Years of absolute rationality clashed with Amanda's suddenly rising impulsive emotions.
On one hand, Amanda wanted to reach for the wand in her side robe pocket; on the other, her reason told her she shouldn't.
Doing so would violate Ministry of Magic regulations and could bring trouble to herself, or even to Hermione.
Reason and impulse were at odds, neither giving ground, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on Amanda's forehead.
Fortunately, Hermione quickly noticed something was wrong. Thinking Amanda was uncomfortable from staying in Gringotts too long, she took Amanda's hand and led her out.
"Feeling better?" Stepping out of Gringotts and breathing the fresh air, Hermione took a handkerchief from her pocket and carefully wiped the sweat from Amanda's forehead.
With her attention diverted, the conflict between reason and impulse in Amanda's mind gradually subsided, and the struggle ceased.
The sweat stopped flowing, and Amanda nodded with a faint expression. "Much better."
"That's good," Hermione smiled with relief. "Staying in Gringotts is indeed uncomfortable. Those Goblins..."
Hermione shook her head as she spoke. Those Goblins looked down on Wizards, or rather, on humans, from the bottom of their hearts.
Only those Pure-blood families who could bring them wealth were treated with any regard.
However, this regard was only superficial. As the books said, the Goblin race was incredibly greedy.
Having read that book, both Amanda and Hermione knew this well, though Amanda, lacking emotions, didn't think as much as Hermione.
She only knew that those Goblins had just shown contempt toward Hermione and Mr. and Mrs. Granger.
This point was deeply etched into the memories of her mind.
Amanda and Hermione stood together at the entrance of Gringotts waiting for the others. Before long, Mr. and Mrs. Granger and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came out with a group of children.
The four adults checked the time and suggested everyone go off on their own for a while, then meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour and a half to buy books. This way, they could go to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink and a chat.
The children naturally agreed, and Amanda nodded expressionlessly in cooperation.
After announcing the arrangements, Mrs. Weasley narrowed her eyes and gave a warning look to her twins.
"Fred, George, no going to Knockturn Alley."
"Oh, Mum..." Fred wailed with a bitter face.
"When will you ever forget to say that?" George also raised a hand to cover his face in a pained expression.
"When you two learn to behave." Mrs. Weasley's nostrils flared slightly. After a few more instructions, she and Mr. Weasley left with Mr. and Mrs. Granger, with their youngest child, Ginny, following them.
Before leaving, Ginny specifically stole a few more glances at Amanda, seemingly curious about this expressionless and quiet older girl.
Once the parents left, the children split up. Percy went to browse Diagon Alley on his own, and Fred and George left together, leaving only the seven of them, including Amanda.
The seven first went to the Ice cream parlor and each ordered an ice cream, using the money Mrs. Granger had given them for a treat.
Licking their ice creams, the seven children wandered through Diagon Alley.
To the others, this feeling of wandering through the streets wasn't particularly strange or unfamiliar.
For the four girls—Hermione, Cho Chang, Marietta, and Penelope—it went without saying. Whether living in the Wizarding World or the Muggle World, most girls have a penchant for shopping.
So they spent quite a bit of their free time wandering the streets.
Especially for the three Young Wizards raised in the magical world, their shopping destination was Diagon Alley.
As for Ron, because he had two "unsettled" twin brothers, he was often dragged out by them, and most of the time...
...it was to Diagon Alley to buy prank products, so he was more than familiar with wandering around here.
Even Harry, who lived a rather miserable life, often went out to "pave the streets" because he and the Dursley family couldn't stand the sight of each other.
So he also frequently went out to wander around everywhere.
Only Amanda felt unfamiliar with the situation. Or rather, her first thought was that walking around aimlessly like this would waste a lot of study time.
Then she suddenly realized they hadn't bought the books yet. She had promised Hermione she wouldn't think about studying until the books were bought.
Her train of thought shifted, and Amanda subconsciously began to review her memories for the last time she had "wandered around" so aimlessly.
It seemed to be that one time in her childhood memories. Back then, because she was the only child in the family, nothing could be allowed to happen to her.
