Staring intently at Karkaroff, Amanda noticed that not only did his expression hide fear and apprehension toward Headmaster Dumbledore, but his behavior also contained a peculiar detail.
He seemed to be deliberately avoiding having Headmaster Dumbledore touch his left arm, and judging by his appearance... he didn't even want Headmaster Dumbledore to glance at his left arm.
Something on his left arm that he didn't want Headmaster Dumbledore to see or recall, combined with his fear of Headmaster Dumbledore.
The answer was already very clear in Amanda's mind. Watching Karkaroff exchanging pleasantries with Headmaster Dumbledore, Amanda calmly labeled him a former Death Eater.
The Death Eater mark is on the left arm. Death Eaters fear Headmaster Dumbledore. Karkaroff does not want Headmaster Dumbledore to remember or mention his history as a Death Eater.
Every key point fit perfectly. Amanda slowly withdrew her gaze. With Headmaster Dumbledore present, this obviously timid Death Eater would not be able to do anything, nor would he try.
According to Amanda's assessment, his danger level was even lower than that of Barty Crouch Jr., who had already been discovered and was being closely monitored, as the latter was truly insane and fiercely loyal to Voldemort.
"Ah, right, Dumbledore, I hope you don't mind letting Krum go inside first to warm up? I'm truly afraid the boy will freeze."
Amanda listened to Karkaroff's voice and cast her gaze in his direction again, watching Krum, whom he had pulled into an embrace.
Looking at the Durmstrang students standing behind him, wearing the same clothes as Krum but receiving no care from Karkaroff, Amanda immediately realized how far superior Headmaster Dumbledore's character truly was.
"Of course, Karkaroff. Please, you and your students, come in. Hogwarts welcomes you."
Headmaster Dumbledore finished speaking with a smile, then turned and led Karkaroff and the Durmstrang students into Hogwarts Castle.
Listening to the chatter of most boys and a few girls wanting Krum's autograph, Amanda tilted her head, her expression completely unchanged.
Sure enough, the two worlds were different; the celebrities students wanted to follow in this world were more diverse.
Relatively speaking, Amanda understood one thing: moderate diversification in celebrity worship was good, but excessive diversification would hinder one's own development.
She briefly glanced around at the Little Eagles of Ravenclaw House and didn't find anyone like that in her own House.
Hearing that some boys even wanted to borrow a girl's lipstick to ask Krum for an autograph, Hermione clicked her tongue while holding Amanda's arm.
"Isn't that a bit much? He's just a Quidditch player, isn't he?"
She honestly felt that... respecting the person's profession and admiring their skill was enough. Being this fanatical seemed unnecessary.
Besides, weren't those people worried that their behavior might actually scare Krum?
"He is a world-class Quidditch star, after all," Senior Cho Chang, walking behind Amanda and Hermione, shrugged. "It's normal for him to be popular."
She was also a Quidditch enthusiast, but compared to the players, she enjoyed the Quidditch match itself more.
But, "If I could get Krum's autograph, I'd certainly want one too."
Cho Chang chuckled softly and winked at Hermione, who had turned to look at her.
Marietta Eckmore, walking beside her, turned her head to glance at Cho Chang after hearing this. For some reason, hearing Cho Chang say that she would also like Krum's autograph if possible, made her feel a faint sense of discomfort.
It was similar to a sourness, only it wasn't tasted with the mouth, but felt in the heart.
Wants Krum's autograph? Amanda stared straight ahead, but an idea immediately popped into her mind: Senior Cho Chang wants Krum's autograph; she could go get it and give it to her.
Holding this thought, Amanda followed the Ravenclaw "main group" into the Great Hall and sat down in her usual spot at the Ravenclaw Table.
The Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students paused for two seconds after entering the Great Hall, seemingly deciding where to sit.
Their eyes scanned the Slytherin Table, Gryffindor Table, Ravenclaw Table, and Hufflepuff Table in sequence.
Most of them showed expressions of awe after seeing Amanda and Hermione sitting beside the Ravenclaw Table.
