days at Hogwarts

Chapter 597 Action
A short, bushy-haired wizard stood in front of the handsome couple, and his slightly monotonous voice echoed throughout the hall:

"Ladies and gentlemen, we gather here today to celebrate the union of two devoted souls, who met at the behest of fate and magic..."

Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had already drunk two glasses, shook the crystal clear wine in his goblet and looked meaningfully at Sirius who was standing upright on the platform. He scanned his resolute and calm expression, his persistent and powerful eyes... He took a sip of champagne, and his mind gradually drifted away.

It's incredible that there have been such big changes in just a few years...

I still remember when I was inspecting Azkaban five years ago, the only heir of the Black family was still huddled in a corner, skinny, with thin skin and flesh hanging on his bones, and his hair and face were unkempt, and it was almost impossible to tell what he used to look like.

He had looked through Sirius's files, and although he saw one or two suspicious points, he didn't think much about it. Voldemort's downfall was too fast, and some things were too chaotic. There were too many cases of people being imprisoned without a public trial, and it was impossible to check them all.

I don’t know what the outcome will be this time.

Kingsley raised the glass and the crystal clear wine went down his throat. Just when he was about to take another glass, he saw a beautiful figure approaching quickly from the corner of his eye. He had to suck in his stomach, straighten his back, and put on the posture of an Auror captain.

"Tonks, at least you should be more reserved when wearing a skirt." Kingsley said in a calm and unhurried voice.

The pretty witch with pink hair and green eyes next to her pinched the hem of her skirt and knelt down to salute. If you ignore the casual smile on her face and her overly quick movements, this etiquette is pretty standard:
"Come on, Kingsley, don't think I didn't see you drink three cups before the party officially started."

The reliable Auror Captain was chatting quietly with the unreliable trainee Auror. Tonks chewed the gum in her mouth, and the pink rubber bubble burst. She suddenly frowned, and her green eyes were full of curiosity:

"The Shacklebolt family is one of the twenty-eight pure-blood families, right, Kingsley? As a descendant of a pure-blood family, what do you think of Sirius being with a Muggle?"

"He is not the only rebel of the Black family. If I were a supporter of the pure-blood concept, I would not have allowed Nymphadora Tonks, that is, you, to join my team..." Kingsley glanced at her: "No, with your training results, you may not even be able to become a trainee Auror..."

Her mother, Andromeda, was once a member of the Black family. She resolutely married her Muggle father in pursuit of love.

"Isn't it my excellent training results that impressed you?" Tonks was very surprised.

"I just thought Metamorphmagus would be helpful in solving the case."

"..."

Tonks was suddenly struck down by her boss and found it hard to accept for a moment. She swung her skirt in anger and strode away angrily.

On the gorgeously decorated platform, the officiating wizard has already advanced the process to the oath stage:
"Sirius Orion Black, are you willing to commit yourself to Betty Lorna Carver, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, until the end of your life?"

"I do." Sirius's brows were firm and his eyes were burning.

"Betty Lorna Carver, would you please . . . "

Betty said with a gentle smile, "Yes, I do."

"Then I declare you two lifelong partners!"

A fairy with flapping wings floated out carrying a small wooden basket, scattering sparkling snowflakes that danced around the two people's bodies as they embraced each other. The bird of paradise with a little golden bell on its head rose and fell, adding a few pleasant and crisp sounds to the noisy atmosphere of the whole venue.

The flames in the marble fireplace were burning brightly, the exquisitely decorated flowers exuded the fragrance of love, the long table was covered with luxurious tableware for desserts, and the light from the chandelier poured onto the silverware and glassware. The light seemed to come alive, flowing down like liquid and gathering in the center of the auditorium, then quickly spreading and solidifying into a dance floor shimmering with silver light.

The guests invited each other, stepped forward to offer their blessings to the newlyweds, and tacitly reserved the center position on the stage for the two of them.

Those ancient musical instruments that had been covered in dust for a long time started playing automatically, and the music symbolizing happiness resounded in the mansion in the cold winter. The air was filled with the melody of happiness. Even Mad-Eye stopped talking loudly, but leaned against the curtain, leisurely took out the curved wine jug and tasted it slowly.

