She could tell that Lynn cared intensely about rules; if she heard their plan, it might make her uncomfortable.
So there was no need for her to know any of it.
Caught by Maranhao's sudden, gentle hands over her ears, Lynn stopped silently reciting her textbook and looked up at Maranhao.
Meeting Lynn's glassy, almost lifeless eyes, Maranhao smiled warmly and shook her head to signal that everything was fine.
Accepting the answer without the slightest curiosity or doubt, Lynn nodded and lowered her head to resume her silent recitation.
Thus, under the joint scheming of Ravenclaw's Little Eagles, a new prank plan was drawn up almost every single day.
Put a group of academic prodigies together and even their prank sessions are shockingly efficient.
Charms, Potions, even Alchemy and Ancient Runes—Ravenclaws, with their vast knowledge, can torment someone far more terrifyingly than Gryffindor's simple jokes.
Methods appeared in endless variety, every detail controlled to ensure Malfoy would be miserable without anything truly serious happening.
They guaranteed that, this school year, Malfoy would have 'excitement every day' and absolutely no spare energy to bother Lynn.
Poor Draco, who had been grinding his teeth and plotting something after learning his father couldn't take revenge thanks to Dumbledore's interference, hadn't even finished forming a plan before someone arranged his year for him.
The Ravenclaws' discussion lasted until the Sorting began; Maranhao finally removed her hands from Lynn's ears and gently reminded her.
'Lynn, the Sorting's starting. Put the books aside for a moment and watch the ceremony?'
Lynn turned to Maranhao with stiff movements and nodded. 'All right.' Then she focused on the new students' Sorting.
This year's intake to Ravenclaw House wasn't large, yet every new Eagle looked first toward Lynn, seated between Maranhao and Marietta.
The famous second-year who had earned over eight hundred points for the House last year, her reputation had already spread among parents.
Coupled with her 'exploits' in Diagon Alley, practically no first-year failed to recognize her.
But seeing her blank face and the emptiness in her eyes, many little first-year Eagles couldn't help shrinking their heads.
Immediately the older Eagles beside them gently introduced Lynn, explaining she simply looked that way but was actually very kind.
'No matter what you ask, if Lynn knows the answer she'll explain it carefully.'
Penelope recommended Lynn to the new Eagles without the slightest exaggeration or concealment.
Hearing Penelope call her name, Lynn turned, listened, and calmly nodded.
'If you have questions I can answer, I will.'
Offering help within one's power is basic courtesy.
The first-years blushed and thanked their senior softly.
Their opinion of and fondness for Lynn rose.
'Senior Lin Yue, aren't you tired?' An ethereal, elegant voice sounded.
Lynn located the speaker unerringly: a little blonde girl with protuberant, rather dreamy eyes.
'Why would I be tired?' Unable to grasp her meaning, Lynn asked, though she felt no curiosity.
'You're dragging so many things.' The girl pointed behind Lynn—where nothing existed.
'I'm not dragging anything.' Lynn blinked; her mind told her nothing was there but the chair back.
'All right.' The girl nodded, then, as if remembering, stretched out her hand. 'I'm Luna, Luna Lovegood.'
'Lynn.' She politely shook Luna's hand, her expression unchanged.
At the Gryffindor Table, Hermione, about to pick up her cutlery for dinner, instinctively looked toward the Ravenclaw Table.
She wanted to check whether Lynn was eating slowly as advised, but she didn't spot her eating.
Instead she saw her shaking hands with a junior across Maranhao.
A complicated feeling surged in Hermione—half happy that Lynn had made a new friend, half inexplicably sour at the sight.
Pressing her lips, Hermione took a large gulp of pumpkin juice and silently scolded herself.
'Hermione, what are you thinking? Lynn is your friend; you know her situation. You should be happy she's found a new friend—nothing more.'
Even so, the sourness refused to fade.
Only when Lynn and Luna released each other's hands did the feeling quietly ebb.
Lynn keeps her promises, so she ate her dinner unhurriedly.
The sight left Ravenclaw Eagles gaping and even the Professors at the Staff Table pleasantly surprised.
After the surprise, everyone felt genuine delight.
Unfortunately, the delight didn't last long—especially for the Eagles.
After dinner Headmaster Dumbledore formally introduced, beside him, the peacock-bright Gilderoy Lockhart.
He announced Lockhart would be Hogwarts' new defense against the dark arts professor.
The smiles that had risen because Lynn ate slowly instantly collapsed; the Eagles stared in gloomy despair at the preening man on the Staff Table.
'Merlin's bloody—' They had still hoped Lockhart was merely visiting for the feast.
'Turns out he really will be our Professor?'
Listening to the surrounding groans, Lynn merely blinked calmly.
To her, any Professor would do; she only needed to learn from them properly.
The school makes no mistakes, her mind assured her.
Meanwhile Hermione, knowing full well Lockhart was a fraud, already planned to seek Lynn's help studying Defense Against the Dark Arts this year.
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