Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 800 Now, the banquet begins.

The glow of dawn gradually faded.

A few wisps of crimson clouds floated atop the tower. The light of the sky hadn't completely faded; the western sun slanted across the campus, tinging even the edges of the green grass with a warm rosy hue. Wild roses bloomed in the courtyard, their fragrance intoxicating. Two slightly plump cats lay on the grass, meowing softly, their fluffy tails swaying gently, enjoying the cool shade with obvious ease.

The year-end banquet has officially begun.

The seventh-grade students arrived early and, instead of scattering around the tables as usual, chose seats in the front row, close to the temporary stage, for easy access to the ghost play.

Loren encountered Nick, who was almost headless, and Myrtle, who had stopped crying. He smiled and nodded at them, flew around the Gryffindor table a few times, and then retreated to the ground to continue rehearsing.

It's 6:30.

The auditorium gradually became lively, with a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere.

The professors arrived early tonight as well. Instead of immediately taking their seats at the head table, they dispersed around the long tables of each house, greeting the seventh-year students and occasionally strolling around other houses. Dumbledore, who was also there to join in the fun, was also there. Wherever he went, there was a cheer. Even Professor Snape sat at the Gryffindor table for a few minutes.

"I was bored earlier, so I sat with the lower-year students for a while. Besides hearing them talking about Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore, I also heard some people talking about Professor Snape." Loren and Hermione, who were sitting in the front row, whispered in her ear, "They said that Professor Snape was away for two years, and none of the new students who entered during those two years were targeted by him. They actually had a pretty good impression of him. He was taciturn, and when he swore in his papers, he didn't use any swear words. Some people even thought he was cool."

"If we weren't in the same year and house as Harry..." Hermione paused, "we probably wouldn't have been targeted."

"..."

Loren fell into deep thought.

The desserts and drinks prepared by the house-elves were not enough to fill their stomachs, but they were a good way to kill time before the dinner officially started. Some seventh graders used the excuse that they would not be able to eat them later to eat and take some, even stuffing them into their pockets, which was very undignified.

Loren didn't care what others thought. Relying on the spatial pendant, he stuffed several cakes and puddings into the food.

Two little witches in third grade sat next to her, their eyes frequently glancing towards the main guest seat, whispering to each other.

"I heard Professor McGonagall is speaking tonight..."

"Yes, I've heard that too... Professor McGonagall also gave the Sorting Ceremony last year. Did you know that Dumbledore has submitted his resignation to the Board of Trustees and appointed Professor McGonagall as the next Headmaster?"

"Is it confirmed?"

"My dad works at the Ministry of Magic and is in charge of liaising with the Board of Governors, so it can't be wrong. Dumbledore retired, Professor McGonagall took over, and my dad also said that Professor Snape will be next."

"Professor Snape of Slytherin!"

"Yes, he infiltrated the Death Eaters and completed the intelligence transmission in the early stages of the war. He has also made great academic achievements and may even receive the Order of Merlin. The Ministry of Magic officials have no objection to this..."

"He's so cool!"

"Although he has a cold expression in class, he will answer any question."

Loren took a bite of the strawberry mousse, his eyebrows furrowing.

Looking up at Professor Snape in the main seat, I saw him turn his head to look this way, still expressionless, with a slightly cold look in his eyes, as if he were mocking me... The students are all being deceived now, and the other professors don't even expose him. In a few years, no one will remember his true colors anymore.

The banquet officially began.

Compared to the opening banquet and Christmas banquet, the year-end banquet is not as grand.

The hall was only slightly decorated, with a banner in Gryffindor colors hanging on it. The candles were leftovers from previous banquets, floating in the air of varying lengths and colors, their flickering light creating a unique aesthetic. The magical dome reflected the summer night sky, with a half-moon and countless stars.

"Ding ding..."

Professor McGonagall tapped her wine glass with her spoon: "Children, quiet down, please be quiet."

The lively commotion gradually subsided, and all eyes in the Great Hall focused on Professor McGonagall. Only a few oblivious students then noticed that she was seated in the very center of the main seating area. She turned to look at Dumbledore, who winked at her and gave her a gentle smile.

