Mr. Greengrass was inclined to have the school board invest in Snape's potion workshop, as it was the most logical approach from a procedural standpoint.

However, this would clearly displease the pure-blood families. The Hogwarts school board could not accommodate too many, and nobody wanted to be left out.

On the other hand, Severus Snape also indicated that a "personal potion workshop" was still a distant prospect. The most important thing at present was the public potion industry—a large-scale social project jointly regulated by the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts, and the soon-to-be-established "European Potion Quality Administration." If they hoped to get a piece of the pie, they might need to leverage their respective influence in this area.

As for Lucius Malfoy, he very dutifully played the roles of a listener, a newly appointed member of the school board, and a rising star among the pure-blood families, remaining on the periphery of all disputes.

Yes, the public potion market was very tempting, and almost everyone immediately recognized its enormous potential and bright future.

Precisely for this reason, over the next few months, this market would quickly become a brutal vortex of competing forces.

And the best way to protect oneself in a chaotic vortex was to leave the center of the conflict and find a quiet, safe, and unnoticed corner to enjoy some refreshments.

"Aren't we going to try to fight for something, such as investment ratios... I thought you'd at least try to lobby the others, Lucius."

Lucius Malfoy picked up a small cake from the refreshment table, turning it over and over in his hand. "Hmm, something like before, maneuvering and mediating between the various magical families?"

"Yes, isn't that the Malfoy family's survival rule that you've always followed?"

"Indeed, I was keen to fight for every bit of benefit back then."

"So, what are your plans now?" Narcissa Malfoy raised her eyebrows high. "You seem to have figured out your next move?"

"That cannot be revealed for now—"

Lucius shook his head, muttering thoughtfully.

At least until he officially became the top person in charge of the "Magical Sanitary Pads," he couldn't completely relax.

You see, this could be related to the continuation of the Malfoy family for decades, or even centuries to come, and he had to ensure that everything was foolproof.

More importantly, no matter how harmless it seemed, Lucius would not forget that this was a flower that bloomed after absorbing the "nutrients" of the "previous Dark Lord's" remnant soul.

Lucius Malfoy would not naively believe that a wizard who was crazy enough to enslave and dissect "Voldemort's soul fragments" would be a kind-hearted angel. He had to serve that Witch Highness very carefully—even more carefully than he served Voldemort—showing his abilities as much as possible while protecting his family to the greatest extent.

Being the top person in charge of the "Magical Sanitary Pads" was only the beginning. He planned to seize more power while the new and old generations were taking over.

Even if Draco might be involved first, Lucius was still confident that he could go further. After all, he was the wizard who represented the Malfoy family.

That way, when the crisis came, at least he could keep Draco... from facing the devil directly.

…………

"Achoo—"

"Are you alright, Elena? A bit of a chill?"

"I'm fine, maybe someone's talking about me behind my back—just don't let me catch them, or else... hmph."

"Then... maybe it's pollen allergy? There are quite a few plants here..."

"The only thing I'm allergic to is things I can't eat, but all the flowers and plants here are edible."

"Then is it—"

"Alright, alright, can you not be so surprised?!"

Below the castle, the Hufflepuff common room.

Elena sighed, rolling her eyes at her jumpy priest father with some helplessness.

"I'm not a six-year-old, a sneeze won't do anything. Instead of asking questions here, you should take care of your own body first!"

It had to be admitted that Benitez's back was indeed very reassuring.

When Elena woke up again, she had already come from the Transfiguration classroom door to the warm and comfortable Hufflepuff common room.

At this time, the parents were gathered in twos and threes, chatting quietly while waiting for the young wizards to tidy up and hide the contraband in their respective dormitories.

Compared with the topics of the other colleges that were gradually deviating, the atmosphere of Hufflepuff was obviously the most normal of the four.

Most of the parents' focus was mainly on their children's studies, and the Hogwarts "new curriculum."

"Hmm, I thought you would want to go to the bedroom... um, tidy up, organize..."

Benitez glanced at Elena, chuckled a little, and took the initiative to change the subject. "But it doesn't matter, anyway, whatever appears in your little nest I—"

"Don't use—little nest—this word!"

Elena exploded instantly, glaring at Benitez fiercely.

However, her threat obviously didn't work, Benitez just shrugged with a smile.

"Okay, okay—then, the girl's boudoir... aren't you going to tidy it up? After all, isn't there going to be... uh, a room inspection later?"

"There's absolutely no need to worry about that, because—"

Elena narrowed her eyes and shook her finger triumphantly.

"You can't get into my bedroom at all. The permission for my bedroom is independent of the other rooms in Hufflepuff."

As the Head of Hufflepuff, the witch who inherited the will of the Dark Lord and the White Wizard... the security of Elena's bedroom is even higher than the Headmaster's office to some extent. Except for Dumbledore, almost no one can enter her bedroom without permission.

Of course, house-elves can still enter.

But only a few house-elves, including Burly, who have been carefully screened, and even then, they must be approved by Elena before entering.

"But…"

Benitez scratched his cheek in confusion, turning his head subconsciously to look not far away.

"I remember—Miss Abbott lives in the same room as you. Mrs. Abbott should be inspecting the room later, right?"

"Huh?!"

————

————

Not good!