Hogwarts: Starting with full Unforgivable Curses

While everyone was still immersed in the illusion, Dylan began to slowly introduce them: "Look over there, everyone. The one nodding to me is Director Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She is the host of this award ceremony..."

As he pointed to the clearly identifiable figures in the illusion, he gave a detailed introduction to the nominees who had greeted him and the important guests he had met at the ceremony. The students listened attentively, occasionally letting out exclamations of admiration.

"So the Ministry of Magic has such a grand place..." A lower-grade student couldn't help but reach out to touch the tall armored statue beside him. But when his fingers passed through the cold armor and through the body of a "guest" not far away, he suddenly realized that all of this was not real, but an illusion created by Dylan's magic.

Inside the Great Hall of Hogwarts, the magical illusion of the awards hall constructed by Dylan had not yet completely dissipated. Runic characters in the air were still flickering slightly, mingling with the aroma of the dinner dishes that were about to be served. Just as the students were still immersed in the afterglow of the magical illusion, Headmaster Dumbledore slowly walked up to the high platform at the front of the Great Hall. The originally noisy hall instantly quieted down, and all eyes were focused on this white-haired old wizard.

He raised his hand in greeting, a gentle and familiar smile on his face, his voice clearly carrying to every corner of the auditorium: "In the blink of an eye, another academic year is about to end. Looking back on this year, there are too many unforgettable experiences worth remembering."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over every student present, especially the exchange students from the other two magic schools. "This year, we were fortunate to host the Triwizard Tournament, where young wizards from the three magic schools gathered at Hogwarts, writing wonderful stories with courage and wisdom."

"In this tournament, we have witnessed not only the extraordinary magical talents displayed by all the warriors in the challenge, but also a precious quality that transcends competition—unity." Dumbledore's voice carried a power that could touch people's hearts. "Initially, you came together because of the competition, but as time went by, you gained something more precious through cooperation and mutual support—sincere friendship, unspoken trust, and understanding and tolerance for companions from different backgrounds."

Upon hearing these words, the students present fell into deep thought. Those warriors who had personally participated in the "Triple Crown Tournament" were even more filled with emotion. The challenges and adjustments of the past few months flashed through their minds like a movie. Several warriors from the other two magic schools turned their heads almost at the same time, their gazes falling on Dylan at the Gryffindor table.

They vividly remembered the scene on the night of the Goblet of Fire selection. They arrived at the lobby one after another, ready to face the upcoming challenge. Dylan had mentioned at that time that the significance of the tournament might not only be about winning or losing, but also about mutual assistance and growth.

Moreover, in the various preparations and challenges that followed, Dylan consistently put this philosophy into practice—when encountering difficulties, he would proactively share his ideas; when seeing his companions in trouble, he would not hesitate to lend a helping hand. At this moment, when they heard Dumbledore's words again, they were filled with agreement. This trip to Hogwarts had indeed brought them far more valuable experiences than they had expected, beyond the three formal challenges.

Dumbledore bowed slightly and continued, "Here, I would like to pay my highest respects to all the warriors who participated in the Triwizard Tournament."

His gaze fell on the warriors, his tone full of praise, "When the third project ended, I believe everyone still remembers the composure and mutual support that you all showed."

"You have shown everyone through your actions that the core meaning of the 'Three Strongest Tournament' has never been simply about winning, but about breaking through and surpassing oneself in the face of challenges." His voice grew increasingly firm. "No matter who lifts the trophy in the end, as long as every warrior and every student can feel the power of fairness and unity in this process, then you are all the true winners of this competition!"

Sitting at the Gryffindor table, Anthony Goldstein turned to the side and lowered his voice to the classmate next to him, saying, "To be honest, Karkaroff's decision to run away was probably a wise one. If he were still here now, hearing the headmaster's words, he would probably be jeered at by the students."

Several Gryffindor students nearby nodded in agreement upon hearing this—after all, Karkaroff had placed too much emphasis on winning and losing during the Tournament, even to the point of condoning students to use unfair means, which was completely at odds with the ideals advocated by Dumbledore.

Dumbledore seemed oblivious to the murmurs below the stage as he continued, “However, the conclusion of the Triwizard Tournament does not mean we will forget this experience. I believe that the magical knowledge you have learned at Hogwarts this year, the various experiences you have had, and the challenges you have faced will all become the guiding force on your future path.”

His eyes were full of expectation. "Please remember, no matter what path you choose to take in the future, you will never be alone. Courage, wisdom, and friendship will be your most loyal and reliable companions throughout your lives."

