"Leaving the school at night?"
Headmaster Dumbledore looked at Amanda, stunned for a moment. Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and the others also looked at her in disbelief.
This was the first time Amanda had ever taken the initiative to do something other than study.
However, Professor Flitwick looked at Amanda troubledly. "Miss Amanda, Hogwarts does not allow students to leave during the term, let alone at night. This poses a certain risk to your safety."
Amanda nodded, her expression incredibly calm. "I understand Professor Flitwick's concern for me and thank you for your care, Professor. However, according to my calculations, there are currently not many people in the Wizarding World who can pose a threat to me."
Three names quickly appeared in her meticulous mind. "And they either cannot move against me right now, or they are unable to reach me to do so."
"Has Miss Amanda ever heard a saying from your East? 'Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to defend.'"
Professor Snape's voice was low, his dark eyes staring at Amanda with a hollow depth.
"In the face of absolute strength, all schemes will come to naught."
The Professors felt themselves momentarily speechless. Headmaster Dumbledore chuckled twice, looking at Amanda with a face full of smiles.
"Then, Miss Amanda, could you tell us the reason why you must go out tonight?"
"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore."
Amanda nodded in agreement without the slightest change in expression, stating what she intended to do without hesitation.
"Tonight, I intend to create a supply system sufficient to replace all current market supply chains in the Wizarding World."
"Why do that?" Professor McGonagall frowned, looking at Amanda in confusion.
"To squeeze the Pure-blood families out of the Wizarding World's market."
Amanda was blunt about her goal, even with Professor Snape, the Dean of Slytherin House, standing right there.
"It seems I really shouldn't be here listening to this."
The hollow look in Professor Snape's eyes slowly vanished, replaced by a heavy gaze of appraisal and scrutiny.
"Only after the Pure-blood families realize what they should be doing and completely abandon their blood purity theory theories can they re-enter the market."
Amanda's voice did not change under Professor Snape's gaze; she remained as calm and cold as a glacier that hadn't changed in ten thousand years.
"If we do not do this, the Wizarding World and the Muggle World will never have the chance to integrate."
"According to my deductions, along with the technological progress of the Muggle World, if the Wizarding World cannot integrate with it, war will be inevitable."
"The Wizarding World's chances of winning are less than forty percent. Meanwhile, war will accelerate resource depletion, and since the world has not undergone reform, there is a high probability this world will repeat the mistakes of my original world."
After revealing the full deduction in her mind, Amanda's gaze fixed steadily on Headmaster Dumbledore.
"May I go out tonight? Headmaster Dumbledore."
Headmaster Dumbledore raised a hand to rub his brow. Currently, he was only thinking about dealing with Voldemort and had only a faint inkling of the potential future collisions between the Wizarding World and the Muggle World.
But he truly hadn't looked as far ahead as Amanda, nor had he thought as much as she had.
According to Amanda's calculations, reform in the Wizarding World was imminent; even including the Muggle World, the reform of the entire human world needed to be put on the agenda.
"Miss Amanda, how can we believe that the future through your hands will be better?"
Professor Snape pondered for a moment, asking slowly with a drawling tone.
"Because according to data calculations, no matter how bad the future is, it cannot be worse than the outcome of my original world. This is an inevitable result."
After saying this, she paused for two seconds, faintly looking back at Hermione, who was sitting at the Ravenclaw Table and seemed to be staring at the Staff Table nervously.
Her tone carried a hint of determination amidst its stiffness. "And I will absolutely not let the future of this world head in the direction of my original world. Neither will Hermione, and neither will The Ravenclaws."
"A bold idea, Miss Amanda. We old folks are indeed getting old; the future of the world belongs to you all."
Headmaster Dumbledore chuckled twice and nodded in agreement. "Go then. Your strength is indeed enough for us to feel at ease, but do remember to be careful."
"Of course, I will not let any safety hazards arise that would cause me to miss class," Amanda said as if it were a matter of course.
Hearing more study-related content pop out of her mouth, the Professors present couldn't help but twitch their lips simultaneously.
