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Chapter 1765: A War Without Victors (Two Hundred and Fifteen)
Chapter 1765: A War Without Victors (Two Hundred and Fifteen)
"I feel like I'm going crazy!" Ron exclaimed, standing by the bathroom door and glancing back at the stairs behind him. He handed a slice of bread to Harry, who had just finished washing up. "I don't understand why we have to deal with the mess Fred and George created."
Harry didn't respond to Ron's words. They were temporarily staying at the Weasley residence, which already made him feel awkward, so he certainly couldn't discuss private matters.
"You probably don't know this yet, but Dad hasn't been staying for breakfast lately. He's been rushing off to work early every morning with a piece of bread in his mouth. I think he's about to go crazy too!"
"I think the Ministry of Magic is planning to send someone to negotiate with the Sprites today."
Seeing Ron's growing agitation, Harry quickly changed the subject to avoid any startling revelations.
"I doubt they'll reach an agreement. Minister Kingsley probably never intended to reconcile with the Sprites from the start." Ron waved the slice of bread in Harry's direction before taking a bite, mumbling, "I suspect the Sprites have their own plans too. If they were genuinely willing to negotiate, they would have done so by now. They've had so many talks since the last time, and they've all ended in failure. Not getting into a fight is already the best outcome."
"Ron, where are you? Come down for breakfast!" Mrs. Weasley's displeased voice echoed from downstairs.
"I'm coming, Mum!"
After giving Harry a meaningful look, Ron quickly stuffed the remaining bread into his mouth and hurried downstairs. As he passed Mrs. Weasley at the foot of the stairs, he whispered, "Mum, James Jr. is still sleeping. Don't wake him up."
"Go eat your breakfast!"
Mrs. Weasley glared at her equally unmanageable younger son. Just as she was about to say more, she spotted Harry coming down the stairs after washing up.
"Harry, I prepared your favorite breakfast. By the way, is Ginny still asleep?" Mrs. Weasley greeted Harry warmly, and one might mistake him for her son, while the other seemed like a stray from the garbage heap.
"Ginny didn't sleep well last night and is still resting. James Jr. woke up several times last night!" Harry pretended to be tired, yawning and covering his mouth before pulling out the chair next to Ron and plopping down on it. He seemed to remember something and tentatively asked, "I think the Advanced Wizard Exams are coming up soon, right?"
"They're in mid-June. I definitely won't make it into the Auror Office if I take the regular exams." Ron spoke with a sense of emotion.
"I doubt I'll make it either. Hermione should be fine, but I remember she wasn't that interested in becoming an Auror. I think she planned to join the Ministry of Magic after graduation?"
"Which department does Hermione want to join?"
Mrs. Weasley breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that her son's face showed no signs of distress.
"The House-Elf Reintegration Office," Harry explained to the bewildered pair. "It's a branch under the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in the British Ministry of Magic."
"I bet she's gone mad!"
Ron didn't catch all of Harry's words, but he knew Hermione's choice was irrational.
"Hermione just wants to find a good place for those house-elves!" Harry admired Hermione's ideals but also found her decision irrational. The Ministry of Magic was a place that valued hierarchy, and if Hermione truly wanted to do something for the house-elves, she should have aimed for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in the British Ministry of Magic.
The best option would have been to become Minister Kingsley's assistant and gain experience and qualifications before taking on a more significant role.
Harry felt he should talk to Hermione about this, although he suspected Albert had probably already advised her.
"Then, introducing house-elves to Avalon... I don't understand why she would do that!" Ron didn't finish his sentence, believing that Hermione was purely causing trouble for Albert.
Avalon did need more manpower, but employing a large group of house-elves would also require a substantial financial investment. It would be more sensible to hire Avalon residents by offering a higher salary.
Ron was aware that Albert had been trying to find suitable work for the residents of Avalon. Staying in Avalon and working for Albert might not offer the same salary as an Auror, but it would undoubtedly be less demanding. They had heard about the village's situation from Ginny's casual conversations, and although Ron hadn't experienced it himself, he felt it was like paradise.
"House-elves like Dobby, who require payment, are a minority! Hermione just wants the house-elves to have a better life! I don't care! I won't let her ruin her future for those house-elves! I won't let her waste her talents in that boring office!"
Harry seemed to know what Ron was thinking and gently reminded him, "Hermione just wants the house-elves to have a better life in Avalon. I heard that the residents of Avalon highly respect Dobby."
Intentionally or not, Harry and Ron chatted about Hermione and the house-elves, not giving Mrs. Weasley a chance to interject.
They even bet on how long Hermione would last in the House-Elf Reintegration Office, an undoubtedly dull department that might only have her as its sole employee.
A reference could be made to Arthur Weasley's Office for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, which also had a single employee, Perkins.
In reality, the House-Elf Reintegration Office was similar to the Centaur Liaison Office. Despite its existence, most of the time, someone from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures would handle its duties, not to help house-elves reintegrate but to prove the department's existence and the Ministry's commitment to house-elves.
Before Mrs. Weasley could react, Harry and Ron had quickly finished their food and hurriedly bid farewell to Mrs. Weasley to head to the Ministry of Magic.
"If Lavender were like Fred and George, I think Mrs. Weasley would go crazy." Harry turned to his best friend and asked tentatively, "Have you two thought about when you'll get married?"
"We definitely won't get married that quickly. Percy will probably beat us to it!" Ron's words relieved Harry, who seemed to understand his friend's thoughts. "I've let go of Hermione's matter. If it's not meant to be, don't force it, or we might even lose our friendship."
Although Ron said this, he hadn't entirely let go of his feelings, just like Ginny in the past. He still held onto a sliver of hope that Hermione would change her mind, just like Harry. But Ron knew that this hope was too slim, so he didn't reject Lavender, who genuinely liked him.
Meeting a girl like Lavender was indeed rare, even Ron had to admit that now.
(End of Chapter)
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