That noon, during lunch in the Great Hall.

"Ron, don't take it to heart," George Weasley said, pushing a plate of beef stew and potatoes in front of him. "Those Slytherins are all the same. No need to get angry over what that Malfoy brat said..."

"If you really can't stand it, we'll find a chance to punch him later!" Fred added, nodding in agreement.

"Ahem, George, Fred, could you not say these things in front of me?"

Percy Weasley coughed lightly, sounding somewhat helpless, and tapped the potatoes in front of Ron.

"Just eat something first. Even if you starve yourself at the table, you won't be able to teach Malfoy a lesson."

Ron scooped the beef stew and potatoes into his plate with a spoon, picked up a fork, but didn't eat.

"Percy," he suddenly looked up, speaking with a serious and earnest tone, "can you tutor me? Starting tomorrow, I'll go to the library with you every day. I want to study hard—next year, I want to try and be a prefect."

Fred's fork clattered and fell from his hand.

His twin brother wore a similarly ghostly expression. If Ginny had said this, it might have seemed a little more appropriate, but coming from this younger brother who spent all his time playing chess and reading Quidditch magazines...

"Please, Ron, get a grip."

Fred let out a strange cry, looking oddly at him. "One prefect in the family is enough. Isn't it a little too early for you to be thinking about this? Besides, I don't think being a prefect is such a great role—"

"That's right, I don't think you need to compete for such a thing—"

"Hmm?"

"Oh—"

Before Fred and George could finish speaking, two identically toned questions came from across the table.

Bill Weasley and Charlie Weasley paused their eating, giving Fred a meaningful glance, quietly watching their clownish brothers gradually realize something, and then slowly turn to stone under their gaze.

Compared to Percy Weasley, Charlie and Bill clearly held a much higher status in the family.

At this moment, the twins suddenly realized that with these two childhood shadows returning to school, the Weasley family's numbers in Hogwarts (former) student council presidents, prefects, and Quidditch captains had instantly gained an overwhelming advantage.

Ignoring the two "Peevy Weasleys" beside him, Percy gave Ron a deep look.

"If you're really determined, then start tonight," Percy said calmly.

Ron looked at Percy, nodding firmly with a determined expression.

After a brief pause, Percy thought for a moment and added.

"Also, don't expect me to be able to help you too much. After all, I haven't taken those two new classes either."

"The matters of magic courses mainly depend on your own efforts—and talent—as for prefect, there are many things to consider. Even I don't know the specific criteria. I can only say try to be as excellent as possible..."

"I know—"

Charlie Weasley said nonchalantly, pouring himself a glass of milk.

"Professor McGonagall's judging criteria are nothing more than three things: grades, popularity, and Quidditch as a bonus. The first two depend on Ron himself, but if it's Quidditch—Ron! After school this afternoon, grab your broom and come to the field."

As the legendary captain who led Gryffindor to dominate the Hogwarts skies for three years, Charlie Weasley was fully confident in training Ron into a capable player. In fact, with his influence on the team, even building a tactical system around Ron as the core wasn't impossible.

"Sounds a bit interesting..."

Bill Weasley carefully scrutinized his brothers' expressions, nodding with a smile.

"George, Fred, you two come with Ron too. I'll supervise you—in Hogwarts history, there may never have been a situation where seven people from the same family are in school at the same time. This is a rare opportunity."

"Eh? We have to come too?"

Fred froze, turning his head stiffly, making a cracking sound.

George's mouth twitched slightly, with a hint of luck on his face, he cautiously asked in a low voice.

"Big brother, are you saying that Fred and I will supervise Ron together?"

"No. You two really need to catch up on your lessons! Magic is your greatest reliance in the future."

Bill Weasley shook his head unmoved, saying in a serious tone.

"Mom specifically told me before leaving that if you still bring back a bunch of passing grades this year, then my situation might be worse than yours, so for my Christmas gifts this year... sorry..."

