For many years, the absolute rationality and the sudden surge of impulsive emotions in Lin Yue formed a contradiction. On one hand, Lin Yue wanted to reach for the wand placed in the pocket of her robe, but on the other hand, her rationality was telling her that she shouldn't do that. Doing so would violate the regulations of the Ministry of Magic and could potentially cause trouble for herself, or even for Hermione.

Rationality and impulse were at odds, neither side yielding to the other, and Lin Yue's forehead began to bead with a thin layer of sweat. Fortunately, Hermione quickly noticed that something was off with Lin Yue. Thinking that Lin Yue was uncomfortable from staying too long in Gringotts, she took Lin Yue's hand and led her out of the bank.

"Are you feeling better?" Once outside, breathing in the fresh air, Hermione took a handkerchief from her pocket and carefully wiped the sweat from Lin Yue's forehead.

With the shift in focus, the conflicting rationality and impulse in Lin Yue's mind gradually calmed down, and the struggle between the two sides ceased. The sweat on Lin Yue's forehead stopped flowing, and she nodded lightly with a neutral expression, "Much better."

"That's good," Hermione smiled reassuringly. "Staying in Gringotts really can be uncomfortable, those goblins..."

As Hermione spoke, she shook her head. Those goblins inherently looked down on wizards, or rather, on humans. Only those pure-blood families that could bring them wealth would be treated differently. However, this different treatment was merely superficial; the goblin race was, as described in books, incredibly greedy.

Both Lin Yue and Hermione, having read that book, were aware of this fact, but Lin Yue, being more detached, didn't think as much as Hermione did. She only knew that those goblins had just expressed contempt towards Hermione and the Grangers. This impression was deeply etched in her memory.

Lin Yue and Hermione stood at the entrance of Gringotts waiting for the others. They didn't have to wait long before the Granger and Weasley couples came out with a group of children.

The four adults checked the time and then suggested that everyone go off to explore freely for an hour and a half before gathering at Flourish and Blotts to buy books. This way, they could also go to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink and a chat.

The children naturally agreed, and Lin Yue nodded expressionlessly in agreement.

After making these arrangements, Mrs. Weasley squinted her eyes and warned her twin sons. "Fred, George, no going to Knockturn Alley."

"Ok, Mum..." Fred groaned with a pained expression.

"When will you ever stop saying that?" George also raised his hand to cover his face, looking equally distressed.

"When you two learn to behave," Mrs. Weasley said, her nostrils flaring slightly. After giving them a few more reminders, she and Mr. Weasley left with the Grangers, while their youngest child, Ginny, followed along.

Before leaving, Ginny took a couple of extra glances at Lin Yue, seemingly curious about the girl who always had a blank expression and didn't say much.

With the parents gone, the children split up to do their own things. Percy went off to explore Diagon Alley by himself, while Fred and George left together, leaving just the seven of them.

The seven of them first went to the ice cream shop, each ordering a scoop of ice cream, using the money Mrs. Granger had given them for treats.

As they licked their ice cream, the seven children wandered around Diagon Alley. For the others, this shopping experience felt neither special nor unfamiliar.

Hermione, Cho Chang, Marietta, and Penelope don't need much introduction. Whether living in the wizarding world or the Muggle world, most girls tend to enjoy shopping. So, they often spend their free time going shopping.

Especially for the three little witches who grew up in the magical world, their shopping destination is Diagon Alley. As for Ron, he is always dragged out by his two "restless" twin brothers, and most of the time, they go to Diagon Alley to buy prank products. So, he is very familiar with shopping there.

Even Harry, who has a rather tough life, often goes out to "hang around" because he and the Dursleys can't stand each other. The only one who feels strange about the current situation is Lin Yue. Her first thought is that walking around leisurely like this will waste a lot of study time. Then she suddenly realized that she hasn't bought any books yet, and she had promised Hermione that she wouldn't want to study until she got the books.