They then decisively removed the Ravenclaw Table from their list of seating options.
Most of the Young Wizards among them had attended the Quidditch World Cup Final, so they were very familiar with Amanda and Hermione's glorious "achievements."
Because of this awe, they didn't dare get too close to Amanda and Hermione.
Especially Amanda—a Young Wizard subduing a group of adult Wizards, famous Death Eaters from Country Y at that—was truly terrifying.
Ultimately, the Young Wizards from Beauxbatons decisively sat next to the Hufflepuff Table, while the Young Wizards from Durmstrang chose Slytherin.
For no other reason than feeling that the House's temperament was most similar to theirs.
Everything seemed to have concluded peacefully; even Headmaster Dumbledore was about to stand up, walk to the Staff Table, say a few welcoming words, and then let everyone start eating.
But facts proved that sometimes, there are people you can't distance yourself from, even if you want to.
Looking at the Durmstrang students seated beside the Slytherin Table, Amanda stood up without changing her expression, walking mechanically toward the Slytherin Table.
The Little Eagles beside the Ravenclaw Table exchanged glances, clearly not understanding what Amanda was doing, or what she intended to do.
But that didn't stop them from promptly reaching into their wizard robe pockets and gripping their wands.
Seeing this, the Little Badgers positioned near the side of the Ravenclaw Table also silently reached toward their wizard robe pockets, thoroughly scaring the Young Wizards from Beauxbatons sitting next to their table.
Was dinner at Hogwarts this "exciting"?
They were outsiders; surely they wouldn't be dragged into it.
The entire Great Hall was now silent as a vacuum. As Amanda approached, the Little Snakes of Slytherin lowered their heads further and further, all sharing a single thought.
We haven't provoked her recently, nor have we provoked Granger or any of her friends!
Just as the air in the Great Hall was about to solidify, Amanda finally walked unhurriedly to the Slytherin Table, extended her right hand, bent a finger, and tapped the table in front of Krum.
Krum slowly raised his head, his face full of disbelief.
What did Miss Amanda... want with him?
As one of the players in the Quidditch World Cup Final, he had personally witnessed Amanda's "display of divine power" that day, and he watched it from the front row at close range.
Although he knew she wasn't a bad person and wouldn't hurt him, the awe in his heart was impossible to dispel.
And what if, just what if, he had offended her without realizing it?
Krum's inner monologue played out in frantic scenes, yet to his surprise, Amanda calmly took out the quill and paper she usually carried in her pocket for study notes, along with a small bottle of ink.
Placing these three items in front of Krum, Amanda looked down at him, her voice cold but courteous.
"Mr. Krum, one of my seniors, who is also my friend, would like your autograph. Could I trouble you to sign this, please?"
Swallowing the saliva caught in his throat, Krum looked at Amanda with even greater disbelief.
Someone like her, approaching him in this setting, just for this?
To get an autograph for her senior and her friend?
With renewed respect and much less fear in his eyes, Krum responded with an equally polite smile.
"Of course, Miss Amanda. It is my honor."
Having said that, he picked up the quill, dipped it in ink, and carefully signed his name on the paper, making sure every letter was in the best, most beautiful state he could write.
Taking back the paper bearing Krum's autograph, Amanda nodded stiffly, "Thank you, Mr. Krum. I wish you a pleasant stay at Hogwarts."
After speaking, Amanda turned and walked away from the Slytherin Table.
Watching Amanda walk further away out of the corner of their eyes, the Little Snakes of Slytherin collectively breathed a sigh of relief and finally raised their heads slowly.
It wasn't until Amanda reached the vicinity of the Ravenclaw Table that the Little Eagles silently released their tight grip on their wands inside their wizard robe pockets. Seeing this, the Little Badgers of Hufflepuff also withdrew their hands, giving a friendly smile to the obviously frightened Young Wizards from Beauxbatons sitting beside them.
Returning to the Ravenclaw Table, Amanda took out the paper and handed it to Senior Cho Chang, who was sitting on her left, under the increasingly gentle, respectful, and doting gazes of the Little Eagles.
