Chapter 687: Unexpected Guests
Chapter 687: Unexpected Guests (Request for Subscriptions, Favorites, and Votes)
After completing his objective here, Liam began discussing recent events with Harry. Hogwarts had remained largely unchanged, with students and teachers continuing to follow their usual routines. It seemed that under Professor Dumbledore’s protection, the chaos outside had not yet spread to the school.
However, this did not mean that the storm outside had no impact on the castle. When students gathered privately, their conversations no longer revolved around Quidditch or the latest gossip from the Wizarding Weekly. Instead, they discussed the current situation outside. Students like Ron, whose families were on the front lines of the conflict, often became the sources of both reliable and unreliable information within the castle.
"Every day, people keep asking me about what’s happening outside", Ron said. He looked more mature than ever before. A few years ago, he might have been thrilled to be the center of attention, but now his face was often filled with worry. "From the letters, it’s clear that Bill, Percy, and my twin brothers have all been through a lot lately, and some of it has been quite dangerous. Honestly, I’m really worried about them."
After Ron finished speaking, Ginny nodded in agreement. "Dad, Fred, and George are relatively safer now, as they’re mainly handling logistics. But Bill and Percy are a real concern."
"I know Percy has become a part-time Hit Wizard, which is indeed a dangerous job. But isn’t Bill still working at Gringotts? What is he doing now that we can’t go to London?" Liam asked Harry.
"Bill is now part of a mobile unit directly under the Auror Office, commanded by Mad-Eye Moody", Harry explained. "The places where those Pureblood Death Eaters are hiding have too many defensive spells, runes, and magical traps. As an excellent Curse Breaker, Bill has a significant advantage in dealing with these things and can provide a lot of help."
"By the way, Bill mentioned in his last letter that he wanted to thank you. Thank you—what for, again?" Ron made a scratching his head gesture. "How could I forget? Bill specifically mentioned it in his letter yesterday."
"It’s for the batch of Universal Curse-breaking Tools Liam provided to the Ministry of Magic", Ginny said with a resigned look at Ron. "Ron, you really need to work on your memory."
"Oh, that’s what it was." Liam remembered what it was as soon as Ginny mentioned it. He had been asking the Weasley Twins to collect feedback and needs from everyone. Just before the Death Eaters attempted to attack Hogsmeade, a batch of feedback was collected, including complaints from Aurors about the difficulty of breaking through the magical defenses of Pureblood Family manors, which often served as Death Eater strongholds. They asked if there was a way to quickly break through these defenses.
Liam, using the crystal orb he created in his fourth year to break Professor Dumbledore’s Age Line around the Goblet of Fire as a model, quickly developed a universal magic item capable of breaking through most magical defenses on buildings. However, after delivering the batch of ten crystal orbs to the Ministry of Magic, he received no feedback, so he had put it out of his mind.
But he hadn’t expected Bill to write a letter specifically to thank him, so Liam asked curiously, "I haven’t heard anything about those magic items before. Could you tell me why Bill felt the need to thank me?"
"Because of a recent mission", Ginny recalled, referring to the content of the letter. "They stormed a Pureblood Family manor and rescued over a dozen hostages. Bill said that without your curse-breaking magic item, which quickly broke through the extensive defenses, the Aurors might have been caught off guard by the Death Eaters inside, or the hostages might have been moved or killed."
"Ah, I see." Liam thought about what George had mentioned before, and his mood improved significantly. Knowing that his creation had helped save innocent lives always made him feel good.
Over the next hour, Ryan and the others chatted about their recent lives. It wasn't until the bell signaling the end of class rang that Harry and the others stood up, slung their backpacks over their shoulders, and bid Hagrid farewell, as they had to head to their next class, Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Ryan and the others also got up to say goodbye and left Hagrid's cottage with Harry. As they stepped outside, Harry took advantage of the moment when Ginny and Hermione lagged behind, whispering to each other, and approached Liam with a grateful tone. "Liam, I really want to thank you for everything you did for me."
"What... oh." Liam was initially puzzled, but then he realized Harry was referring to the time he had used a magic ritual to remove the piece of Voldemort's soul from Harry. "Professor Dumbledore has already told you about that, hasn't he?"
"Yes, he told me everything that was kept from me. Although I was a bit angry at first, I completely understand your actions. After all, that piece of soul was linked to Voldemort. If I had known about the secrets you were keeping, that soul fragment might have done things we didn't want to happen." Harry's expression was sincere.
"I'm glad you're okay." Liam patted Harry on the shoulder. "And don't worry too much about it. I did it to defeat the Dark Lord; saving you was just a bonus."
"No, I know how difficult it was to remove that soul fragment while ensuring my safety." Harry seemed stubborn, and it was clear that Professor Dumbledore hadn't withheld any details. "So no matter what, I'll always remember that you saved my life."
"Relax, Harry." Liam, seeing the determined look in Harry's eyes, knew that a person like him would feel a debt of gratitude and want to repay it. "We're still in the middle of a war. Let's focus on surviving this war first. We can talk about everything else once it's over."
"You're right." Harry nodded. "Let's hope we and everyone we know can make it through this war. I really wish it would end soon."
Liam and everyone he knew wished the war would end quickly, as it had brought immense suffering. After Ryan and the others said their goodbyes to Harry and the others at the entrance hall, two tall, furry figures emerged from the castle. The students in the entrance hall parted like water before a ship, making way for them.
"Chinapanda People, what are they doing here?" Liam and Hermione recognized the two towering figures but were puzzled as to why they would be at Hogwarts.
"Ah, Mr. Liang and Miss Granger, it's great to see you today." The leading Panda Person, dressed in a tuxedo, wearing a silk top hat, and holding a golden-trimmed cane, seemed excited when he saw Ryan and the others. He waved his free left hand at them in greeting.
"Who are you?" Liam looked at the Panda Person in front of him, confused. To him, all Panda People looked the same, so he couldn't identify this one.
"Ah, you humans always have trouble distinguishing our faces." The Panda Person smiled, a look that seemed quite adorable. "I'm Xiong Duosu, and this is my brother, Xiong Guangcai."
"I remember now." After the Panda Person introduced himself, Liam recalled who he was. "You're the bank manager from Tianchao Fangshi Bank in Songjiang Market, the one who tried to sell us a fund when we exchanged currency."
"Yes, that's me." Xiong Duosu smiled warmly, then looked around at the growing number of curious students. "Let's go to Hogsmeade Village. I have some matters to discuss with you, and it's not convenient to talk here."
"Alright, let's go to my shop." Liam gestured for the two Panda People to follow him. "I have a shop in Hogsmeade, and it's a good place to talk."
(End of Chapter)
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