Perhaps the Potions field and the Charms field are relatively better, after all, the "magical research" results in these fields are more intuitive.
However, as various magical studies gradually enter the stage of perfection and micro-innovation, fewer and fewer new "magical research" results are being born.
For example, Professor Slughorn is a very typical example. As a Hogwarts Potions professor, his biggest regret is that he has not developed any era-defining potions.
If you put aside his years of teaching experience, Professor Slughorn can't even find any objective evidence to prove that he is a Potions Master - Potions is still like this, let alone fields such as Transfiguration, Herbology, and Care of Magical Creatures, which have not made breakthrough progress in decades. "Experience" and "age" have even become the main criteria for judging academic achievement.
Naturally, the advent of the "impact factor" concept was quickly supported by the Ministry of Magic and the top wizards in various academic fields of the magical world.
As the most well-informed Floo Network Office administrator in the Ministry of Magic, Madam Ekkermoff was naturally one of the first wizards to know about future policy changes in the magical academic world.
In fact, compared to the conservative academic circles, Cornelius Fudge's attitude was even more radical.
Since the "impact factor" algorithm was introduced, the Ministry of Magic has specifically hired a group of goblins to be responsible for calculating, testing, and organizing relevant data.
Cornelius Fudge's purpose in doing so was very clear - he wanted to attract those truly potential new forces before Dumbledore, instead of recruiting a group of bookworms whose paper scores looked good, or relying on Dumbledore and other magical families' recommendations to screen talents as before. He intended to become that talent scout himself.
And according to the current situation, Percy Weasley is undoubtedly the one with the best "comprehensive" data:
This Gryffindor prefect has published four magical papers as the first author, and has appeared in almost all of the Weasley family's children's papers as the second or third author.
Therefore, although he still has one year before he officially graduates, Cornelius Fudge has already decided to send Percy a formal internship invitation this summer.
If nothing unexpected happens, by the end of this semester, the Ministry of Magic will have an additional Assistant to the Minister named Percy Weasley.
"...The specific scores can only be seen by goblins and senior officials, but the rankings are roughly like this."
Madam Ekkermoff spread her hands, looked at the parents around her, and said with certainty.
"Starting this year, the Ministry of Magic will include the 'impact factor' as an important consideration, and if nothing unexpected happens, other positions in society will follow the Ministry of Magic's adjustments."
"And some professional qualification certifications that are being piloted this year seem to also focus on the 'impact factor' value. As far as I know, practitioners in industries such as potion masters and magical animal trainers may be ordered to temporarily suspend business by the Ministry of Magic if they fail to pass the qualification review before the end of the year - as for Hogwarts and Gringotts, it should be similar."
"Wait, it's so troublesome later? Then we—"
With Madam Ekkermoff's gossip, many adult wizards became obviously anxious, talking and whispering to each other.
They had actually heard about these news.
Combined with the content of the parents' meeting just now, and the rumors in the magical society, there is probably nothing wrong.
Impact factor, the new winning hand in the magical society of the future? Is the era of deciding solely on grades gradually withdrawing from the stage of the magical world?
Different from other colleges, the vast majority of students in Ravenclaw College have good grades - but to describe it from another perspective, that is, everyone's grades are similar.
Therefore, under this brand-new screening rule, most parents realized the key issue almost immediately:
In Hogwarts and even the "cutting-edge fields" of the magical society in the future, whoever masters the core of the impact factor, masters the tide of the new era.
However, no matter in which era or which evaluation standard system, as long as this evaluation still has a subjective judgment mode based on "people" as units, there will inevitably be ambiguous areas, such as those officials in the Wizarding Examinations Authority, who for a long time have been regarded as the final examiners who really have the right to determine the future fate of young wizards.
Many pure-blood wizarding families usually choose to frequently show goodwill to these examiners before the exam begins, and try to find out some shortcuts from them.
And now, the only person in charge of the impact factor, who has the right to open the back door in this seemingly fair environment...
Everyone subconsciously turned their heads and looked at the man sitting by the window away from the crowd, coldly watching.
Xenophilius Lovegood, editor-in-chief of *The Quibbler* joint publishing house, directly controls the publication of at least four top journals.
Different from those other anxious parents, this middle-aged man's emotions have not fluctuated much from beginning to end. He sits quietly in the corner observing everything, as if he were a high-dimensional observer living in another world, and now, everyone is beginning to understand where the other party's confidence and mentality come from - he is the rising star of the next era, so naturally he will not be anxious about these things.
"...Well, Mr. Lovegood, I've heard so much about you - your magazines are really wonderful."
A witch with chestnut wavy long hair coughed lightly and took the initiative to walk to Xenophilius's side, trying to strike up a conversation.
This is not really snobbery, after all, most people still have to eat, and Xenophilius's journals may determine whether their work future can be secured.
"Oh, uh - thank you, but...which one are you talking about?"
To people's surprise, Xenophilius was not as unapproachable as imagined.
In fact, judging from his reaction just now, he seemed to be more like daydreaming than coldly watching...
"Of course it's *The Quibbler* - the metaphors on it are really wonderful!"
The chestnut-haired witch's eyes lit up, and she quickly said without hesitation. As a graduate of Ravenclaw College, she understood the deep meaning in the first place.
The sharp attacks hidden behind the words, like a sharp knife piercing the abscesses of the magic government and traditional wizarding families, quickly became the secret language of "elites".
"Uh - metaphors? I don't understand...I mean...everything written on *The Quibbler* is fact."
Xenophilius shrank back uncomfortably. The fanatical, abnormal light in the other person's eyes gave him an impulse to escape.
"Don't over-interpret the content on it, I'm not implying anything, those are actually..."
