Chapter 1824: Daphne
Chapter 1824: Daphne
To be honest, as she progressed through her years at Hogwarts, Daphne began to regret her decision to study there.
On the verge of graduating from Hogwarts, she had already realized the difficult future that awaited her.
Her originally affluent Muggle family could no longer provide effective support for her in the wizarding world.
This meant that if she chose to remain in the wizarding world, she would have to work hard like other Muggle-born wizards to build a “normal” life.
But that was not the life Daphne wanted.
Unless she was willing to complete her education at Hogwarts and then return to the Muggle world to pursue a university degree and live a normal life.
That would mean giving up magic, rendering her years at Hogwarts a waste.
But what could she do if she didn't want to give up magic? Daphne never believed she could challenge the authority of the wizarding world.
Fortunately, she had a third option.
Daphne could confidently say that reaching out to Alice on her first day at Hogwarts was the best decision she ever made.
Perhaps Alice saw through her intentions from the beginning.
But so what?
Who would refuse a sincere friend, especially when one party makes a deliberate effort to befriend the other, offering genuine emotional support?
Alice might be a bit cold to strangers, but deep down, she is a very gentle person.
As they spent more time together, a deep friendship naturally formed.
With Alice's help, Daphne quickly understood the political landscape of the British wizarding world and, in turn, her own situation.
It was undeniable that since the Second Wizarding War, the position of Muggle-born wizards had improved. Miss Granger, also from a Muggle family, had even become the strongest contender for the next Minister of Magic.
But Daphne wasn't blind. She knew that Miss Granger's rise to prominence was not solely due to her own efforts; the Savior Potter and Alice's father had played significant roles.
That kind of success was nearly impossible to replicate.
What about herself?
She definitely wouldn't have the same luck as Miss Granger.
But she was in a better position than other male Muggle-born wizards, as she had her own advantages and could find a good match for herself.
There was nothing shameful about that.
Smart people know how to leverage their strengths to secure a bright future.
So, Daphne set her sights on Alice's younger brother, which was one of the reasons she visited Alice's home.
Ian, as Albert's only son, was likely to inherit the Anderson family's network and, if he didn't make any mistakes, would become one of the most powerful people in Britain.
Ian also inherited Anderson's good looks, being both handsome and charming. Even if his abilities didn't match Alice's, they certainly wouldn't be lacking. Moreover, from Alice, Daphne could tell that their family had excellent upbringing.
Furthermore, the Anderson family didn't have the same prejudices as some other witch families.
Most importantly, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had been together since their school days and would likely not object.
Confident in her own beauty and charm, Daphne was sure she could win Ian over. As for the emotional connection, it could be nurtured over time, especially with the help of her best friend.
However, what made Daphne lose her composure was that Ian fell in love earlier than she had anticipated, and his girlfriend was a girl with Veela blood, even more beautiful than Daphne herself.
Over the past few years, Daphne had observed that their relationship was quite stable, clearly heading towards marriage after graduation.
This made Daphne realize that she had no chance at all.
Then, she saw another possibility in Alice, who hardly ever had a boyfriend.
Of course!
Best friends could also support each other and live a fulfilling life, perhaps even more carefree and relaxed than she had imagined.
So, Daphne had already decided to cling to Alice and rely on her completely.
Would Alice ever find a boyfriend?
Daphne never worried about it. She always thought her best friend had a bit of a father complex, and she could understand that.
If Alice really wanted a boyfriend, she would have found one long ago.
Moreover, Daphne felt that there probably wouldn't be another Albert Anderson in the world, even a watered-down version.
So, when Alice discussed her post-graduation plans with everyone, Daphne happily reminded her to bring her along on the world tour.
Daphne didn't have many Galleons in her pocket, but she could easily get Pounds and Dollars, which would definitely come in handy during their world tour.
As for what to do after the world tour?
Knowing Alice, Daphne was sure that she had already thought it through, and her previous statements were just to placate others.
So, when Daphne privately asked about it, Alice hesitated but finally spoke.
"I actually hope to assist my dad. He seems to be working on something important."
Daphne's little schemes were clear to Alice as well.
To be honest, Alice didn't mind.
So, when Daphne showed a willingness to rely on her, Alice never thought of leaving her behind.
"If you want to open a shop, I can help you", Alice said.
"Without you, do you think my shop would succeed?" Daphne rolled her eyes. "I can help too, as long as you can provide me with a meal."
Daphne looked pitiful and determined, knowing that with Alice's character, even in the worst-case scenario, she wouldn't be left in the lurch.
From Albert Anderson's treatment of his friends, it was clear that Alice had inherited this trait.
Moreover, she had heard that the founders of the witch beauty salon were two girls.
Why couldn't they do the same?
Numerous examples told Daphne how to make the best choice.
Anyway, Daphne was utterly opposed to the idea of fleeing back to the Muggle world to seek help from her family.
"Really, what am I going to do with you?"
Alice gently stroked Daphne's head as if petting a kitten. After having the premonition that she might never find a man who could make her heart skip a beat, Alice cherished her best friend, who always provided emotional support.
Having had a smooth journey throughout her life, Alice hadn't really made a solid plan for her future.
Wanting to assist Albert was more out of curiosity about what her parents had been busy with all these years, and she felt that only the "big things" Albert cared about could truly interest her.
Even if she was rejected, whether it was opening a shop to earn money or doing something more meaningful, things wouldn't be too bad.
Because she had a feeling that everything would go smoothly, just like her life had been so far, calm and peaceful.
(End of Chapter)
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