Hogwarts: Starting with full Unforgivable Curses

Clearly, Mr. Weasley's "love" for Muggle creations had been completely passed down to Fred and George. The brothers hadn't truly given up their ideas, but had only suppressed them for the time being, continuing to secretly observe everything in the cabin, trying to find a suitable opportunity to truly experience what it would feel like to stand on the wing of the airliner while it was flying high in the sky. As the airliner soared smoothly in the sky, Fred and George's hands and mouths were never still. One moment they would point to the air vents above their heads and whisper to Dylan, "Can I touch this thing?" The next moment they would study the armrests next to their seats, repeatedly touching the buttons on them, trying to figure out their functions. When they encountered something they didn't understand, they would immediately huddle up to Dylan for help, determined to get to the bottom of it. However, after going around in circles, their attention eventually returned to the airliner itself, and the curiosity and longing in their eyes remained undiminished.

Seeing that her two brothers had quieted down for a while, Ginny started chatting with Luna again, from the scenery of France to the local cuisine. Fred seized the opportunity and nudged Dylan, who was sitting next to him, with his elbow, signaling him to come closer.

“Dylan…” Fred lowered his voice, his tone tinged with a mixture of probing and curiosity, “How many steps do you think Muggles have to go through to build an airplane like this? It must be incredibly difficult, right? The parts and construction in the cabin look so exquisite, not rough at all!”

George, unusually, didn't immediately respond. He seemed to switch into attentive student mode, tilting his head slightly, pricking up his ears, and staring intently at Dylan, clearly eager to hear his answer and not wanting to miss a single detail.

Although Fred's question was rather subtle and did not directly reveal his true thoughts, Dylan immediately understood the brothers' intentions after a moment's thought. He remembered that Fred and George had a similar habit when they first started researching prank props.

Back then, the two of them would carefully save all their pocket money and then pour it all into the Bouncing and Playing Magical Joke Shop, buying all sorts of prank props and magical fireworks. They would take these things apart and study them until they completely understood the magical principles behind them. Then, based on these props, they would add their own creativity and ideas to create more unique prank props and magical fireworks with even more amazing effects.

"Attention all arriving wizard travelers, please look this way!" A voice with a heavy French accent pierced the slightly noisy space. His face showed undisguised weariness, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes, clearly due to long hours of work. His French Ministry of Magic robes were particularly eye-catching—completely different from the uniform pure black robes of the English Ministry of Magic. This one was a deep navy blue, the woolen fabric felt thick and crisp to the touch, with fine stitching at the edges, and an understated badge embroidered on the left breast, depicting a wand entwined with an olive branch, almost indistinguishable at first glance.

Ron, leaning against a stone pillar, slowly straightened up, his brows furrowed, muttering complaints under his breath: "I really don't understand why we have to use a key. Every time I land, I feel dizzy and lightheaded, even worse than being hit by Malfoy's spell."

As soon as he finished speaking, a series of voices echoed from the side. Hermione rubbed her temples, her hair a little messy, Ginny patted her knees, her face showing a dazed expression as she regained her footing, and Neville staggered, but was fortunately caught by Hannah beside him. The two looked at each other and nodded vigorously at Ron—clearly, the dizziness caused by the Portkey was making everyone miserable.

The Ministry of Magic has always been a bustling place, whether in England or France. The core reason for this is the existence of the International Wizarding Secrecy Act. Thousands of wizards work there, and their daily work is to closely monitor the boundary between the magical and Muggle worlds and prevent any accidents that might expose the existence of magic. This heavy responsibility keeps the Ministry of Magic in a state of high intensity.

The place Dylan and his party arrived at through the port key was not the main hall of the French Ministry of Magic, but an office specifically for transit passengers. The space was not small, but it was already crowded with wizards from all over the world. The air was filled with the smells of different perfumes, wand wood, and some kind of magical potion. The security check process was far more complicated than expected. The staff had to check identities, detect magical fluctuations, and inspect personal belongings one by one. The long queue stretched from the checkpoint all the way to the door of the office, and the progress was as slow as a snail's crawl.

Dylan and his group had no choice but to move slowly with the group, taking the opportunity to carefully observe their surroundings.

