can be used to brew beauty potions. Do you understand? Before you mock Potter, did any of you do better than him? Or are Gryffindors only good at making stupid noises? Why don’t you write this down, now?”

  The barrage of rhetorical questions made the Gryffindors’ faces first pale, then flush red.

  Everyone immediately realized what was happening. They hurriedly pulled out parchment and notebooks and began scribbling down what Snape had just said.

  No one dared question him again. Snape wrote the recipe for a cure for boils on the blackboard at the center of the classroom, then divided the class into pairs to brew the potion.

  Amanda and Draco were paired together, while Harry worked with Blaise Zabini.

  Snape, his long black robes trailing behind him, paced back and forth around Harry, closely observing his movements.

  “Breaking news, look at that. Is that three grams?”

  Startled by Snape’s sudden voice, Harry quickly returned the dried nettles to the scale to reweigh them.

  Although it looked extremely strict, it was, in practice, quite similar to a private lesson.

  Even so, Amanda had to admit that Draco was remarkably skilled at handling potion ingredients. They were the first pair in the class to complete the potion successfully.

  “Gryffindor trolls, come and see how perfect the potion brewed by Merlin and Malfoy is!”

  As everyone leaned in to examine Amanda and Draco’s cauldron, a sharp hissing sound suddenly erupted from the back of the classroom.

  Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan leapt away from their table, screaming in terror.

  Their cauldron had inexplicably melted, releasing a thick, acrid green smoke. The potion inside spilled over and spread across the floor.

  Students screamed and scattered, some climbing onto desks and chairs.

  Before it could cause further damage, Amanda drew her wand and pointed it at the ground.

  “Tergeo.”

  In a sweeping motion, the potion in the cauldron and on the floor was cleared away.

  Neville shot Amanda a grateful look.

  “I’m afraid you added the porcupine quills before removing the cauldron from the fire. Gryffindor, one point deducted.”

  Snape scolded Neville and Seamus harshly, and both boys immediately went pale.

  ******

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