Chapter 755: The Grand Finale—Nineteen Years Later
Chapter 755: The Grand Finale—Nineteen Years Later
After the war, as time passed, the British Wizarding World slowly healed the wounds left by the conflict, and everything began to flourish once again. The war had dealt a significant blow to the ancient pureblood families, who had long dominated the Wizarding World. In a way, this actually spurred the British Wizarding World to become more vibrant than ever before.
With the introduction of the Advanced Wizarding Academy, Modern Wizarding Bank, and many other new institutions, the British Wizarding World underwent rapid and profound changes. Many new innovations were brought into this once-stagnant country.
Of course, in such a changing world, everyone also underwent their own transformations. A few months after the war ended, the Ministry of Magic returned to London and declared the post-war reconstruction complete. Liam and Hermione held their wedding on the Aerial Fortress, followed by Cedric and Zhang Qiu, Percy and Penelope, and many others who had delayed their weddings due to the war.
After their wedding, Liam and Hermione, in addition to managing their work in other worlds, focused on establishing their own school in this world. Surprisingly, three years after the war, Professor Dumbledore handed over the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts to Professor Mcgonagall and took up a visiting professorship at Ryan's school.
"The war is over, and I am getting old. It's time to pass the torch to the next generation", Dumbledore told Liam during an unexpected visit. "So I retired, but I'm not so old that I can't move around. I came here hoping to become a visiting professor at your new school."
Liam suspected that Dumbledore was concerned about him becoming the next Dark Lord, given how ruthless he had been during the war. However, he agreed to Dumbledore's request on the spot, as he had no desire to rule the world like Voldemort, and Dumbledore's presence would greatly benefit the development of their school.
Time passed, and Liam's status in the British Wizarding World grew increasingly high and secure. One day, the Daily Prophet, which had become somewhat marginalized, published an article titled "The Era of Liang."
"…After the war, Layne Liang, a Muggle-born wizard, seized power in the British Wizarding World, extending his influence from finance to manufacturing, from education to media. His tentacles reach into every aspect of the British Wizarding World…"
"Well, Hermione, the Daily Prophet has resorted to sensational headlines to attract readers", Liam said as he ate his breakfast. "By the way, are we sending the two little ones to school today?"
"Yes", Hermione put down the newspaper. "I really admire Luna's family. They couldn't even make it back in time for their daughter's first day of school and will have to wait at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters tomorrow."
Liam and Hermione had not had children of their own because immortality came at a price. However, this did not mean their home was empty. The children of friends like Lupin, Sirius Black, Harry, Ron, and Percy often visited, and even Luna and Rolf Scamander's twin daughters were frequently fostered at Ryan's home.
Perhaps due to the butterfly effect, Luna's twin sons in the original story became twin daughters. After the twins turned one, Luna and her husband embarked on a global exploration and discovery journey. As a result, their daughters spent more time at Ryan's home than at their own.
Soon, two brown-haired little girls and a group of puppets came downstairs. After greeting Ryan and the others, they sat down at the table for breakfast. Over the past decade, Liam had created six puppets, inspired by Teacher Luo Zhen, and named them Luminara, Garuda, Obsidian, Azure Well, Magenta, and Raspberry.
These puppets usually serve as professors at the School and also work part-time as lab assistants. Out of their unique curiosity about life, they even took on the responsibility of caring for the two little ones.
After breakfast, everyone packed their things and set off in a magic-enhanced Suv for the train station. They arrived early, so they could leisurely push their luggage carts from the parking lot toward the enormous, soot-blackened station.
The car exhaust and the vapor from people's breath shimmered in the cool air like a spider's web. Two large cages on top of the luggage carts rattled, and the owls inside complained with disgruntled chirps.
“Uncle, will my parents come to see us off today?” Lisa, the older of the Weasley twins, looked up at Liam and asked.
“Of course they will. Though they can be a bit unreliable at times, they wouldn’t lie to you about something like this,” Liam replied.
The family pushed through the crowd toward the wall between Platforms 9 and 10, with curious eyes following the owls. After a few minutes, when no one was paying attention, Ryan and the others slipped through the barrier and emerged onto Platform 9 and Three-Quarters. The platform was shrouded in the thick white mist emitted by the Hogwarts Express, with vague figures swarming about in the fog.
“Hermione, Liam, over here!” As Ryan and the others looked around in the steam, a figure bounced over and called out to them. When Liam and Hermione brought the children closer, they saw it was indeed Luna, who was waving. Beside her, Rolf Scamander looked at his wife with a mix of fondness and exasperation, her personality as youthful as ever.
“How was your trip to China?” Liam asked Rolf, recalling the eight months they had spent there on their journey and research.
“It was fantastic,” Rolf smiled. “We saw many magical creatures we had only read about in books, and we discovered a new type of magic plant, which the Chinese wizards later named after Luna. And there was a surprise: we met the Phoenix Fengling we encountered years ago, and he sent his greetings to you.”
