Immunity

Their friends helped Wade and Harry block the curious stares, allowing them to finally finish their meal in peace.

"Actually, when Harry first came back, it was even worse. Some people practically went mad."

Michael muttered to Wade, "Later, Dumbledore said a few words during breakfast, telling everyone not to bother you two or pester you about what happened that day. If Professor McGonagall had seen that guy just now, she definitely would've given him several days of detention."

"Hey, Wade! Look over there!"

Theo suddenly lowered his voice from across the table and pointed his fork toward the entrance of the Great Hall.

Wade turned to look and saw Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott hurrying toward the Slytherin table with their heads lowered.

Their backs were hunched, as though they were bearing some invisible pressure. Countless contemptuous and disgusted gazes shot toward them like arrows. Even the Slytherin students kept their distance, practically broadcasting, "Don't come near me."

"I really don't understand!" Michael sneered, driving his fork hard into the pie on his plate. "How can these people still stay at school? Their Death Eater fathers were arrested right in front of everyone!"

"My grandfather often says..." Theo said quietly, "Dumbledore's weakness is that he's too lenient with certain people."

"I don't understand." Ryan frowned. "Why wasn't Malfoy's father among those arrested?"

"They must have parted ways long ago, right?" Michael guessed. "Look at how they ostracized Malfoy before... If his father still held the same position as before, they wouldn't have treated him like that."

Wade, the only one who knew the truth, said nothing. He merely glanced at Malfoy from afar.

Draco Malfoy sat alone at the end of the long table, his expression cold. When Goyle and the others secretly cast pleading looks his way, he lifted