Chapter 1819: Avalon
Chapter 1819: Avalon
"Doesn't look like there's anything here?"
Daphne gazed at the barren wilderness in front of her, tilting her head to give her best friend a puzzled look. She didn't think Alice would play a trick on her.
"Avalon is surrounded by strong protective magic. Ordinary witches can't find the village without permission."
As she spoke, Alice pulled a pass from her pocket and handed it to Daphne, explaining, "It’s said to protect Avalon’s residents from Voldemort’s remaining followers."
"What’s this?"
Daphne took the metal card and examined the crossed wands on it.
"Your pass to enter Avalon!"
"But..."
Before Daphne could say she still couldn’t see Avalon, Alice pulled her forward.
Suddenly, a layer of mist appeared before them, as if the gates of Avalon were quietly opening for her.
"Welcome to Avalon."
Alice took Daphne’s hand and led her to the gatekeeper, greeting the man on duty today, Truman, with a smile.
"Mr. Truman, this is my friend from Hogwarts, Daphne Montbatten, the one I mentioned to you."
"Welcome to Avalon, Miss Daphne. Please sign in at the guest book", Truman said warmly.
"Do all visitors have to sign in?" Daphne asked curiously after signing her name.
"It’s one of Avalon’s security measures. If a visitor has malicious intent or tries to hide their identity, we can quickly identify them."
Daphne was surprised by Avalon’s security, but she was soon captivated by the fairy-tale-like village before her.
Having visited Diagon Alley and the ancient castle of Hogwarts, she knew how out of place Avalon felt in the magical world, as if it belonged to a different world entirely.
"Come on, let’s go to my house first, and I’ll show you around later!"
"Oh, heavens, don’t tell me all British witch settlements are like this!"
Looking at the clean and tidy villas, Daphne felt Diagon Alley was more like an "antique street."
With her aristocratic upbringing, she understood what a place like Avalon meant in the Muggle world.
"No, Avalon is an exception. Diagon Alley is the norm in the magical world. Most witches live quite ordinary lives."
"No wonder they call it Avalon."
Compared to other places, it did indeed feel like a legendary utopia.
Especially when sitting in the garden of a villa, enjoying a rare afternoon tea, it made Daphne feel like she was at home.
They chatted about various summer trivia and discussed their plans for visiting Hogsmeade this year.
Daphne envied Alice’s ability to use magic freely and regretted not having the chance to meet Albert.
Fortunately, a sumptuous dinner lifted her spirits.
However, Daphne was more interested in Alice’s family than the Spanish seafood paella on her plate.
"My brother Ian will start school this year", Alice said softly, noticing Daphne’s gaze. "My sister Sophia, and our cat, Jack."
"Is Hogwarts fun, Daphne?" Sophia asked, her big eyes twinkling.
"It’s quite interesting, at least not boring."
During dinner, Daphne shed her aristocratic airs and chatted about her experiences at Hogwarts while eating.
After dinner, Alice took Daphne on a tour of the house, helping her get her bearings and digest her meal.
"I feel like I've stepped into a fairy tale."
Daphne looked at the large bed made entirely of shells, the room adorned with coral and shells, and a window that offered a view of fish swimming in the ocean. She sighed softly, "You're so lucky."
"This isn't some complicated magic. If you want, you can decorate your room however you like."
Alice then took Daphne to the guest room and the bathroom, and finally to the study to look at Albert's "wedding photos", making up for the fact that she hadn't met him in person.
"Uh-oh, I think you might never find a boyfriend now." After examining the young, handsome Albert in the frame, Daphne looked at Alice with a sympathetic gaze, which left Alice speechless.
"What are you talking about?"
Alice really wanted to strangle this flighty girl.
"You'll probably subconsciously compare him... mmmph." Daphne's words were cut off halfway when Alice covered her mouth.
"Can we read Father's great adventure again today!" Ian and Sophia appeared in the study, winking at their sister. "You can invite Sister Daphne too; she's never experienced it."
"Experienced what?"
"Father made some of his memories into books for us to read, similar to a Pensieve. Oh, you probably don't know what a Pensieve is."
"He likes to tell us bedtime fairy tales this way." Ian handed the book to Daphne.
"The Battle of Hogwarts?" Daphne read the title, but Alice quickly took it away.
"We're reading this one today; you'll definitely like it!" Alice handed Daphne another book.
"Wow, so cool!"
Seeing Albert in his dragon-slaying gear, Daphne excitedly hugged Alice. This was her first time seeing the young Anderson.
Especially when Albert effortlessly subdued the dragon, he looked incredibly handsome. It's no wonder Alice had such high standards and found other boys lacking.
After watching the Triwizard Tournament, Daphne watched Ian leave, puzzled. "Your brother seems a bit disappointed!"
"He wanted to see the Battle of Hogwarts", Alice put the book away. Even without her mother's ability to read minds, she could easily guess Ian's thoughts.
"The final battle of the Second Wizarding War?" Daphne was intrigued; she had heard of this brutal conflict.
"Exactly, but Father doesn't want us to read those memories at this age. They're not as fun as the Triwizard Tournament. On the contrary, it's a very intense and scary war."
Alice glanced at the clock on the wall and said, "Alright, it's time to rest. I'll show you around Avalon tomorrow; there are still many interesting places to see."
"Hey, do you mind if I sleep with you? Your bed is big enough!" Daphne suddenly said.
"No, I do mind." Alice looked disgusted.
"Don't be like that. I think you probably won't find a boyfriend, so we can live together." Daphne hugged Alice's arm, speaking in a playful tone.
After seeing Albert battle the dragon, Daphne felt even more sympathetic toward Alice. Having someone so perfect to compare against isn't a good thing.
In Daphne's eyes, Alice was a mini version of Albert. If she wanted, she could achieve the same incredible feats.
However, the higher her standards, the more difficult it would be to find a partner. Unless she found someone like her parents, who fell in love soon after starting school, she might not find a suitable match by the time she graduated, not just in Britain but even in all of Europe.
Daphne ultimately didn't get to sleep in Alice's bed. After taking a bath and drinking a small cup of warm milk, she quickly fell asleep in the soft and comfortable guest bed.
(End of Chapter)
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