Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 814 Extra: Nineteen Years Later

Diagonal Alley entrance.

The flat, cobblestone street meandered forward, lined with all sorts of strange and wonderful shops. The potion shop was filled with eerie smoke, looking somewhat sinister, as if luring young and ignorant wizards in to brew potions from their flesh and bones.

Occasionally, people would hurry in and out of the shop.

Imogen opened his clear, bright eyes, full of curiosity about everything around him, and would occasionally peek into the shop. Emeris was a little shy, pretending to look around the shop, but actually secretly glancing at the other races.

Wizarding Street is one of the most bustling and vibrant places in the entire New World, while Diagon Alley is a trendsetting hub, bringing together a chain of stores from across the wizarding world. Wizards come here to shop, Pukki and giants occasionally come to buy daily necessities, and Diagon Alley is also the best choice if other races want to sell their goods.

The fairies were deeply dissatisfied with the wizards' decree to expel Gringotts, and sometimes they would sell their handcrafted items in exchange for glittering gems and gold. For the wizards, who were skilled in alchemy, the fairy-made artifacts were a novelty.

With the help of the International Federation of Wizards, Diagon Alley became a renowned trading center in the New World.

Neville silently pondered.

I heard that Senior Deputy Minister Granger is planning to expand Diagon Alley, renovate the adjacent Flip Lane, demolish all those messy shops, and build a larger and more comprehensive commercial center.

The shops in Diagon Alley will definitely appreciate in value by then. We might as well close our own boutique, sublet it, and collect rent. This will free up my parents from the shop so they can go explore the new world with Headmaster Dumbledore.

"..."

Nawei looked around at the shops on both sides of the road.

The sunlight of late summer and early autumn shines down, and the shop signs above shimmer and dapple. The names are still the same, but the style is completely different. The colorful glass tubes glow at night when they are infused with magic, giving them a Muggle neon vibe.

On the right is Madam Malkin's Robes Shop. I heard that Madam Malkin retired a few years ago, and her niece took over the shop. The main customers are still Hogwarts students.

It used to be Yila Pet Shop, originally a shop specializing in owls, but now it has become a full-service pet shop... It's all Loren's fault. Ever since the popularization of communicators, paper letters have become a thing of the past, and owls have been affected by this and have basically transformed into deliverymen.

At the end of the road stands a white building, formerly Gringotts, now called the "Wizards Union Bank," directly under the Ministry of Magic and administered by Senior Undersecretary Granger.

Neville silently looked away and lowered his head to look at the back-to-school checklist.

The same familiar pale yellow envelope, emerald green ink:

Personal Equipment: A magic wand...

Ollivander's Wand Shop is still in the same location, but the original Mr. Ollivander has retired. The new shop is run by the young members of the Gregorovich family, and there are many more combinations of wood and wand cores. At first, it caused quite a few laughs, but it has only stabilized in recent years.

"Uniforms: Three sets of plain black wizard robes, a black pointed hat, a black winter cloak..."

The Hogwarts student uniforms are still the same, unchanged for hundreds of years, and you can find them all at the robe specialty shop.

"Teaching materials and teaching aids: The school will purchase them at its own expense and distribute them centrally after the start of the school year."

"Oh……"

Neville couldn't help but smile.

After more than a decade of reforms, thanks to the efforts of Headmaster McGonagall and Headmaster Snape, Hogwarts established its own businesses, completely breaking free from the constraints of the Board of Governors. Even students from impoverished families could access brand-new textbooks. After all, books and teaching materials didn't cost much; annual alumni donations could cover the cost.

The alumnus who donated the most over the past decade was Dumbledore.

"Wow……"

Imogen found everything fascinating, his eyes sparkling. He turned to the herbalism professor and asked, "Uncle Navie, what should we buy first?"

"A magic wand, please."

"Can we buy ice cream first?"

"Hmm...okay."

"Thank you, Uncle Nave!"

What flavor would you like to eat?

"We all want chocolate, remember to get one for little Algi, he wants vanilla..."

Neville agreed with a smile.

Emeris walked silently beside him. Little Algi was Uncle Neville's child. Last winter, he foolishly went to lick the iron fence, which Imogen tricked him into thinking it tasted like ice cream.

