Prefects' Compartment

After placing his luggage in the House of Malfoy's private box, Skylar met up with Daphne, Morrie, and Susan inside. The four of them then walked side by side toward the Prefect's private box.

After a summer of reflection, the three women's demeanor subtly changed— Daphne's cool elegance became more serene, with a hint of imperceptible authority in her eyes; Morrie's intellectual charm, which once carried a touch of naivety, was now more natural and fluid, exuding an innate composure in every gesture; and Susan appeared more poised and dignified than before, with a gentle smile concealing a formidable determination.

In addition, a more powerful magical energy fluctuation lingered around them, flowing and shifting like a light mist. Skylar only needed a moment to think before he immediately understood the reason—they had all celebrated their fifteenth birthdays, and their magical energy had thus undergone a new leap.

After passing through several carriages, Skylar arrived at the Prefect's carriage at the front. Before opening the carriage door, he took out his Prefect Badge from his pocket and pinned it to his chest before opening the door and going inside.

Upon hearing the door open, everyone in the carriage turned to look.

Skylar saw many acquaintances.

Ron and Hermione from Gryffindor, Anthony Goldstein from Ravenclaw, and Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff all became Prefect.

Of course, their predecessors, the 6th and 7th grade Prefect, are also here.

All eyes in the carriage turned to Skylar. His appearance seemed to be a silent signal, causing the Prefect who were chatting casually to fall silent for a moment, but no one was surprised by his arrival.

Honestly, if Skylar fails to be elected Prefect this year, Hogwarts will only become a laughing stock in the international education community.

However, despite being watched by everyone, Skylar remained calm and composed, showing no sign of discomfort. He walked leisurely into the carriage, his dark robe accentuating his tall figure, and his every move exuding effortless elegance.

His gaze swept over the crowd in the carriage, as if he already knew everything. A faint smile played on his lips, neither arrogant nor distant, striking the perfect balance.

The three girls following behind him were equally eye-catching— Daphne was aloof and dignified, Morrie was calm and confident, and Susan was gentle and graceful. The three of them surrounded Skylar, giving the impression that they were more like the core advisors of a nobleman than Prefect.

Skylar casually chose a seat and sat down, with Daphne and Morrie on his left and right respectively, and Susan sitting next to Morrie. The whole arrangement naturally made him the focus of the carriage.

The student council president, Cedric Diggory, was the first to approach, a gentle smile on his face, and extended his hand. "Sherling, congratulations on becoming a prefect."

Skylar smiled slightly, raised his hand to shake his, his palm warm and strong. His gaze swept lightly across the carriage, then landed on another Head Boy — Elusi Montgomery of Gryffindor.

Montgomery was undoubtedly an outstanding student, with long, flowing blond hair cascading over her shoulders and bright blue eyes that shone with shrewdness and confidence. She not only earned 10 excellent certificates in the O.W.L. Examination but was also the champion of this year's Finkley spellcasting competition.

Besides, she was quite famous in Hogwarts' social circles— Skylar remembered that she had once been Roger Davis's girlfriend. Two years ago, the two had been spotted by Skylar on a date at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, but that relationship ended because Roger later became infatuated with Phoebe.

Even now, Montgomery remains a recognized beauty at Hogwarts. In Skylar's opinion, in terms of beauty alone, she could easily rank among the top five at Hogwarts today.

She smiled and extended her hand to Skylar: "Welcome to the Prefect team."

Skylar smiled gently, took her hand in return, and asked with refined manners, "How has Ms. Montgomery been lately?"

Montgomery was slightly taken aback by these words, then a surprised smile appeared on his face, "You know my mother?"

"We've had some exchanges in academic journals." Skylar's tone was calm, with a hint of nonchalance, yet it instilled a sense of awe in those who didn't. Ms. Montgomery was one of only seven registered Animagus in this century, and her academic achievements were extraordinary. Skylar's correspondence with her was something that ordinary students couldn't do.

Skylar's casual remark instantly surprised many people in the carriage—everyone knew that Ms. Montgomery was a very important person, and Skylar not only knew her but had also exchanged academic views with her. For a moment, many Prefect looked at Skylar with a more complicated expression.

However, at that moment, a soft cough broke everyone's thoughts.

"Alright, everyone's here." Cedric cleared his throat, trying to regain control, and began explaining the duties and powers of Prefect.

However, despite his diligence and clear thinking, as time went on, many Prefect's attention began to wander.

