https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1656-A-War-with-No-Victors-Part-106-/12529430/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-1658-A-War-with-No-Victors-One-Hundred-and-Eight-/12529434/
Chapter 1657: A War Without Victors (Part 107)
Chapter 1657: A War Without Victors (Part 107)
"I thought you'd be spending more time in Diagon Alley." Ginny looked up from her desk as Hermione pushed aside the tent flap and entered, greeting her friend. "How is it going over there?"
"Diagon Alley seems quieter than before," Hermione replied softly. "But, the joke shop is quite popular with Hogwarts students, and the Witch's Beauty Salon is a hit with the ladies."
Hermione placed her handbag on the small round table beside her and took out her drawing pad, ready to continue her work for the day. Ever since the completion of the power generation system, Hermione had been designing furniture for the residents of Avalon, following Albert's suggestion. She also planned to create samples for everyone to refer to.
The main reason for this was that Albert's furniture catalog consisted solely of photographs. It would be challenging for ordinary people to create samples based on a few images alone. Someone with expertise, like Hermione, was needed to spend time dissecting and analyzing the designs so that others could easily manufacture the furniture with the help of detailed diagrams.
Hermione had a natural advantage in this regard, possessing both excellent hands-on skills and Albert's guidance. Creating furniture blueprints was a manageable task for her.
Of course, the primary purpose of this endeavor was to demonstrate to the community that even though Hermione was attending Hogwarts, she was still contributing to the development of Avalon.
This was crucial! After all, everyone was working hard for the betterment of Avalon, and it would be unfair if someone reaped the benefits without contributing.
What would others think? To gain genuine acceptance, one must show that they, too, are dedicated to the cause.
Even Harry, whenever he had free time, would come to Avalon and lend a helping hand, showing his sincerity and commitment to the project.
"Fred and George are on their way to becoming the wealthiest members of the Weasley family."
Ginny put down her quill and pulled out a folder from the bookshelf beside her. She sat down next to Hermione, ready to assist her friend. After all, most of the furniture Hermione designed would be used in their home first. Otherwise, with Harry always busy and out of sight, she doubted their villa in Avalon would ever be furnished.
"Something on your mind?" Hermione asked, setting down her charcoal pencil and looking at her best friend curiously. Ever since learning the Occlumency technique from Albert, Hermione had become adept at reading people's expressions and understanding their thoughts.
"You know I've been learning how to take care of children from Mum lately." Ginny's lips quivered as she spoke, her eyes clouded with uncertainty. "I've been thinking about whether I should really focus on family after marriage, just like she did. To be honest, it's a bit unsettling."
"Not all marriages turn out that way. Look at Isabelle, she's doing just fine," Hermione reassured her, understanding the source of Ginny's anxiety. No one wanted to feel trapped by their circumstances, and it was natural to have doubts and worries.
"I think you need to find something to occupy yourself with instead of overthinking. And you should get Harry to spend more time with you. It's unusual for newlyweds to not even have a honeymoon. You two should be enjoying married life, just like Albert and Isabelle, who are still as lovey-dovey as when they first started dating, even after being married for a while."
As Isabelle had pointed out, getting married too early could lead to issues like these. They were still very young and might not have been emotionally prepared for all that marriage entailed.
"I plan to find something to do after James is born," Ginny said after a moment's hesitation.
"That's a great idea," Hermione encouraged. "Any thoughts on what you'd like to do?"
"I used to dream of becoming a Quidditch star, but that's probably not very likely now." Ginny couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy when she thought of Angelina, who hadn't given up on her dream of becoming a Quidditch star.
"I agree, it's unlikely. You'll need to dedicate a lot of time to taking care of your family, leaving little room for Quidditch training," Hermione said kindly.
"I was thinking of becoming a sports columnist and writing about Quidditch for the Prophet," Ginny said, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. "But, it seems they don't need any reporters."
"You could consider gaining some experience by helping out at Sirius's magazine, the Defense Digest," Hermione suggested, feeling that the Prophet's reluctance to hire Ginny might have less to do with their staffing needs and more to do with her not meeting their requirements.
"With relevant experience, it would be much easier if I decide to apply for a sports columnist position at the Prophet in the future," Ginny acknowledged.
"Sirius probably doesn't need any help, right?" Ginny didn't want to put Sirius and Lupin in a difficult position, and the Defense Digest wasn't exactly a profitable venture. It was more of a means to provide Lupin with a respectable job and keep the magazine afloat without making a loss.
"Sirius told me that they plan to establish a publishing house to exclusively publish Albert's books," Hermione said, sensing Ginny's concern and offering reassurance.
"A publishing house just for Albert's books?" Ginny was taken aback.
"It seems Albert intends to continue writing," Hermione explained. "He wasn't satisfied with his last visit to the publishing company, so he asked Sirius to set up a publishing house that will cater specifically to his needs."
As she spoke, Hermione took out a copy of 'A Guide to Dark Magic Defense' from her handbag and handed it to Ginny. "I was surprised at first, but Albert seems determined to compile his knowledge into books and ensure their longevity. I've also heard that he plans to write biographies of Harry, Dumbledore, Nicolas Flamel, and even Gellert Grindelwald."
"If you're looking for a job, I think there are plenty of options. Albert is planning to hire someone to help with childcare and educate the children," a voice suddenly piped up from outside the tent, causing the two girls to turn their heads. They saw Shan walk in, pushing the tent flap aside.
"There may not be a wizarding equivalent, but Muggles have kindergartens where children learn the basics before starting at Hogwarts," Shan said, glancing at Hermione's notepad. "With these innovative furniture designs, you could even open a furniture store in Diagon Alley. So, don't worry about job prospects. There will be plenty of opportunities, and residents of Avalon will be given priority."
"He's certainly generous," Hermione remarked.
"It fosters a sense of unity," Shan said softly.
"If Voldemort had been as considerate as Albert," Hermione mused, "he might have ruled over the British wizarding world by now." She suddenly realized that Voldemort had chosen the most foolish path, leading to his downfall.
"I don't think Albert has any interest in ruling over the British wizarding world," Shan said, giving Hermione a sidelong glance. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have dumped all this work on me because he felt like slacking off. The other day, I even heard Cho Chang complaining that Cedric has been too busy to spend time with her lately."
"That does sound like something he'd do," Hermione muttered.
"By the way, Hermione, you should bring those completed furniture designs to the Potters' villa soon, so everyone can take a look. I need to gauge their interest in the different pieces to facilitate the procurement of materials for manufacturing."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Hermione said, feeling that this was probably Albert's intention—to showcase her contributions to the community.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
