Even the owls appearing in the Great Hall at lunchtime had noticeably increased in number.
Students who had not received any letters picked the feathers off their steaks and continued focusing on their lunches.
Those who had received letters wore subtle expressions after learning what was inside.
They ate lunch distractedly, occasionally lowering their voices to exchange thoughts.
Even during class, they occasionally could not help muttering a few words to their classmates. Only after the dismissal bell rang did their voices grow louder.
The students' discussions were largely the same: which two magical worlds had gone to war again, which two Muggle countries had broken out into armed conflict, and which Ministry of Magic had issued what statement.
Although their expressions had become subtle, they had not yet reached the point of worry.
After all, these conflicts and wars still seemed far away from England, separated by the English Channel and the mountains of the Scottish Highlands.
There were not many parents like Anthony's great-aunt, Tina Goldstein. More student parents believed that Hogwarts was one of "the safest places in the world," and that staying here was the safest option.
Such thinking was perfectly normal. When Gellert Grindelwald had ignited war across the world, England alone had remained untouched.
Now that the flames of war had risen again, Hogwarts would naturally remain safe and sound.
As the atmosphere gradually grew more anxious, evening arrived, and the students gathered in the Great Hall for dinner.
Another wave of owls swooped in, dropping copies of The Evening Prophet.
Anthony tore off the wrapping, but did not immediately read the contents of The Evening Prophet.
He struck a praying pose, sandwiching The Evening Prophet between his palms, and murmured in a melodramatic tone, "Could you give me some news about Vizet?"
Hearing