Employment Guidance

Hermione was about to say something more when she was interrupted by a slightly shrill female voice.

"Oh--it seems we've interrupted some important conversation?"

Skylar looked up, and his gaze briefly met Daphne's in the air.

That instant of unspoken understanding made Hermione acutely aware that this was no longer the place they should be.

She let out a soft breath, tugged at Harry and Ron's sleeves, and whispered, "Let's go."

As the three left, Ron glanced back at Skylar with a complicated expression; Harry simply pursed his lips and didn't say another word.

The atmosphere around the long table subtly shifted.

Draco did not speak immediately.

He stood there, his gaze sweeping over Skylar as if he were seeing him for the first time. In his grey eyes was a mixture of confusion, shock, and a sense of distance that even he himself was unwilling to acknowledge.

This is his own brother.

But what happened last night seemed to have created an insurmountable chasm between the two of them.

"So..." Draco finally spoke, his tone lower than usual, "Those rumors are all true?"

Skylar did not deny it, but merely glanced at him indifferently.

That one glance left Draco completely speechless.

He hadn't been to the Ministry of Magic last night, but the news he'd heard was terrifying enough—this brother who'd grown up with him had appeared and turned the tide when the Auror were on the verge of destruction, confronting several Dark Lords on par with Voldemort (the Ministry of Magic hadn't released details to avoid causing panic), and ultimately successfully repelling the enemy...

If this is true, Skylar would likely have successfully cultivated unparalleled prestige within the current Britain Ministry of Magic.

This is completely different from the deliberately touted "Savior reputation" of Harry Potter; rather, it is the credibility derived from real strength proven on the battlefield.

This is a younger version of Dumbledore, even more impressive than the Dumbledore before he defeated Grindelwald.

Draco glanced at Daphne instinctively.

"And you," he said, "They say you, Cho Chang of Ravenclaw, Morrie, and Susan of Hufflepuff... were all involved in last night's battle?"

Daphne smiled slightly and did not deny it.

That smile was so calm, almost as if it were perfectly natural, yet it sent a chill down Draco's spine.

Doesn't that mean that these people have already reached a truly high level of strength in the current magical world?

That small group of people who stand shoulder to shoulder with the Auror elites, veteran powerhouses, and even legendary figures?

For the first time, Pansy's expression lost its flippancy, and she instinctively gripped the hem of her clothes. Draco and Pansy finally realized that something had quietly changed.

Although they were still classmates studying and playing together in the same college, they had actually entered different worlds.

It's one thing that Skylar is already so powerful, but the current situation is that even the girls around Skylar possess the strength to fight against the top wizards of the time, which is simply unbelievable.

Daphne ignored the subtle expressions on Draco and Pansy's faces, and instead sat down next to Skylar in a relaxed and natural manner, casually steer the conversation back to their upcoming campus life.

"Skylar, it's already May, and there aren't many plans for the rest of the semester," she said softly. "Besides the OWL exams in a few weeks, there's just career guidance for the fifth-year students."

"It was on the notice board this morning," she added, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "That all fifth-year students must meet with their dean to discuss their future employment during the first week after the holidays."

The so-called career guidance involves the college dean having a one-on-one, face-to-face conversation with each fifth-year student, taking into account their academic performance and personality (and of course, their family background, though they will not publicly acknowledge it). The conversation discusses the student's plans for their career and professional development after graduation, and offers suggestions on which subjects they should continue to study when they enter sixth grade.

Skylar gave a soft hum.

"That kind of thing means nothing to us."

Draco immediately chimed in, reverting to his familiar arrogance. "Indeed. Fifth graders being called in to discuss 'what jobs they want to do in the future' sounds like a joke."

The House of Malfoy never had to worry about making a living.

Draco will inherit the Patriarchal position, controlling the family's businesses and political networks. With the House of Malfoy's power and wealth, he and his direct descendants will be able to live a life of luxury; while Skylar—

Leaving aside the fact that his personal wealth and assets are even greater than those of the House of Malfoy, his future is no longer on any official career list.

Daphne looked at Skylar, her gaze deepening slightly.

She knew very well that Skylar's so-called "reform plan," his ambition, his vision, extended far beyond Hogwarts, beyond the Ministry of Magic, and even beyond the Britain Wizarding World.

Just imagining the scene of Skylar and Snape having a job counseling session made Daphne chuckle to herself.

"I don't intend to waste any more time at Hogwarts. I'll graduate early after this term," Skylar said calmly, as if it were a decision he had already made. Then, a smile played on his lips. "After last night's battle, I have something I must do—I will change this magical world."

