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Chapter 1557: A War Without Victors (VII)
Chapter 1557: A War Without Victors (VII)
The good news of Voldemort's demise was immediately shared by Kingsley through the Prophet to the entire wizarding community in Britain.
However, as the news spread across the country, it did not bring joy and laughter to the wizards as it had after the first wizarding war. Instead, it plunged the entire British wizarding community into an eerie silence, and those unaware of the situation might even suspect that the vanquished Voldemort was the savior.
The eerie reaction throughout Britain's wizarding community was entirely due to the profound trauma inflicted by the second wizarding war. The extent of the wounds was such that most British wizards found themselves unable to laugh.
Of course, it was also possible that the brutality of the Battle of Hogwarts had shocked everyone who heard the news, naturally leaving them in no mood to celebrate this hard-won victory.
Nevertheless, the news of Voldemort's death, spreading far and wide through the Prophet, still had a visible impact.
The tense atmosphere caused by Voldemort instantly vanished, and wizards began sending their owls to reconnect with acquaintances. Those who regained their courage no longer cowered in fear but instead ventured out, and some even planned to travel to Hogwarts in groups, eager to witness the truth of the news broadcast by the Wizarding Wireless Network with their own eyes.
However, for the sake of their safety, most people did not go directly to Hogwarts. Instead, they made a detour to Hogsmeade, as reliable information indicated that this once-thriving wizarding village, the only one left in Britain, had been completely destroyed in the recent battle. They did not need to take the risk of approaching; they could easily verify the truth from a distance with a telescope.
When people caught sight of the ruins of Hogsmeade, they tended to believe the broadcasts from the Wireless Network. Especially when they sneaked closer to the gruesome battlefield and were suddenly confronted by the countless bodies of dark wizards that had not yet been cleared, they were stunned into silence once more, followed by an even longer period of quiet.
The state of Hogwarts was evidently even more horrific, to the extent that the destruction in Hogsmeade paled in comparison.
Some wizards, upon witnessing the devastation in Hogsmeade, chose to stay and help clear the post-battle wreckage, while others continued on to Hogwarts.
There, they were once again shocked by the mountain of dark wizard bodies piled up outside the oak front doors. Some with weaker constitutions, under the judgmental gazes of their peers, began to vomit uncontrollably. In the end, this group could only flee Hogwarts, their minds haunted by the shadows of what they had seen.
Most of the professors, however, remained calm and collected, well aware that such scenes were, in truth, the norm in the wizarding world.
Very few could withstand the pressure brought on by this brutal war, and even fewer were willing to stay and help clean up the mess.
After all, the vast majority of people would instinctively push their unwanted problems onto others instead of taking the initiative to solve them together.
But there was another reason why almost no wizard was willing to stay and help with the aftermath.
An unlucky individual, who had ignored Filch's warnings, had wandered into an area filled with poisonous plants, set up to counter the dark wizards, and had mysteriously lost his life.
When this news spread, it sent shockwaves through the wizards who had come to Hogwarts, and those seeking first-hand information quickly fled the school.
No one wanted to joke about their lives. Who knew if there were other, even more dangerous traps within the school grounds? Especially when they connected this incident with the mountain of corpses at the entrance, it was hard not to let their imaginations run wild.
After all, the disparity between the two sides was just too great, making it truly difficult to believe that the resistance left behind at Hogwarts had managed to defeat ten times their number with barely a hundred casualties.
Anyone with a brain knew exactly what dark wizards were capable of. Even if those despicable individuals were incompetent, they shouldn't have died in droves at Hogwarts, much less at the hands of a group of young students.
Hogwarts wasn't a place for training executioners, after all.
And the Dark Wizards certainly hadn't come in a group to meet their demise.
The only possible explanation was that they had accidentally triggered a trap and perished as a result.
News of the hundreds of werewolves who had been lured and killed on the viaduct spread like wildfire among the wizarding community, once again highlighting the brutality of the recent conflict.
As this incident was confirmed, it also helped to clear Albert's name, who had previously been rumored to be a victim.
After all, no one wanted to be known as a ruthless killer, pointed at and gossiped about, even if all their victims had been enemies.
Humans were such complex creatures.
Fortunately, things were taking a positive turn, and Albert felt a sense of relief.
Another subtle shift was occurring in the wizarding community's attitude towards house-elves. Those who had participated in the final battle were well aware of the significant role the kitchen house-elves had played. Many had even had their lives saved by these creatures, and this shared experience of fighting side by side had earned the house-elves the respect of these particular wizards, who no longer treated them as mere slaves.
This development brought a glimmer of hope to Hermione's cause, even though many still considered her S.P.E.W. (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare) to be ridiculous. Nonetheless, she viewed it as a significant victory.
Of course, she was also aware that it wasn't her victory alone, but rather a triumph for Albert. Yet, as long as things progressed in a positive direction, that was all that mattered to her.
"So, you're still considering joining the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures?"
During dinner, Albert listened to Hermione's plans while offering helpful suggestions, even though he felt she didn't really need his advice. Nonetheless, he enjoyed spending time discussing their future endeavors.
"I'm still undecided," Hermione admitted.
"You're not planning to join the Ministry directly?" Ron exclaimed, his mouth half-filled with bread.
"I think I'll stay at school for my final year," Hermione said, not looking at Ron but instead turning to Albert for his opinion.
"It's certainly an opportunity, but the Ministry is still dealing with many issues. Becoming a temporary Auror will entail some risks," Albert replied after finishing the last morsel on his plate. He politely declined the dessert offered by a house-elf and continued, "However, if I may be blunt, staying away from the Ministry's affairs could be beneficial for you. Ultimately, the choice is yours, as long as you don't regret it later."
"I've decided to stay at school. I've already discussed it with Professor McGonagall," Hermione said, revealing that her decision had been made long ago.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Ron complained.
"If you and Harry miss this chance, it'll be difficult to become Aurors through conventional means," Hermione pointed out.
"What about you?" Harry suddenly asked.
"I don't need the money," Albert replied nonchalantly, causing Ron to choke on his food.
"They just want to use my reputation as Voldemort's vanquisher to their advantage," Albert said softly. "If you had woken up earlier, you might have had the chance to confront him yourself."
"Even if I had woken up earlier, I wouldn't have taken that risk again," Harry said, glancing at Ginny. "After barely escaping death, I wasn't about to gamble with my life again. It was best that you dealt the final blow to Voldemort; even Dumbledore saw that clearly."
"Looks like I don't need to feel guilty for taking away your glory then," Albert joked.
"Ginny and I have set a date for our wedding," Harry said, letting out a dry laugh as he changed the subject. "It's just a few days after Ginny's birthday."
"Although there are still a few months left, I can't guarantee that I'll be able to finish building your house on time," Albert said amicably. "After all, we don't know how many people will be available to help, and even if we manage to build it ahead of time, it won't be ready for habitation."
(End of Chapter)
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