The English Ministry of Magic has always been known for its somber decor, with black marble floors and dark gray brick walls, exuding a solemn and oppressive atmosphere. The French Ministry of Magic, on the other hand, took a different approach. While maintaining the dignity of an official institution, it did not want to appear rigid. The walls here are made of fine wire and glass, with the wires intertwining like spreading vines to form smooth arched structures, making the entire space feel open and layered.

The wire frame is inlaid with diamond-shaped frosted glass pieces, each engraved with different patterns. When all the glass pieces are perfectly joined together, these patterns combine to form a huge star chart, with constellations such as the Big Dipper and Orion clearly visible. Between the star trails are patterns of magical animals such as dragon scales, bird and snake wings, and horned beast hoofprints. Upon closer inspection, every detail is exquisitely crafted. The entire office exudes the cold, orderly feel unique to magical institutions, yet these designs add a touch of lightness and transparency. In particular, the combination of the star chart and magical animals easily evokes images of mysterious alchemical traditions.

Most of the passengers in line looked impatient. Some complained in hushed tones about the slow check-up, while others frequently glanced at their magic watches. An atmosphere of anxiety permeated the air. But Dylan remained remarkably calm. He closed his eyes, his fingertips trembling slightly as he sensed the magical energy flowing in the surrounding air. The unique environment here allowed him to verify some of his previous conjectures. Those subtle fluctuations hidden in the air were valuable research material for him.

Unlike Dylan's composure, Fred, George, Ron, and the others were quickly infected by the emotions of the passengers around them. Fred kept kicking the ground with his toes, George winked at the front of the line, and Ron craned his neck, peering out from every corner of the office.

"Why is there no one queuing in that line over there?" Ron suddenly pointed to a checkpoint diagonally ahead, his tone full of doubt. "It looks like there are far fewer people there. Can we go over there?"

Fleur de la Cour glanced in the direction he pointed, then shook her head and explained softly, "I specifically asked the staff next to me just now. That passage is for private use only, open only to internal staff of the French Ministry of Magic and wizards with special passes. Ordinary travelers cannot use it."

Upon hearing this, Ron slumped his shoulders in disappointment, muttering, "What a hassle. If I had known it would be this troublesome, I would have preferred to stay in my Hogwarts dormitory."

George patted him on the back and said in an exaggerated tone, "Don't be such a spoilsport. Maybe we'll encounter something interesting during the inspection later—like discovering a secret hidden by the French Ministry of Magic, or running into a magical creature that speaks French?"

Fred immediately chimed in, "I bet a Galleon that during the inspection they'll pull out some really weird equipment, even more outrageous than anything from Weasley's Magic Tricks!"

The two tried to alleviate the boredom of queuing by joking back and forth, but the surrounding atmosphere was too tense. Even their jokes couldn't truly relax everyone. The queue continued to move slowly, everyone silently waiting for the upcoming security check. The reason for the check, which was required to be kept secret, shrouded everyone's minds like a fog. Seeing Ron's disappointed expression, Fleur Delacour added an explanation, her voice clear and gentle: "The reason for such strict security checks is to ensure the smooth running of the upcoming 'International Wizarding Federation Conference.' That less crowded passage is only for official delegates and staff participating in the conference; ordinary travelers cannot use it."

Ron's frustration deepened upon hearing this. His father, Mr. Weasley, had worked at the English Ministry of Magic for many years, and through his exposure to the ministry, he knew more about its rules and internal arrangements than his peers. He was well aware of how strict the restrictions on this special passage were. He pursed his lips helplessly, his shoulders slumped slightly, and his tone carried a hint of resignation: "Fine, looks like I'll just have to wait here."

Just as everyone continued to move forward a couple of steps with the procession, a slight commotion arose at the entrance of the office. Several wizards dressed in different styles of magical robes walked in. Leading them was a French Ministry of Magic employee, who was turning to the side and whispering something to the person next to him. This group of people were clearly Ministry of Magic officials who had come to attend the conference. Their demeanor was completely different from that of ordinary travelers; their steps were steady, and their expressions carried a serious air of official business.

Just as the group was talking in hushed tones, a sharp alarm suddenly rang out at the front of the private passage, shattering the tranquility within. Everyone's attention was drawn to it, where a wizard dressed in a dark green magic robe stood before the security checkpoint archway, his face somewhat grim. The French Ministry of Magic employee in charge of the inspection was speaking to him with a serious expression. After a moment, the wizard reluctantly opened his magic pouch and took out two oval eggs—the eggshells covered with dark gold patterns, clearly rune-patterned snake eggs, which were classified as controlled magical items. The employee immediately took out a specially made storage box to seal the snake eggs, and then led the wizard to an office on the side of the passage, obviously for further questioning.