“That’s wonderful,” Liam nodded. They chatted for a bit, and then Harry and Ron emerged from the mist with their families. In the distance, the Malfoy family of four saw Harry and his group but didn’t approach, instead waving from afar.
Since Liam had helped Malfoy by removing the curse from Astoria, the two families had started to interact more. However, Harry and Ron still didn’t get along well with the Malfoys, which was why Malfoy only waved from a distance.
Harry and Ron, who were facing away from the Malfoys, didn’t see this and greeted Ryan and the others warmly. Ron’s gestures were a bit exaggerated, nearly hitting his daughter, Rose.
“Dad, calm down, everyone’s looking at you!” Rose said with a sigh.
“Oh, right, right,” Ron said, feeling a bit awkward under the stares of the surrounding people. “I was just... just too excited.”
“He’s always so funny,” Lavender said, coming up behind Ron and kissing his cheek. “So adorable.”
“Dear, try to restrain yourself a bit. We’re in public, and there are a lot of people we know around,” Ron said, blushing. At this, Rose made a face, indicating she was thoroughly sick of her parents’ public displays of affection.
“There you are, we’ve been looking for you,” Percy said, emerging from the steam with his son. “Penelope is working overtime again; the joke shop manager’s job is just too busy.”
“I thought I gave her a holiday!” Hermione said, puzzled.
“But this morning she found a problem with a shipment from Brazil and went straight to Rio,” Percy shrugged. “It could have been handled in a few days.”
“Hey!” James, Harry's son, emerged, having already unloaded his luggage, owl, and trolley, clearly bursting with news.
“Andromeda is over there,” he panted, pointing behind him to the rolling steam that resembled clouds. “I just ran into her! Guess what she was doing? Kissing Victoire!”
“What?” Harry and Ron’s eyes widened, but Liam remained calm. “Let young people do their thing. Some things we just have to get used to. At the last gathering, Professor Lupin mentioned that he and his wife can accept their daughter having a girlfriend.”
“You’re right. There are some things I need to learn to adapt to,” Harry said, glancing at his old, worn watch that once belonged to Fabian Prewett. “It’s nearly eleven. You should get on the train.”
“Don’t forget to deliver our letters and greetings to Neville,” Hermione reminded the Weasley twins as she hugged Luna’s daughter.
“Don’t worry, we’ll visit Uncle Longbottom’s office during our first break. We have a lot to give him: your letters, and our parents’ field notes—” the Weasley twins nodded seriously in agreement.
Soon, all the students boarded the train, and the red carriages began to close. Parents rushed forward, their blurry figures giving their children one last kiss and a final word of advice. Students leaned out of the nearest windows, many faces turning to look at Ryan and the others.
“Why are they all staring at us?” Harry’s son Albus asked.
“Don’t worry about it,” Ron said dramatically. “It’s me; I’m particularly famous.”
Everyone started to laugh. The train began to move, and Liam and Hermione followed the other parents, smiling and waving as they watched the familiar faces of the children gradually disappear into the distance.
“Ah, looks like I’m a bit late,” just as Ryan and the others were about to leave, Professor Dumbledore appeared silently behind them, dressed in a traveler’s robe. He waved his wand, separating them from the others. “I thought I could catch the Hogwarts Express, but I lost track of time chatting with an old German friend.”
“You must have a very close relationship,” Hermione said, noting that both she and Liam had reverted to their teenage appearances. Immortality was a tempting offer for most, and to avoid complications, they usually maintained the Transfiguration of middle-aged adults. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been so engrossed in conversation. Sometimes I envy you for having so many lifelong friends.”
“That’s hard to describe,” Dumbledore’s expression grew complex after hearing Hermione’s words. “It’s complicated, to say the least!”
“Let’s not dwell on it. Liam, I came to you today because I have a request. I’d like to take a long leave of absence.”
“Of course, take as much time as you need,” Liam replied. “But may I ask what you plan to do?”
“There’s no need for secrecy,” Dumbledore chuckled. “Everything is on track now. Your school is doing wonderfully, and the British Wizarding World is stable. I want to take advantage of my remaining years to fulfill a promise I made with Aberforth Dumbledore and embark on a journey around the worlds.”
“Your journey will be amazing,” Liam said earnestly. “After all, you’re finally fulfilling a promise from a century ago.”
“Yes, it’s been so long,” Dumbledore murmured, his eyes vacant as he fell into a reverie.
After a few minutes, Dumbledore snapped back to reality. “I apologize. Old people tend to reminisce. But I’m grateful to you. If not for the stability you’ve brought to the Wizarding World, I wouldn’t feel comfortable going on this trip.”
“It’s the result of everyone’s efforts, not just mine,” Liam said humbly.
“Regardless, the worlds have flourished in peace for nineteen years. I think that’s something worth celebrating.”
“Absolutely!” Liam agreed, leaning closer to Hermione and holding her hand. He watched the train’s trail of milky steam and the golden sunlight of the autumn day, speaking softly. “This peaceful and stable world is truly wonderful.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