At this point, he suddenly laughed, a hint of playfulness in his eyes: "Perhaps it's because there are so many guests here today, I've become quite talkative without realizing it. Well, finally, I have one more important thing to announce to everyone."

The students in the auditorium immediately perked up, eagerly awaiting what would happen next.

"This matter, naturally, is the one everyone is most concerned about: the outcome of the House Cup." Dumbledore paused deliberately, causing the students below to hold their breath. "In order not to delay everyone's enjoyment of the banquet, I will not repeat the specific scores of each house one by one, but directly announce the result—the winner of this year's House Cup is Gryffindor!"

This result did not cause too much surprise, after all, the college cup hourglass in front of the auditorium has been there all year round, and students would notice the changes in scores every day when they passed by.

Throughout the academic year, Gryffindor students excelled in all courses and activities, consistently achieving top marks.

As Dumbledore finished speaking, the students of Gryffindor burst into enthusiastic cheers. Students from other houses also stood up and applauded to congratulate them. Exchange students from other magic schools also joined in the celebration. The applause and cheers rose and fell, almost lifting the roof off the Great Hall.

Dumbledore looked at the lively scene before him and smiled with satisfaction. He raised his hand again and said, "Alright, everyone, please enjoy the end-of-school dinner tonight!"

However, his last words were drowned out by the thunderous applause and cheers. Dylan sat at the Gryffindor table, looking at the excited faces of his classmates and feeling the joy and unity in the air. Suddenly, he felt a little amused.

At this moment, this sincere friendship that transcends colleges and schools is perhaps the most precious treasure that Headmaster Dumbledore spoke of. The joyous afterglow of the closing banquet had not yet completely faded when Dylan and the others walked out of Hogwarts Castle with the crowd.

The morning air was moist with the scent of grass and flowers, cool yet refreshing.

After breakfast, the students of Durmstranger School of Witchcraft and Wizardry began packing their belongings to leave. Viktor Krum made a point of finding Dylan and the other Hogwarts warriors to say goodbye to each of them. During their conversation, Dylan curiously inquired about their return journey, and Viktor Krum explained with a smile, "The magical ship we're on has always been piloted by our students."

“Principal Karkaroff rarely participates in navigation. During voyages, he usually stays in his cabin, either handling school documents or resting alone. He only appears to meet everyone during mealtimes.” Viktor Krum’s tone was somewhat helpless. “So even if he chose to escape before, we were perfectly capable of independently piloting the magic ship back to the school without being affected in any way.”

Dylan asked a few more questions about their future arrangements and learned from Viktor Krum that all the Durmstrang students who came to Hogwarts to participate in the Triwizard Tournament were seventh-year graduates. They would not need to return to Durmstrang next school year, but would embark on new paths in life—some would go to work in magical institutions, while others would continue their studies and delve into the magical fields that interested them.

After breakfast, Dylan felt a bit bored, so he decided to take a walk on the lawn outside the castle to get some fresh air. As soon as he reached the edge of the lawn, he saw several giant carriages parked there. They were the official carriages of Beauxbatons School of Magic, and it was clear that the teachers and students of Beauxbatons were ready to leave.

Hagrid stood beside the carriage, intently examining the harnesses on the rune horses. He would occasionally pat their necks gently, soothing the large magical creatures in a low voice. Lady Maxim stood to the side, looking remarkably relaxed. She chatted with Hagrid while gently stroking the rune horses' smooth manes, her actions full of affection for the creatures.

Perhaps hearing footsteps, Mrs. Maxim looked up, her gaze falling on Dylan. She exchanged a brief word with Hagrid and strode toward Dylan.

Mrs. Maxim was tall, but her steps were quite light, and with each step she took, one could feel a slight tremor in the ground.

She quickly approached Dylan with a gentle smile and asked, "Mr. Hawkwood, is this a convenient time for you to speak with me for a few minutes?"

Upon hearing Mrs. Maxim's question, Dylan felt a surge of curiosity. Although he had met this headmistress of Beauxbatons a few times, they had never had an in-depth conversation. He couldn't really guess what she wanted to see him about. However, out of politeness, he nodded and agreed, following Mrs. Maxim toward Beauxbatons' giant carriage.

Beauxbatons' carriages were already known for their enormous size, but once inside, Dylan truly felt the magic of the Unseen Stretching Charm. The interior was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside, and the furnishings were exquisite. It didn't resemble a means of transportation at all; instead, it was like a mobile luxury hotel.

However, it's far too different from his world of suitcases.

