A nauseating burnt smell.
Dazzlingly blackened corpses.
Though the sight was frightening, it did not affect Goyle and Crabbe as they began cleaning up the battlefield.
After all, getting used to and accepting these things was also part of practical combat training.
In fact, when this practical combat training had first begun, even Goyle and Crabbe had vomited until they were dizzy. It had taken them quite a while to adapt.
It had to be said that wizards really were quite gifted in this regard.
...
In any case.
After the three Mountain Trolls were swallowed by the wave of fire.
The morning's practical combat training had more or less come to an end.
The result was fairly satisfactory.
After checking on Goyle and Crabbe's training, Draco did not go forward to disturb their next actions. He only greeted Penelope before leaving.
Because after this, Draco still had other things to do.
Next came the intelligence system, something extremely important and something that could only be entrusted to close confidants.
In a certain sense, this part might be more important than anything else.
And the wizard in charge of this area.
Was Astoria Greengrass, who had the Sacred Twenty-Eight Families as her background.
As for the wizard assisting Astoria and acting as her deputy, it was Fleur Delacour, who had only recently arrived at Draco Constellation and had already been given an important position by Draco.
This was also why Fleur had held information about Harry Potter at that time.
But because of this, Hermione and the others had some opinions about it.
Because they had every reason to suspect that Draco had fallen for Fleur's beauty trap, and that was why he had handed such an important position over to her.
Of course, Draco would not admit it... no, from beginning to end, that was not the reason he had decided to let Fleur take on this task at all.
He was not that shallow.
In any case.
After observing the training situation of Goyle and Crabbe, Draco brought Hermione to their next stop, the second basement level of the branch building.
The Intelligence Division.
After all, this was the Intelligence Division, responsible for important information.
Its existence was bound to make it the core department of an organization, the one that most needed secrecy and protection against leaks.
Because of that.
Its location not only had to be extremely hidden, but the security level required was almost the highest possible.
At certain times, it might even be more important than Draco's own safety.
And so, one could see.
Along the way, aside from many magical traps used as alarms, Draco, who had only just approached the destination, was immediately stopped.
The security here was so strict that even Draco, the boss of Draco Constellation, had to stop for identity verification and could only be allowed through after everything was confirmed.
Interestingly, the wizard who stopped Draco and Hermione was someone they knew very well.
"You're Longbottom?"
"H-Hermione."
"So you joined us too?"
Only now did Hermione realize that Longbottom had also joined Draco Constellation.
It had to be said.
Ever since she met Draco, Hermione no longer seemed like a Gryffindor student at all.
It could almost be said that aside from matters around Draco, there was nothing else worth her attention or concern.
She had not even noticed that Longbottom had joined Draco Constellation.
Speaking of Neville Longbottom.
One could clearly sense the changes in him.
His originally chubby figure had slimmed down a little after training, and now he did indeed look more energetic.
This seemed to be a change brought about after joining Draco Constellation.
Perhaps it was because Longbottom understood very clearly that if he wanted to stand against those Death Eaters, he could not do without a strong and agile body.
Not to mention avenging his parents.
So, because of this opportunity, he had undergone such a change.
Just as Hermione was surprised by his transformation.
Neville Longbottom looked at Hermione and asked a question. "Hermione, do you know how Harry is doing? I'm a little worried."
"Mm... you mean Potter..."
She quietly glanced at Draco beside her.
Although she could not read any expression from Draco's face, Hermione still shook her head and decided not to reveal the information they had obtained earlier.
"Sorry, I haven't received any information either. Maybe... you could ask Ginny?"
"I see..."
Obvious disappointment could be seen on Longbottom's face.
But soon, he put that expression away again and showed a grateful smile.
It seemed he had already prepared himself for that answer, so he was not too disappointed.
But Mr. Longbottom did not notice Hermione's somewhat unnatural expression or her drifting gaze.
As for Draco, who noticed Hermione's guilty look, he could not help silently complaining in his heart.
She really doesn't know how to lie at all.
As if sensing Draco's gaze, Hermione secretly stepped on Draco's foot.
Unfortunately, if Neville Longbottom, who had his back to them at this moment, had seen Hermione's little movement, he would surely have sensed that something was wrong.
After glancing back and confirming that Neville could not hear her, Hermione finally glared at Draco in annoyance. "You should know that anything about Potter can't be made public for now."
"You're right, but I didn't say anything."
"....."
Both publicly and privately.
Everything about Harry Potter needed to remain secret for now.
Aside from worrying that people like Neville Longbottom might do something harmful to Draco Constellation out of concern for Harry Potter, they also still could not confirm the true reason Harry Potter had returned to Hogwarts.
That was why Hermione had said this.
Of course, it was also possible that after Harry Potter's series of strange actions, he had practically become one of the people Hermione disliked.
...
In any case.
After passing through layer after layer of checkpoints.
Draco brought Hermione to the second basement level of the branch building.
Pure white walls.
Magical light illuminated the corridor before them.
The completely exposed corridor had no unnecessary design, and there was not a single place where someone could hide.
At the end of the corridor stood a white door.
Behind that door was the destination of Draco and Hermione's trip.
Draco Constellation's Intelligence Division.