Chapter 683: Departure
Chapter 683: Departure (Request for Subscriptions, Favorites, and Votes)
In the following days, Liam and Hermione stayed at the Manor, not venturing out anywhere. On one hand, they began crafting various Magic Artifacts that might be useful later. On the other hand, they helped the two Wandmakers recover their strength.
Whether it was day or night, Ryan and the others woke up, ate, worked, practiced Combat, and went to sleep with the precision of a Clock. Though this made their lives monotonous, it was also fulfilling.
Just as the week was about to end, the two Wandmakers had recovered enough to get out of bed and walk around. However, when Liam suggested sending them to Hogsmeade, they immediately refused.
"I will never go to Hogsmeade", Mr. Gregorovitch said with a heavy accent, "You know, Wandmakers like me are closely monitored and protected by the Ministries of Magic in various countries. Even with such protection, I was still captured by the Dark Lord. So I don't think the Ministry of Magic in the north can guarantee my safety now."
"Am I any different?" Ollivanders retorted, "Diagon Alley isn't some remote place. After the Dark Lord's resurrection, the patrols were increased, but I was still taken directly from my shop."
"So, where do you plan to go next?" Hermione asked, looking somewhat troubled. "Mr. Gregorovitch, do you need us to send you back to your hometown in Bulgaria? But we don't have the time or resources for that right now."
"No, no, no", Mr. Gregorovitch waved his hand. "We discussed it, and we decided that we want to stay here until the war is over. Of course, we will pay for our accommodation and will be generous with the money. Additionally, we are willing to give you some of the materials and books we have collected as a token of our gratitude."
Liam had no doubt about his words. As a Wandmaker with a long and storied lineage, he must have an extensive collection of magic materials and knowledge, possibly even more than what the typical Pureblood families possess. So, offering materials and books as a thank you was certainly within their means.
However, Liam was curious why they insisted on staying at his Manor. After all, the Manor was built entirely in Muggle style, which Wizards from the Magical World often found difficult to adapt to. Moreover, he didn't think he had the same authority as Professor Dumbledore, which would make such esteemed masters want to stay.
"But Professor Dumbledore is guarding Hogsmeade now", Liam probed. "So, in terms of safety, it's much better than the Ministry of Magic, which was riddled with traitors."
"Albus is indeed powerful, but he has many people to protect", Ollivanders said in a raspy voice. "People like us, who are targeted by the Dark Lord, cannot be guaranteed safety, as we cannot always be under Professor Dumbledore's protection."
"Yes", Mr. Gregorovitch added, looking at Liam, "At least we believe that staying at your Manor is the safest option. During the last war, the Dark Lord couldn't even find the Manor where Nicolas Flamel and his wife lived. We trust that, as an Alchemist as powerful as Nicolas, the Dark Lord cannot enter your Manor."
"Of course, we are not just seeking refuge here", Mr. Gregorovitch continued. "Although I retired a few years ago, if you can provide us with the necessary materials, we can make wands for you during our stay."
"If that's the case, you are welcome to stay here", Liam and Hermione exchanged a glance and made their decision. Many Muggle-born Wizards who had been rescued or escaped recently had lost their wands, and this number was likely to increase in the future.
Currently, most of these Wizards were using low-quality second-hand wands, while others couldn't find any usable wands at all. The lack of wands was a well-known issue. Even Liam and Hermione had traveled to a location several kilometers away a few days ago to mail the wands they had repaired from the previous battle to Hogsmeade.
So, with the two Wandmakers willing to continue working on wands, Liam decided to keep them around. With their help, the shortage of wands in Hogsmeade should be significantly alleviated.
"I think we have the magical items needed to make wands now", Hermione said, counting on her fingers. "When we rescued you last time, we cleared out that basement, which contained the top-tier equipment for wand making. Additionally, some of the materials we confiscated are commonly used in wand making. I think you can start using them."
"If you need a room, the spare Alchemy lab upstairs is available for you to use", Liam added. "We'll set everything up for you today and then make a trip to Hogsmeade to buy more materials."
After settling the two Wandmakers, Ryan and the others decided to head to Hogsmeade. They needed to purchase various materials and deliver the items they had recently made to those who needed them.
"It feels cold out here", Hermione subconsciously tightened her robe as they stepped out of the room. They hadn't left the room for a week, even their Combat Practice was done in the Lord of the Rings world. So, they were surprised to find the weather had changed so much.
"It's October, and it's a rainy day, so of course it's cold", Liam said, casting a warming spell on Hermione and himself. Then, they used their unique Teleportation Spell to leave the Manor.
The two Wandmasters were right; Ryan and the others' Manor, with all its defenses activated, was one of the safest places in the European wizarding world. This high level of security came from the Manor's special magical defense system.
Ordinary wizards' residences, no matter how well-defended, always had passages for people to come and go, like windows and doors in a wall. However, these passages often became weak points in the defense system.
In the current high-alert state, Ryan and the others' Manor had completely sealed all external communication passages. For other wizards, this level of defense would be meaningless because it would prevent anyone from entering or leaving, making it impossible to live there.
Ryan and the others used this method because, on the one hand, their Teleportation Magic could bypass almost all magical defenses in this world, allowing them to enter and exit normally. On the other hand, they had multiple worlds to provide logistical support, enabling them to survive for long periods without communicating with the outside world.
After leaving the Manor, Ryan and the others appeared on the path outside Hogsmeade. Looking towards the village from their landing point, they saw that almost all traces of the last war had been erased, except for the mismatched colors of the bricks and the charred marks on the tree at the village entrance, which still spoke of the intensity of the previous battle.
As they walked into the village entrance, they noticed that a wall had been built around the village, just like at Hogwarts. When they reached the entrance, they were stopped by a patrol, led by an old acquaintance, Cedric.
"Liam, Hermione, it's good to see you. Could you please show your Pass?" Cedric greeted them with a smile, while the patrol members behind him held their wands, watching them warily.
"We left over a week ago and had no idea about the passes", Liam said, looking puzzled. The wall didn't even exist when they left.
"You're right", Cedric nodded. "Do you have any way to prove your identity? If not, I might need to call Professor Dumbledore."
"There's no need to trouble Professor Dumbledore", Liam said, waving his hand. Instantly, a pair of pink wings appeared behind him, and he floated off the ground. "Is this enough for you?"
The only wizard who could fly without assistance before was Voldemort, so Liam's wings easily proved his identity.
"Alright, you can go in", Cedric gestured for them to enter, and the patrol members put away their wands. "Remember to get your passes at the Ministry of Magic later."
(End of Chapter)
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