A Jin Guang flashed through the dark forest.
Krum, who was sitting cross-legged in a spacious room, opened his eyes under the gaze of the other two.
"This tent is huge! The dining area is so spacious, and there's an equally spacious bedroom and bathroom," Ron exclaimed.
(Ginny yawns, "Our tent at the World Cup was quite big, enough for our whole family, plus a kitchen.")
(Ron scoffed, "That tent smelled like cats, and it was where my family lived. This is a personal tent.")
(The other early risers, and those still huddled in bed, didn't seem to care as much about the tent as Ron.)
(They all wanted to know whether Krum had found any clues about the Mother-Child River in the Forbidden Forest.)
(The Forbidden Forest was too vast, and the Golden Snitch was too fast; the scenes flashed by in an instant.)
(The girls' restroom on the third floor was to be checked by Phoebe, since the witch had obtained the class schedule in advance.)
(The first class is Charms. In this world, the Charms classroom is on the first floor. Phoebe comes out of the Gryffindor Common Room on the Seventh Floor and happens to pass by the third floor.)
"There are no traces of human construction in the Forbidden Forest, and apart from the infestation of Acromantula, there's nothing of note," Krum shook his head.
(Hagrid coughed.)
"Let's eat." Harry, who had developed the habit of eating on time with Ron, pressed the green button next to him, and a piece of parchment and a quill pen full of ink appeared.
"Let me see," Cedric, a Hufflepuff, also shifted his position and leaned over to look at the menu. "Milk, coffee, Pumpkin Juice, oatmeal, hummus, smoked fish, smoked sausage, fried eggs, pie."
Krum rubbed his temples; he'd just been using his brain a lot. "Just a glass of milk and a sausage sandwich, please."
Harry suggested, "Have more. Our bodies have been modified, and like the people in this world, we can increase our magic through eating. And we don't have to worry about getting fat."
Krum still rejected Harry's offer.
Unlike Harry, who experienced hunger pangs at the Dursley family, he couldn't find solace in the feeling of being stuffed to the brim. Instead, as a professional Quidditch player, controlling his food intake had become part of his subconscious.
After breakfast, the three of them went out of the tent.
Calling on Neville in the nearby tent, we retraced our steps, crossed the beach, and arrived at the entrance to the lounge through the snow.
Percy was already sitting there, surrounded by a pile of books and parchment, holding a cup of coffee, with a book open on his lap.
Sensing the four people approaching, the three parchments automatically spun and flew into their hands.
("Wandless Magic!" Ron exclaimed in surprise. "Percy also created spell cards! How come he couldn't graduate?")
(Hermione rolled her eyes. "Did you accidentally eat your own brain? Spellcard magic has replaced wands in this world; it's something incredibly basic. How could Percy not know it? Besides, this world has a 9th year; you can imagine how difficult it is to graduate.")
"Is this the course schedule?" Harry pretended not to know and flipped through the course pages. "Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Potions."
"Five classes a day?" Krum frowned.
He wasn't actually frowning because of the number of courses, but because their courses overlapped with those of Phoebe.
Although Phoebe is a witch, in this world's context, she was hospitalized due to illness and started school in the sixth grade, just like the wizards.
In the magical world, the sixth grade is a watershed moment in education.
The division is based on the fifth-grade final exam scores, categorized by subject.
Passing score:
Excellent (O) Good (E) Pass (A)
Unsatisfactory results:
Poor (P) Very poor (D) Extremely poor (T)
Except for a few core courses that don't require grades, professors in other subjects only require students to pass their advanced classes.
In this world, although it's a 9-year system, it's still the same.
This system is not because professors lack the patience to teach struggling students.
It's because the content of the advanced class is like Heavenly Book to students who failed, completely wasting their time.
Instead of letting them waste time on courses they're not good at, we should give them more time to delve deeper into courses they excel at.
In this world, Krum initially thought that the male wizards would start with advanced course material immediately upon arrival, instead of following the first-year witches, because the witches were afraid of the male wizards and wanted to deliberately slow down their learning progress.