"I understand, I understand...Boggarts hate those who hold torches."
The chestnut-haired witch nodded with a knowing look, imitating Xenophilius's tone, and said somewhat mysteriously.
"When we open up magical history, there is no history or era on it, and the words 'magic' are written all over each page..."
"Staying in the leeward shadow of the Mountains of Madness, wizards must take care of their imaginations—"
"The real person saw the fool, and the real person knows that this world is a scam..."
At the same time, other wizards also seemed to have found the correct way to start, and they all gathered around, racking their brains to quote metaphors from *The Quibbler* to talk.
Perhaps genes do not truly inherit wisdom, but Ravenclaw's romantic and divergent thinking is well reflected in most families.
Compared with Slytherin-style flattery, people in the "Raven's Tower" obviously prefer to use metaphors to establish social connections.
"...Boggarts are not - sigh, forget it -"
Xenophilius glanced around at the group of crazy guys and subconsciously moved a few times into his seat.
These people...
Are their brains...
Not quite normal?
A few years ago, he thought the world was full of vulgar, realistic, boring, and rigid guys.
However, after a certain witch broke into the Lovegood family's world, everything completely changed.
The world became crazy, full of nonsense and meaningless lunatics. After a few attempts, Xenophilius had long lost the desire to explain.
Fortunately, not everyone is trying to distort his articles to talk.
"You're very popular, Mr. Lovegood—"
Among the strange crowd, a man with obvious Eastern European or Russian contours said with a smile.
"Phew, don't make fun of me, Mr. Alexei—you know I'm not good at dealing with these kinds of occasions."
Xenophilius sighed helplessly and glared at the middle-aged man who was watching the show with his arms folded.
Alexei, the newly hired professor of mathematics at Hogwarts, this is what most wizards know. The Ministry of Magic has slightly more records - a mathematically gifted Squib.
As the "High Arcana" and the acting head of the temporarily managed "Black Cloak Legion", Xenophilius knew more details, such as the fact that Professor Alexei was actually a senior researcher from a "former Soviet nuclear physics research laboratory" and an important researcher for the Hogwarts magic network and magic book logic, with a rank only second to the High Arcana.
In fact, among the professors at Hogwarts, Alexei, who has been in office for the shortest time, is the partner with whom Xenophilius communicates the most privately.
This is not only for work reasons, but more importantly...
"Luna? Isn't she with you, Mr. Lovegood—"
Before Alexei could speak, a cute little witch jumped out from behind him, curiously looking around.
"Luna went upstairs to the dormitory to tidy up her bed. The parents will be visiting your dormitory later."
Xenophilius pointed to the stairs and replied with a smile.
Just like his little moon, Mr. Alexei's "little Dani" was also tricked into Hogwarts by that witch.
Compared to the other dangerous elements surrounding Luna, Danilova is obviously much more harmless - her presence means that Luna doesn't only have Eileen as an option.
"Dorm inspection?!"
Danilova was stunned for a moment, as if she had remembered something, and a flash of panic quickly flashed in her eyes.
"...Ah, my bed isn't made yet! Daddy, I'm going up first—"
Immediately, she screamed and ran towards the spiral staircase next to the common room in a panic.
You know, she has hidden a lot of things in the dormitory during this time, most of which are "petite bourgeoisie" things that her father would nag about for a long time.
Although she and her father have now come to England and the magical world, judging from the complaints of Luna and others, every parent is always stingy and sensitive in certain aspects.
"Children grow up, and there are always some secrets they don't want adults to know, aren't there?"
Looking at her daughter's panicked back disappearing at the end of the stairs, Alexei shrugged helplessly.
"By the way, Mr. Lovegood—"
After a slight pause, Alexei turned his head to look at Xenophilius and said with a smile.
"Luna's magic book is with you, right? While you have this time, would you like me to explain the functions of the magic book to you?"
The Hogwarts magic book is only a pilot project. Its future market and application space is not limited to this castle.
In the plan of the High Arcana Council, the next promotion target is the "Black Cloak Legion" and the battlefield reporters under the "Hermits".
"...Cough, next time - Luna snatched the magic book back."
Xenophilius scratched his cheeks, and without waiting for Alexei to ask, he continued somewhat awkwardly.
"I accidentally opened her diary just now, and I guess Luna won't let me touch her magic book for a while."
"...Diary?"
At this moment, Madam Ekkermoff suddenly asked curiously.
She fiddled with the magic book in her hand and looked at the two people who were talking with great interest.
"This...can you write a diary on this?"
"Of course, well, but I only discovered it accidentally—"
Xenophilius nodded and glanced at the magic book in Madam Ekkermoff's hand, explaining absentmindedly.
"Look, there's a small magic button here—uh—but, I suggest you'd better not snoop on your children's privacy."
Mr. Lovegood had just explained halfway when he suddenly felt that something was wrong and immediately tried to save the situation.
However, his subsequent rescue was obviously a little too late.
Along with the conversation between the two, the parents around gradually found the entrance to the "personal space" hidden on the young wizards' magic books.
The vast majority of Ravenclaw College are young witches in puberty, who like to secretly write small things anyway.
Not to mention, since the potato war last year, the fragrance of love that permeated Hogwarts Castle suddenly dissipated.
"Hmm? This child..."
"A stupid lion from Gryffindor College?"
"Dating record—"
"Honey, come and see this one - that boy is really bad..."
In less than a few minutes, the atmosphere in the common room instantly became depressed and serious.
This time, almost no one cared about the "impact factor" and grades anymore.
Because something more serious appeared before their eyes:
The cabbage they had worked so hard to raise seemed to have been gnawed by a lion!
————
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Yay!