Trelawney's fate proved one thing beyond doubt—Umbridge truly had the authority to dismiss a Hogwarts professor.
As Headmaster, Dumbledore had done nothing more than ensure Divination classes continued. Judging by the outcome, he hadn't offered Trelawney any real help at all.
Of course, it was also possible that Dumbledore simply hadn't had the time to deal with it. After all, Trelawney's unpredictable prophecies could still prove useful at crucial moments…
In any case.
With Trelawney made an example of, every professor and young wizard now understood just how powerful that little pink notebook was—and how serious Umbridge's classroom audits had become.
As a result, aside from the four Heads of House, no other professor was willing to openly offend or confront Umbridge. Many classes had gradually begun to take on her shape.
After all, the title and status of a Hogwarts professor carried weight. No one wanted to be forced out of the castle over something like this.
Meanwhile, the exchange meetings led by the student council began proceeding far more smoothly…
...
Despite the unpleasantness at the Hog's Head, Draco's proposal had ultimately been approved by everyone.
The first exchange meeting was set for that very evening, in the fourth-floor corridor.
After dinner, a portion of the students quietly gathered and made their way toward the fourth floor. Along the way, they wore expressions of excitement and anticipation, tinged with a hint of furtiveness.
If Umbridge happened to see them now, she would undoubtedly haul in these suspicious-looking students for questioning on the spot…
Among those who reached the fourth-floor corridor and pulled open one of the doors were Draco and his group.
That door was the key to opening the Room of Requirement.
They had already considered the possibility that another wizard might, by sheer luck, discover the Room of Requirement.
But what Pansy hadn't expected was that the lucky one would turn out to be Harry Potter.
Yes. Although Draco had been the one to propose the idea, it was Harry Potter—our Chosen One—who had shared the location and method of opening the Room of Requirement with the other Prefects.
"So there's more than one spot where the Room of Requirement can be opened… Still, I didn't expect those lot to know about a place like that. Their luck is ridiculous."
"Luck? Perhaps…"
"Hm? Am I wrong? It's practically legendary. Without insane luck, no one would ever find it."
Noticing Draco's indifferent tone, Pansy blinked her large eyes, clearly unconvinced that Harry Potter could have discovered it through his own ability or knowledge.
Their whispering drew the attention of Hermione and Astoria, who had been quietly observing their surroundings.
Pansy frowned. "Draco, you mean… it wasn't a coincidence?"
"Who knows? Just a reasonable suspicion."
Draco shrugged and glanced toward Harry Potter, who was speaking with a few other students.
His deliberately cryptic answer made Pansy puff out her cheeks in annoyance, just as Hermione seemed to recall something and interjected.
"I remember—back in first year, I heard Potter mention it."
"First year? You're telling me he found the Room of Requirement in first year?"
"Yes. He said he found a magical mirror inside."
"A mirror? What mirror?"
"Um…"
Hermione faltered. The tips of her ears flushed faintly pink.
Back then, her mind had been entirely preoccupied with Draco. She hadn't spared much thought for some mysterious mirror. Naturally, she couldn't give a proper answer now.
She could only vaguely recall that it had been a magical mirror capable of revealing a person's deepest desire.
To change the subject, Hermione quickly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Speaking of which, Draco, you never told us how you found the Room of Requirement."
"Exactly! I've wanted to ask that for ages. How did you find it, Draco?"
Compared to Pansy and Hermione's open curiosity, Astoria turned her head aside, her expression faintly stiff.
Even now, she couldn't forget how Draco had once seen her at her least graceful moment.
Every vulnerable part of her had been laid bare before him. And yet, absurdly, she still found herself fixated on that small, embarrassing detail.
At the thought, Astoria shot Draco a sharp glare.
The meaning was unmistakable.
If he dared say a word about it, she would make him regret it.
…
Just as the atmosphere between them was turning awkward again, Penelope entered the Room of Requirement, followed by a dark-faced Head Boy and several Prefects.
Whether it was simply the Head Boy's intimidating expression or something else entirely, the previously excited students fell silent at once.
Seen from another angle, Draco's earlier strike hadn't been entirely without benefit.
At the very least, it had earned him a bit more authority.
"We need a place to practice spells," Penelope said clearly, "and it has to be somewhere we won't be discovered. As you can see, this is the Room of Requirement."
"What?"
"Penelope, what exactly is this Room of Requirement?"
"Wait—this is that legendary room?"
The moment the door shut, Penelope gave a straightforward explanation of the room's origins. Her words immediately drew surprised murmurs and curious exclamations from the crowd.
It was obvious that, before arriving here, no one had told them what this place truly was.
"So I expect every one of you to keep this a secret."
"No problem!"
"We won't tell anyone."
"I don't want to spend the whole term learning nothing, either."
As the saying goes, unity within often requires a common enemy without.
And their High Inquisitor had filled that role perfectly. Under her pressure, students from all four Houses had found rare common ground. Even Gryffindor and Slytherin were willing to put aside their grievances and coexist peacefully.
Well… almost.
Except for the Head Boy, who was currently glaring at Draco as though he wanted to hex him on the spot.
...
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