Draco swallowed hard. Judging from Skylar's tone, defeating the enemy was far from his goal, nor was restoring the House of Malfoy to the top of the world. What he truly wanted was something Draco could never have imagined in his life.

"And you, Daphne?" Pansy asked.

"I will continue my studies at Hogwarts. My father and Skylar both hope I will stay. On the one hand, it allows me to continue accumulating the knowledge and strength I will need in the future..." Daphne glanced at Skylar before continuing, "On the other hand, the Sleeping Dragon Society needs me to stay here to oversee things."

What Daphne didn't say was actually Skylar's prediction about the future war—the next war was very likely to take place at Hogwarts, which was the main reason she had to stay at Hogwarts.

"If I remember correctly," Skylar interrupted at the opportune moment, "Besides career guidance, there should also be the last Quidditch match of the semester, right?"

The atmosphere around the table immediately relaxed after those words were spoken.

The issues concerning the future, responsibility, and the unspeakable power disparity seemed to be gently brushed aside, pulling the students back onto the track most familiar to Hogwarts.

Draco paused, then raised an eyebrow, a proud Slytherin smile involuntarily playing on his lips.

"Of course." His tone regained its usual composure and confidence. "The last match of the semester— Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw."

Pansy scoffed, her tone dripping with undisguised contempt. "But there's nothing to see anymore."

Daphne tilted her head slightly to look at Skylar, as if to confirm whether he really cared about the topic.

"Slytherin has already secured the championship," she added. "With Draco as captain, we've widened the gap between us and the other three teams to a point where they can't catch up."

Draco raised his chin slightly, clearly pleased with the remark.

"It's a done deal." He said it briefly, but with unwavering conviction.

That's absolutely true.

The final Quidditch match of the semester was Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw.

The two teams fought for honor, but the outcome of the championship was no longer relevant.

Slytherin is far ahead on the leaderboard.

Regardless of who wins or loses in that match, it cannot change the already written ending.

The winds of change at Hogwarts had already shifted without anyone noticing.

After breakfast, life in the castle quickly returned to its seemingly familiar rhythm—classes, homework, curfew—as if everything had nothing to do with the great battle that tore the Wizarding World apart the previous night.

That afternoon, a new piece of news quietly spread within a small circle.

Thanks to the best efforts of the top healers at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Dumbledore's injuries have significantly improved, and his vital signs have completely stabilized. According to the doctors, as long as there are no further relapses, he can be discharged within about a month.

However, while Dumbledore is fine, his good partner Grindelwald may not be.

Within the Ministry of Magic, an unprecedentedly fierce debate erupted over "how to deal with Grindelwald."

One faction advocated for his immediate detention and severe punishment, arguing that no matter what merits he had performed the previous night, they could not erase his past crimes;

The other side insisted on postponing the treatment, at least until his condition stabilized, and even believed that he should be granted some degree of exemption.

The two sides are deadlocked, and the debate has yet to reach any conclusion.

These messages naturally wouldn't appear in the Daily Prophet. Bones secretly passed them on to Skylar through private channels.

For the general public, the name "Grindelwald" did not exist in last night's battle.

The Ministry of Magic completely sealed off all related information with top-secret measures, as if he had never appeared or made a move.

Given the extent of Grindelwald's injuries at the time, he hadn't expected him to return to his peak condition.

Since the legendary wizard's combat prowess can no longer be relied upon, when facing Herpo again, only he himself will truly be able to stand at the forefront.

Skylar's gaze gradually darkened.

It seems that in the days to come, Skylar must focus on developing a solution to counter Herpo's "Dark Source Power".

At the same time, two seemingly insignificant yet profound messages quietly emerged:

Firstly, Willie Windsing and Gunnar Grimmson, whom Umbridge had promoted and relied on, have officially left Hogwarts. Their whereabouts remain a mystery, but whether they have been transferred, dismissed, or "dismissed gracefully," no further information has been released.

Secondly, Hagrid has been found innocent and released from Azkaban. He will return to Hogwarts today to resume his positions as Professor of the Care of Magical Creatures and Warden of the Game. Furthermore, his possession of a wand has been completely overturned and erased. From now on, Hagrid can openly wield his wand and cast spells without any restrictions.

These two events, taken individually, seem to be merely personnel changes and the correction of old cases;

However, when placed in the current context, it clearly points to the same fact—

The Ministry of Magic, especially the faction centered around Fudge, is quietly shrinking its lines and making concessions. The purges and suppressions that were once forcefully pushed forward are now being overturned one after another; the "spies" that were once planted in Hogwarts are also being removed Silencio.

The situation has begun to turn around.

The renowned author Wind of the Sleep God has joined the platform with his new work, "Hogwarts: The Rise of Malfoy"!