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Chapter 1678: A War with No Victors (One Hundred and Twenty-Eight)
Chapter 1678: A War with No Victors (One Hundred and Twenty-Eight)
Albert knew exactly why Professor McGonagall had sought him out, but he was genuinely uninterested in helping Hogwarts recruit new professors.
Aside from the fact that his communication with those experts was limited to letters, and they weren't exactly close, he knew that even if he tried, the chances of success were slim. Most likely, he would only end up annoying people.
Individuals who had become experts in their fields often had eccentric personalities, and they would likely look down on the position of a Hogwarts professor. They wouldn't be willing to confine themselves within the walls of the school, sacrificing their freedom.
Thus, even though Professor McGonagall's request had triggered a panel task, Albert was utterly disinterested.
This was a task that would require a significant amount of effort with little chance of success, and it certainly wasn't worth Albert's time and energy.
Moreover, the task offered pitiful experience points, further diminishing his motivation to invest any effort in it.
Ever since Albert had successfully defeated Voldemort, he no longer felt the same urgency to enhance his strength, and his need for experience points had diminished considerably.
Now that he was married, had a home, and faced no imminent threats, the panel tasks no longer dominated his life.
As Albert had expected, Professor McGonagall's attempts to recruit from the list of experts during the weekend had failed miserably. It was understandable that these experts would have little interest in becoming professors at Hogwarts.
Unless a witch or wizard had a particular passion for education, very few would be willing to take up a position at Hogwarts.
It was almost amusing to think that Hogwarts, once out of reach even for Voldemort, now struggled to find willing professors.
But it wasn't surprising. Aside from the high social status associated with being a Hogwarts professor, there weren't many perks to the job. The salaries were generally low, the workload was daunting, and most importantly, it didn't offer the kind of "freedom" that these experts craved.
Only a small number of professors truly considered Hogwarts their home and were willing to dedicate their lives to it.
So, the idea of convincing Albert to stay on as a professor was practically impossible. And because he felt this way, he could understand the thoughts of others in similar situations.
Being a professor at the school for a year would essentially mean lending his reputation to Professor McGonagall to stabilize the situation and allow Hogwarts to resume its operations and reopen its doors. In essence, it wasn't much different from what Kingsley had done.
So, when Professor McGonagall approached Albert, looking weary and wanting to discuss the matter, he offered her his unique perspective and insights. Whether she took his advice to heart or not was up to her, but he made it clear that agreeing to become the next Head of Gryffindor House was out of the question.
After their conversation, Cedric couldn't help but vent to Albert about Professor McGonagall's hopes for him to take on the role of the Transfiguration professor.
"It's mainly because Professor McGonagall can't find a suitable candidate," Cedric explained as they walked towards the villa residential area. "She's currently serving as both the Transfiguration professor and the Head of Gryffindor House. If you agree, in a few years, you could take over as Head of Hufflepuff House, and Longbottom could become the Head of Gryffindor."
"You should start preparing to move into your new home soon," Albert said, glancing at Cedric. "Why don't you consider living with Cho while you're at it?"
At this suggestion, Cedric rolled his eyes. "Living together? I'm staying at Hogwarts, remember?"
"You can use the Floo Network to connect the fireplaces on both ends," Albert said without hesitation.
"I'm not as rich as you," Cedric complained. "Floo powder isn't cheap. A scoop costs two Sickles. It's fine once or twice, but if I use it every day, my meager salary won't be able to keep up with the expense."
"Don't be such a penny-pincher," Albert teased, patting his friend's shoulder. "Twice a day, every day, and it still won't cost you more than a few Galleons a month. And if you're really that concerned, you can always ask Professor McGonagall for a subsidy. I'm sure she'd be happy to allocate a few extra Galleons for that."
"We'll see about that later," Cedric said dismissively, clearly not eager to continue the conversation. "If I ever decide to leave my job at the Ministry, then I'll consider Hogwarts. But for now, I'm happy where I am."
It had been less than a month since the start of the term, and Cedric already felt overwhelmed. He shot Albert a resentful look, clearly envious of his friend's carefree attitude, especially since Albert had a tendency to dump tasks on him.
"Come on, I'm sure Cho wouldn't say no," Albert said, changing the subject and winking at Cedric. "And I think you could use some of Cho's comfort."
Just then, they heard a crisp, cheerful laugh from behind them. Turning, Albert saw a group of girls using magic to move furniture into the villa, and among them was Cho.
"Is it the same for you and Isabelle?" Cho asked, her cheeks tinged with a hint of pink.
"Yes," Albert replied with a smile, giving Cedric a gentle push forward. "After we got engaged, we basically lived together during the holidays."
"That's wonderful," Cho said softly.
As the two figures embraced and kissed, the girls standing nearby watched with envy in their eyes. Finding an outstanding fiance like Cedric was no easy feat these days.
"You'll find someone you love, too," Albert assured the girls with a smile before bidding them farewell and heading directly to the construction site.
Ever since the villa area had been completed, everyone's enthusiasm for the project had soared. It seemed like they were eager to finish building Avalon as soon as possible.
As September drew to a close, the temperature in the UK began to drop noticeably, and unconsciously, everyone started putting in longer hours.
Albert had reminded them that there was no need to rush, but his words fell on deaf ears. October was the rainy season in the UK, which could bring work to a standstill. And working in the winter would be challenging, so everyone wanted to make the most of the current good weather.
Even on rainy days, there was always something to do. Some learned how to make furniture for their homes, while others gathered to discuss how to decorate their new abodes.
These topics had become some of the most popular among the residents of Avalon.
However, recently, the topic of "living together" had taken center stage.
Ever since the news spread that Cedric intended to live with his fiancee, Cho, after moving to Avalon, Fred had been in a hurry to convince Angelina to do the same. Somehow, he had managed to succeed, and it seemed that many other young couples were also giving in to the temptation of cohabitation.
(End of Chapter)
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