The Shopkeeper of All Worlds in the British Wizarding World

Chapter 646 Departure
"Wait, didn't the You-Know-Who re-establish Hogwarts in the south?" Ryan suddenly thought of a question. "Under this circumstance, how can we represent Hogwarts to attend this ceremony at Beauxbatons?"

"You don't have to worry about that, because the invitations were sent directly to Hogsmeade." Doggie said, "There is a difference between the school and the Ministry of Magic. The French Ministry of Magic is afraid of You-Know-Who, but Beauxbatons is different. Besides, even You-Know-Who himself doesn't dare to look down on Hogwarts with Dumbledore in charge. So we are the only Hogwarts recognized internationally, and no one recognizes the inferior imitation made by You-Know-Who."

"Okay, I see." Ryan nodded. "So when do we leave?"

"The day after tomorrow," Doggie said after looking at the time attached to the invitation. "The day after tomorrow at ten o'clock in the morning, we will arrive at Hogsmeade, and then we will set off from here. Headmaster Dumbledore will provide the appropriate transportation."

"Understood. We will be here on time the day after tomorrow." Ryan and the others confirmed what they were going to do and said goodbye to Doggie. After collecting their and Hermione's certificates downstairs, they left the Ministry of Magic.

At 9:30 on the third morning, Ryan and his companions arrived at the entrance of Hogsmeade in their formal robes as required. However, after looking around, they found that there was no one at the designated location except the two of them.

"Why don't I see the real negotiator?" Hermione asked curiously after looking around. "Didn't they say before that a real Ministry of Magic person would go to France with us?"

"Not sure." Ryan also felt a little strange. "Theoretically, that person should have arrived. But it doesn't matter if he hasn't arrived. We just need to complete our mission according to the plan."

"Look, what is that?" Half an hour later, just when Ryan was beginning to feel a little bored, Hermione suddenly pointed at the sky in the direction of Hogwarts Castle and exclaimed in a low voice.

"This is a carriage." Ryan recognized what was flying in the sky, "But this car is too exaggerated."

Since there were only three people going to France this time, and the journey was not far, it was obviously inappropriate to use the Hogwarts Express. So the school sent a carriage as a means of transportation.

Unlike the huge powder blue carriage that the teachers and students of Beauxbatons rode in their fourth year, the carriage that flew over now was exactly the same size as the one that had taken them to school from Hogsmeade Station before. The only difference was that the carriage was not in the usual black color, but in the same gold color as the main color of the Hogwarts school emblem.

When the carriage landed in front of them, Ryan realized that the colorful creatures pulling the carriage were not strange magical creatures, but ordinary Thestrals. Unlike the Thestrals they had seen before, these eight Thestrals were all wearing horse clothes and silk horse armor with the colors of each college and embroidered with the college emblem.

"It feels - a bit strange." Hermione said after staring at the Thestrals pulling the cart. "Why are these Thestrals wrapped so tightly?"

"There's nothing we can do about it. Thestrals represent death. Although this is just superstition, but..." Ryan spread his hands. "We are attending a public celebration this time, not a public funeral. It's not appropriate to ride in a car pulled by them. But in this case, there is nothing else that can pull the car, so it's understandable to wrap them up and make do with it."

After opening the door, Ryan found that the carriage was much larger than it looked from the outside, just like a small reception room. However, the person sitting on the sofa drinking tea surprised Ryan.

"How come you are the special envoy of the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Malfoy?" Ryan asked in surprise after the carriage took off. "It's really surprising." The middle-aged man sitting opposite him was Lucius Malfoy. Although he was dressed very decently and his platinum-colored hair was shiny with countless amounts of hair wax, he could still see an indelible sense of fatigue between his eyebrows.

"Why can't it be me, Mr. Liang?" Lucius Malfoy seemed very gentle, and he didn't have the arrogance towards the Muggle wizards that Ryan had imagined. "I took the initiative to ask Headmaster Dumbledore for this trip. I thought I could find more helpers to fight against the Dark Lord through my family's connections in Europe, and at the same time atone for my previous actions—"

"No need for such polite words." Hermione interrupted Lucius Malfoy's statement somewhat rudely. "Your family is a typical Slytherin. It is not your style to sacrifice yourself for others after you have a change of heart. If you, the number one traitor in the eyes of the Death Eaters, risk your life to leave your safe hiding place, then this matter must be very good for you. Mr. Malfoy, I hope you can be honest about what you are thinking. Otherwise, I think it will be difficult for us to allow someone with unclear purpose to act with us."

"You are indeed the smartest student in Hogwarts in recent years." Lucius said as he sat up straight, and the gentle expression on his face disappeared. "What I told you before about your family's contact with people in Europe was not a lie, but the real purpose was to protect the Malfoy family."

After saying that, Lucius glanced at Ryan and found that they did not show contempt like Sirius or Harry, the standard Gryffindors, and then continued: "Since the incident at the end of last semester, our family has been excluded from the circle of other pure-blood families, and all the wealth has been divided up."

"Under such circumstances, if the Malfoy family doesn't want to become like the Weasley family with nothing but a surname, I must take some risks to show my worth. And to be honest, Dumbledore and the Dark Lord are completely different people. If I die this time, I think you will definitely help the Malfoy family to continue."

"Besides, we are not the kind of people who hate Muggles from the bottom of our hearts. We don't have any principled conflicts with you." Lucius looked at Ryan and said seriously. "Of course, I'm not saying this to please you. Frankly speaking, the Malfoy family will only choose to join the side that is beneficial to them. In the past, the side that was beneficial to us was the pure-blood family and the old Ministry of Magic, and now it's you."

Lucius leaned back on the sofa. "Whether you believe it or not, these are my true words. As for what you choose to do, it's up to you."

Ryan and Hermione looked at each other, and then Hermione asked through the Phoenix Mark, "Ryan, do you think what Lucius said is true?"

"It's basically true." Ryan also answered. "The Death Eaters have almost divided up the Malfoy family's property. Even if the Malfoy family has hidden wealth, it won't be too much. As for the family knowledge, it depends on the person. The Weasley family also holds their inheritance, but didn't they live a tight life before the twins started their careers?"

"So now if the Malfoy family wants to maintain their pride, they can only make enough contributions in this war with the You-Know-Who, so as to ensure that they will receive enough rewards after victory. I know that their family is not a good family, but as pure profit-seeking animals, they are still trustworthy enough when their interests are aligned."

"Does that mean we can cooperate with him this time?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, but you have to be more careful." After using the Phoenix Mark to say the last sentence, Ryan extended his hand to Lucius Malfoy. "Then I wish us a pleasant cooperation this time."

"It's a pleasure working with you." Lucius also stretched out his hand and shook hands with Ryan, a relieved smile on his face.

(End of this chapter)