A dozen minutes later, as the last dessert vanished from the plates, breakfast time ended.

The older students, at the urging of the prefects, gathered into streams of people and headed towards their respective common rooms. They would double-check their course selections there and, based on their choices, ultimately receive a new timetable.

Distributing timetables and sorting classes this semester was more complicated than usual.

Since Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would be opening elective courses from the third year onwards, the school first had to consider the consistency of course coverage for each student before sorting, and then consider grades, interests, talents, and the balanced composition of the four houses. If it hadn't been for the goblin measurers temporarily seconded from Gringotts, this step alone might have taken a lot of time.

Even so, the most optimistic estimate was that the upper years wouldn't officially start classes until at least the afternoon—students in fifth year and above would have to wait even longer, because in addition to this, they also had Hogwarts' traditional career guidance session.

Unsurprisingly, they would spend a whole day agonizing in their respective house common rooms and libraries.

The first and second year students, on the other hand, remained in their seats, waiting for Professor Dumbledore to announce the class assignments.

Or, more accurately, to receive a timetable with their name on it from the headmaster and be told what course materials to bring for their first class, then head to the corresponding classroom to prepare.

The first year's courses and class assignments were quickly finalized, with the four houses mixed together into two classes according to the number of students.

The only behind-the-scenes arrangement might be that Danilova and Irina were defaulted to being bundled together. From any point of view, it was clearly more humane to put these two foreign students from the Far East together.

Unlike the other young wizards, these first students of "New Hogwarts" didn't have many questions.

They bid farewell to Dumbledore somewhat reservedly, picked up their textbooks, and went to their first class—since the heads of house were mostly still in the common rooms compiling statistics and answering questions, the beginning of the first year's magical journey was temporarily set as grammar and mathematics.

As for Luna Lovegood, she stayed in place, as expected, not going to class with the other first years.

As a little witch who had sat in on classes for a year in advance, her situation was slightly different.

Professor Dumbledore looked down at the girl standing in front of him, glancing at her exam results from last semester. Luna seemed very calm, not at all anxious because the students of her year had left. Since being tricked into Hogwarts by the naughty white-haired ball last year, she no longer belonged to her original year.

"As a first-year, your grades are excellent," he said. "Undoubtedly, it would be unreasonable for both the school and you to require you to repeat subjects in which you have already received 'Outstanding'. The only question is Flying. Miss Lovegood, you have already participated in trials for a Quidditch professional league team, just this past summer, haven't you?"

Luna nodded gently, and a hint of curiosity flashed in Dumbledore's blue eyes.

"Then, why are you insisting on taking this course? I mean, you may not need it."

"Elena said it's part of Hogwarts culture, and Hogwarts is incomplete without this course."

Luna muttered somewhat unhappily, complaining quietly, "And she threatened me that I had to make some friends in first-year Flying class, otherwise she wouldn't..."

Luna's voice became quieter and quieter, so Dumbledore didn't hear it very clearly.

Of course, this might also be because a certain white-haired ball was secretly getting closer and closer not far from them.

"Oh," Dumbledore blinked, "Miss Kaslana's suggestions are finally starting to mature, instead of always acting first and asking later—especially after she has indeed gained some abilities that can make the impossible possible."

Elena stopped abruptly, pretending to look to the side.

Dumbledore's words were clearly meant for her, after all, she had caused too much trouble last year.

"In that case, Miss Lovegood, I also suggest you give it a try first. However, it is not mandatory... If you really don't find any enjoyment in Flying class, or even feel uncomfortable, you can come to me separately to discuss coordination."

Dumbledore said softly with a smile, "But I want to remind you that you shouldn't blindly follow Elena's requests, you can also try to make suggestions to her. After all, in a strict sense, she has many similarities with you—for example, Miss Kaslana also enrolled early, before she was old enough."

After looking at Luna Lovegood, who seemed to understand, Dumbledore tapped a blank timetable next to him with his finger.

[Hogwarts (1992-1993), Second Year Class B, Luna Lovegood]

This was a custom-made timetable, only for Luna's use.

Then, Dumbledore took out a long roll of parchment from his robes, cleared his throat, and began to assign the second years.

Since the list was in the order of last year's sorting, Elena Kaslana was naturally the first person on the list again, and the first sentence she heard was—

"Elena Kaslana, Second Year Class A, you and Miss Lovegood will temporarily serve as temporary class leaders."

