Hogwarts: My Grandmother is the Queen

The question came somewhat suddenly. Draco was still immersed in the frustration of analyzing the gains and losses just now, and when asked this question, he almost subconsciously blurted it out.

"Of course, it's the noblest. We control the core of the purest magic. Bloodline... bloodline means talent and status. We are born to be nobler than those... those people."

He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but his tone carried a hint of sudden stiffness.

Pansy reacted more quickly and pragmatically. She put down her teacup and said in a hopeful tone, "To maintain the purity and honor of our family, to ensure that our knowledge and traditions are not diluted. Of course, we must also have enough power and influence to protect what belongs to us and to maintain the proper order."

Her eyes gleamed, and the order she spoke of was clearly an order dominated by pure-blood families.

Daphne remained silent for a while, her slender fingers tracing the rim of the bone china cup, her voice soft yet clear.

"I think... perhaps it's a guardian role? Pure-blood families have inherited a lot of ancient knowledge and magic, which are treasures of the magical world. We have a responsibility to maintain these traditions."

Her statement was milder than Draco's and Pansy's, but at its core, it still placed purebloods on a pedestal.

Henry listened quietly without immediately judging.

He added some tea to his cup, and the tea soup was poured into the cup, where wisps of steam rose.

"A very interesting perspective."

He finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a certain weight, causing all three to instinctively sit up straighter.

"Noble, core, protector... these are all beautiful words, and they are indeed part of the self-perception of many pure-blood families."

He put down the teapot, raised his eyes, and gazed into a deep, penetrating gaze that seemed to pierce through the makeshift tea room and into a broader panorama of the magical world.

"But have you ever considered the foundation of all these roles—no matter how justified they may sound? Is it because they are inherently rightful due to their bloodline, or because pure-blood families control the most crucial resources, knowledge, wealth, and power in the magical world?"

He paused, letting the question fester in the air.

"If status is solely determined by lineage, then this right will be shaken when lineage is no longer universally recognized as the sole criterion—for example, now that Muggle-born individuals are increasingly demonstrating their talents; if it is merely about protecting knowledge, then the role of the protector will be awkward when knowledge is acquired and disseminated in other ways."

Draco frowned; he instinctively disliked the direction this line of reasoning was taking.

Pansy looked thoughtful, while Daphne gently bit her lip.

"So, back to our original question," Henry steered the conversation back on track, "Does snatching a memory orb from Longbottom fit the image of a guardian or someone of noble birth that you just mentioned? I don't think it's a sophisticated act to personally compete with a notoriously clumsy classmate for a small trinket to gain a fleeting thrill."

Draco's face flushed slightly again, this time from embarrassment.

"In my opinion," Henry's voice softened, "if pure-blood wizards truly want to play the decisive role you expect in the wizarding world, they cannot be satisfied with merely claiming that we are different or that we are nobler. You must prove that you are capable of that position."

His gaze swept over the three young faces.

"That position is not something that can be demonstrated by bullying the weak, maintained by flaunting ancestral property, or even secured simply by maintaining the purity of one's bloodline. That position requires matching abilities, vision, foresight, and most importantly—the wisdom and restraint to rule."

"Dominate?" Draco murmured repeatedly, the word more impactful and more naked than guiding or protecting.

"Yes, domination," Henry readily admitted. "Or to put it more mildly—leadership. But the essence is similar: setting or influencing rules, allocating resources, guiding direction, and maintaining a certain order. The art of domination lies precisely in knowing when to show power and when to keep your distance; knowing how to turn the mistakes of your opponents, even someone like Longbottom, into your own advantage, rather than personally lowering yourself to their level to compete for a glass ball."

He pointed to the exquisite tea and snacks on the table.

"Why do we communicate this way instead of arguing loudly in the lounge? Because this way is better at filtering like-minded people, building valuable bonds, and is more in line with the image we want to be seen as—calm, resourceful, and visionary, rather than impulsive, rude, and only good at pranks."

"Longbottom made a mistake, and the memory orb turned red; that's his own problem. A true ruler or leader would observe detachedly, and might even generously offer a reminder when necessary, such as when it serves their own interests, to demonstrate their superiority and composure. They would never rush in to snatch it; that's too low-level and too easy to give others a handle against them."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep.

"I often feel that the long-standing ruling class of our Muggle world, and the ancient pure-blood families of the wizarding world, face some similar challenges. We are both based on bloodlines, traditions, and deep resources, and we both bear the responsibility of leading and maintaining them. And the first lesson of rule is often learning restraint—understanding that true power lies not in what you can take away, but in what you can give, and in what base ways you can refuse to prove yourself. Pushing potential supporters or neutrals to the opposite side is the worst move in the wisdom of rule."

These words were like a cold torrent, washing away the three teenagers' preconceived notions.

Henry did not deny the purebloods' demand for status; instead, he pushed it to a grander and more demanding level.

Do you want to rule or lead? You can, but first learn the behavior and mindset of a ruler.

Stealing memory orbs is the thrill of street thugs; but calmly exploiting an opponent's mistakes to shape one's own image is the way of Game of Thrones players.

Henry's last words were particularly thought-provoking.

Draco fell completely silent, his gray eyes swirling with shock and a hint of subconscious defiance, as well as a dizziness and a vague excitement from having his perspective forcibly elevated.

Pansy's breathing quickened; she felt that the picture Henry had painted was far more sophisticated than she had imagined.

Daphne looked intently at Henry, as if for the first time truly realizing what kind of education about the nature of power this Muggle royal brought—so different from what they had learned in their daily lives.

Henry didn't continue the topic, as if his earlier remarks about governance were just a casual conversation over tea.

"The tea is getting cold." He gestured for everyone to have some snacks.