……

Manchester, UK, Dalton Institute.

A project team is celebrating the addition of a new member.

Following the person in charge into the laboratory, the newly joined member quietly looked around the office, appearing somewhat uneasy. This was not because she was introverted; the main reason was that she had gone through three security checks in a row, and the security personnel seemed to be armed, with demeanor and bearing like military personnel.

Transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffractometer, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analyzer... all kinds of instruments bear the marks of long-term use, and the outer shells are even peeling. At first glance, they may seem like outdated instruments, but upon closer inspection, they are clearly the most advanced equipment in recent years.

Marjorie Carver, who had just graduated with her doctorate, silently recalled the information about the laboratory.

Although it is a research group that doesn't get much exposure at the university, it manages to raise sufficient research funding every year and doesn't need to report its research progress and results to anyone. However, it is extremely strict in controlling its members, and joining or leaving requires a very complicated review process.

"Because the company has been established for a relatively short time, the recruitment of members is strict, the salary and benefits are generous, and the working environment is relaxed and comfortable, so no members have left yet."

The female researcher named Alice turned to the new member and smiled: "I've read your paper. You're not bound by reality and dare to propose outlandish hypotheses, even though they lack basic evidence. However, we all admire your unique way of thinking. I believe that once you understand our research, you won't easily give up."

"So, what exactly are we researching?"

"We don't usually call it by its name in the group; we use code names. Some call it endless energy, some call it supernatural flames, or mystical matter. Just pick one you like..."

Alice led her inside, to the deepest part of the laboratory, where they stood in front of a medium-sized metal safe.

Marjorie slowed her breathing, already sensing something was amiss.

After a rigorous and complex unlocking process, the safe quietly opened. There were no valuable materials or paper documents, only a golden flame floating off the ground, burning silently.

I prefer to call it, the Wizard's Gift—

"Ancient Flame of Bula".

……

September is the start of the school year.

Hogwarts students still took the Sorting Express back to school. To adapt to the new world environment, the train was modified and the route was optimized, shortening the journey from half a day to three hours. Vice-Headmaster Loren Morgan also moved the Sorting Banquet to noon, and the afternoon was used to distribute textbooks and clean classrooms and dormitories.

Since the enactment of the "Elf Liberation Act," the school's staff system has also been reformed. Several retired Aurors were hired as security guards, and several older witches were hired as cooks. Cleaning work was contracted out to teachers and students, supposedly as a form of labor education.

When Loren and the others entered the Great Hall, Headmaster Snape was sitting in the main seat, and the Herbology Professor was organizing the new students to line up. The Sorting Hat was placed on a low stool in front of them, and they could vaguely hear it humming a melody.

"Good afternoon, Headmaster Snape."

"Ha! Someone almost missed the Sorting Ceremony because of a date."

"What do you mean by 'for a date'?!"

"Oh."

"I was discussing the upcoming Goblet of Fire competition with Deputy Minister Granger."

"Oh."

"There's no way to explain this to an irresponsible principal like you."

Ignoring his attitude, Loren turned to call out to Deputy Minister Granger and her assistant, a young witch named Delphi Malfoy.

It must have been the year he took over as professor of Transfiguration. This young witch graduated from Slytherin House with excellent grades in all subjects and entered the Ministry of Magic. She was outstanding, hardworking, and very tactful in her dealings with others. She then rose through the ranks to become Hermione's assistant.

"..."

Loren couldn't help but grin, leaned close to Hermione's ear, and whispered, "Just thinking about Draco having such a big daughter makes me want to laugh."

Hermione ignored the person and focused her gaze on the new student.

The two children huddled together. Emery stood in the corner with his head down, looking introverted and shy, but actually secretly observing everything around him. Imogen was surrounded by many children: Albus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy… and when Agil starts school next year, there will probably be even more followers.

As the Sorting Hat song ended, the Sorting Ceremony officially began.

"Scorpius Malfoy!"

"Slytherin!"

"Albus Potter!"

"Slytherin!"

"Emeris Granger!"

"Gryffindor!"

"Imogen Morgan!"

"Slytherin!"

"..."

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. She turned to say something to him, but a piece of pudding blocked her way.

Loren smiled and fed the animals himself.

That's their story.

(End of this chapter)