She truly was Amanda. Just after saying things that could change the Wizarding World or even the whole world, she could immediately pivot the conversation back to studying.
"I will help you contact several other Potions Masters. What kind of price can you pay them?"
Professor Snape rested his chin on his interlaced hands, meeting the cool gaze Amanda sent over.
"On your own, you won't be able to persuade them in a short amount of time."
"One million Galleons per person per year. I need the Potions Masters to be able to mass-produce all Potions except for Advanced Potions."
"In other words," Amanda's voice still held a mechanical quality, "I need them to teach other employees how to make those Potions and ensure the quality meets the standards."
Professor Snape felt his eyebrow twitch violently. If anyone else had said this to him, he would have definitely cast a Sectumsempra on them.
What was the level of a Potions Master? You want them to teach others Potions, and except for Advanced Potions, you want employees to know how to make every other Potion and have the quality meet standards?!
Did the person saying this not know the current scarcity of Potions in the Wizarding World? Simple Potions could indeed be made by anyone; the school taught those.
But slightly more complex Potions could be sold for high prices.
Otherwise, the income of St Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries wouldn't be so high.
Not to mention some people were truly as dim-witted as a Troll, as if their heads were full of Fluxweed—could they even be taught?
But... with Amanda's premise, Professor Snape felt that this wasn't impossible.
A group of the most capable Potion makers in the current situation—teaching others to make Potions shouldn't be a problem, right?
Wasn't he himself teaching a bunch of little Trolls how to make Potions? Since he was teaching, they should be able to as well.
Moreover... Professor Snape slowly shifted his gaze to Headmaster Dumbledore. His own annual salary didn't seem to be that high.
Noticing Professor Snape's gaze, Headmaster Dumbledore turned to look at him and blinked his blue eyes "innocently."
It was useless looking at him; Hogwarts' funding was provided by the Board of Governors. He couldn't be as generous as Amanda.
Unless Hogwarts only wanted to stay open for this one year and then close down.
"Hmph."
After a cold snort, Professor Snape turned back to Amanda and nodded. "Deal, Miss Amanda."
"Thank you for your help, Professor Snape."
Amanda nodded with a calm expression and turned to walk down from the Staff Table.
Would giving each Potions Master one million Galleons a year result in a loss?
In the early stages, the answer was definitely yes. A line chart quickly appeared in Amanda's mind.
In the beginning, the curve for Potions was indeed in the red, but along with the curve of another variable—the rising degree of integration between the Wizarding World and the Muggle World—
It would drive the second variable: an increase in the demand for Potions. With the positive growth of these two variables, the income in the field of Potions would rapidly climb to an unprecedented height.
By then, the profits generated would be enough to make the investor, Amanda, one of the world-class billionaires.
Though she technically already was one.
But who would complain about having too much money? Even though Amanda still didn't have any superfluous emotions regarding money.
But there was still Hermione. Amanda walked back to Hermione's side and stared at her steadily.
She needed to make more money, she thought firmly in her mind, so she could give Hermione a better life.
Even if she didn't know why she thought that way, she would do it without hesitation.
"Going to be busy?"
Hermione stood up and helped Amanda tidy the hair by her ear.
"Mhm."
Amanda nodded with an indifferent expression, though if one looked closely, they could see a bit of red at the tips of her ears.
"Be careful with everything. Remember to come back tomorrow, don't make me worry."
Hermione gently hugged Amanda's waist, burying her face in her chest, listening to her vigorous and powerful heartbeat.
Raising her arms to hug Hermione back, Amanda promised seriously.
"Don't worry, I will definitely be back tomorrow morning. I won't let these things delay tomorrow's classes."
"Pfft," Hermione let go of Amanda and looked at her, caught between laughter and tears. She reached out to scratch Amanda's little nose. "You really can't go three sentences without mentioning studying. You never forget it."
"Studying is a student's duty."
Amanda blurted out instinctively, then added the next sentence after a pause of a few seconds.
"But it is not a student's only purpose."
This was the lesson she had been taught at Hogwarts by Hermione, the Professors, and her classmates.
"Well said," Hermione stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed Amanda's tender pink cheek. "Go on."