Upon stepping into the carriage, the first thing that catches the eye is an exquisitely decorated reception hall. The floor is paved with mosaic tiles in shades of azure and gold, each tile polished smooth and translucent, forming intricate and beautiful patterns. A huge crystal chandelier hangs overhead, sunlight filtering through the carriage windows and making the crystal pendants sparkle, casting a warm and soft glow. The surrounding walls are adorned with classical oil paintings, depicting famous French landscapes—the winding Seine River, the magnificent Palace of Versailles, and idyllic rural towns. Each painting is delicately detailed and imbued with a profound sense of atmosphere.

To the right of the reception hall is a passageway leading to a spacious common lounge. The dome here is also enchanted; looking up, one can see a clear blue sky with a few white clouds drifting lazily by, making one feel as if they are in an open-air courtyard. The common lounge is fully furnished. Rows of tall bookshelves line the walls, filled with books in various languages. In the center area are soft velvet sofas and a round coffee table, on which sit several delicate glass vases filled with fresh flowers. In the corner is an extinguished fireplace, with firewood neatly stacked around it, indicating it was frequently used.

Mrs. Maxim walked ahead, leading Dylan through the common room to a double door at the end. The door was made of dark wood and carved with intricate vine patterns, giving it a dignified and elegant appearance. Mrs. Maxim bent slightly and pushed the door open with practiced yet restrained movements—clearly, she was already used to moving around in such a conventionally sized space.

Inside the gate was Mrs. Maxim's private office. The furnishings here were all of normal size, not much different from those in an ordinary wizard's office. If one had to find something special, it would be the choice of chairs—neither the chairs in the reception area nor the chairs behind the desk had backrests; instead, they were simple stools, seemingly designed to make it easier for someone of her tall stature to get up and sit down.

Dylan couldn't help but think of Hagrid's cottage. When Hagrid decorated his dwelling, he would always deliberately choose oversized furnishings to suit his tall stature. From tables and chairs to beds, everything was custom-made. Mrs. Maxim, on the other hand, was completely different. She preferred to choose furniture and utensils of standard size, as if she wanted to prove in this way that she was no different from ordinary wizards and did not want to be treated specially because of her size.

However, among these conventional yet exquisite furnishings, an ornament on a cabinet in the corner stood out. Dylan stopped and took a closer look, confirming that it was a voodoo doll—the doll's body was made of coarse linen, embroidered with intricate symbols in red thread, and its eyes were two black buttons, but there were no stitches or incantations attached to it, clearly indicating that it was a brand new doll that had never been used.

“Mr. Hawkwood, please have a seat.” Mrs. Maxim’s voice drew Dylan’s attention back. She gestured for Dylan to sit down on a bench in the reception area, while she herself walked to the bench opposite and sat down, her movements still restrained and without the slightest awkwardness.

After Dylan and his companion were seated, Mrs. Maxim turned and walked to a small table to make tea for Dylan. Her fingers were long and her nails were longer than those of an ordinary wizard, which came in handy at this moment. Her thumb and forefinger nails were like precise tweezers, easily picking up the small teacup and teapot handle with smooth and elegant movements, without the slightest clumsiness.

As she poured tea for Dylan, a gentle smile graced her face as she asked in a deep yet clear voice, "Mr. Hawkwood, do you have any plans to travel this summer?"

Dylan shook his head: "Mrs. Maxim, I haven't finalized my summer vacation plans yet. I might stay at home, or I might take some short trips, but I don't have any plans for long-distance travel at the moment."

In fact, Dylan knew that after winning the huge prize money from the Triwizard Tournament, Harry had already planned to go on a trip. He not only wanted to invite Ron and Hermione to go with him, but also specifically mentioned that he wanted to bring Dylan and a group of people they knew, showing that he was going to spend all the prize money and have a good time.

However, Harry's travel plans are still in the preliminary planning stage, and no specific itinerary or destination has been determined. After all, according to the previous agreement, Harry must first return to his uncle Dursley's house for a period of time during the summer vacation. This was the result of Sirius's repeated efforts. Allowing Harry to stay at the Dursley's house for at least a week is also the bottom line that Headmaster Dumbledore can accept. Dumbledore believes that maintaining contact with Muggle relatives has special significance for Harry's growth, even if the relationship is not pleasant.

Harry will be able to freely plan his summer vacation itinerary once this period is over, and Dylan has not yet made a final decision on whether to include him in his travel plans.

Mrs. Maxim handed the teacup she had prepared to Dylan. The tea was fragrant with a faint floral scent, clearly brewed from high-quality magical tea leaves. She looked at Dylan with a hint of expectation in her eyes and said softly, "I see... that's a real shame."

"Hmm?" (End of Chapter)