After all, everyone knows the responsibilities of Prefect: patrolling, maintaining order, stopping violations, and helping freshmen adapt to campus life. In comparison, the Prefect's private meeting room and restrooms are much more anticipated.

However, Cedric, whether out of excessive seriousness or a deliberate showmanship, meticulously explained for over half an hour. By the end, many people showed signs of impatience, secretly glancing at Skylar —after all, from the moment he entered, his composure, elegance, and innate aristocratic demeanor had already overshadowed Cedric's brilliance, making many subconsciously wonder if he too was getting impatient with the lengthy explanation.

However, Skylar simply leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, a faint smile still on his face, as if everything was under his control. He seemed unconcerned about Cedric's speech or the growing impatience among those around him, yet he gave the impression that he was the true mastermind here.

Cedric's lengthy speech finally came to an end, and a perfunctory round of applause rang out in the carriage, instantly lightening the atmosphere considerably.

Next comes the time for the Prefect to socialize freely, which is the part that many new Prefect look forward to the most.

Everyone knows that Prefect is more than just a position; it's a status symbol. This small circle brings together the brightest and most promising students at Hogwarts, and the connections built during their time on campus could very well become a key step towards success in the wizarding world in the future.

As expected, with the start of the free exchange, the entire carriage quickly split into several small circles, with people chatting in twos and threes. At this moment, everyone's attention was drawn to one person— Skylar Malfoy.

Elusi Montgomery was the first person to approach Skylar.

As she approached, her long golden hair shimmered softly under the light, a polite smile graced her face, and her demeanor was elegant and confident. Her gaze lingered on Skylar for a moment before she naturally asked, "Skylar, how was your summer vacation?"

Skylar smiled slightly, gently raised his teacup, and replied leisurely, "Not bad. Although I've been a bit busy, it's been quite fulfilling overall."

Skylar and Montgomery were actually quite familiar with each other; both were members of the Transfiguration Club and had interacted frequently during club activities before.

Skylar remembered the description of her in the original book—she had two younger sisters in the fourth year of Hufflepuff, and a three-year-old brother. Her mother, Mrs. Montgomery, was an upright Pure-blood wizard. In the seventh book of the original series, Mrs. Montgomery was punished for refusing to help the Death Eaters. In the end, her five-year-old son was bitten by Fenrir and seriously injured, and died in the hospital.

Although Skylar wasn't close to the Montgomery family, Skylar knew how valuable talented people were in the wizarding world. Wizarding society couldn't move forward without talented people, and the Montgomery family clearly possessed talents that Skylar valued. This gave Skylar the idea to help them and change their tragic future of a broken family.

The two quickly struck up a conversation, ranging from their summer experiences to the latest research from the Transfiguration Club, and then to some recent developments in the wizarding world. Their conversation flowed naturally and smoothly. Compared to Ron, who was from the same house, Elusi's conversation with Skylar was clearly more relaxed and enjoyable, even showing a certain tacit understanding. If it weren't for the different colors of their wizarding robes, it would be impossible to tell that they belonged to different houses.

Throughout the entire process, she maintained a sweet smile, her gaze never leaving Skylar, and her eyes frequently revealed approval and appreciation.

This scene, however, seemed particularly jarring to Ron. Just now, he had tried to strike up a conversation with this beautiful president of the same academy and introduce himself, but she had only given him a lukewarm response. If she were simply not sociable, it would be one thing, but now she was being so enthusiastic with someone from the opposing academy, which was clearly a sign that she looked down on him!

He sat not far away, his lips pressed tightly together, his fingers unconsciously gripping the cup in his hand. Despite his efforts to remain calm, Skylar keenly caught the gloomy glint in his eyes. Skylar didn't say much, only gave him a meaningful look, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if he had everything under control.

In fact, although Cedric was the Head Boy, the atmosphere in the entire carriage subtly centered around Skylar.

Whether he spoke or remained silent, everyone's eyes were on his every move. His every word, action, and even a glance could affect the atmosphere in the carriage, and this invisible influence subtly diminished Cedric's presence.

Of course, Cedric noticed this as well. His gaze swept across the carriage, and seeing that almost all the Prefect's attention was focused on Skylar, he couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

Just then, Skylar gave him a perfectly timed, slightly apologetic smile, as if silently indicating, "I didn't mean to steal your thunder."

Cedric was taken aback, and his initial displeasure vanished instantly. He even felt that such a scene was perfectly natural—after all, the boy before him was a double champion of the Triwizard Tournament and the Potions Championship, and had made a name for himself in Wizengamot. Who in the entire wizarding world didn't know that he would be the rising star of the wizarding world, the next Dumbledore?