"Senior Cho Chang, the autograph you wanted."
Looking at Amanda's expressionless face and then at the autograph she was handing over—which Cho Chang had only mentioned casually—she took a deep breath and accepted the signed paper.
"You really are... too good at taking care of people."
Cho Chang reached out and vigorously ruffled her junior's hair.
Amanda blinked, allowing Cho Chang to mess up her hair, and looked at her with an indifferent yet gentle gaze.
"I did not perform any actions defined as taking care of Senior Cho Chang."
She made this judgment based on her brain's definition of "taking care."
Cho Chang smiled and shook her head, "You take care of many of us without even knowing it."
Amanda turned back to face the table, not quite understanding what Cho Chang meant; she genuinely hadn't performed any actions related to "taking care."
"Oh, you are constantly radiating charm."
Hermione pursed her lips and helped Amanda straighten her slightly messy hair, while her gaze lingered on the first-year Little Eagles staring at Amanda with shining eyes, as well as the Young Wizards from Beauxbatons who were also looking at Amanda with shining eyes.
"I did not perform any actions defined as radiating charm."
Amanda restated her actions, while forcibly withholding the remaining half of the sentence in her mind.
I have no charm whatsoever. She sensed that Hermione, Senior Cho Chang, Senior Marietta, and Senior Penelopa would not like the latter half of that sentence.
Coincidentally, she also felt reluctant to say the latter half, having only thought of it instinctively. So, she simply swallowed the second half, adhering to the principle of making herself and Hermione comfortable.
As Amanda sat down, Headmaster Dumbledore shook his head amusedly. After mentally confirming that she truly was Miss Amanda, he strode to the front of the Staff Table.
"Well, everyone."
Headmaster Dumbledore spoke loudly. Even without using a Sonorous Charm, his voice was clearly heard by everyone in the Great Hall.
Furthermore, his clear voice seemed to possess a power that could reach the heart, bringing quiet and calm, making everyone feel peaceful and settled inside.
"First, let us welcome Madame Maxime of Beauxbatons and her students to Hogwarts."
Madame Maxime led the way by standing up at the Staff Table, and the Young Wizards from Beauxbatons at the Hufflepuff Table immediately stood up too, politely nodding to everyone at Hogwarts along with her.
"And next, let us welcome Principal Karkaroff of Durmstrang and his students to Hogwarts."
As soon as Headmaster Dumbledore finished speaking, Karkaroff stood up just like Madame Maxime had, nodding in greeting along with his students.
Looking at Karkaroff, who was performing his pleasantries well, standing up and politely greeting everyone, and comparing him to the mad Barty Crouch Jr., Amanda once again confirmed the huge difference between the two Death Eaters.
"Well, we do have some other things to discuss, but I believe that nothing is more important right now than allowing you to properly fill your stomachs. Start eating, children."
Headmaster Dumbledore clapped his hands, and immediately, many extremely sumptuous dishes appeared on the four long tables.
There were even many German and French dishes mixed in that the Young Wizards had never seen before at Hogwarts.
Amanda had just picked up her knife and fork when her plate was naturally taken by Hermione, who served her a bit of the "new" German dish in front of her. Then, the plate was passed around by the Little Eagles in turn, and soon it was distinctly filled with various "new" German and French dishes.
"Thank you, Hermione, thank you, everyone." After receiving her plate back, Amanda politely thanked them as usual, then lowered her head to eat.
"Mmm~" Tasting the French dish in her mouth, Marietta Eckmore nodded appreciatively. "The House-elves of Hogwarts truly did their best."
Hearing the term House-Elf, Hermione hesitated for a moment, but still followed her heart, leaning past Amanda and Senior Cho Chang to ask Senior Marietta.
"Senior Marietta, are the House-elves here at Hogwarts the same as those outside, who serve ancient Wizard families?"
"Hmm?" Marietta Eckmore hummed, gulping down the food in her mouth. "The same? Hermione, what do you mean by 'the same'?"
As she spoke, Amanda's attention silently shifted from the food in front of her to Hermione.
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