"Bill, you're lying! Mom clearly said, let you find a girlfriend to bring back this year—"

Just then, Ginny, who had just run into the Great Hall and sat down next to Percy, stuck out her tongue and unhesitatingly exposed him.

Ever since learning from Percy that Fred and George had each found girlfriends, Mrs. Weasley, although occasionally scolding them verbally, had instead begun to urge the other Weasley boys to find girlfriends more attentively, both overtly and covertly.

Especially Bill Weasley, the eldest brother in the family, was thoroughly questioned by his mother every time he came back.

"That's just one of Mom's requests, not mandatory..."

Bill's face stiffened, glaring fiercely at his brothers who were trying hard to suppress their laughter, then turned to look at the youngest sister in the family.

"Ginny! After training today, you're coming with your brothers too!"

"Study then, I just want to learn some magic faster..."

Ginny Weasley said nonchalantly, snatching a glass of iced juice from Percy's hand.

"Oh, can Irina and them come too? We also want to try and form a Quidditch team, but without brooms, instructors, and a field, this week's training program is completely not challenging, it's too boring..."

"That Slytherin first-year girl?" Percy Weasley frowned with some concern.

"That girl is not simple, I heard in class this morning that she is the new Shadow Prefect of Slytherin, a first-year student, which is not something ordinary people can do! Ginny, you better be careful and don't get too close to her."

"So what? Isn't that a good thing? Anyway, I've already fought her once, and lost miserably."

Ignoring the brothers around her who suddenly widened their eyes, Ginny said in a tone as if she was talking about what to eat for lunch.

"Irina is indeed very powerful, except for Luna Lovegood, no one in the class is her opponent. But in terms of brainpower, Danilova of Ravenclaw is slightly better—anyway, we agreed today to study and improve together, no one is allowed to hide anything, and finally have another match at the end of the semester."

"Fight... fighting?! You guys fought on the first class of the semester?!"

Percy Weasley paused for a moment, then raised his voice unconsciously.

"Normal course arrangements, don't get too excited, Percy."

Before Percy could finish speaking, Ginny Weasley rolled her eyes, opened her backpack, took out a training schedule, and handed it directly to his nose.

[Morning: Physical Training (Required) + Free Combat Women's Self-Defense (Elective)]

[Afternoon: Pre-School Preparatory Class (Mathematics) + Pre-School Preparatory Class (Nature)]

"Bill and Charlie are in the field next to us, their intensity is much higher than ours."

She casually explained while cutting the beef in her plate with a knife and fork, "Their opponents are a group of adult wizards from outside the school. They can use wands for duels in the first class, although they lost miserably this morning."

"Just a little bit, if it weren't for those guys holding us back!" Charlie retorted excitedly.

"What number was that time you said that? Anyway, I don't remember seeing anyone on the other side being knocked down by you." Ginny said lightly.

"Don't even mention us, even if you add the entire seventh grade, they might not be a match for those guys—there's nothing embarrassing about it. Most of us are students who just graduated not long ago, not Aurors who specialize in magical combat for many years."

Bill Weasley shook his head unmoved, admitting generously.

In fact, from the moment he saw those "sparring partners" in the field this morning, Bill Weasley knew they had no chance of winning—some people looked like keepers from the "Magical Creature Association", but were actually elite combat groups from the wiB. Even Ministry of Magic Aurors would be completely wiped out without five times their numbers.

Undoubtedly, the young lady was determined to give them these returning "graduate students" a hard time.

As a B-level researcher belonging to sCp-Gringotts, Bill Weasley had no interest in fighting those field personnel who practiced magical combat almost every day. Every time the confrontation started, he cleverly took the lead in sending a wave.

Compared to running around the world performing tasks, he still preferred research work.

……

Meanwhile, in the Hogwarts Academy City District.

The lecture hall used temporarily as an explanation venue in the morning was already empty. Goblin Douglas sat in the front row of chairs, tossing gold coins while patiently waiting for the time on the pocket watch in his hand to gradually pass.

If any Gringotts goblin saw this scene, their first reaction would be whether he was under a wizard's spell.

