Chapter 633: Board Member
Chapter 633: Board Member
Hogwarts Board Member. Dumbledore's response truly stunned Liam. He hadn't expected the Headmaster to use something like this as a bargaining chip. "But I haven't even graduated yet, and if I remember correctly, becoming a Hogwarts Board Member requires the unanimous agreement of all current Board Members."
Liam didn't think the Pureblood Families would agree to let someone they considered a Mudblood become a Hogwarts Board Member. However, Dumbledore's next words surprised him even more.
"All the Board Members have already agreed", Dumbledore said, stroking his white beard. "The Longbottom Clan, the Black Clan, and the Weasley Clan have all given their consent."
"They can't be Board Members, can they?" Liam pointed out. "If I recall correctly, the Board Members are supposed to be from ancient Pureblood Families—"
"You are correct", Dumbledore continued, "but that was in the past. Now, they are no longer Board Members. Or, to be more precise, this is no longer Hogwarts."
"What? What do you mean by that?" Liam and Hermione asked simultaneously, confused about how such a significant change could have occurred while they were only in Azkaban for a week. This place clearly looked like Hogwarts Castle.
"Ah, right, you were outside and might not have known about this", Dumbledore said, raising a finger. "On the third day of the school term, the Ministry of Magic declared this place a rebel stronghold. Under Voldemort's orders, they announced the establishment of a new Hogwarts and required all students to undergo a blood status review before attending the new school."
"So if Voldemort says it's Hogwarts, then it's Hogwarts?" Liam was dumbfounded by Voldemort's audacity. A thousand-year-old institution with its true strength and heritage couldn't be changed by a mere name change. It was like in his previous life, when a company called Bluebird used the name of Peking University but certainly didn't match its standards.
"Most of the Slytherin students, nearly one-fifth of the Ravenclaw students, and a few Hufflepuff students chose the new Hogwarts", Dumbledore said with a hint of resignation. "So, the day after the announcement, I used the Hogwarts Express to send those who wanted to leave back to London and brought back a group of Ministry of Magic staff and their families who were willing to come here."
"This is just—" Liam now understood the current situation. Both Dumbledore's and Voldemort's factions were gathering strength and allies, and large-scale conflict was unlikely for now. This explained the reason for the train, as both sides held people the other couldn't afford to lose.
Thinking about this, Liam suddenly realized why Professor Dumbledore wanted him to become a Hogwarts Board Member today. It was to ensure he stood by Dumbledore's side. After all, Liam had many options and didn't need to be tied to Britain.
A Legendary, an Alchemy Master, would be welcomed anywhere. For Liam, apart from the fact that he couldn't be accepted by Voldemort's group due to his non-Wizard family background, he would be warmly welcomed in Europe or the New World. He could even perfectly integrate into the powerful Chinese Magic World due to his heritage.
Liam had a habit of carrying everything with him, from daily necessities to vast wealth. Especially important for an Alchemy Master were his alchemy equipment and materials, which Liam had stored in the Multiverse General Store and other worlds.
For him, this made it convenient to access his alchemy equipment whenever needed and to have everything he needed at hand in any situation. However, to others, like Dumbledore, it seemed that Liam lacked a sense of belonging to the British Wizarding World. It appeared as though he was always ready to pack up and leave at a moment's notice.
Later, whether it was opening a store with the core production facilities in Norway, buying a house in the Non-Magical World, or moving his family to China, all of these actions further reinforced the impression that Liam was always ready to run away. Therefore, Dumbledore felt he needed to take action to bind Liam to the British Magical World.
As a man over a hundred years old who had experienced countless storms, Dumbledore knew that mere slogans wouldn't keep Liam. From the way Liam had unhesitatingly moved his family and carried his wealth with him, it was clear that Liam was a man with his own strong convictions, unlike Harry, who could be swayed by a noble cause.
Dumbledore believed he had identified the most important reason for Liam's lack of belonging in the British Wizarding World: as a Muggle-born wizard, Liam had nothing in the British Wizarding World except his abilities, which retained their value regardless of location. Without anything worth defending or cherishing in Britain, wasn't it normal for him to feel no sense of belonging?
So Dumbledore decided to offer Liam the position of a Hogwarts Board Member, a status that in the Western worlds served as a stepping stone to the upper echelons of society.
Frankly, if Liam had received this offer a few years ago, he would have been thrilled. But now, with control over multiple worlds, he had little interest in the status within the British Wizarding World.
The same went for Hermione. In her second year, she had seen the injustices in the British Wizarding World and hoped to change them. But after traveling through countless worlds, she realized there were so many more people and things that needed change, improvement, and salvation. The British Wizarding World was just a small part of it and didn't warrant too much of her effort.
Still, it was a lingering desire. Both Liam and Hermione wanted to fulfill the dreams they had as children, which was why they chose to stay in Britain and fight against Voldemort.
After a brief exchange via the Phoenix Mark, Liam calmly told Professor Dumbledore, "It is an honor to become a Hogwarts Board Member. Please give us the list of expenses, and we will fulfill our obligations by providing the necessary funds and resources for this year."
"Regardless, I must thank you for your support in these dire times", Dumbledore said with a smile. After signing the necessary documents, Liam and Hermione left the Headmaster's Office.
"Albus, I think you've misjudged him", said a male wizard with a goatee and a wise appearance, from one of the portraits on the wall of the Headmaster's Office, after Liam and Hermione had left. "That boy has many more secrets than you imagine, and the offer you made doesn't seem to have the effect you hoped for."
"Phineas, everyone has their secrets. We can't expect everyone to lay bare their hearts to others", Dumbledore replied, looking up at the portrait of the Deputy Headmistress. "As for the offer, I believe keeping Liam on our side is enough. I don't think I have the right to demand that anyone give everything they have."
"You're right, Albus. Only cunning Dark Wizards would demand such sacrifices, and what we protect is the freedom of personal choice. Otherwise, we would be no different from those Dark Wizards", a witch with long silver curls immediately chimed in.
"Thank you, Dumbledore", Dumbledore said, then turned to Phineas' portrait.
"Alright, alright, you're all saints. But I don't think this is the best approach at a time like this. War is always cruel..." Phineas' portrait continued to mutter, but everyone was already busy with their own tasks and no one was listening to his complaints.
(End of Chapter)
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