There was a hint of joy hidden in Dumbledore's voice, and he looked with interest at the somewhat startled white-haired ball. After more than a year of observation, he had found a way to restrain this little witch—trick, deceive, sneak attack.

As long as it was within the rules, Elena was even better than him and Grindelwald in terms of keeping promises and accepting defeat.

Undoubtedly, if Elena's plan to gather all the talented young wizards in the same class really came to fruition, it might indeed stimulate their upper limits and growth speed, but it would also abandon those more ordinary children. As the headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore would rather transfer this pressure to himself than to the children.

"Eh? But this, this... Luna, she how..."

Elena widened her eyes in surprise, she had originally thought that Dumbledore would agree to her previous proposal.

After all, from an educational point of view, stratified elite teaching and teaching according to aptitude were the most scientific approaches.

Moreover, in the class sorting method for upper years, grades were indeed a very important influencing factor. This was personally decided by Dumbledore against the opinions of the majority. She never expected that it would happen in her year...

"I believe in your abilities, Miss Kaslana. Or do you think Miss Lovegood is unsuitable for something?"

Dumbledore said softly with a smile, his tone carrying a sense of unquestionable authority.

After a few seconds of eye contact, Elena's gaze swept across the bewildered little moon face next to her. She bit her lip somewhat unwillingly, gave Dumbledore's annoying old face a deep look, and stood to the other side dejectedly.

"Next, Hannah Abbott. Hannah..."

Professor Dumbledore pondered for a few seconds, tapping his fingers on the parchment a few times. "Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration... Your grades are also impressively outstanding. But I would like to ask, if you are not in the same class as Miss Kaslana in the next semester, will it affect your friendship? I remember you especially valued this before!"

"Yes, but my mother has been saying that true friendship will not fade because of distance, professor."

"In fact, there is no distance at Hogwarts. According to the principle of random class sorting, you may have to be temporarily separated from Miss Kaslana in your upcoming courses. Do you find this arrangement acceptable?"

"Yes," Hannah said, "but you said earlier that Elena would—"

"Miss Kaslana, of course, belongs to Hufflepuff, she has a rather nice bathroom over there."

Dumbledore winked nimbly and cheerfully handed Hannah her new timetable. "Very well, Hannah, this is your new timetable for the upcoming semester. You are also in Second Year Class B. By the way—Hogwarts will need a student to serve as a prefect from now on. Professor Apocalis previously recommended you to me. If you agree, you can report later."

A prefect?!

Letting a simple-minded fool be a prefect?!

Elena's mouth twitched, and she stared with an unkind expression at the cruel old turnip who had completely let himself go.

If the previous arrangements regarding Hannah and Luna were considered coincidences, then this prefect plan, derived from her proposal, was clearly aimed at her—with little Hannah's one-track mind, the first person to kill her relatives righteously might be her, this cute, innocent little Hogwarts angel.

Grindelwald proposed it? Very well, she'll remember this grudge first.

A few minutes later, the timetables for the remaining students were also arranged.

Harry and Hermione were assigned to Class A, which wasn't too different from Elena's previous arrangement. Neville and Ron were also assigned to Class A. What made Elena a little upset was that Seamus, the demolition genius she had favored, wasn't in Class A, which meant that she lacked a very promising assistant for future explosive spell experiments.

As for Goyle and Crabbe, Dumbledore had also placed them in Class B.

In fact, most of the young wizards obeyed Dumbledore's arrangements, except for one student...

"Professor Dumbledore, I don't want to go to Class B!"

Draco Malfoy stood his ground, looking at the timetable in Dumbledore's hand without reaching out.

"Oh, and what is your reason, Mr. Malfoy?"

Dumbledore, who was being rejected by a student for the first time today, wasn't angry at all. He didn't express any opposition, nor did he immediately change the arrangement for Draco Malfoy, but rather looked at the young wizard with some curiosity and surprise.

"I, I want to be assigned to Class A, that is, in the same class as Elena, uh, and Hermione and everyone else."

A hint of nervousness appeared on Draco Malfoy's pale face as he answered stubbornly.

"That reason may not be sufficient, I'm afraid, Mr. Malfoy."

Dumbledore shook his head with a smile, raised his finger, and said softly, not hurried or slow.