In Gringotts Wizarding Bank, there was almost nothing that could make a goblin manager wait, and as the current Chief Financial Officer of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, there were even fewer things in this world that were worth Douglas's time.

Unless—

On the stage not far away, a ball of blue light flashed.

Ding.

Douglas caught the gold coin in his hand, stood up, walked quickly to the front of the stage, and bowed respectfully.

"Welcome to Hogwarts Academy City, esteemed 'Magician' Nicolas Flamel, I am Douglas, A-level Director of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. You can ask me for all your manpower and material needs from now on."

"Academy City? Where's Dumbledore?"

Nicolas Flamel looked around, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said calmly.

"Also, don't call me 'Magician' for the time being. I still have a few questions I haven't figured out."

Whether it was Newt's invitation or Dumbledore's letters, besides those tempting vision blueprints, what made Nicolas Flamel hesitate and curious the most was the "mastermind" hidden behind the scenes, which had not been revealed.

However, whenever he asked this question, Newt always revealed a strange expression that was hard to describe.

According to Newt Scamander, unless Nicolas Flamel agreed to take on this responsibility, even he couldn't reveal too much information—besides, most of the information was also difficult to describe in words. If Nicolas Flamel was really a little interested, going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to feel and chat in person might be more intuitive.

In fact, having only been on the pirate ship for less than a month, Newt was still a little confused himself.

Therefore, after Nicolas Flamel chatted with Newt Scamander for a few hours, he quickly made up his mind. Regardless of whether he accepted the invitation later, he would first go to Hogwarts Castle and ask Dumbledore to clarify things.

However, what surprised him a little was that the temporary Portkey provided by Newt did not end inside the school.

Moreover, the reception staff was not a wizard as he had imagined, but the goblin head of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, which contained a lot worth savoring. This was indeed not just a simple wizarding organization.

If he remembered correctly, even the birth of the Philosopher's Stone had failed to make the goblins choose to submit to the wizards.

Just as Nicolas Flamel was thinking, the short, middle-aged goblin not far away cleared his throat.

"I'm very sorry, it's lunchtime right now, so Professor Dumbledore may not be able to receive you for the time being—"

Douglas looked at the pocket watch in his hand, bowed with a smile, and replied quickly.

"But in approximately one hour and twelve minutes, he will be waiting for you with another old friend of yours in the headmaster's office. Whether it's the foundation event tonight, or some subsequent overall framework issues, he will answer them."

"Now, do you want to visit your laboratory area first, or get on the ship and take a look?"

"Ship? Oh, right, I heard Newt say—"

Nicolas Flamel nodded thoughtfully, blinking his eyes curiously, and said with a smile.

"Is that the one Newt mentioned, the magical ship that is said to represent the highest level of alchemy in the magical and non-magical worlds today, a new era creation that is likely to subvert my previous concepts after seeing it? Alright, it's good to take a look when I have nothing to do."

In his impression, Newt Scamander was not a wizard who was in the habit of making a fuss.

Whether it was Beauxbatons' giant carriages, Durmstrang's magical ship, or the Hogwarts Express...

As a famous alchemist, Nicolas Flamel was no stranger to these alchemical achievements transformed from Muggle transportation. He was a little curious as to what kind of magical ship would receive such an evaluation from Newt.

"Okay, I understand—"

The smile on Goblin Douglas's face became even richer, nodding respectfully.

"But before that, I think you may need to look at some perspective drawings first, including some detailed parameters of the magical ship you are about to board, otherwise I am worried that you may not be able to form a relatively specific outline in your mind."

The supreme Goblin Queen once said:

[Curiosity is mankind's greatest advantage, but also its greatest disadvantage. When a wizard becomes curious about something, especially something that cannot be answered in the short term, that is the beginning of a complete fall.]

And now, Nicolas Flamel, has already stepped half a foot into the honey trap carefully designed by the Goblin Queen.

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Two-in-one chapter! Asking for votes!