"It seems the security equipment here is indeed very sensitive." Hermione said to Ginny beside her in a low voice, her eyes filled with admiration.

Soon it was Dylan and his group's turn to be checked. Dylan was holding a black, kitten-like creature in his arms. The little guy's black bean-like eyes curiously looked around. Dylan, holding Coal Ball, passed through the check smoothly. As soon as they stepped out of the archway, Coal Ball immediately reverted to its lively nature. It gently rubbed against Dylan's fingers and let out two meows.

Dylan smiled and turned around, saying, "Someone recommended a place to stay to me. It's a country cottage in the suburbs. With so many of us, the magic hotels in Paris are either too expensive or too small, and it's inconvenient to squeeze together. This cottage should be a good choice."

"That's great!" Fred immediately leaned over, his eyes lighting up. "Living in the suburbs is so comfortable! We can even have some small activities in the yard, it'll be much more lively than being cooped up in a hotel in the city!"

George nodded repeatedly, agreeing, "That's right, that's right. It's more fun when there are lots of people together, and the environment in the suburbs is definitely quieter than in the city, which is perfect for a good rest."

Upon hearing the specific address, Furong Delacour smiled knowingly and nodded slightly: "So it's a country cottage in this area. When I was planning the trip, I paid special attention to the accommodation options there. The environment and space are indeed very suitable for a group of us traveling together. This will save us a lot of time in screening and confirming, and will also free up more time to arrange the rest of the trip."

After speaking, she turned to Harry, Ron, and the others, her gaze sweeping over each of their faces, and asked gently, "How are you feeling now after the Portkey teleportation and the security check? Are you tired? If you're all exhausted, why don't we focus on resting today and head straight to that little house to settle down? We can plan the rest of the itinerary tomorrow."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Fred put his arm around George's shoulder, his face beaming with energy, and said loudly, "George and I are full of energy right now, we don't feel tired at all!"

George immediately followed up on his brother's words, his tone slightly teasing about the queue: "As long as we don't have to stand still and slowly move around, whether it's walking or doing something else, we'd be happy to do it!"

Neville turned to look at his parents beside him. Frank Longbottom and Alice Longbottom were looking at each other, their eyes showing no signs of fatigue, but rather a hint of curiosity about their new surroundings. He then turned to the group and said, “I think we can wander around the neighborhood a bit more. My parents have only recently recovered and would like to see more different sights.”

Hannah immediately nodded in agreement, a gentle smile on her face: "I don't feel tired at all. Getting more familiar with the environment of the French Ministry of Magic will make it easier to travel in the future."

Dylan and Luna exchanged a glance, and then Dylan said, "We have the same idea as Neville and Hannah. Why don't we take a walk around the Ministry of Magic first, and roughly decide where we want to go in the next few days, such as magic shops and historical sites, so that we can make a preliminary itinerary?"

Hermione earnestly suggested, "I think we can find a restaurant for lunch first. Several hours have passed since we arrived here using the Portkey, and everyone must be hungry. After we've filled our stomachs, we can discuss the rest of the itinerary more thoroughly, and we'll be more energetic."

Hermione's reminder immediately made Harry feel a pang of hunger in his stomach. He nodded in agreement, "You're absolutely right, I do feel hungry now. Why don't we find a place to have lunch first, and then discuss where to go next? That would be more efficient."

Everyone agreed, and Fleur Delacour, seeing this, smiled and said, "Then let's head to the Ministry of Magic Hall first. After we leave there, there are several very nice magical restaurants nearby, with excellent food and ambiance."

Having said that, she led the group towards the end of the passage. Passing through a stone door engraved with magical runes, the main hall of the French Ministry of Magic instantly came into view, far more magnificent and imposing than the previous transit office. The hall's dome still featured the construction of wire and frosted glass, but on a larger scale. The wire weaving was more intricate, and the diamond-shaped frosted glass panels had a more layered feel. A huge transparent sphere hung at the center of the dome, inside which floated the emblem of the French Ministry of Magic, radiating a soft and solemn light under the surrounding magical illumination. (End of Chapter)