The little incident during the Arithmancy quickly spread throughout the castle.
The next morning, in a quiet classroom on the west side of the castle.
Draco and Hermione's Ancient Runes lesson began.
This time it was just Draco and Hermione, because the course was so obscure and boring, and the text was like gibberish; hardly anyone in the whole school genuinely liked it.
But Hermione remained seated upright, her notebook open, ready to memorize every single symbol.
"Today we will learn about castle foundation runes." Professor Babbling said, drawing a string of ancient symbols on the blackboard.
"These inscriptions were personally carved by the four Founders into the castle's foundation, staircases, Chamber of Secrets, and hidden passages when they built Hogwarts. They are not spells, but they are the Ancient Magic that underpins the entire castle."
The students craned their necks, but most could only see faint marks that were too faint to make out their shape, and they all shook their heads.
"Professor, I only see a blurry patch."
"Me too, I can't see anything."
Hermione squinted and strained to see, but could only barely make out a few faint lines, feeling a little disappointed.
No matter how hard she tries, some innate perceptions are indeed not something that can be acquired through memorization.
Professor Babbling's gaze fell on Draco.
She was obsessed with Ancient Runes and magic throughout her life and taught at Hogwarts for many years.
Every year when the new third grade starts, she would quietly observe everyone.
It's like searching for a buried ancient runestone.
Ancient Magic perceivers cannot be taught through grades; they are people born with a connection to the castle, and perhaps only one in decades or centuries will come along.
Draco Malfoy was repeatedly mentioned by professors from various departments from the start of the semester: McGonagall praised his amazing talent for Transfiguration, Flitwick said that his talisman touch was rare.
Even the notoriously strict Snape privately mentioned that he had an accurate feel for Potions and was extremely sensitive to hidden magic.
Professor Babbling had long ago placed him at the very top of her "key observation list".
She didn't speak up or call out his name; she simply looked at him quietly with a researcher's expectation.
Draco himself didn't notice anything unusual; he simply glanced casually at the blurry, indistinct pattern on the blackboard.
The next second, he froze.
What was merely a faint shadow to others appeared to him as a slowly rising, cool, silvery-blue glow.
Seeing Draco's reaction, Professor Babbling became even more excited. Unable to contain her excitement, she asked, " Malfoy... did you... see something?"
Upon hearing this, the Gryffindor nearby looked bewildered. "Saw? Saw what? Wasn't that just a blurry mark?"
The Slytherin boys in the back row glared at each other:
"Why did the professor only ask him? Does Malfoy really see things we can't?"
The Hufflepuff looked genuinely surprised, muttering to themselves, "Did they really see something?"
All eyes immediately turned to Draco, Hermione, sitting next to him, felt her heart leap into her throat.
She glanced at the blurry, indistinct mark on the blackboard, then at Draco beside her, who was clearly acting strangely, and suddenly held her breath.
"Hmm!" Draco nodded calmly, meeting everyone's gaze.
The whole class stared wide-eyed, holding their breath in anticipation of what would follow.
He began, "It's just... a bunch of scribbles."
In an instant, the entire class fell backward in unison.
"... so???"
"Then why were you acting all mysterious and profound just now, like you'd already deciphered a thousand-year-old secret?"
"I thought you were going to unlock the secrets of Hogwarts from the bottom!"
"So all you saw was a bunch of gibberish, huh!"
"Who isn't!"
The student waved his hand and scoffed.
Several students in the back row were secretly overjoyed.
Thank goodness, it's one thing that he crushed them in their major subjects, but if he could cheat even in obscure subjects Runes, then they might as well jump off the Astronomy Tower.
Professor Babbling's expectant expression froze for two seconds; Draco's look just now was definitely not some kind of gibberish...
However, she didn't ask any further questions, "I understand."
Then they continued attending class as if nothing had happened.
Hermione shook her head helplessly.
As the class ended, the students rushed out with a sigh of relief, but Professor Babbling called out to Draco.
" Malfoy, could you wait a moment?"
Draco paused.
Hermione almost instinctively stayed put, standing quietly beside him. Professor Babbling closed the classroom door.
Professor Babbling finally stopped probing and asked seriously, "Now that there's no one else here, you can tell me the truth. What did you just see?"
"It's just a complete rune," Draco said.
Professor Babbling paused, then said with unusual seriousness:
" Draco, you are a rare Ancient Magic perceiver. You can see ancient energies, broken runes, and even... hidden passages deep within the castle, which are imperceptible to ordinary people."
"In the thousand years since Hogwarts was built, students like these are few and far between; they often... are able to access the castle's most original and deepest secrets."
Upon hearing this, Hermione immediately connected the Big Dipper Barrier from last night, Draco's omniscience, the Room of Requirement— a room no one knew—and everything clicked together.
"No way... I didn't feel anything..."
Draco denied it.
Professor Babbling, observing the change in his expression, said softly:
"You don't have to admit it right away. This ability is unsettling at first."
She walked to the blackboard and touched the broken strip of wood.
"To an ordinary person it is incomplete, but to you it is complete. This is no coincidence, Malfoy. This is Ancient Magic responding to you."
" Hogwarts has been quite turbulent lately; Ancient Magic is reawakening," Professor Babbling said, her tone becoming more serious.
"Some long-forgotten passages, Chamber of Secrets, and even... trials will actively seek out those with the ability to perceive, such as you."
"If one day you suddenly see a door that doesn't usually exist, or you find yourself stuck somewhere and can't get out, don't panic, and don't force your way out."
"That's not getting lost."
"It's Hogwarts, they're choosing you."
Draco:... Don't do that, I'm scared.
Hermione's mouth gaped open; she could almost foresee that it wouldn't be long before they crashed into the door that was only open to Draco.
" Miss Granger, your composure and knowledge will be his greatest help. Both of you, be careful together."
After saying that, she waved her hand:
"Let's go. Don't mention today to anyone."
The two walked out of the Ancient Runes classroom.
Hermione looked at Draco with worry, curiosity, and a hint of barely concealed pride in her eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll stick to you wherever we go, won't I?" Draco took her hand.
Hermione's cheeks immediately flushed.
"Who... who asked you to stick to me like that..." she muttered softly, a slight smile playing on her lips, as she forced an explanation, "I'm just worried you'll wander off and cause trouble again."
With you here, would I dare?
Draco pulled her toward the Great Hall.