Meanwhile, Ron wasn't caught up in the "Skylar whirlwind." He was clinging tightly to Hermione, trying to build his own little circle around the Gryffindor Prefect. In his pocket, a thick book, "How to Gain Power as a Prefect," peeked out from the corner, its pages slightly curled, clearly having been read countless times.

The moment his gaze met Skylar's, he deliberately straightened his back, a defiant smile playing on his lips, his eyes filled with hidden resentment and ambition.

Skylar raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sweeping meaningfully over the book in Ron's hand, before revealing a slight smile—no sarcasm, no hostility, only the detached indifference of an observer.

This caused Ron's expression to freeze, and his face turned even more grim.

Skylar finished his conversation with Montgomery, he caught a glimpse of Daphne, Morrie, and Susan being surrounded by several Prefect. Leading them was Cormac McLaggen of Gryffindor, who was beaming and seemingly trying to show off his wit and confidence, while the others echoed him, attempting to make their presence felt in front of the three girls.

A cold smile flashed in Skylar's eyes. The poor fellows, they didn't realize they had absolutely no chance.

He casually sat down on one side of the private room, his slender fingers gliding lightly along the rim of his teacup with an indifferent expression, as if he didn't care about anything around him.

The Prefect in the carriage were chatting animatedly, but he remained the most eye-catching figure—even many who were originally chatting with the Head Boy couldn't help but frequently glance at him.

Meanwhile, Hermione, sitting not far away, had been secretly watching Skylar. She gently bit her lower lip, her hand unconsciously clenching the corner of her robe, as if to encourage herself, before stepping towards Skylar. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, clearly indicating that she had mustered a great deal of courage to make this decision.

When Hermione appeared before Skylar, he paused slightly, looking up at her. A hint of surprise flashed in his clear eyes, but then he raised an eyebrow and gave a gentle yet aloof smile.

"Miss Granger, is there something you need?" His voice was as calm and composed as ever, his tone neither hurried nor slow, polite yet measured, as if he were waiting for her to begin.

These words, though seemingly polite, subtly widened the distance between the two. Hermione trembled slightly, a strange sense of loss rising within her for some reason.

"Malfoy," she said, trying to suppress the complex emotions in her heart and keeping her tone calm, though still with a hint of restraint, "Congratulations on winning the Potions Championship... and also, becoming Prefect."

Skylar smiled slightly, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, before he spoke slowly and deliberately, "Oh? That's quite rare, Granger, thank you."

He spoke casually, as if accepting a trivial congratulation, then paused, his smile deepening, "Then I also congratulate you on becoming Prefect, but—"

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, looking at her meaningfully, as if waiting for some interesting reaction, "You're not planning to follow Percy's example and patrol around with your <Prefect's Handbook> every day, are you?"

Hermione's expression froze, and a blush instantly spread from her cheeks to her ears.

"I—I wouldn't!" she retorted instinctively, her tone even a little hurried, as if someone had touched a nerve.

"Oh?" Skylar raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone tinged with amusement. "Really? But I remember some people particularly enjoy memorizing the school rules, making sure they can recite every single one by heart."

Hermione's lips moved as if she wanted to argue, but in the end she just glared at him and muttered angrily, "I just want everyone to follow the rules!"

Skylar chuckled softly, picked up his teacup, and casually traced the rim with his fingertips, seemingly quite pleased with her reaction. He looked up at her through the rim of the cup, his tone languid yet meaningful. "Well, then I hope you can manage your partner well."

Hermione paused, then realized he was referring to Ron. She instinctively looked in Ron's direction and saw him talking to several Gryffindor Prefect, his expression serious, yet subtly revealing an emotion she couldn't quite understand.

Her brows furrowed unconsciously, and a vague, inexplicable worry welled up inside her.

But she quickly regained her composure, looked at Skylar again with a complicated expression, and said nothing more.

Skylar smiled; the story had finally reached this point—in principle, he didn't dislike the Harry trio from the original books; he had even rescued Harry from Voldemort once and Hermione from Morgan le Fay once, but all of this was contingent on them not standing in his way...

The Sleeping Dragon Society had become the most cherished thing in his heart. He only hoped that Harry, Dumbledore, and their friends would have some self-awareness and stop getting involved with the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's affairs. That way, at least they wouldn't have to become enemies...