Amanda lowered her eyes, nodded with her head down, and turned to walk quickly out of the Great Hall.
Walking out of the Great Hall, Amanda raised a hand to touch the spot where Hermione had just kissed her cheek, an unconscious smile appearing on her lips.
Stiding toward the outside of Hogwarts Castle, Amanda stopped on the open ground outside the Castle.
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall remembered something and turned to look at Headmaster Dumbledore.
"Did we forget to ask how Amanda plans to get from Hogwarts to wherever she wants to go?"
Headmaster Dumbledore's hand stroking his beard paused slightly, then resumed its movement as if it had never stopped.
"It's fine, Miss Amanda will surely have a way."
"Alright then." Professor McGonagall nodded reluctantly, no longer dwelling on it.
Meanwhile, on the open ground outside the Castle, Amanda lightly waved her wand, and a silent Levitation Charm was cast.
Her entire body slowly left the ground, rising high into the air. The next moment, she quickly drifted toward the distance, with all the howling winds rushing at her blocked firmly by a Shield Charm.
During this night, Amanda went to Diagon Alley, to Gringotts, and she even went to the administrative departments of the Muggle World.
Although it was nighttime, money talks, and with Amanda's strength being what it was, the Goblins of Gringotts didn't dare say much.
Without a second word, they sold the idle land they owned to Amanda. This way, Amanda's land transactions didn't pass through the Ministry of Magic at all.
Next, she started with the merchants of Diagon Alley, forcibly hollowing out the downstream of the supply chain.
In any case, these merchants hadn't signed long-term contracts with the Pure-blood families to begin with. Plus, they had previously seen Amanda deal with the Malfoy father and son, and the scene afterward where she politely compensated the merchants who suffered losses because of it.
They chose to cooperate with her without hesitation. Compared to the Pure-blood families, this young girl's character was certainly more trustworthy.
Not to mention the girl had taken the initiative to offer them a share of the profits, allowing them to earn more.
As for the Muggle administrative departments, although Amanda was a minor, well... with that card of hers, it wasn't impossible if she wanted to buy land and commercial property.
Money can always force its way through many obstacles.
After buying those idle plots of land, Amanda went directly to Chinatown in London, UK. Here, she received a warm welcome from many people.
And that enthusiasm immediately soared even higher when they heard about the dozens of major projects Amanda had brought.
"Twenty factories, fifty shops, constructed and decorated within a month, with quality and quantity guaranteed. Can it be done?"
Amanda looked at the dozen or so legally qualified Chinese construction teams in front of her, stating her requirements in a steady tone.
"No problem! Leave it to us!"
The heads of the construction teams guaranteed with beaming smiles, patting their chests. After receiving Amanda's money, they directly set off for the sites overnight to prepare for construction.
Such a large order didn't come often; of course they had to start working right away!
By the time all this was done, it was already one o'clock in the morning. Amanda waved her wand, took to the air again, and returned to Hogwarts at her fastest speed.
If her estimation was correct, Hermione was likely... Lightly opening the door to the Ravenclaw Common Room, Amanda was not surprised to see Hermione sitting on the sofa, fast asleep with a book in her hand.
Walking over quietly, Amanda picked Hermione up steadily. As expected, she had been waiting for her to return.
Looking down at Hermione's peaceful sleeping face, a hint of gentleness appeared in Amanda's indifferent eyes.
With steady steps, she carried Hermione back to the Dormitory and gently placed her on the bed.
Crouching down to help her take off her shoes, socks, and wizard robe, she then carefully tucked her into the covers.
After tucking Hermione in, Amanda took another long look at her before pulling the bed curtains shut, letting them block out the external light.
She went into the washroom and washed up at her fastest speed in two and a half minutes. Amanda then came out, dried her hair directly with magic, and lay down on her bed.
Closing her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep the very next second.
Ensuring six hours of sleep... need to sleep until seven-thirty tomorrow... this was the last thought in Amanda's mind before she fell asleep.
On the other bed, Hermione seemed to feel something, murmuring as she nuzzled against the soft bedding beneath her, a bright smile still on her face.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.