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Chapter 1678: A War with No Victors
Chapter 1678: A War with No Victors
Albert knew exactly why Professor McGonagall had sought him out, but he was genuinely disinterested in helping Hogwarts recruit new professors.
Aside from the fact that his only interaction with these experts had been through letters, and they weren't exactly close, he knew that even if he tried, the chances of success were slim. More often than not, his efforts would only serve to annoy people.
Individuals who had become experts in their respective fields often had quirky personalities, and it was highly likely that they would look down on the position of a Hogwarts professor. They wouldn't be willing to confine themselves within the confines of a school, sacrificing their freedom.
Thus, even though Professor McGonagall's request had triggered a panel task, Albert was thoroughly uninterested.
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, further diminishing his motivation to invest any effort into it.
Ever since Albert had successfully vanquished Voldemort, his urgency to enhance his power had diminished, and his need for experience had decreased significantly.
Now that he was married, had a home, and no formidable enemies on the horizon, the panel tasks no longer dominated his life.
As Albert had expected, Professor McGonagall's efforts to recruit from the list of experts during the weekend had fallen flat. It was no surprise that these experts showed no interest in becoming Hogwarts professors. Her recruitment plan had failed miserably.
Unless a witch or wizard had an exceptional passion for education, very few would be willing to take up a position at Hogwarts.
It was almost comical to think that Hogwarts, once an institution that even Voldemort couldn't aspire to, now struggled to find willing professors.
But it was understandable. Aside from a relatively high social status, being a professor at Hogwarts didn't offer much in the way of perks. 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 almost impossible. Because he understood their perspective, he knew that others would likely feel the same.
The truth behind his year-long appointment was to lend his reputation to Professor McGonagall's efforts to stabilize Hogwarts and prepare for the reopening of the school. In essence, his role wasn't much different from what Kingsley had done.
When Professor McGonagall approached Albert, weary from her fruitless endeavors, he offered her his unique perspective and insights. Whether she took his advice to heart or not was beyond his control, and the notion of him succeeding her as the Head of Gryffindor House was out of the question.
After his discussion with Professor McGonagall, Cedric couldn't help but vent to Albert about the Headmistress's hopes for him to take on the role of Transfiguration professor.
"It's mainly because Professor McGonagall can't find a suitable candidate," Cedric explained as they walked towards the residential area where the villas were located. "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 new Head of Gryffindor."
"You should probably start preparing to move into your new home soon," Albert said. "Why don't you consider living with Cho while you're at it?"
Cedric rolled his eyes at the suggestion. "Living together? I'm staying at Hogwarts, remember?"
"You can always use the Floo Network to connect the fireplaces between your places," Albert suggested without hesitation.
"I'm not as wealthy as you, Albert," Cedric complained. "Floo powder isn't cheap—two Sickles a scoop. Once or twice is fine, but if I use it every day, my meager salary won't be able to keep up with the expense."
"Stop whining," Albert said, patting his friend's shoulder comfortingly. "Just use it twice a day, and it won't cost you more than a few Galleons a month. And if you're really concerned, you can always request a subsidy from Professor McGonagall. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to allocate a few extra Galleons for that purpose."
"Maybe later," Cedric said dismissively, clearly not keen on the idea. "If I ever decide to leave my position at the Ministry, then I'll consider Hogwarts. But for now, I'm content with my work at the Ministry."
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 as he offloaded tasks onto Cedric.
"Honestly, I'm sure Cho wouldn't say no," Albert said, changing the subject as he winked at Cedric. "And I think you could use some of Cho's comfort."
Just then, they heard a crisp, cheerful laugh from behind them. Albert turned to see a group of girls using magic to move furniture into one of the villas. Cho was among them, her cheeks tinged with a delicate blush.
"Is it the same for you and Isabelle?" Cho asked, her face still flushed.
"Yes," Albert replied with a smile as he gave Cedric a gentle nudge forward, leaving the young couple with some privacy. "After we got engaged, we basically lived together during the holidays."
"That's so nice," Cho said, her eyes sparkling with envy as she watched the two figures embrace and kiss.
The onlooking girls couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Finding an outstanding fiance like Cedric was no easy feat these days.
"You'll all 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 mostly completed, everyone's enthusiasm had skyrocketed, and they seemed eager to finish building Avalon.
As September drew to a close, the temperature in the UK began to drop noticeably, and unconsciously, everyone started putting in longer hours.
Albert reminded them that there was no need to rush, but his words fell on deaf ears. October, the rainy season in the UK, loomed, and everyone wanted to make as much progress as possible before the rain potentially halted their work. Additionally, working in the winter would be more challenging, so they wanted to make the most of the milder weather.
Even on rainy days, everyone had their own tasks to occupy their time, such as crafting furniture for their homes or gathering to discuss how to decorate their new abodes.
This had become one of the most popular topics of discussion among the residents of Avalon.
However, recently, the topic of "living together" had taken center stage.
Ever since the news of Cedric's plan to live with his fiancee, Cho, had spread throughout Avalon, Fred had been in a hurry to pop the question to Angelina. Somehow, he had managed to convince her, and they too would be joining the ranks of those embarking on the journey of cohabitation.
Influenced by these developments, many young couples in Avalon couldn't resist the temptation of living together. They took the opportunity to hold engagement ceremonies, intending to officially start their cohabiting lives once they moved into their new homes.
(End of Chapter)
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