Chapter 610: Preparations
Chapter 610: Preparations
Just as they were about to start dinner, the Minister of Magic arrived with Mr. Weasley. He insisted on having a serious talk with Harry. However, less than ten minutes after the two of them approached The Burrow, Liam heard a loud argument break out inside. Soon after, the door opened, and Scrimgeour stormed out, not saying a word to anyone as he left.
“What happened, Harry?” Ron leaned in to ask when Mrs. Weasley had finished serving the dishes and everyone started eating. “I just saw Scrimgeour looking terrible.”
“Because I once again refused their so-called suggestion to cooperate with the Ministry of Magic.” Harry shrugged indifferently. “I think he couldn’t convince Professor Dumbledore, so he tried to find a way through me. He confidently claimed that the Ministry of Magic has the current situation under complete control, but he refused to explain why Voldemort would organize dozens of people to attack us.”
“I just questioned him, and he flew into a rage, even burning a hole in my clothes with his wand.” Harry puffed out his chest, and even from across the table, Liam could see a burn mark on his shirt, similar to one made by a cigarette.
“It seems the Dark Lord’s infiltration of the Ministry of Magic is far more severe than we imagined.” Liam whispered to Hermione. “Given how everything is so abnormal, for the Minister of Magic to still believe everything is under control, it means that a significant portion of the people around the Minister are already unreliable.”
“The people around the Minister of Magic!” Hermione immediately grasped the crux of the issue. “You mean the Ministry of Magic is almost entirely turning towards the Dark Lord?”
“Yes.” Liam nodded. “I think after several failed direct confrontations, the Dark Lord is now trying to find a way to break out of this disadvantageous situation. After multiple clashes, I believe he realizes he can’t defeat Headmaster Dumbledore in the short term, let alone capture Hogwarts School. So, what do you think he will do to regain his reputation and demonstrate his power?”
“—Overthrow the Ministry of Magic.” Hermione pursed her lips for a moment before uttering these words. “Is this something we can’t stop?”
“No, we can’t stop it.” Liam analyzed seriously. “The Ministry of Magic is inherently controlled by the Pureblood Families, so it naturally leans towards the Dark Lord. Not to mention, the Ministry’s long-standing conflict with Headmaster Dumbledore has filled the entire Ministry with hostility towards him. If we intervene, not only will we fail to improve the situation, but we might also get bogged down in endless bureaucratic wrangling with the Ministry, further weakening our ability to fight the Dark Lord.”
“Sigh.” Hermione shook her head in disappointment but quickly perked up and started chatting with Tonks. As Tonks’s bridesmaid for the next day, Hermione hoped to avoid any mistakes at the wedding.
Due to the Minister of Magic’s visit, the dinner party was rather subdued. Everyone hurried through the meal, sang a quick “Happy Birthday,” and finished the cake in a few bites before the party dispersed.
The next afternoon at three o’clock, Ron, Fred, and George stood outside the large white tents in the orchard, welcoming the guests arriving for the wedding. Liam and Hermione stayed inside the tents, keeping company with Lupin and Tonks. Lupin, due to his werewolf condition, had few friends, so he asked Liam to be his best man, especially since Sirius Black was the groom.
Harry, of course, was there to be his godfather’s best man. Unlike in China, in Western weddings, the best man doesn’t have to be the groom’s contemporary.
“Remus, do you want some calming potion?” Seeing Lupin so nervous that he didn’t know what to do with his hands and feet, Liam thought for a moment and pulled out a small bottle of light green elixir that smelled of fresh grass. “Don’t worry, this will just help you relax without any side effects.”
"Thanks." Lupin took the Elixirs from Liam and drank them in one gulp. After a shiver, he quickly returned to normal. "This Elixir is incredibly effective. I was just too nervous. After all, this is my first and only marriage."
"I can understand that." Liam smiled. "Actually, I was worried that my legs would shake so much I'd need to be carried up there when I got married."
Lupin was dressed in a black dress robe today, with simple patterns embroidered in silver thread along the edges. His graying hair had been dyed brown, and Liam had even used a Radiance Potion, concocted from a recipe found in Sirius Black's house, to remove the wrinkles on his face that had formed over the past decade of hardship.
After transforming into a new Werewolf, Lupin's body not only made up for past deficiencies but also became as fit and muscular as a regular gym-goer. Unfortunately, the white hair and wrinkles couldn't be removed. To make him look more suitable for his much younger bride, Tonks, Liam and Hermione had done a lot of work, and it seemed to have paid off very well.
Noisy voices now came from the front of the tents. An hour ago, a group of white-robed waiters and a band in golden shirts had arrived from The Burrow. At the moment, these wizards were sitting under a nearby tree, smoking pipes and chatting, their voices buzzing.
Suddenly, a loud commotion, like a tidal wave, came from outside. Liam lifted the curtain and looked out, seeing Headmaster Dumbledore, dressed in a robe covered in purple and stars, walking over with Fleur's French friends.
"Headmaster Dumbledore has arrived? This is great!" Lupin, seeing the scene through the tent door Liam had opened, exclaimed. "Thanks to his help, I can give Tonks a perfect wedding. The Ministry of Magic is currently cracking down on Werewolves, but fortunately, all our side's Werewolves are now in Norway, so they won't be at risk."
All the Werewolves in Norway had now been treated, and their numbers had stabilized at 52. Apart from two children, the remaining 50 could participate in battles, and about 20 were capable of active missions. Liam believed that if used well, this force could teach the Death Eaters a valuable lesson.
In recent days, Liam had spent most of his time preparing magical artifacts for these soon-to-be combat-ready Werewolves, in addition to providing supplies for the Order of the Phoenix. Although the number was significant, with the help of a few worlds, all issues had been resolved. Liam was now fine-tuning the equipment to ensure the best possible gear for the Werewolf warriors.
"Alright, you two should take your positions", Ron said, suddenly pushing the curtain aside and sticking his head into the tent to speak to Liam and Lupin.
Moments later, Liam and Lupin stood in front of the large tent. Liam was dressed in a deep blue dress robe with a large white rose in his buttonhole. Hermione, dressed in a matching long dress and, unusually, high heels, stood by Tonks's side.
After handing the ring to Lupin, Liam's job for the day was done. Fortunately, it was a group wedding, so the final best man's speech was given by Charlie, the oldest of the three best men. Liam and the others took their seats as planned.
"You look fantastic today", Liam whispered into Hermione's ear.
"Thank you!" Hermione smiled. "Let's be quiet now; I think the most important part of the wedding is about to begin."
Liam, following Hermione's advice, looked up at the stage. Dumbledore had indeed stepped up to begin his speech. He sat up straight, ready to listen to the Headmaster.
(End of Chapter)
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