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and stood up:

"I have a few words to say before the dinner officially begins."

"Another year has passed, and you have all gained knowledge, grown physically, and matured in mind and soul compared to the previous year. All the Hogwarts faculty, including myself, are very honored to witness your growth."

"Compared to the past, not only Hogwarts, but the entire wizarding world has ushered in a long-awaited peace and tranquility. Our families no longer have to worry about attacks by dark wizards every day, nor do we have to stay at home out of fear of danger..."

The students at the long table are in two states.

The older students looked on with emotion, grateful for the peace they had today and reminiscing about the times that were gone forever.

Countless years ago, at the year-end party, they sat in this very auditorium, listening to professors and principals recount the legendary stories of the school: Professor Quirrell, possessed by Voldemort; Professor Lockhart, who stole others' adventures with the Oblivion Charm; Professor Lupin's hasty departure; and Crouch's sudden disappearance...

The younger students stared blankly at the empty metal plates, their eyes unfocused, longing for the delicious food to appear. They remembered those days, though not as vividly. Every year, students entered Hogwarts, and each cohort had its own legendary story.

Loren lowered his voice and said to Hermione, "Look, Dumbledore's mouth is moving. He's urging Professor McGonagall to tell some corny jokes, to keep quiet, and to start eating quickly."

He just yawned.

"You don't understand. This is applying the technique of chanting spells to speaking. It's very fast; you finish speaking as soon as you open your mouth."

"I really hope you can learn this skill too."

"Um?"

Loren turned his head, paused for a moment, and said, "Are you being sarcastic?"

"Is there?"

Hermione tilted her head and asked in return.

"..."

Loren frowned, secretly glancing at her expression, pondering to himself.

"Here, I need to announce something to you."

Professor McGonagall suddenly raised her voice, drawing all the students' attention. She paused, then said, "Like the seventh-year students, Headmaster Dumbledore will also be leaving Hogwarts this year to embark on a new journey. The entire faculty, including myself, offers our sincerest blessings."

A tidal wave of noise instantly engulfed the entire auditorium.

Although they had known the news in advance, the students still chattered when Professor McGonagall made the announcement. But when they looked up and saw that smiling, gentle face and those soft, azure eyes, their chaotic thoughts seemed to be drawn away, and all the chatter gradually subsided.

"hehe……"

Dumbledore stood up, looked around, and laughed before he began to speak: "I have a very long and self-satisfied speech, which is interspersed with 38553 jokes that I collected from 1270 joke books. Just thinking about these jokes makes me laugh."

"..."

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips.

The other students had mixed expressions.

Dumbledore winked mischievously: "But I'd like to put those jokes aside for now."

"You did the right thing, Principal!"

"Yay!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience; this was their Headmaster Dumbledore!

"Regarding this speech, I've consulted many friends. Some suggested giving you some advice on life, others said magical techniques would be more practical, and still others wanted me to reveal my hot calorie recipe... But at this moment, as I attend the year-end banquet at Hogwarts for the last time as Headmaster, if I were to say anything to you, it would be..."

Dumbledore paused briefly, then suddenly raised his voice:

"Now, the banquet begins!"

……

Cheers and screams mingled, slaps and table-pounding mingled, countless joyful sounds converged and resonated like thunder, thousands of candles flickered, casting shadowy light throughout the hall. The magical dome overhead seemed to sense the same excitement, the stars trembled, the moonlight swayed, the entire castle was bidding farewell to the headmaster in its own way.

Various delicacies appeared out of thin air on the golden plates, and pale golden champagne appeared out of thin air in the stemmed glasses, with fine bubbles floating around. After drinking, the glasses were refilled.

After an unknown amount of time, the students filled their stomachs, and their excited and eager feelings resurfaced. The discussion first gathered in a small area, and then gradually spread, with lots of chatter.

At the head table, the professors did not stare at any particular student or even make any obvious gestures to look at them, in order to avoid making the student feel uncomfortable.

Professor McGonagall picked up her glass and swirled it gently. "Severus, the financial accounting is complete. After deducting the school's fixed teaching expenses and the portion invested in the school-run businesses, there is a surplus of 40,000 Galleons."

"..."

