Chapter 644: Familiar Faces
Chapter 644: Familiar Faces
The summer sunlight at Hogwarts was always so bright, even with Voldemort and his controlled Ministry of Magic looming in the south. Liam and his friends still saw many students lounging and sunbathing on the grass.
After checking the permit in Liam's hand, the patrol leader opened the wrought-iron gates of Hogwarts Castle. Liam and Hermione nodded in thanks to the patrol leader, who used to be a member of Percy's team, and then they walked down the dirt path toward Hogsmeade.
Hogsmeade had grown much larger and tidier than before. The scattered tents were gone, replaced by neat rows of townhouses in a clearing on the edge of town. People could be seen coming and going from the houses.
"Good afternoon, Liam. Ah, and Hermione, good afternoon to you too." As Liam and Hermione walked down the road toward the town center, a young woman with flaxen hair greeted them. They were momentarily taken aback before recognizing her as Nymphadora Tonks, who was now called Nymphadora Lupin.
Tonks looked very different from her usual stylish appearance with bright hair and leather outfits. Now, she was lying in a recliner, wearing comfortable, loose cotton clothing, and her face was rounder than before.
"Hello, Mrs. Lupin", Liam and Hermione greeted together as they stepped off the main road to chat with Tonks, who was sitting in front of a townhouse. "By the way, weren't you and Lupin on a trip to Northern Europe? Why are you here now?"
"We were on a trip to Northern Europe, originally", Tonks replied as she sat up. "But after the attack on the Hogwarts Express and the change of hands at the Ministry of Magic, we, along with Sirius Black, answered Dumbledore's call and returned to Britain. When we got back, you two were still holding the fort at Azkaban, and then you returned to school to prepare for your N.E.W.T. exams. So it's not surprising you didn't know we were back."
"Right, we've been quite busy lately, even neglecting the outside world", Hermione nodded. "So, where is Professor Lupin now? Why are you here alone?"
"Lupin is mainly responsible for coordinating the production of magical raw materials between here and Northern Europe, ensuring that local potion and elixir makers have enough supplies", Tonks explained, gently touching her abdomen. "As for me, I found out I was pregnant after we returned, so I'm staying with my parents for now."
"You're pregnant? That's fantastic!" Hermione congratulated Tonks. "You shouldn't go out to work during this time. Although the situation is dangerous, it's not so dire that we need pregnant women to contribute."
Unlike ordinary pregnancies, wizards try to minimize potion-making and casting certain spells during pregnancy, as these can affect fetal development. Wizards also have a low birth rate, making newborns even more precious. Traditionally, wizards stop working once they are pregnant.
"That's why I'm here, sunbathing", Tonks said with a hint of frustration. "If I had my way, I'd rather be at the Auror Headquarters than stuck here with nowhere to go."
"Speaking of which, I do need to thank you", Tonks continued, looking at Liam. "If it weren't for your help in solving his problem, my parents wouldn't have accepted a werewolf as their son-in-law."
"It's nothing, I was just doing what needed to be done", Liam smiled. "And they've proven their worth. Without those hardworking werewolves, we wouldn't have enough raw materials to make potions and magical items."
"Regardless, I still want to thank you both", Tonks said. After a bit of small talk, an older woman emerged from the house. She had soft, light brown hair and large, gentle eyes.
Liam and Hermione instinctively reached for their wands, but they quickly lowered their hands. The woman did indeed resemble Bellatrix, but she looked much softer.
"Are you Liam and Hermione?" the older woman asked. "Thank you very much for helping Dora and Remus. I am Andromeda Tonks, Dora’s mother."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Tonks", Liam and Hermione greeted in unison. The elderly woman in front of them must be Sirius Black's cousin and Bellatrix's sister. No wonder she gave Liam and Hermione the same unsettling feeling when she emerged from the dark room.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Liam and Hermione quickly took their leave. Tonks returned to the room with her mother, mentioning that she and her family were currently helping the Ministry of Magic with a series of documents and accounts.
"Mrs. Tonks really gave me a shock when she came out", Hermione said as they walked down Hogsmeade Street. "But upon closer inspection, there are clear differences between the sisters. Sirius Black also mentioned that this cousin is his closest relative. It makes sense; a member of the Black family choosing to marry a Muggle-born wizard is indeed very much like Sirius Black."
Liam nodded in agreement with Hermione’s words and then looked around with interest at the surroundings. By now, they had reached the main street of Hogsmeade. Unlike the deserted state of a week ago, the streets of Hogsmeade were now bustling with wizards, making the place look very lively.
After all, the situation had stabilized to some extent. Even though Voldemort remained a significant threat in the south, life for wizards had to go on. Moreover, the various recent events had forced many wizards to stay home, depleting their stock of supplies. So, as the situation improved slightly, they naturally came to Hogsmeade to restock, contributing to the town’s prosperity.
Squeezing past a group of wizards from the countryside who were preparing to enter the Three Broomsticks for a drink, Liam and Hermione climbed a slope and arrived at the Shrieking Shack. Unlike its former dilapidated state, the Shrieking Shack now looked completely renovated.
The boards that had sealed the entrance were all removed, and the damaged areas had been repaired. The building had even been repainted, making it look as if it had just been built. People were frequently rushing in and out of the house.
"Liam, what are you doing here today? It’s class time", a familiar voice called out from behind them. Liam turned around to see Sirius Black striding towards them. He was wearing a neat Auror uniform, his hair combed neatly, and he looked radiant.
"Good afternoon, Sirius Black", Liam waved and greeted him, then showed him the appointment letter with his name filled in. "As you know, Hermione and I have obtained the required N.E.W.T. certificates. Headmaster Dumbledore suggested we temporarily work as special consultants at the Department of International Magical Cooperation, so we came here to ask about the specifics."
"The Department of International Magical Cooperation, huh?" Sirius Black examined the appointment letter thoughtfully. "This department has indeed been recruiting heavily, even accepting anyone, due to a severe shortage of staff, to the point where they can barely function properly."
He then looked up at them. "I just finished a mission and have some free time. I can take you there."
"That would be great, we haven’t been there before, and we were wondering how we would find the place", Liam said, putting away the appointment letter. He and Hermione then followed Sirius Black towards the Shrieking Shack.
(End of Chapter)
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