"Undoubtedly, Miss Elena Kaslana is indeed an extremely excellent witch. I think many of the students present like to be in the same class as her. Hogwarts rarely makes exceptions, unless you can find a reason that can convince me."

Dumbledore was slightly cautious and hesitant about this young wizard from the Malfoy family.

It wasn't because of his talent, but more because of the Malfoy family's long-standing shrewdness. Even if Elena exceptionally allowed Draco to join the "sCp Foundation," Dumbledore was still skeptical about it—if some irresistible risks arose in the future, would this child of the Malfoy family become the next Lucius?

And more importantly, compared to the other young wizards who were close to Elena,

Draco Malfoy was too easily influenced by Elena. Perhaps Grindelwald saw this as a good thing, but from Albus Dumbledore's perspective, he didn't want Draco to bear too heavy a mark.

"Because, because..."

Faced with Dumbledore's gaze that seemed to see through people's hearts, Draco Malfoy's face seemed to become even paler.

And not far from the old man, there was also an interested gaze on him. Draco didn't need to turn around to know that it came from Boss Elena. Since communicating with Riddle's diary, his senses had become much sharper.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Draco Malfoy took a deep breath.

"I want to become an excellent wizard, so I need to compare myself to the best students at all times."

He looked up at the majestic white-haired old man, his eyes gradually becoming firm, and said loudly with courage.

"Besides, if Class A doesn't have me, then we Slytherins are too weak there—during the last semester, my grades in all subjects were among the top as well. If I work hard, I think I can try to approach those two."

"Oh? Is that so? Is that all?"

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in surprise, thoughtfully looking at Malfoy.

To his surprise, these words weren't completely lies.

Or rather, these were all Draco Malfoy's true thoughts. For so long, this was the first young wizard Dumbledore had read who wanted to surpass Elena—not the kind of fantasy of Zacharias Smith before, but a real, solid, and strong idea and goal.

Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, perhaps this analogy wasn't appropriate, but the scene before him suddenly reminded him of Old Black and Young Black, the pair of fathers and sons with completely different personalities, decades ago.

A rare hint of approval flashed in Dumbledore's eyes. Compared to Sirius, Draco's future might be more anticipated.

However, just as he had said before, Hogwarts didn't have many cases of setting precedents.

Dumbledore thought carefully, spread his hands, and said regretfully and euphemistically.

"But the class sorting has ended, and the number of people in the two classes needs to be as equal as possible. Even if I agree, you still need to find a young wizard who is willing to exchange classes with you. You know, there are many times when the headmaster is not omnipotent."

"Still need... someone... to exchange with me?"

"Theoretically, that's how it is. You see, everyone likes Class A." Dumbledore nodded with a smile.

At least in his opinion, the more Draco's future was anticipated, the more he should temporarily stay away from Elena.

"...I understand."

Draco Malfoy was silent for a moment, turned to look at the Second Year Class A queue, and said softly.

"Ron, Ron Weasley, he can exchange classes with me. Professor Dumbledore."

"What nonsense are you talking about, Malfoy, how could I..."

Ron said with a comical expression, looking at Malfoy as if he were crazy. Not to mention that the two of them had just torn their faces and had a big fight recently, even if it was in the last semester, they would often ridicule and compete with each other.

"Because you owe me, and if you agree, from now on, I owe you—"

Draco Malfoy turned his head, said extremely seriously, "I really need this spot, Ron, I know you must want to punch me in the face right now, but I still hope you can... no matter..."

"Okay. I agree."

Before Draco Malfoy could finish his words, Ron suddenly said loudly, his voice sounding a little strange.

"I don't want to see the disgusting look of the noble Master Malfoy begging people. Anyway, my grades aren't good, right? I'll probably be at the bottom in Class A."

As he spoke, he strode over, stuffed the timetable in his hand into Malfoy's hand, picked up the timetable that originally belonged to Malfoy from Dumbledore's desk, and walked to the other side, continuing to shout loudly.

"Remember, from now on, I don't owe you anymore."

Hmm? Another unexpected gain...

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.

Not only the Malfoy family's child, but this youngest son of the Weasley family also seemed to have become different.

The old man thoughtfully looked at these young wizards who were constantly giving him surprises and accidents, shook his head with a smile, and cleared his throat.

"Very well, in that case... Draco Malfoy, Second Year Class A. Ron Weasley, Second Year Class B."

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*Gu, big chapter!*