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Chapter 1573: A War with No Victors (XXIII)
Chapter 1573: A War with No Victors (XXIII)
Aside from some awkward topics, the dinner was quite enjoyable. If only Albert were single or had thicker skin, he might have relished the gracious hospitality of the Granger couple.
However, Albert was not one to deceive them, and he never intended to do so. Yet, he also couldn't imagine the fallout if he suddenly revealed his marital status; it would ruin the heartwarming reunion of the Granger family and embarrass everyone present.
Thankfully, as long as he could get through tonight, there likely wouldn't be another encounter, so Albert decided to leave a good impression on the Grangers.
To avoid bringing up mood-killing topics, Albert engaged the Granger couple in casual conversations about mundane aspects of life, intending to leave soon while the atmosphere was still pleasant.
As for the Grangers' decision to stay or leave, it was none of his business.
But someone didn't see it that way.
As Mrs. Granger served the dessert, Hermione took the initiative to bring up the thorny issue.
"We plan to settle down in Australia. After establishing ourselves here, it would be a hassle to uproot ourselves and go back."
The Granger couple exchanged glances, then shared their final decision: they would remain in Australia and not return to the UK.
In truth, they had already considered this possibility after regaining their memories and seeing their daughter appear out of thin air.
Even if the Grangers wished for their daughter to stay with them, they were well aware that Hermione, now a witch, existed in a different world from theirs. The likelihood of her agreeing to stay in Australia was slim.
For Hermione to stay would mean discarding everything from her past and starting anew, which would be incredibly cruel to the young couple. Thus, the Grangers never voiced their desire to have her stay; they merely watched their daughter quietly, awaiting her choice.
"I want to return to Hogwarts to complete my final term."
When Hermione voiced her decision, the Granger couple already knew what she had chosen. They were not surprised, as anyone could see how fond their daughter was of this young man named Albert.
It was only natural for Hermione to want to stay in the UK, and they had prepared themselves for this outcome.
"Albert, please take care of Hermione," Mrs. Granger said, holding Albert's hand earnestly.
"I will," Albert replied, sighing inwardly. In the end, he didn't pull his hand away. Of course, he understood the underlying message in the Grangers' words, but... well, he could indeed spare Hermione a lot of trouble. He could ensure her smooth graduation from school, provide her with a place to live, and help her secure a job at the Ministry of Magic so she could have a life of her own.
"As it happens, I've been invited to temporarily teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts," Albert said, offering the Granger couple a reassuring smile.
The Grangers were curious as to how someone so young could become a professor at Hogwarts, especially after learning from Hermione about Albert's crucial role during the Wizarding War. They were dumbfounded.
Because of this, Mr. Granger felt that Albert, who had come all the way to Australia, should take the opportunity to explore the country. He offered to help Albert book a room in a hotel.
To be honest, this made Albert's smile stiffen a little.
Were they trying to push their daughter into the fire pit?! In the end, Albert politely declined the Granger couple's offer, explaining that his briefcase was essentially a portable house, so accommodation was not a concern.
Moreover, Albert had never considered staying overnight in Australia. If he didn't return home tonight, who knew what chaos might ensue? Although he had mentioned the possibility of unforeseen circumstances before leaving, Albert didn't want to give Isabelle any cause for worry by being away without a valid reason.
Mr. Granger was intrigued by Albert's "portable house," as Hermione had rarely displayed the wonders of magic in front of them.
Naturally, Albert didn't refuse to indulge their curiosity. He opened the briefcase by his feet and invited them to step inside.
Fortunately, since using it as a means of transportation, he had removed most traces of Isabelle's presence.
"This is truly incredible! It's like a miniature, movable estate!" exclaimed Mr. Granger, especially after glimpsing the spacious courtyard through the windows.
Who would have thought that such a small world existed within a briefcase?
Albert invited them to sit down and offered them a cup of the region's specialty—rose lemon tea.
"This completely shatters my perception of wizards. I always imagined they lived in places like Diagon Alley," Mrs. Granger remarked.
Being dentists, the Granger couple was mindful of their sugar intake and added only a small amount of honey to their tea.
"It's true that wizards can give the impression of living centuries behind," Albert agreed with a smile. "There is a degree of conflict between magic and technology, which is one of the topics I'm researching. However..."
Albert mentioned his ongoing project of building a wizarding village in the UK, subtly implying that his reason for not staying longer in Australia was not due to a lack of interest, but because there were matters in the UK that required his attention.
Of course, this wasn't merely an excuse. He genuinely couldn't afford to be away from the UK for too long. To assure them of his sincerity, Albert even showed them the architectural model of the village.
After all, he needed to give them a vision, something to look forward to, so he had taken the time to create the model to motivate them to channel their energy and enthusiasm into building their new home.
"This doesn't look like a wizarding village at all. It's more advanced than most modern neighborhoods," Mrs. Granger said, growing increasingly pleased. However, she also felt a twinge of anxiety because Albert was simply too outstanding, and outstanding men rarely lacked female attention.
Why did their daughter seem so indifferent in comparison?
This wouldn't do! "You've finally reunited with your family, and I'm sure you have a lot to catch up on. I won't intrude further," Albert said with a smile as they prepared to leave the briefcase.
He handed Hermione a two-way mirror for communication and explained, "When you're ready to return to the UK, just let me know through the mirror, and I'll come to get you."
"Oh, are you leaving already?" Hermione looked disappointed.
"I can't stay away for too long, or they might mess things up," Albert said, then added after a moment's thought, "If the mirror stops working due to distance, I'll come back in ten days."
The Granger couple didn't try to detain Albert further and saw him out together.
"Go on, be bold, my daughter!" Mrs. Granger gave Hermione a gentle nudge and whispered, "We won't be able to help you much from now on. You should hold on tightly to your love and happiness."
"Wait, Albert!"
Hermione handed the two-way mirror to her mother and ran to catch up with Albert, embracing him from behind, causing him to stiffen as he was about to Disapparate.
(End of Chapter)
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