Hogwarts: My Grandmother is the Queen

King's Cross Station, Platform 9¾.

The platform was crowded with students carrying large bags and small bags, their scarves of various colors mixed together. They temporarily forgot the boundaries of the college, only concerned with waving goodbye to their families and promising to see each other again during the holidays.

Henry walked through the crowd; he had already handed his suitcase to Lucy, so he was completely free of luggage.

"Henry!"

A familiar voice came from behind.

He turned around and saw Draco striding towards him, followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

Draco wore a brand-new dark gray coat, his platinum blonde hair was neatly combed, but he looked unenthusiastic, clearly suffering from post-holiday syndrome.

"Draco," Henry nodded, "Have a nice holiday?"

"Not bad," Draco said, his expression suddenly changing to one of smugness. "My father bought me a new broom—a Nimbus 2001, the latest model. It's even faster than Potter's."

"Congratulations then." Henry smiled and nodded, wondering if he should upgrade his broom too.

The train whistle began to sound, and the students reluctantly boarded the train one after another.

Henry and Draco found an empty cubicle and sat down. Soon, Pansy and Daphne arrived and squeezed into the opposite cubicle.

"How was your holiday?" Pansy asked. "My dad got me a special thing called 'television' so I could watch BBC programs."

Pansy's words changed the atmosphere in the cubicle.

"A television?" Draco raised an eyebrow, somewhat dismissively. "Your father got a Muggle... uh, that thing?"

Then he realized he had said something inappropriate and quickly turned to apologize to Henry.

"It's not that we just made one, it's that we made one specifically," Pansy corrected. "He said that since His Highness is over there, we should at least understand what kind of world His Highness lives in."

She turned to Henry, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Your Highness, you usually stay at... what's that called again, Buckingham Palace?"

"We're spending the holidays at Sandringham House," Henry said. "Buckingham Palace is where my grandmother works."

"Sandringham House?" Daphne asked curiously. "Is it the manor?"

"Yes." Henry nodded.

Pansy leaned closer and lowered her voice, asking, "Is that place big? I mean, bigger or smaller than Malfoy Manor?"

"The size should be about the same," Henry smiled slightly. "The styles are a bit different; I think Sandringham House is more traditional."

"Tradition?" Draco's interest was piqued. "What kind of tradition?"

Henry looked at his suddenly bright eyes and realized that the word "tradition" held a special appeal for these pure-blood family scions.

They grew up listening to their family's history and have an almost instinctive longing for those rules and traditions.

"This has been our family's regular winter home since around 1862, when Edward VII was in power," Henry said with a smile. "We stay here from Christmas until around February 6th every year. This year is a special case, since school starts very early."

The carriage gradually became lively. Some people pushed snack carts by, some chased and played in the corridor, and some talked loudly about the interesting things that happened during the holiday.

The cubicle door was opened and closed repeatedly, and every now and then, acquaintances would peek in to say hello.

Pansy was still talking about television; she seemed extremely interested in appearing in public.

"My dad said that in that news program, you and your family stood together, looking particularly dignified."

"Solemn?" Henry asked.

"Yes," Pansy nodded. "He said he looked well-mannered. Unlike those..."

She paused, seemingly realizing that what she was about to say might not be appropriate.

"Unlike those...?" Draco pressed.

Pansy glanced at him, then at Henry, and finally whispered, "Unlike some wizarding families..."

Draco didn't respond, but his expression suggested he agreed with the statement.

Henry didn't correct him; everyone has their own ideas, as long as they don't interfere with him.

Seeing the atmosphere become a bit quiet, Pansy immediately changed the subject: "By the way, my dad also said that the person called 'Prime Minister' looks pretty ordinary."

"Normal?" Daphne asked.

“Yes.” Pansy nodded. “He said he never expected the Muggle prime minister to look like the old neighbor next door.”

Henry smiled; Mr. Huck would probably be very pleased to hear that.

"Has your father met the Prime Minister?" Draco asked.

"No," Pansy said. "I saw it on TV."

"Compared to Fudge?" Draco asked again.

"I don't know," Pansy shook her head and said, "I've never met the minister, but I imagine he must be quite capable, right?"

Yes, Harker was the best prime minister since World War II. Can Fudge be compared to him?

"Speaking of the Minister, my father also said that things have been a bit unsettled at the Ministry of Magic lately," Pansy said again.

Henry's attention was drawn to it.

"Is it not peaceful?" he asked.

"Hmm." Pansy lowered her voice. "He said Mr. Fudge is changing people. He's replacing some of the disobedient veterans with young, obedient wizards."

Draco nodded: "My father also said that he has replaced several key positions in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Daphne said softly, "My father said this is to consolidate power."

Indeed, Fudge is consolidating his power.

But this also means that he has begun to feel insecure in his position, and he seems to desperately need more support.

"Your Highness?" Pansy's voice brought Henry back to reality.

Henry looked up at Pansy.

"What are you thinking about?" Pansy asked.

Henry shook his head and said with a smile, "It's nothing."

He then asked, "What else did your father say?"

Pansy thought for a moment: "He also said that Mr. Fudge has mentioned you several times recently."

These words instantly changed the atmosphere in the cubicle.

Daphne frowned: "Several times?"

"It seems that's true," Draco said. "Fudge even asked my father about my relationship with His Highness."

This signal makes one think a lot. Sir Arnold once said that politicians do everything with a purpose, and if he starts laying the groundwork now, it means he has bigger plans to follow.

"And what did your father say?" Henry asked.

"He said we got along well," Draco said. "He also said you were a friend worth having, but that wasn't all he said."

Pansy took a soft breath beside her, while Daphne's gaze shifted back and forth between Henry and Draco, as if pondering the deeper meaning of the words.

[British Maid] (bushi)

(The close-up of the legs didn't pass censorship, so don't blame me...)