Chapter 595: Semester Ends (Special Update for Magna Magic)
Chapter 595: Semester Ends (Special Update for Magna Magic)
Time passed by in a tense atmosphere. On the night before the holiday, Liam finally received intelligence from Lupin about the outcome of the three Nuclear Bombs he had planted that night.
Unfortunately, no named Death Eaters were killed in the explosion. Voldemort had moved the Vanishing Cabinet to Crabbe Manor instead of Borgin and Burkes before the operation, so the Nuclear Bombs detonated in the living room of the Crabbe family home.
However, the six Wizards killed in the intense explosion and the one Wizard who was disintegrated during the Vanishing Cabinet's transport were all lowlifes Voldemort had recently recruited from the European Continent. The only consolation was that these scoundrels had each taken many innocent lives, so Liam had managed to weaken the enemy and rid the world of some evildoers.
However, the Lady of Crabbe Manor did not die, as Voldemort had cleared the Crabbe ancestral home of all residents before the operation, leaving no one inside except for the operatives.
Of course, the main building of the Crabbe Manor ancestral home was completely destroyed in the explosion, along with all the Crabbe family's centuries-old treasures, including their most important clan Magical Knowledge Legacy. This meant that the clan was effectively wiped out and would be excluded from the Pureblood circle for at least the next century.
So, from a tactical perspective, Voldemort's side suffered a complete failure. The loss of twelve lives was a heavy price to pay. This led to the Malfoy mother and son, who were temporarily staying at Hogwarts Castle, being in a state of high alert, as they knew Voldemort would not let them off the hook.
Liam had seen Malfoy wandering the corridors, pale and anxious, but he immediately left when he spotted Liam. Malfoy's mother, Mrs. Malfoy, hardly appeared in public, only having House-Elves bring her food.
Most people considered this a great victory, believing that Professor Dumbledore could still protect them and everything would remain as it was. However, Liam knew things would never be the same. Voldemort's simultaneous attack on the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts would have been a complete success if not for Liam's preparations. This clearly indicated a shift in the balance of power.
Liam could deduce that this operation was just a test for Voldemort. The next one would be a full-scale war, and even if Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick were still alive, it would not change the situation.
This was similar to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, which triggered World War I. While the assassination was the catalyst, it was not the sole cause of the war. Even if the assassination had failed, the intense tensions between the Central Powers and the Allied Powers would have led to a conflict sooner or later.
The current state of the wizarding world was no different. Most Pure-blood Wizards hoped to reclaim everything they had lost since the last war and return to an era when the Magic World was entirely under their control. Meanwhile, the increasing number of Muggle-born and Half-blood Wizards sought to protect their existing rights and break the Pure-bloods' complete control over the British Wizarding World.
Therefore, Liam believed that the upcoming war was inevitable and might be even more brutal than the one in the original story. This time, both sides were evenly matched, and the only way to resolve the conflict would be through a true war.
Minister of Magic Scrimgeour also recognized this. Recently, many had seen Scrimgeour, limping with his cane, coming to Hogwarts to discuss the recent situation with Professor Dumbledore. However, his frequent angry departures indicated that the discussions were not going well. This was to be expected, not only because Scrimgeour was a self-centered individual, but also because the Ministry of Magic was almost entirely under the control of Voldemort's Pureblood supporters, making any cooperation impossible.
After being rebuffed by Professor Dumbledore, Scrimgeour tried to win over Harry Potter. He offered various forms of protection from the Ministry, such as assigning two Aurors as Harry's bodyguards. However, Harry declined all of them.
"I can't accept a Minister of Magic who locks innocent people in Azkaban and claims they're Death Eaters. Besides, I find Professor Dumbledore more trustworthy." Since it was the last day before the holidays, everyone seemed quite relaxed. After packing their bags, they began chatting in the Common Room. At this point, Harry mentioned the events of the past few days.
"By the way, what are your plans for the holidays?" After recounting his recent experiences, Harry looked up and asked Liam and Hermione, who were sitting opposite him, reading a large book carved from black stone.
"We might go to China first. Professor Dumbledore asked us to handle some matters there", Liam replied, lifting his head. This was mentioned in the letter Headmaster Dumbledore sent via Fawkes yesterday. Anticipating an impending war, Dumbledore believed it was crucial to reach out to other countries to secure as much support as possible, or at least ensure their neutrality. Liam's heritage and status made him the most suitable person for this task, so the mission to China was assigned to him.
Of course, Liam agreed to the task because Dumbledore pointed out that the Chinese wizarding world had always maintained a neutral stance on matters that didn't concern them. Therefore, Liam's trip to China would primarily be a routine confirmation. It would also give him and Hermione a chance to visit their parents.
Besides Liam, several other members of the Order of the Phoenix were dispatched to the United States, France, and Africa. They would all begin their diplomatic missions at the start of the holidays, doing their best to prevent Voldemort's side from taking similar actions.
"Sounds amazing, international travel!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. Then, he slumped back into the sofa, looking very dejected. "Unfortunately, I have to stay at my aunt's house until my 17th birthday, as per Dumbledore's orders. Honestly, I really don't want to go back there. I wish I could do something with you guys."
"Harry, by staying hidden and protecting yourself, you're already providing us with the greatest help", Hermione said, closing her book and looking at Harry. "You're like a symbol, but your current strength—well, it's not quite on par with your symbolic importance yet."
"I understand", Harry said, lowering his head and covering his face with his hands. He sniffed loudly before looking up with a forced smile. "You're right. Everyone has their role, and I can't act recklessly."
"Don't worry, mate. I believe you can still make a contribution even from your aunt's house", Ron said, patting Harry's shoulder. He then turned to Liam and Hermione. "By the way, how long will you be in China?"
"Um, at most two weeks", Liam replied after some thought. "This mission to China is relatively straightforward and shouldn't take long. I have a lot to do here in Britain, so I can't stay away for too long."
"That's great", Ron said. "You two, and Harry, should all come to my parents' place."
"Why?" Harry asked, looking puzzled.
"Bill and Fleur's wedding, Lupin and Tonks' wedding, and Sirius and Muriel's wedding", Ron counted on his fingers. "They're all getting married this summer, and after some discussion, they decided to have a joint celebration at The Burrow to make it a grand event. Didn't you know about this?"
"Of course, I knew about Bill and Fleur's wedding", Harry said. "But I had no idea Lupin and Sirius Black were getting married. They probably won't send out invitations until a month before the wedding, knowing them."
Liam thought about Lupin and Sirius Black's personalities and realized they were indeed capable of doing something like that. This would likely result in fewer guests at the wedding, but Liam believed that as long as they were happy, it didn't matter. Regardless, it was heartening to have a golden period of joy before the looming war.
(End of Chapter)
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