My School Life At Hogwarts Chapter 1567: A War Without Victors (Seventeen) - Novel Cool

Chapter 1567: A War Without Victors (Seventeen)

Chapter 1567: A War Without Victors (Seventeen)

At this moment, the Great Hall was bustling with activity like never before.

The long tables of the different houses were not only filled with students who had returned to school, but also with those who had come for the memorial service earlier in the day and had stayed for the victory celebration that evening. However, it was unclear if the adults who hadn't truly participated in the Battle of Hogwarts felt a tinge of embarrassment while enjoying this victory that wasn't rightfully theirs.

In the midst of the buzzing noise, people spoke in hushed tones, listening intently as the heroes who had truly fought in the Battle of Hogwarts recounted the awe-inspiring battle from a few days ago and explained how they had managed to crush Voldemort's forces, which outnumbered them several times over.

Especially noteworthy were those who had personally hunted down giants; they were now basking in the admiring gazes of those around them.

Those giants struck fear into the hearts of countless witches and wizards, and yet they had been slaughtered without mercy.

As for the werewolves that had caused so many to flee in terror, countless lives had been lost on that elevated bridge.

Whether it was the annihilation of the giants or the elimination of hundreds of werewolves, these were legendary feats that could never be replicated and were destined to be forever etched into the history of Hogwarts.

As the instigator of all this, Albert, despite not having taken action himself, was still considered a notorious figure.

After all, he was known for being ruthless and had taken the lives of significant individuals without batting an eye; he was a bane to those who dwelled in the shadows.

If there was one thing that could be considered a flaw in the entire plan, it was the direct confrontation with the eight-eyed giant spiders.

Initially, everyone thought that the spiders would be the easiest to deal with, yet they ended up causing the most casualties in history.

Anyone who wasn't a fool could sense that something was amiss.

Was it because Abraxas, the team leader, was incompetent and unable to effectively deploy his team to carry out the tasks assigned by Albert? Or were his teammates so inept that they crumbled when faced with the eight-eyed giant spiders?

The vast majority would never consider themselves to be the problem.

Nor would they admit to being useless, and so most of the doubtful gazes fell upon Abraxas, blaming him for not leading his team well enough, which almost caused the collapse of the front line against the spiders and resulted in unnecessary casualties.

The latter didn't seem inclined to argue about this matter, which only led to more people focusing their attention on him. Even though many had already realized the truth, they needed someone to blame to give those who had fallen in battle a semblance of dignity.

Finally, Lee Jordan couldn't bear to watch anymore and spoke up. "The advantage of Abraxas' team was in their numbers, but unfortunately, not everyone is a valiant warrior."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding area fell silent.

Although the words were harsh, they were the truth.

Everyone should have realized that the large number of casualties in the fight against the eight-eyed giant spiders couldn't be blamed on Abraxas' incompetence or Albert's strategies; it was simply because they themselves were useless.

After all, Albert had given them extra care. He had assigned them the seemingly easiest opponent—the eight-eyed giant spiders—and had given them a numerical advantage. He had even taught them the Spider Dispelling Curse specifically for this situation, and as a final precaution, he had left Hagrid and the centaurs as backup. Despite all these advantages, they had still suffered losses, and no one could be blamed for that.

To be honest, if Hagrid and the centaurs hadn't arrived in time, the cost would have likely been even more devastating.

As for the eight-eyed giant spiders being too dangerous? Putting them on any other battlefield would probably have resulted in an even worse outcome.

Upon realizing the "truth" of the matter, those who had been critical fell silent. They knew that Albert had done his best, and they directed respectful gazes towards the young professor seated among the faculty.

Albert had expected that he would be the center of attention, so he didn't pay much mind to the various complicated looks directed his way.

"How does it feel to be a professor?" Professor Flitwick asked with a smile, noticing Albert's gaze.

"The view from here is quite spacious," Albert replied, choosing not to answer directly.

His eyes scanned the chaotic Great Hall below, passing over Lee Jordan, who was boasting to others, and resting briefly on Fred, who was whispering to his girlfriend. Beside him, George was flipping through a newspaper.

Across the table, the "Chosen One," Harry, was talking to Ron, while Ginny whispered to Hermione by his side.

At the neighboring Hufflepuff table, Cedric had become the center of attention, but his eyes often strayed towards the Ravenclaw table, finally meeting Cho's gaze. The two shared a subtle smile.

Next to them was Marietta Edgecombe, her face etched with gloom.

Isobel met Albert's gaze and gently winked before continuing her conversation with the sour-faced Penelope.

Having just broken up with her boyfriend, Penelope followed Isobel's gaze to Albert, and her heart couldn't help but twist with envy as she thought of Isobel's happy married life.

If only Percy had a fraction of Albert's romantic gestures and thoughtfulness; their relationship might not have ended in a breakup.

Of course, Albert was unaware of his reputation among the young ladies. After withdrawing his gaze, he turned to his companions and began to complain about the evening's victory celebration.

"Holding the memorial service and the victory celebration on the same day does make the atmosphere rather strange."

"There's no other choice," came the reply.

Everyone could sense the odd ambiance, but there wasn't a better solution. Separating the memorial service and the victory celebration would indeed avoid this awkward situation, but it would also create unnecessary inconvenience for those who had taken the time to come to Hogwarts for both events. Combining the two into one day might not be such a bad idea after all.

As for the strange atmosphere, one just had to ignore it. Once the feast officially began, the odd vibes would dissipate.

The guests didn't have to wait too long before the feast officially commenced with the ringing of a bell. Slowly, the noisy Great Hall quieted down.

"We won!" Kingsley's voice rang out, and the Great Hall instantly erupted into deafening cheers and applause.