People's voices were so soft and the music was so melodious, blending into a soothing murmur. Harry was wrapped in warmth and gradually could not hear what the people around him were saying.

The slender body floated on the ground, the waist-length silver hair was piled on top of the head, and the whole body seemed to emit a faint silver light.

Deep blue eyes and glowing white teeth together form the smiling face of the half-blood Veela.

Standing on the handrail of the staircase, the eyes of all the little wizards were drawn to it. It must be admitted that although the protagonist of this wedding was not Fleur Delacour, she was almost as eye-catching as the bride.

Ron, Ginny, George and Fred, the Weasley brothers and sisters narrowed their eyes. They vaguely knew some news. After all, Fleur stayed in Gringotts to study English after graduation, and Bill was transferred back to the country to do some work that was convenient for inquiring about news. It was not impossible for these two to get together...

But seeing Bill, with his pigtails and earrings, dancing with Furong in person, I still felt a strange sense of disharmony.

I just feel awkward...

Ignoring the red-haired siblings' entanglement, Hermione put her arm around the person next to her, leaned her body slightly, and leaned half of her weight on him to relax her sore soles. She silently sighed in her heart that high heels were really tight.

She tilted her head slightly, leaning on someone's shoulder, watching the bride in her evening gown leaping and spinning in the middle of the dance floor, her eyes sparkling in the bright candlelight.

Which girl wouldn’t feel emotional when seeing a wedding?

"……what are you thinking about?"

Loren ruffled her hair and smiled slightly teasingly.

"Stop messing up my hair." Hermione was a little angry and raised her head to nudge him lightly.

I couldn't see his expression, but I could tell his voice was a little unnatural. Loren smiled happily, and put some force on his shoulders to make the soft body leaning on him sway gently: "Let's go downstairs to eat. I'm a little hungry."

Hermione tightened her grip on his arm slightly, clenching her sleeve, and did not answer.

“We should go over and congratulate them.”

"..."

Hermione still said nothing, but moved her eyes to watch Bill and Fleur on the dance floor sitting down at the long table to rest after being tired, laughing wildly.

"Why aren't you talking..." Loren sighed pretentiously, "I was planning on asking you to dance after eating a cookie."

"boom!"

Hermione couldn't help but punch him.

In the end, Loren didn't get to eat the cookie.

...Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire.

The grand Boxing Day banquet has ended, but there is still a hint of liveliness in the air. The orange-red flame is burning in the fireplace, and the firelight makes the figures in the house sway back and forth.

"Merry Christmas, my dear friends..."

Sitting in the most honorable seat at the long table, Voldemort glanced at the faces in the seats on both sides and greeted them softly with a gentle tone and a smile on his face.

"Merry Christmas, Master..."

The Death Eaters were confused and many of them did not react, and the responses were sparse.

Some Death Eaters who did not respond in time clearly felt an invisible chill rising up their spines. Fear was like an icy hand gripping their hearts. It was the strong malice emanating from the Dark Lord.

Voldemort seemed to have sensed the fear and didn't bother with them. He took a deep breath, a smile of enjoyment appeared on his face, his eyes moved, and Lucius met those snake eyes, and couldn't help but tremble his shoulders slightly.

Draco, who attended the Death Eater meeting for the first time, lowered his head, exuding a nervous and uneasy aura. He strictly followed the instructions of his father and mother, lowered his head and said nothing, staring at the table. When the depressing silence enveloped the room, the twisted wood grain looked like withered petals.

"Are you ready, Lucius?" asked Voldemort.

"Ready!" Lucius' voice tightened, but he still puffed out his chest and made a gesture of taking credit. "That night I used donations to trick Cornelius Fudge and Pius Thicknesse into being alone with me. I drank a few glasses of Severus's special cocktail and successfully cast the Imperius Curse on the two of them."

Many Death Eaters around showed admiration. One of these two was the current Minister of Magic, and the other was the Director of the Department of Law Enforcement. Controlling these two people was almost equivalent to controlling half of the Ministry of Magic.

"It's just that... Rufus Scrimgeour, the head of the Auror Office, was always on the alert, so I was unable to succeed..."

