Chapter 413: Christmas Ends
Chapter 413: Christmas Ends
"Oh, what a poor thing!" Mrs. Weasley wiped her tears after Sirius Black recounted the Healer's story.
The Healer in question was Melanie Strow, a daughter from a small Pureblood family. At Hogwarts, she was a Slytherin, two years Sirius Black's junior. Upon graduation, she married the second son of another Pureblood family. Unfortunately, the family she married into was a staunch supporter of Voldemort, and her husband, who did not support Voldemort's Pureblood ideology, frequently subjected her to domestic violence.
After about six months of marriage, Voldemort fell from power. Her husband's family, resisting arrest, engaged in a fierce battle with the Aurors who came to their manor. In the end, only her mother-in-law survived and was sentenced to life in Azkaban. Melanie wanted to return to her own family, but her parents, believing she had disgraced their Pureblood name, disowned her. With the help of the Auror leading the operation, Mad-Eye Moody, and her brother, she found work at St. Mungo's and has been living alone ever since.
Sirius Black's interest in her might have stemmed from a sense of shared suffering, both being victims of the misguided Pureblood ideology. This Healer was more timid in character and her story more pitiable than Sirius's.
"Master has actually taken a fancy to a Pureblood, and he's finally willing to listen to his mother once", Kreacher said, wiping his eyes, before Sirius Black shooed him out. However, Liam noticed that the House-Elf was grinning from ear to ear as he left.
"Have you thought this through? Are you really in it for a marriage, or just for a bit of fun?" Mrs. Weasley asked sternly. "If it's just to alleviate your loneliness, don't hurt a woman who's already suffered so much."
"Of course not", Sirius Black said firmly. "I truly like her. Whether she's a Pureblood or a Slytherin, I've decided to marry her."
True to his word, Sirius Black began visiting St. Mungo's every day from the next day onward, returning each evening with a goofy smile on his face. Even when he had missions, he would go to St. Mungo's as soon as he finished. Love had made Sirius Black look younger and kept him in a constant state of excitement. On the last day of the holiday, even when Snape arrived at Number 12, Grimmauld Place, Sirius didn't glare at him as usual; instead, he even smiled. For Snape, this was more of a psychological blow than Sirius's usual scowls.
Snape was there to inform Harry that, at Headmaster Dumbledore's order, he would be teaching Harry Occlumency every Monday evening at six.
"Dumbledore probably doesn't want your mind to stay connected to the Dark Lord. That's not a good thing for you. What if his evil influences you? He is the most evil Dark Wizard in half a century", Liam said during the last dinner of the holiday, after hearing Harry's account.
"Really?" Ron mumbled with a mouth full of food. "I think taking extra lessons with Snape is more dangerous."
"Even if it's unpleasant, it's better than losing your life", Hermione pointed out. "Don't forget, this connection could be two-way. No matter how evil the Dark Lord is, we have to admit his power is among the strongest in the world. In this situation, Harry is at a clear disadvantage. Even if he's gained some advantage in the past two brain connections, it won't last forever."
"Since this is what Headmaster Dumbledore wants, I'll learn it", Harry decided. "Even if Snape and I both wish we could kill each other."
The next day, after breakfast, they took the Knight Bus back to Hogwarts. As they were about to leave, Sirius Black seemed a bit reluctant. He promised Harry that he would visit him in Hogsmeade the next time there was a Hogsmeade Day. Sirius also gave Harry a Two-way Mirror for regular communication.
Lupin and Tonks were the escorts, but the journey back to Hogwarts Castle was uneventful and went smoothly.
As soon as school resumed, things took a turn for the worse. Umbridge assigned a mountain of essays, trying to ensure that every student had no time for anything else. Liam even felt that he might need to use all his free time to finish them. Fortunately, when he went to the Multiverse General Store to do his homework in the evening, Rose Crystal, upon learning of Liam's distress, kindly offered to help him with Umbridge's essays.
"Really, thank you so much for your trouble." Liam stroked Rose Crystal's smooth silver hair and watched as she manipulated ten quills to write simultaneously. He then resumed his research on Divine Power, a project he had started after encountering a deity in the worlds of The Lord of the Rings and A Song of Ice and Fire. This was currently Liam's most important research project.
Amid the rustling sound of quills on parchment, Liam suddenly received a request for someone to enter the store. Naturally, Liam, who hadn't had a customer in a long time, welcomed the visitor. However, as soon as the guest entered, Rose Crystal asked a peculiar question. "Legolas, why do you look like this?"
Liam looked up and saw that the person did indeed resemble Legolas, except his ears weren't as pointed, and he had a beard on his chin and mustache. He also emitted a foul smell of cheap perfume.
"Sorry, I don't know who you're talking about. My name is Will Turner. I was on my way home, but I don't know how I ended up here. I'll leave right away." Will Turner looked nervous. Even though his world had its share of mystical legends, the sudden disappearance of the blacksmith shop and its replacement with an unknown place was hard to accept.
"It's okay." Liam gestured for Will to relax. He had already recognized that the man was one of the main characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean world. "This is a magic shop. People only come here when they have something they desperately want. So, tell me, what do you want? Maybe I can help you." Liam then poured a cup of hot cocoa and handed it to him.
"I, I—" At first, Will was hesitant, but then he thought about the slim hope he had and the possibility that this magical shop might be his last chance. He finally began to tell his story.
"It's a classic tale of a poor boy in love with a noble lady's daughter." Rose Crystal finished the stack of essays and commented on the story, causing Will's face to turn bright red.
"There's no need to be embarrassed, love is nothing to be ashamed of." Rose Crystal, with a serious expression, waved her hand and said, "We have ways to bridge the gap between you and her, but what can you offer in exchange?"
"I—" Will lowered his head, unsure of what he had to offer. His blacksmithing skills, valuable in his world, seemed worthless in front of such a magical shopkeeper.
"Alright, stop teasing him." Liam said to Will, "You don't have anything of value to me, but I'm very interested in your world and would like to do some business there. If you're willing to work for me, I'll help you win Elizabeth's heart."
"Alright." After a few seconds of consideration, Will made his decision. He knew this might be his only chance to marry Elizabeth.
(End of Chapter)
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