As the clamor gradually subsided, Kingsley, drawing on his experience as a broadcaster for the Wizarding Wireless Network, began his speech.

"Voldemort is truly and finally dead, and there is no chance of his return through any means," Kingsley proclaimed, raising his glass. "This decades-long nightmare is finally over. Let us offer our highest respects to Mr. Albert Anderson, who defeated Voldemort."

The guests stood, raising their glasses high in tribute to Albert.

"I never believed that this moment of glory belonged solely to me." Albert's calm and powerful voice rang out, silencing the raucous Great Hall once more. "For this moment, we paid a tremendous price."

"Whether it was Dumbledore, who sought Voldemort's weakness, or Scrimgeour, who dared to resist, or even Potter, who was willing to sacrifice himself to ensure Voldemort's permanent demise, countless brave individuals fought for this moment of victory we now celebrate."

"And now, we have emerged triumphant!"

"Glory belongs to all those who dared to stand and resist!"

Deafening applause and cheers filled the hall, threatening to bring down the enchanted ceiling. Those who had not truly participated in the Battle of Hogwarts could not understand the fervor of the others, but they saw how everyone took pride in the victory, just as Albert had said, Glory be upon us.

This was their triumph! [...]

After a rousing speech, Kingsley raised his glass and officially declared the start of the banquet.

Although the feast was not particularly lavish, everyone was in high spirits. As expected, the strange atmosphere that had hung over the hall earlier had dissipated.

"Mr. Malfoy has revealed quite a lot..."

Kingsley took the initiative to chat with Albert about the recent situation at the Ministry of Magic.

This was unavoidable, as Albert, the senior advisor, rarely visited the Ministry and did not proactively offer additional assistance. So, Kingsley had specifically arranged his seat next to Albert to facilitate conversation during the banquet.

The surrounding professors slowed their eating and pricked up their ears to listen to the two men's dialogue.

"It's quite normal," Albert said, not at all surprised. "After Voldemort's definitive death, it's only natural for people like Malfoy to look out for their own interests. If you want to deal with the issue of the remaining Dark Wizards, you may consider a more lenient approach."

"Go on." Kingsley was intrigued by Albert's suggestion of "leniency," even though he had contemplated the same idea himself. He knew that such a decision would come with consequences.

"Being lenient doesn't mean letting them off the hook," Albert explained as he slowly sipped his wine. "It's about giving them a chance because wrongdoing should come with a price. You could heavily fine those who haven't committed heinous crimes and then throw them in prison for a few years. After serving their time, they will be released, and believe me, many will be willing to go through this process to clear their names."

Kingsley's cheeks twitched slightly. The Ministry often employed such tactics, but the difference here was that the targets were Voldemort's followers.

"Of course, doing so may provoke dissatisfaction among some," Albert continued. "So, you'll need to execute a few truly evil individuals to quell their anger. Sometimes, showing distinction makes people see your goodwill and gives them the opportunity to reform."

Albert spoke of things that made everyone's hair stand on end, as if killing a few people was as simple as squishing a few insects.

"This might cause some Dark Wizards to resist desperately," Kingsley hesitated, understanding the benefits but also aware of the myriad problems it could cause.

However, he had already considered using this approach on the Ministry's employees.

After all, there is strength in numbers.

After careful evaluation, some Ministry employees would only receive symbolic fines for their involvement, but this matter would have to wait until the British wizarding world had completely stabilized. As Albert had pointed out, sometimes even if you directly pardoned their crimes, people would consider it their due right, and if you didn't create some obstacles for them, they wouldn't know how to be truly grateful.

At times, people could be so ungrateful.

Throughout the celebration, the two men discussed numerous topics, mostly regarding the aftermath of the Wizarding War.

Although Kingsley was also an expert in this area, he seemed inclined to heed Albert's advice, which resulted in Albert barely getting to eat during the entire banquet.

The celebration lasted for several hours, and when everyone had eaten their fill, Professor McGonagall stood up to announce the school's arrangements for the students who had returned to school, as well as the fact that they would be enjoying a long summer vacation.

This announcement was met with enthusiastic cheers, as no one enjoyed exams, and everyone loved the idea of a holiday.

After the celebration concluded, everyone dispersed, content and satisfied. Aside from a small number who were unskilled at Apparition and would be spending the night at Hogwarts, most guests departed.

Albert, of course, had no intention of staying the night at Hogwarts. After bidding farewell to his companions, he left with his wife and sister-in-law.

"I'm so full; I'm going to get some rest." As Katrina turned to leave, she paused as if she had just remembered something. "By the way, are you planning to move to that village you're building?"

"Yes, but I'll set up a Floo Network connection there so we can easily travel back and forth." Albert guessed Katrina's concern and blinked reassuringly. "So, you don't have to worry about our secret being discovered."

"You're the one who should be worried about your reputation." Before leaving, Katrina leaned in and kissed Albert's cheek.

"She's becoming more and more proactive," Albert remarked as he watched Katrina walk away.

"It shows that my teachings have been effective." Isabelle smiled lightly. "I just wonder when you'll start feeling the pangs of love."

"I might be going out in a couple of days," Albert said, meeting Isabelle's gaze. "I promised Granger a few years ago that I'd help her find her family in Australia."

"I'd say it's a great opportunity, for both you and Miss Granger," Isabelle replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Please, spare me," Albert sighed in exasperation.

"However, I doubt she has the courage to pursue a relationship with you." Isabelle was well aware that young ladies tended to be shy, and it would take exceptional boldness for Granger to initiate anything beyond friendship with Albert, unless she intended to be his lifelong mistress and forgo marriage altogether.

(End of Chapter)

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