Her thoughts quickly shift, and Lin Yue subconsciously starts to recall the last time she aimlessly "wandered around." It seems to be a memory from her childhood when she was the only child at home, so she couldn't get into trouble. Her mother took her, who was still too young to stay home alone, to the mall. That was when she was caught secretly watching cartoons.

She remembers that her mother took her shopping for almost an entire day. She was so tired that she wanted to be carried by her mother, but her mother didn't pick her up. By the time they got home, her little feet were swollen from all walking. She reflects on how fragile she was back then and criticizes her younger self for causing trouble for her mother.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

At the same time, she is sure that spending an hour and a half shopping with Hermione and the others will be just fine. Wandering aimlessly in Diagon Alley, all sorts of strange and interesting products catch her eye.

Lin Yue's gaze wandered among various products, and almost every time she saw a new item, detailed information about it would automatically pop into her mind.

What the product was, where it came from, how to obtain it, and what the estimated price was.

After walking for an hour and a half, Lin Yue had nearly "analyzed" all the products in the diagonal alley.

Even in a non-learning state, she had reviewed a portion of the books she had read.

After all, she needed to make associations based on those products, and during the process of making connections, it was easy to involve knowledge from her books.

So, until she arrived at the entrance of the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore, Lin Yue's brain had been continuously working without any pause.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore and seeing the long line outside, everyone looked surprised and puzzled.

"We got here relatively early, but in previous years, there was no way there would be this many people at this time at Flourish and Blotts Bookstore. What’s going on this year?" Marietta looked curiously at the long queue outside the bookstore.

It wasn't even the peak season for buying books before school started; how could there be so many people?

Penelope, who was taller and puzzled by the crowd, tiptoed to take a look inside the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore, and her face immediately fell.

She steadied herself back on the ground, her mouth turned down, clearly unhappy.

"Merlin's beard, it's that Lockhart is holding a signing event."

"A signing event? Lockhart?" The three Gryffindors, who had been educated about Lockhart by the three Ravenclaws, frowned simultaneously.

A complete fool... and he's holding a signing event?

Lin Yue had no thoughts or feelings about this; she simply watched the long line at the entrance of the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore with indifference. Instinctively analyzing the crowd size and the bookstore's dimensions, she concluded that, given the current foot traffic and the size of the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore, the probability of a stampede occurring here was very high.

Turning her head mechanically, Lin Yue stated her calculated result in a flat tone. "With the current crowd size and the size of the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore, the likelihood of a stampede is quite high. I do not recommend entering."

Hearing Lin Yue's words, the six people exchanged glances, and Hermione reached out to pull Lin Yue into her embrace. Knowing how reliable Lin Yue was, Harry and Ron simultaneously looked at the three senior girls present.

"How about we just don't go in? We can ask the staff to help us get the books," Hermione suggested hesitantly, while Harry and Ron nodded in agreement.

Cho Chang, Marietta, and Penelope had always doted on this younger student from their house, and naturally, their trust in Lin Yue was very high. They immediately agreed with the suggestion, as safety was the most important thing.

Moreover, there was another important point: none of them were fans of Lockhart, and in fact, they somewhat disliked this boastful and showy Ravenclaw. Rather than going in to see Lockhart's face, they preferred not to enter at all.

Having made their decision, the seven children simply did not move further inside. Penelope waved to call over a staff member and, after informing him of the books everyone needed, the seven children waited right at the entrance of the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore.

Before long, the four adults along with Fred, George, and Percy arrived at the Flourish and Blotts Bookstore on time.

Mrs. Weasley, upon learning that a book signing event for Lockhart was taking place here, immediately blushed and expressed her desire to wait for a Lockhart autograph. Mr. Weasley felt a bit jealous but still smiled and showed understanding, taking over everything his wife was holding. He also reassured her to wait for the signature without worry, saying he would take care of the children. After saying that, he squeezed into the bookstore with Fred, George, and Percy to buy their books, leaving Ginny by Lin Yue and the others.