Her mother had taken her to the mall because she was too young to be left home alone.
And then there was the incident where she was caught secretly watching cartoons.
She remembered her mother taking her around for nearly a whole day. She had been so tired she wanted her mother to carry her, but her mother hadn't.
By the time they finally got home, her young feet were swollen from walking.
I was so fragile back then, Amanda thought without any emotional ripple, criticizing her past self for causing trouble for her mother.
At the same time, she was certain that walking for an hour and a half with Hermione and the others would be no problem at all.
Walking aimlessly through Diagon Alley, all sorts of strange and wonderful goods caught the eye.
Amanda's gaze constantly drifted over various products. Almost every time she saw one, detailed information about it would automatically pop up in her brain.
What it was, where it came from, how to obtain it, and its estimated price.
After walking for an hour and a half, Amanda had "analyzed" almost every product in Diagon Alley.
Even while not in a study state, she had reviewed a portion of the books she had read.
After all, associating things with those products easily involved knowledge from books during the process.
So until they reached Flourish and Blotts, Amanda's brain had been working without a single moment's rest.
Arriving at the entrance of Flourish and Blotts and seeing the long queue outside, everyone was a bit surprised and confused.
"We're here quite early. In previous years, Flourish and Blotts could never be this crowded at this time. What's going on this year?" Marietta looked at the long queue outside the bookstore in confusion.
It wasn't even the peak season for buying books before school starts, so why were there so many people?
Penelope, who was taller and also wondered why there were so many people, stood on her tiptoes to peek into Flourish and Blotts, and her face immediately fell.
She stood firmly on the ground again, her mouth turned down in a clearly unhappy expression.
"Merlin's beard, that Lockhart is having a Book signing."
"Book signing? Lockhart?" The Gryffindor trio, who had been briefed on Lockhart by the three Ravenclaws, frowned simultaneously.
A fraud... holding a Book signing?
Amanda had no thoughts on the matter, and no emotions were generated. She just calmly looked at the long queue at the entrance of Flourish and Blotts.
Instinctively, she analyzed the situation based on the flow of people and the size of the bookstore, finally concluding...
...that the probability of a Stampede occurring here was very high.
Turning her head mechanically, Amanda stated the results of her calculation in a flat tone.
"Given the current flow of people and the size of Flourish and Blotts, the probability of a Stampede is very high. I do not recommend entering."
Hearing Amanda's words, the six of them looked at each other. Hermione reached out and pulled Amanda into her arms.
Knowing how reliable Amanda was, Hermione, Harry, and Ron all looked at the three seniors present.
"Maybe we shouldn't go in? We can just ask a clerk to help us get the books."
Hermione hesitantly made the suggestion, and Harry and Ron next to her nodded in agreement.
Cho Chang, Marietta, and Penelope already adored their young housemate immensely, and naturally, their trust in Amanda was extremely high.
They immediately agreed to the proposal; safety was the most important thing, after all.
And another important point was... none of them were fans of Lockhart. In fact, they somewhat disliked this boastful, bragging fraud from Ravenclaw.
Rather than going in to see Lockhart's face, they'd rather stay out.
Having decided, the seven children didn't go any further. Penelope waved over a clerk and, after telling him what books everyone needed...
...the seven children waited right at the entrance of Flourish and Blotts.
A moment later, the four adults along with Fred, George, and Percy arrived at Flourish and Blotts on time.
Upon learning that Lockhart's Book signing was being held here, Mrs. Weasley immediately blushed and said she wanted to wait for an autograph.
Mr. Weasley felt a bit jealous, but he still smiled and expressed his understanding, taking all the things from his wife's hands.
He also told her to wait for the autograph in peace and that he would handle the children's side.
After saying that, he led Fred, George, and Percy into the bookstore to buy their books, leaving only Ginny with Amanda and the others.
Although Amanda had explained beforehand that the probability of a Stampede at Flourish and Blotts was high...
...Mr. Weasley waved it off with a smile, saying the four of them were men and quite strong, so going in would be fine.
