Hogwarts: Lacus doesn't want to be a witch who destroys nations.

Chapter 112 The Banquet

Professor Slughorn's argument that "remaining neutral allows one to share in the fruits of one's labor" reached its climax a few days later at the Slug Club gathering.

The party was held in Slughorn's luxurious reception room, where the air was filled with the sweet scent of honey, baked pudding, and expensive fragrances. On the bright green carpet, the ever-changing candlelight spun on the ceiling, and a band of house-elves played overly cheerful tunes in a corner.

The long table was piled high with delicacies that would never be found in the Hogwarts Dining Hall: a mountain of caviar gleaming coldly, a chocolate fountain covered in gold leaf, and ever-replenishing silver platters filled with exotic fruits from all over the world.

The invited students gathered in twos and threes, their clinking glasses and deliberately loud laughter echoing throughout the room.

It was as if Grindelwald was really far away from them.

"Ah! My dear children!" Professor Slughorn's booming voice carried a deliberate air of joy.

His chubby face beamed with a smile. "Look at this perfect atmosphere! How exhilarating! Especially on this special day!"

He waved his chubby hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.

The band stopped playing at the right moment, and everyone's eyes were focused on Slughorn and Lux, whom he had affectionately pulled to his side.

"Tonight," Slughorn's voice was filled with pride, as if displaying a rare treasure, "we gather here not only to continue the tradition of the Slug Club, but also to celebrate a rising star of our Hogwarts! A talent so exceptional that, even before she graduates, her portrait will hang permanently in the castle corridors, standing alongside the most distinguished scholars of Hogwarts—Miss Lux!"

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted, interspersed with a few gasps of surprise.

Lux felt her cheeks burning and tried to force a smile appropriate for the occasion, but her gaze involuntarily searched through the crowd.

She saw Tom standing among a group of Slytherins and pure-blood family members. After exchanging glances with Lux, he simply raised his crystal glass in greeting across the noisy crowd.

"Not only that!" Slughorn clearly wasn't finished showing off. He waved his chubby hand, pointing to several distinguished adult wizards on the other side of the office. "Tonight, we also have several outstanding alumni of our Slug Club who have returned to their alma mater to join us in this grand occasion! Let me introduce them to you—"

He enthusiastically introduced his "collection" as if reciting a menu, mostly consisting of new and high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Magic, as well as a famous Quidditch player.

After his introduction, Slughorn, beaming, concluded, "Look! This is the power of the Slug Club! A bridge connecting the past, present, and future! From the classrooms of Hogwarts to the pinnacles of the wizarding world!"

"Lux, my dear child," he turned to Lux, his voice filled with expectation, "I believe your future will be as brilliant as theirs, perhaps even more dazzling! Let us toast to Miss Lux and the glory that will soon hang in the castle!"

"For Miss Lux!" the crowd responded in unison, the crystal glasses clinking together with a crisp sound.

Lux couldn't stand the scene, especially at this time of day. She carried her cup to a corner, intending to eat some of the expensive snacks to mask her emotions.

"This sparkling water tastes like drinking liquid molten gold, so luxurious it's unsettling, isn't it?" A slightly teasing, cool voice sounded beside Lux.

Lux turned her head and saw Miranda walking over at some point. Her long, silver-gray hair was loosely draped over her shoulders, and the ordinary round-framed glasses on her face made her stand out as particularly plain amidst the glittering jewelry in the room.

She handed Lux ​​a glass of golden liquid that was also bubbling with tiny bubbles.

"Miranda? You're here too?" Lux asked, somewhat surprised, as she took the cup.

Miranda took a sip of her drink and looked out the window.

"It's so cold outside it could freeze a house-elves' ears off, but inside it's so warm it makes you want to doze off," she said meaningfully.

"Congratulations, your portrait is on the wall. Professor Slughorn really went all out this time, even bringing in a rising star from the Ministry of Magic." Her gaze behind her glasses swept over Slughorn, who was engaged in a lively conversation, and then over the group surrounded by several younger students.

Quidditch star patiently signing autographs.

"Just an empty reputation—" Lux swirled the glass in her hand, then drank it down in one gulp.

It really does have a luxurious taste.

"Hopefully, Professor Slughorn's ship of joy will continue to sail. He seems to thoroughly enjoy being the most dazzling navigator on board, no matter what lies ahead, whether it be an iceberg or a reef."

Lux didn't answer, but simply raised her glass and lightly touched the rim of Miranda's glass, making a barely audible crisp sound.

The banquet ended in a lively atmosphere, but the atmosphere inside the castle had changed.

In the hallway, the students' whispers shifted from Quidditch scores and gossip to vague descriptions of the European situation in the Daily Prophet and veiled anxieties in letters from home.

Some students from prominent families, especially Slytherin, wore a strange expression that was a mixture of tension and excitement, as if they sensed an impending change. Students from other houses, on the other hand, were more confused and vaguely fearful.

Vera practically became Lux's little shadow, seemingly afraid that she might be kidnapped by some vampire or dark wizard if she wasn't careful.

Eve, on the other hand, became a mobile source of horror and a center of attention in Gryffindor Tower. She spent most of her time quietly in Dumbledore's office or imitating Lux reading in the common room, but she would still show inhuman vigilance and a hint of wildness when faced with sudden noises, rapid movements, or especially when someone accidentally got close to Lux's neck.

Lux had to contribute more blood each day to keep Eve stable, which made her already pale complexion, caused by anemia, even worse.

After a few days of this seemingly peaceful but actually oppressive life, Lux could no longer sit still.

The rune at the bottom of the lake kept drawing her attention. Grindelwald had already obtained a keystone rune, and she couldn't fall too far behind. At the very least, she had to investigate and eliminate any hidden dangers within Hogwarts.

She went straight to the vice-principal's office one afternoon. Dumbledore seemed to have expected her to come, as there were two cups of steaming honey tea on the table.

"Good afternoon, Miss Lux." He looked at her through his half-moon spectacles with his deep blue eyes, his gaze gentle yet seemingly penetrating. "It seems that the daily routine at Hogwarts hasn't been very relaxing for you."

"Professor, I can't wait any longer." Lux got straight to the point, skipping all pleasantries. "I must go back to the rune at the bottom of the great lake. I wasn't prepared enough last time, but with your help this time, I'm sure I'll succeed."

Dumbledore nodded slightly, not immediately answering whether he agreed or not, but instead pushing a cup of tea in front of her.

"Regarding the runes you mentioned," I've consulted some extremely obscure texts and engaged in some meditation and perception over the past few days.

He said slowly, "The power systems they contain are ancient and peculiar, completely different from any other magical school I know. Lux, you seem to have an extraordinary affinity and understanding of them. In your opinion, what is the essence of these powers? Where do they come from?"

Lux felt a pang of anxiety; she knew she couldn't avoid this question.