Although Lin Yue had already mentioned that the probability of a stampede occurring at the Flourish and Blotts bookstore was relatively high, Mr. Weasley waved his hand with a smile, saying that the four of them were all men and quite strong, so it would be fine for them to go in. Hearing him say that Lin Yue decided not to say anything more and simply cast a calm glance at Ginny, who was curiously looking at her.

Feeling Lin Yue's gaze, Ginny looked into her eyes, which showed no warmth, and couldn't help but swallow hard, feeling a bit scared inside. Hermione, who had her arm around Lin Yue's shoulder, also noticed this scene. She bent down to meet Ginny's gaze and gently comforted her. "Don't be afraid of Lin Yue; she just isn't used to showing any expression or emotion," Hermione said, feeling a sharp pain in her heart, "but she's really a good person."

"That's right," the five people nearby all nodded in agreement with smiles.

Ron also glanced at Lin Yue and whispered to Ginny, "You know that super academic genius I was talking about? That's her."

Ginny's eyes instantly lit up at his words, and she turned to look at Lin Yue with starry eyes.

Lin Yue was taken aback for a moment, looking at Ginny's face and instinctively analyzing her micro-expressions.

This expression is... admiration? But why would she admire me?

From what Ron just said, it seems to be because I study well, but as a student, studying is what I should do.

And knowing that someone else studies well, shouldn't I be thinking hard about how to surpass her and become number one? Why should I be admired?

Lin Yue had several thoughts racing through her mind without any confusion, and before she could finish processing them, she heard a somewhat arrogant voice coming from behind.

"Ah ha... still hanging out with your pathetic friends, Potter?"

Hearing that "annoying" voice, Harry didn't need to think to know who it was. Anger bubbling inside him, he turned around and 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 Lin Yue. "Pureblood scum, mudbloods, they don't even look human... your friends really are something."

"How dare you!" At his words, the three Ravenclaw seniors all drew their wands in unison, and Ron angrily pulled out his wand, ready to cast a curse at him.

"Draco." A languid, arrogant voice rang out, and a snake-headed cane extended out, pulling Draco back a bit.

Lucius Malfoy stepped out, looking down at the seven children in front of him who had drawn their wands, along with Ginny behind them.

"So, it seems the Weasley family has another child going to school."

Lucius looked at these people with the same disdain as his son, his voice slow and arrogant.

"Little girl, can your parents... still afford to send you to school?"

Ginny's face flushed fiercely, but she did not back down and glared at Lucius.

Three Ravenclaw seniors, including Hermione and Cho Chang, simultaneously shielded Ginny behind them, their wands still raised.

"I think you should pay more attention to your son's manners, Mr. Malfoy," Cho said coldly. If it weren't for Lucius Malfoy being present, they would have already taken action against Draco's earlier remarks.

"What did you just say, Draco?" Lucius turned to his son.

"Nothing, Father, just some truths," Draco said, arrogantly repeating his earlier words.

Lucius raised an eyebrow after hearing this and looked at Ron, Hermione, and Lin Yue, pausing slightly when he saw Lin Yue.

Still speaking arrogantly, he said, "What he said is indeed the truth."

As soon as this was said, all the young wizards present, except for Ginny and Lin Yue, raised their wands.

Seeing six young children pointing their wands at him, Lucius squinted his eyes. "I think you’d better not do anything foolish."

Even with Penelope, a slightly older student, present, he could easily deal with these children.

However, Lin Yue clearly perceived this statement as a threat directed at Hermione and the others.

Hermione's life was more valuable than his own, so protecting Hermione took precedence over himself.

His mind instinctively recalled a previous inequality he had experienced, and a feeling surged in his chest, urging him to act.

Along with Cho and the others, Harry and Ron were also similarly threatened.

Lin Yue's absolute rationality was instantly overshadowed by the result of the inequality and impulse. He swiftly drew his wand and stepped in front of Hermione and the others.

With a cold gaze directed at Lucius, he showed no signs of anger, only an endless chill.

"Can I take this as a threat, Mr. Malfoy?"