Snape turned to me, his gaze complex. "Minerva, I understand you're excited to be the new headmaster, but do you really want to talk to me about work right now?"

"I see you've finished eating."

"If you're wondering where to spend this Galleon, I suggest using it all to build a potion lab. It will benefit the school's teaching and research, and the research results can be used to fund our business."

"Does your lab need that much gallon?"

"So many can be used."

"It's not necessary to use this many," Professor McGonagall listed them one by one. "We also need funding to repair the castle, renovate the owl huts—I plan to upgrade the huts into towers—and expand the greenhouses, and purchase new Quidditch brooms..."

"Where is my Spell Research Center?"

Professor Flitwick, who was sitting to the side, suddenly turned his head and asked.

Professor McGonagall gave Snape a look. Snape paused briefly, then cleared his throat. "Felius, we all agree that the investment in Charms research is too large, and there are no plans to establish a research center this year."

"Oh! That's discrimination!"

Professor Flitwick shouted, "Greenhouse, laboratory, even the Transfiguration practice room—you all have your own projects, but my Charms is the only one that's lacking! I'm going to report you all to Dumbledore! I'm a major subject too!"

"..."

Dumbledore listened to the noise around him, slowly sipping his wine, his cheeks flushed with a slight buzz, and a faint smile playing on his lips.

……

"This is only available at Hogwarts, right...?"

"Only house-elves can make this..."

"Only magical flames can control the heat."

With such thoughts in mind, you end up eating until you're stuffed without even realizing it.

At the head table in the college, Loren leaned back slightly, relaxing his bloated stomach, and said to Hermione, who had a slightly teasing look in her eyes, "Let me tell you, although my cooking skills are no worse than those of the elves, the key to making delicious dishes lies in the details. Once we graduate, it will be hard to find such dishes again."

"You may not care now, but a few years after you graduate, you'll miss this taste. You'll regret it so much you won't be able to sleep, wondering why you didn't eat more back then."

"Try them all while they're still piping hot."

"Hey, I'll feed you."

"..."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

The year-end banquet was lively. The seventh graders were a little different from the other grades. They still smiled brightly when they were laughing and talking, but when they were alone, they became quiet and looked a little lost.

Even when watching Nick and Myrtle's play, the area was much quieter with less chatter and laughter.

Loren and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor dining table, able to hear their Hufflepuff classmates next door. Justin said, "My parents think the wizarding world is too primitive and won't let me pursue a career in wizardry. They want me to go back to Muggle society. I don't even know if they'll recognize my Hogwarts diploma..."

This is the dilemma of Muggle-born students.

Dean turned around: "I'd also like to work in the Muggle world."

Seamus, who had always longed for adventure, was now somewhat troubled. He held up a glass of wine, which was actually water turned into wine, with only the aroma of wine but no taste: "I love magic, but these jobs are either shop assistants or taking care of dragons. They say that with the Death Eaters and Voldemort completely gone, the Ministry of Magic will only have mundane jobs for many years to come, and Gringotts' anti-curse officers are always abroad..."

Parvati sighed, "My mother wants Padma and me to go back to work at the Indian Ministry of Magic. It's even more chaotic there than Albania. There are lots of evil wizards and evil Muggles. I heard there's a cleanup operation every year, and if things go smoothly, you can get promoted quickly. But we don't want to go back."

"That would be great."

"Thrilling and exciting, and close to home..."

Simo gritted his teeth in envy, unable to suppress the melancholy in his heart. He tilted his head back and gulped down the richly fragrant wine with a resolute posture, feeling like a sorrowful bard.

"Gurgle..."

The bard's expression suddenly changed.

Oh no, this is real wine!

They forgot they had already learned that magic.

"Tsk..."

Loren grinned.

The younger students looked at them with a hint of envy, a sense of anticipation and longing for graduation welling up inside them. Little did they know that these graduates were just as envious of them being able to return to the school after the summer break.

In my memory, everything about graduation is filled with an indescribable beauty, a mix of melancholy and anticipation for the future, and regrets for certain youthful stirrings, all blending into a faint smell of alcohol, slowly brewing in the years and memories.

The wonderful years of my student days, which are hard to define, have come to an end.

(End of this chapter)