Lucius paused, glanced at the Dark Lord's expression uneasily, and spoke faster before he lost his temper, "But the Aurors are taking turns on vacation, Kingsley Shacklebolt's second team has left, and the Unspoken Man in the Department of Mysteries has been transferred by Fudge. The Ministry of Magic is now completely open to us."

Draco, sitting next to his mother, kept his head down, tightly clutching the corner of his robe, his mind was blank, and he didn't know what to do.

Allow the Death Eaters to take over the Ministry of Magic?

Will you pass the message to Loren immediately later?
But what kind of help can Loren give to the Ministry of Magic...

"Completely open..." Voldemort repeated, his terrifying snake eyes flashing a dark red light.

In the first seat on the right, Snape sat quietly in the chair, facing the terrifying scarlet gaze with a calm expression. He seemed not worried at all about being burned by the sharp gaze. He looked at him calmly, his eyes revealing a loyalty that was ready to be ordered at any time.

"..."

After a moment, Voldemort's lipless mouth twisted into a weird smile. "Well, well done, Lucius... But those Aurors stationed in the Ministry of Magic are still a threat to us. Before we take action, we must ensure that no one in the Ministry of Magic can resist. Once they fight to the death and buy time to pass on the message, no matter whether Dumbledore or the staff on vacation arrive in time, all our efforts will be wasted, or even suffer heavy losses..."

Lucius raised his head cautiously: "What do you mean?"

"Have Fudge send a letter to inform Rufus Scrimgeour that many fugitive Death Eaters have appeared in Knockturn Alley. All Aurors of the Ministry of Magic are dispatched to participate in the search..."

Voldemort named a few people and said coldly: "Go, let the Dark Mark shine on the wizarding world again!"

……

At dawn, a faint paleness appeared in the distant sky, and the cold wind poured in through the open window. Harry did not feel cold because the back of his chair was facing the blazing fire in the fireplace.

In the light of the fire, his shadow almost covered the entire room. Hidden in the shadows on the seats on both sides were unclear faces. The figures of some of them seemed familiar, but their names could not be remembered.

Are these the wedding guests?
Harry had a vague feeling that it wasn't him, so he opened his eyes wide to see who it was, but he saw several figures leaving the room first.

He desperately wanted these people to speed up. They would clear the obstacles, lead away those who were hindering his plan, and arrange the place to the way he wanted...

"Hey, hey! Wake up, Harry, wake up..."

Harry opened his eyes and the furnishings in the room came into view. He was still lying on the soft bed on the third floor of the old Black house. In the cage beside the bed, Piglet and Hedwig were sleeping soundly with their heads buried under his wings. His forehead ached slightly, and the corners of his mouth could still feel the touch of the girl's lips when they said good night to each other.

The morning light was dim and the room was still a little dark.

Ron's shadow was a little scary: "You were talking in your sleep."

"is it?"

Harry's mind was filled with the girl's red hair swaying as she shyly ran away. Those fragments that invaded his mind were like traces on the beach, quickly washed away and smoothed out, leaving only a few faint traces of the images.

"Yes, you read a few names, Rodolphus, Rabastan, Augustus..."

Harry thought these names sounded familiar and quickly remembered where he had heard them before: "They are all Death Eaters who escaped last time."

"Yeah, you're not going to get into the head of the You-Know-Who."

Harry pursed his lips and fell into thought. He vaguely recalled several scenes: the rising fire, the swaying shadows, and the figure whose face could not be seen clearly.

"It's possible, but I can't remember."

"It's a pity that Dumbledore left right after the wedding and didn't stay overnight, otherwise we could ask him."

Ron's eyebrows were twisted together. He felt a headache after thinking for a while. He shook his head and said, "Let's go downstairs and have breakfast first. I'll tell Sirius about this later and hear what the adults say."

Harry thought of his newlywed godfather. In order not to make him worry on the second day of his wedding, the idea of ​​hiding it flashed through his mind for a moment, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt it was too stupid. He shook his head and sat up. He sat up and rubbed the scar on his forehead:
"What can I say? It's still the same old thing."

"Be safe, stay sensible, and don't take risks..."

He scooped up a handful of cold water and splashed it on his face. The cold stimulation made his brain instantly clear up. Harry, without his glasses, looked at the 16-year-old boy in the mirror and exhaled white mist.

It's all blurry.

(End of this chapter)