Hearing him say that, Amanda didn't say anything more, but turned her calm gaze toward Ginny, who had been looking at her curiously.
Feeling Amanda's gaze and looking into those eyes that held no warmth, Ginny couldn't help but swallow, feeling a little scared.
Hermione, with her arm around Amanda's shoulder, naturally saw this. She leaned down to eye level with Ginny and spoke gently to comfort her.
"Don't be afraid of Amanda. She's just used to having no expressions or emotions," at this point, Hermione's heart ached sharply with pity, "but she's a very good person."
"That's right." The five people nearby all smiled and nodded in agreement.
Ron glanced at Amanda and whispered to Ginny, "You know that Super scholar Harry and I told you about? That's her."
Ginny's eyes lit up instantly, and she turned to look at Amanda with starry eyes.
Amanda was stunned for a moment. Looking at Ginny's face, she instinctively analyzed her micro-expressions.
This expression is... admiration? But why would she admire me?
From what Ron just said, it seemed to be because of her good grades. But as a student, studying well is what's expected.
And upon knowing someone else has good grades, shouldn't one be thinking hard about how to surpass them and become number one? Why admire?
Several thoughts passed through Amanda's mind without any confusion. Before she could finish them, she heard a somewhat haughty voice from behind.
"Aha... falling back into your old ways and hanging out with these friends of yours again, Potter?"
Hearing that "punchable" voice, Harry didn't need to think to know who it was. Turning around with a fire in his heart, Harry glared at Draco.
"Watch your mouth, Malfoy. My friends are at least better than you."
"Is that so?" Draco raised an eyebrow, his disdainful gaze sweeping over Ron, Hermione, and Amanda. "Blood traitors, mudbloods, and someone who doesn't even look human... your friends really are quite something."
"How dare you!" At his words, the three Ravenclaw seniors pulled out their wands in unison, and Ron also aggressively drew his wand, wanting to hit him with a jinx.
"Draco." A drawling, arrogant voice sounded, and a Snake-headed cane reached out, pulling Draco back slightly.
Lucius Malfoy stepped out, looking down at the seven children with their wands drawn, and Ginny behind them.
"So, another Weasley child has started school, I see."
Lucius looked at the people before him with the same contempt as his son, his voice slow and arrogant.
"Little girl, can your parents... still afford to send you to school?"
Ginny's face flushed deeply, but she didn't back down as she glared at Lucius.
Hermione and the three Ravenclaw seniors, including Cho Chang, shielded Ginny behind them, their wands still raised.
"I think you should pay attention to your own son's manners first, Mr. Malfoy." Cho Chang spoke with a cold face. If Lucius Malfoy hadn't been there, they would have acted on Draco's words already.
"Draco, what did you just say?" Lucius turned to look at his son.
"Nothing, Father. Just some truths." As he spoke, he even had the audacity to repeat those words again.
Lucius raised an eyebrow after hearing them and looked at Ron, Hermione, and Amanda. When he saw Amanda, his gaze paused for a moment.
However, he still spoke arrogantly, "He is indeed telling the truth."
As soon as these words were spoken, every Young Wizard present except Ginny and Amanda raised their wands.
Looking at the six children pointing wands at him, Lucius narrowed his eyes. "I think it's best if you don't do anything foolish."
Even with Penelope, a slightly older student, there, it would be easy for him to deal with these children.
However, when these words reached Amanda's ears, they were a clear and heavy threat directed at Hermione and the others.
Hermione's life value is greater than my own, so protecting Hermione takes priority over myself.
The inequality she had constructed before surfaced in her mind, and that feeling of wanting to do something surged in her chest again.
Plus, Senior Cho Chang and the others, as well as Harry and Ron, were also being threatened.
Amanda's absolute rationality was instantly overridden by the result of the inequality and her impulse. She swiftly pulled out her wand and stepped in front of Hermione and the others.
She looked at Lucius with a cold gaze, showing no sign of anger, only endless frigidity.
"Am I to understand that you are making a threat, Mr. Malfoy?"
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