Based on this speculation, Phoebe should be nominally in the 6th grade, but actually attend classes with the first-year witch.
However, the overlapping course content on the schedules negates this possibility.
So, is there some deeper reason behind sending a 17-year-old wizard who knows nothing about magic directly to an advanced class?
These thoughts flashed through his mind, Percy mistakenly thought that Krum was complaining about the heavy workload.
"Our course is more demanding than the witches', but that's because we're already far behind. Compared to witches our age, we're practically clueless," Percy comforted her.
"Our courses are more demanding?" Krum's eyes widened.
But clearly, Phoebe's courses are the same as theirs.
"Of course," Percy nodded, "Your schedule includes more Herbology and Potions than other sixth-grade students."
"For subjects that are relatively more theoretical, it is necessary to start learning from scratch."
(Snape and Professor Sprout look annoyed. What do you mean by focusing more on theory? Herbology / Potions also requires practical skills!!)
"You mean spells, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration don't focus on theory?" Cedric asked.
(Flitwick, Moody, and McGonagall had already instinctively drawn their wands.)
"Of course," Percy shrugged, "Most of these courses require us to learn a spell during the course."
"And the learning of all spells is actually linked to the level of maturity of one's personality."
"The spells that children learn in grades one through five are difficult for children whose personalities are not yet mature, but for a 17-year-old adult, it is just a matter of memorizing the spells and correcting the hand gestures."
(Dumbledore nods.)
(Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore with a disgruntled expression, "Do you also believe this to be true?")
(Dumbledore replied with a smile, "That is indeed true, but Minerva, you forgot that our courses are not about teaching students a spell, but about showing them what Charms and Transfiguration are, letting them put certain theories into practice, and making them truly fall in love with the subject.")
("These intangible gains are far more valuable than learning a spell.")
"But if you also learn how to make spell cards, you won't need to memorize the incantations and spell gestures."
"The concentration and corresponding emotions required for advanced spells can be easily mastered by adults with good self-control."
"In fact, even though male wizards now have a four-year system, in the actual application of magic, we can catch up with and surpass female wizards of the same age."
"This discovery has led wizards in the education field to consider whether some spells in practical courses such as Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration should be moved to the sixth grade, which is the age when most wizards are adults."
"So you don't need to worry about falling behind," Percy reassured him, glancing at the clock. "It's almost 8:30; you should go to class."
"But," Neville with some fear, "What if there are witches lurking outside?"
He wasn't originally this timid in this world.
But the experience of being surrounded by witches on the train and almost losing his virginity instilled fear in him.
"Don't worry," Percy patted Neville on the shoulder, "This is the safest year you'll ever have. The professor of this course will be waiting outside the lounge for you during the first period in the morning and afternoon to escort you."
"After the classes are near noon and in the evening, the professor of this course will also take you back to your dormitory."
("Oh no," Ron sighed, "How are Harry and the others going to complete their mission with such tight security?")
(Dumbledore couldn't help but smile; the thought of Phoebe having the upper hand in this regard pleased him.)
"Alright, I'll just see you out." With that, Percy got up.
"No need." Professor Flitwick flew out from the blue portal. "Have you forgotten I'm a wizard too? Boys, come with me!"
Escorted by Professor Flitwick, the four quickly arrived at the Charms classroom on the first floor.
Along the way, there were witches who gave them blatant stares.
However, due to the professor's authority, they abandoned their plans.
Neville, therefore, became even braver and was the first to enter the classroom, and then...
"A witch!"
Accompanied by bursts of silvery laughter, Neville quickly left the classroom.
He forgot one thing: according to Percy, spells, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration were taught alongside the sixth-year witches.
So Neville was second to last, entering the classroom before Professor Flitwick.
Upon entering the classroom, Harry and his friends immediately spotted Phoebe in the crowd, along with Roan, Harley, Dian, and Simone.
At first glance, Harry was drawn to a blonde girl.
She was fuming and fiddling with her hair when Harry looked over, and her eyes lit up.
