https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1571-A-War-with-No-Victors-Twenty-One-/12528624/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1573-A-War-with-No-Victors-XXIII-/12528636/
Chapter 1572: A War with No Victors (Twenty-Two)
Chapter 1572: A War with No Victors (Twenty-Two)
It had been several hours since Albert had recovered from the side effects of Apparition. Although he had promised Hermione that he wouldn't leave without her, he decided not to waste any more time and took out a crystal ball from his Trace-free Extension Bag, intending to scry on the Grangers' whereabouts. Just as he expected, the Grangers were still practicing dentistry in Australia.
Albert frowned slightly as he studied the images in the crystal ball. While he gained some clues, the information was limited, and he couldn't pinpoint their location based on what he saw. He wondered if a swig of Felix Felicis might yield better results, but...
Albert glanced at Hermione, still curled up asleep on the sofa, and sighed inwardly. He put away the crystal ball and picked up a book to pass the time while waiting for her to wake up. There was still plenty of time left in the day, after all.
It was almost noon when Hermione finally stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She seemed to have fully recovered from the effects of Apparition.
The pair apparated to a nearby town, where they purchased a detailed map of Australia and took care of lunch. It was worth mentioning that the food in Australia was much better than in Britain.
"Did you use a Confundus Charm on him just now?" Hermione asked in a low voice when no one was around.
"I just told him that we had spent all our Australian dollars during our trip and only had pounds and dollars left," Albert replied. He had indeed used a Confundus Charm to make the bookstore owner accept dollars as payment, but it wasn't as if the man was losing out; after all, the US dollar was a globally accepted currency.
Hermione flipped through the Australian atlas and looked up at Albert with a doubtful expression. She casually brought up the images Albert had seen in the crystal ball, narrowing down their target area. At least they could start with the states that seemed more likely.
"I'm thinking of taking some Felix Felicis to try my luck," Albert said abruptly.
"But that stuff doesn't bring real luck, does it? It just creates unexpected outcomes," Hermione said, her attention seemingly divided between the conversation and the steak on her plate.
"True, but sometimes unexpected outcomes are what we need," Albert said.
Whether it was due to the luck of the Felix Felicis or not, Albert's next attempt at scrying with the crystal ball revealed a beautiful beach.
Were they practicing dentistry in a bustling seaside city?
This information helped Albert eliminate a lot of potential complications and, relying on his intuition, led him to focus on Victoria and New South Wales.
These two states had strong connections to Britain, so they were likely to be favorable locations for British immigrants, and they certainly wouldn't choose to live in some remote, rural area.
Albert's guess was correct; he had indeed found Monica Wilkins, nee Granger, in New South Wales.
As for why she was using the name Wilkins instead of Granger, Albert attributed it to Kingsley's assistance.
Back when the Grangers had first immigrated, Kingsley had helped them change their names to avoid any complications in their new lives.
In other words, even if the Grangers recovered their memories, they would still be legally known as the Wilkins family unless they went through the trouble of changing their names back.
Albert was curious about the reason for this arrangement, but there were more pressing matters at hand.
To confirm that he hadn't mistaken their target, Albert repeated the process and scryed for Wendell Wilkins.
While it was possible for people to share the same name, the chances of mistaking their target were slim if both names appeared in the same location.
With their targets identified, the rest was straightforward.
It was only a matter of time until they could pinpoint the Grangers' exact location by gradually zooming in on the map.
The only problem they faced was the need to traverse the entire continent of Australia, as Albert had only apparated there once before.
"So, we'll need to travel across Australia on a broomstick?" Hermione was intrigued by the prospect of the upcoming journey.
"Yes, but it will just be me flying while you rest in the trunk. I'll call for you once I reach our destination," Albert said, heading towards the trunk with the map in hand.
After making the necessary arrangements, Albert retrieved his broomstick and prepared for their departure.
"You can give me a ride, and we can chat along the way to make the journey across Australia less boring for you." Hermione, well aware of the lengthy and tedious trip ahead, took the initiative to sit behind Albert and wrapped her arms around his waist, ready for the flight on the broomstick.
"You don't have to hold on so tight. I won't let you fall," Albert said as he forcibly suppressed the myriad of emotions surging within him. After casting the necessary spells on both of them, he mounted the broomstick and soared into the sky.
The journey became less monotonous with a companion to chat with, and they even stopped a few times to rest along the way. As night fell, they finally reached their destination.
Fortunately, finding their targets was relatively smooth, and Albert located the dental clinic where the Grangers were still open for business. It was evident that they were doing well in their new lives.
Dentistry was indeed a lucrative profession, be it in Britain or Australia.
Hidden under the Disillusionment Charm, Hermione stood outside the glass door of the clinic, gazing at the busy couple inside with a hint of sadness in her eyes. "You were right. They probably won't return to Britain."
The Grangers had finally realized their dream of immigrating to Australia and starting anew. Why would they want to give up everything they had worked so hard for and uproot themselves again?
It was just pointless trouble-making! "What's the plan now?"
Albert glanced at Hermione, surprised that she was able to restrain herself and not rush in to restore her parents' memories immediately.
"I don't think I'll be staying in Australia," Hermione replied.
After the patients left the clinic, Hermione discreetly lifted the spells on her parents, helping them regain their sealed memories.
Before the Granger couple could fully process what was happening, Hermione appeared before them and gave them a warm embrace, leaving them bewildered and overwhelmed.
Albert chose not to intrude on their reunion and quietly stood by, smiling gently as he witnessed the heartwarming scene of Hermione being reunited with her family. Having experienced a similar situation himself, he shared in her joy.
"Is he your boyfriend?" Mrs. Granger asked, releasing her daughter from the long-awaited embrace and eyeing Albert curiously.
They recognized the young man.
"Albert just accompanied me here to find you," Hermione quickly explained.
The Granger couple exchanged a glance, both thinking that this young man must be their daughter's boyfriend, or else he probably wouldn't have accompanied her on this journey across half the globe to find them.
"Well, let's head home now."
Without further ado, the Granger couple closed the clinic for the day and drove Hermione and Albert back to their home.
To celebrate the long-awaited reunion, Mrs. Granger personally prepared a sumptuous dinner for their guests.
To be honest, Albert didn't want to intrude on the Granger family's reunion, but Hermione gently held his hand, hoping that he would accept this small token of gratitude.
After all, Albert had been a great help in finding her family.
With the gracious hospitality of the Granger couple, Albert enjoyed a delicious dinner.
During the meal, they also discussed the significant events that had taken place in the British wizarding world, especially the news of Albert slaying the evil Lord Voldemort and donating the entire bounty he received. The way they looked at him now held a hint of approval, and perhaps something more.
Albert recognized that look—it was the look of a mother-in-law eyeing her future son-in-law. This wasn't the first time he had encountered such a gaze, but this time, it made him feel particularly awkward.
If Albert were still single, there would be a high probability of him and Hermione ending up together. Unfortunately, he was already married, and he believed that the Granger couple would never allow their daughter to intrude on a married man's life.
However, Albert couldn't bring himself to directly tell them that he was already married and that they had misunderstood. Doing so would only make the situation more awkward for everyone involved.
So, he maintained a polite smile throughout the evening, hoping to get through this without causing any embarrassment.
(End of Chapter)
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