Third Generation?

Luke's heartbroken expression made Malfoy and the students nearby who could hear him feel the sorrow in his heart.

"In the family records, when Salazar Slytherin founded Slytherin Academy, he wanted to cultivate true noble wizards—wizards who could bear the responsibility of protecting the weak, who could face powerful enemies without fear and dare to sacrifice themselves, who could analyze situations rationally and possess long-term vision. Those were the wizards Slytherin wished to cultivate."

"That is what sets us apart from those Muggle wizard classmates who do not understand the Wizarding World well enough."

Luke's words completely confused Malfoy. This was nothing like the traditions of Slytherin Academy he had always heard about.

The students around him began whispering among themselves as well.

"Is that true? I don't think my dad said that."

"My dad didn't say that either, but... this is Luke. He's the heir of the Gaunt Family. If he says Slytherin said it, then it probably can't be false..."

The title of Slytherin's direct descendant made many Slytherin students, including Malfoy, begin to doubt. On top of that, Luke had initially established himself in their minds as someone wholeheartedly devoted to restoring their glory. One by one, the students began to wonder privately.

Could things really be as Luke said?

In the row ahead, Taylor and Hermione exchanged a glance. Taylor leaned close and whispered a few words into Hermione's ear. Hermione nodded seriously.

As if he had not noticed their expressions, Luke merely looked at Malfoy and said earnestly, "I once thought that nobles who shared my beliefs simply did not exist. But that day, when you stood up and shook my hand, I knew that on the path to making pure-bloods great again and restoring Slytherin to glory, I was not alone!"

With a solemn expression, he patted Malfoy on the shoulder. "And you too, Draco! I have you beside me—someone who shares the same great aspirations!"

"We are natural partners, Draco! We will be the best of friends!"

Malfoy's head had already been spinning, leaving him a little muddled. Now, Luke's speech left him dizzy and excited, while an inexplicable surge of excitement and purpose rose from the depths of his heart.

"That's right, Luke. We're the best of friends. The two of us together can definitely restore Slytherin to glory!"

At that moment, a burst of crisp applause rang out. Everyone looked toward its source and found that it was a Slytherin girl and a Gryffindor girl applauding for Luke and Malfoy!

Their eyes were filled with admiration and longing.

Goyle and Crabbe quickly joined in, clapping with silly grins on their faces.

Soon afterward, every student who had heard the two of them began applauding.

Malfoy once again felt the sensation of being the center of attention. The smile on his face grew even brighter, and even his dizziness seemed to ease considerably.

"Then what should we do now, Luke? I don't think we can wait any longer. Every additional day this situation continues is a desecration of our honor!"

Malfoy declared righteously.

The corner of Luke's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Then he smiled at Malfoy and said, "Unite, Draco. Unite everyone who shares our ideals. You know, although I am a member of the Gaunt Family, I have no network right now and am unfamiliar with everyone else. So I'll need you to contact our comrades among the nobles."

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

Malfoy answered with a confident expression.

Luke looked at Malfoy gratefully and instructed him earnestly, "I believe in you, Draco, but you must also be careful. If someone's attitude toward us is truly bad, then don't provoke them for now. We are, after all, the minority. We may not be their match."

"Don't worry, Luke! I can handle it!"

Malfoy's face was filled with determination, as though he had already reached some profound resolution.

"Ahem. Though I hate to interrupt you, students, it's time for class."

Professor Flitwick smiled as he looked at the two students "plotting great plans." While he felt they might simply be fooling around, he also sensed that something seemed a little off.

But class was the matter at hand, so he spoke up to stop their heart-to-heart exchange.

Luke took the opportunity to compose himself and smiled at Professor Flitwick. "All right, Professor."

"Understood, Professor!" Malfoy immediately followed up. Then he sat up straight, looking every bit the obedient, model student.

Professor Flitwick did not know whether to laugh or cry, but when he looked at Luke, there was still a trace of complicated emotion in his eyes.

Likewise, the portrait of a former headmaster hanging high on the classroom wall also revealed a rather complicated look.

As he watched Luke, he seemed to see someone else's shadow in him.

Then he disappeared from the frame.

"Students, our class is Charms Class. Charms are closely tied to our lives, in every corner of our daily lives..."

Professor Flitwick began his lesson, and the students gradually settled into listening. Luke's words had planted a seed in their hearts, one that would slowly sprout.

On the other side of the classroom, Harry looked at Malfoy with some envy.

"Why didn't he come to us about something like this?"

He spoke with some frustration. Though he said that, he did not blame Luke. After all, based on what he knew of Luke, Luke could not possibly have made such a choice without reason.

"There'd be no use looking for you for now. The Malfoy Family is currently one of the leading groups in the Noble Circle. He can definitely contact many members of the Pure-blood Families, and with Malfoy leading them, quite a few people will probably be drawn in by this idea. Add Luke's identity to the mix, and if things develop normally, then once they grow up, they'll probably become a new force among the nobles."

Ron spoke as he thought it over.

"No matter how you look at it, in the end, whether it's you, me, or even Neville, we'll probably all be brought in. After all, we're all pure-bloods, and you have that kind of influence."

Harry looked at Ron in shock.

Ron noticed his gaze, blinked, and said, "Don't look at me like that. Our family history has recorded many similar things. And my dad works at the Ministry of Magic too. What Luke is doing right now is actually pretty obvious."

Harry scratched his head in confusion.

Was it really that obvious?

"How obvious can it be, Dumbledore! That brat from the Gaunt Family is clearly trying to tell you what he thinks."

In the Headmaster's Office, the headmaster who had appeared in the Charms Class classroom wore a look of utter disdain from within his portrait.

After hearing his account, Dumbledore merely sat silently in his chair. From those words, he had seen the outlines of two people.

Yet compared to their beliefs, Luke's ideas seemed far more harmless—one could even call them progressive.

"Deal with that brat, Dumbledore! Do you still want to see another Dark Lord rise to power?"

The headmaster's portrait nearly roared.

The other headmasters all turned to look at him as well, seemingly eager to know what he thought.

"Snuff it out in the cradle?" Dumbledore narrowed his eyes and asked himself weakly.

Once he spoke, the headmaster's portrait fell silent.

"Grindelwald told me: We are strong, so we enslave them."

"Tom Riddle told me: I am strong, so I enslave them."

"Now, a child tells me: We are strong, so we must protect them and treat them equally."

"Perhaps I shouldn't believe it... but perhaps I can still hold on to some hope?"

Dumbledore gave a playful blink.