(Draco's body stiffened.)
Harry's heart fluttered again.
He began to doubt whether he was truly faithful, wondering why he had fallen for Roan and this other girl the moment he saw her.
(Ginny's teeth were practically shattering; she recognized Harry's expression and the witch's identity— Draco Malfoy.)
The blonde girl boldly stood up, walked directly to Harry, and extended her hand. "May I know your name? I never thought I would fall for any male wizard."
Roan stood up, his eyes blazing with fury. "Harry is my friend!"
The blonde girl didn't even blink, her eyes still fixed on Harry.
Flitwick, who had intended to interrupt, discovered that neither of the two girls were acting out of lust, but rather from the heart.
Considering that having a girlfriend would make the wizard much safer, he let the charade continue.
Harry, as if possessed, reached out his right hand and grasped the blonde girl's hand. His throat seemed to instantly lose its moisture as he hoarsely said, "Hello, I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
("Harry, you—" Ginny was about to faint.)
(Ron was shocked, but also felt a hint of jealousy that he himself didn't realize. "'Me' is one thing, but this female version of Malfoy with the rat face... Is the attraction of witches to wizards really that strong? Neville is really amazing in this respect. He can still maintain his own will and keep his chastity. Even with Percy's help, he is still very, very amazing!")
A blush rose on the blonde girl's pale face. "I am Draco Malfoy. I allow you to call me by another name, Draco (Dracey). Draco sounds too boyish."
Harry's body stiffened.
He finally spotted Malfoy's features on that strikingly beautiful face, which was now very close to his.
He should have felt disgusted and withdrawn his right hand.
But his right hand still stubbornly gripped that delicate hand, which seemed like mutton fat jade.
Draco's lips curled into a smile, and Harry's heart began to beat even faster.
She looked at the other witches and said, "From now on, he's my boyfriend. If you don't want to offend me and Malfoy, stay away from him."
(Draco, panting heavily, his face flushed, exclaimed, "This... this can't be me!")
"Of course," she said, raising their still-clasped hands like a victor, looking down at Roan. "Ronalda Weasley (Roan's full name, Ronald→Ronalda, Ron's full name is Ronald, just like Ginny's full name is Ginny Fura, and her middle name is also the same), you can come closer, after all, you're just a friend."
(Hermione frowned. "I don't understand why she would allow other girls to get close to her boyfriend.")
(Basil speculated, "Perhaps it's because of the situation of male witches in this world; she can't be by Harry's side all the time. Does she want Harry to have another person to protect? And Harry's silence suggests he hasn't agreed yet? Or perhaps Malfoy and Harry are mortal enemies in this world, and she wants to humiliate Ron.")
Harley stood up abruptly. "Harry's Roan's boyfriend! Right, Roan!"
Feeling both angry and shy, Roan cupped her face in her hands and mumbled, "Mmm."
(Ron, unaware that a smile had crept onto his face, stood up and explained, "This is another version of me. Don't get the wrong idea, I have a girlfriend.")
(In the Great Hall, notice the audience members whose mouths were practically stretched to their ears, ".")
(Ginny, her expression blank, said dryly, "I believe you.")
"You can argue about who Harry's girlfriend is after class," Professor Flitwick finally spoke up.
Draco, Roan, Harley finally remembered that they were in class and that the professor was there.
Draco let go of Harry's hand, covered her face, and ran back to her seat.
Roan and Harley sat down, almost touching the table.
Harry also covered his face with his hands and found a place to sit down.
But he didn't seem to notice that he was using his right hand, and the Qing Leng, refreshing scent that entered his nostrils made him take another deep breath.
Fearing he would be discovered, he quickly withdrew his hand and looked in Draco's direction.
But then she saw tears of embarrassment and anger glistening in her eyes as she looked at him. Noticing his gaze, she defiantly took a deep breath in the hand he had just been holding.
Harry quickly stopped looking and glanced at Roan. Noticing that Roan had his head down, he inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
(The audience, witnessing all of this. ".")