Gabrielle was very unhappy.
Attending Hogwarts should have been a joyful experience, but having her sister there made all the difference.
Over the past two years, her sister had become increasingly strict, controlling every aspect of her life. Now that she was going to become a teacher, with an additional layer of authority, wouldn't she become even more severe?
For a moment, Gabrielle felt her future school years stretching before her in utter darkness. The little girl turned to Wayne, her large eyes sparkling with a plea for help.
But now even Wayne couldn't assist her - he couldn't possibly push Fleur away, could he?
Thus, the little girl sulked until Monsieur Delacour returned. As for Madame Delacour, due to her Veela heritage, she was currently recuperating in the Veela tribe while carrying her child.
Seeing Wayne's arrival, Monsieur Delacour was absolutely delighted, pulling him aside to relentlessly inquire about the details of his duel with Grindelwald.
In his younger days, Monsieur Delacour had been an enthusiastic duel enthusiast himself, though his skills were rather lacking, limiting him to being merely a spectator.
Regarding Wayne and Grindelwald's duel of the century, his curiosity had long been unbearable.
Of course, Wayne had to satisfy his future father-in-law's request. He produced a Virtual Brain Machine and let him watch the recording directly.
Even when the House-elves had finished preparing the meal, the look of astonishment hadn't faded from Monsieur Delacour's face.
This style... could they still be considered wizards?
Seizing the opportunity, Fleur mentioned Wayne's earlier proposal.
Monsieur Delacour collected himself and fell into deep thought. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Is Fleur really suitable to be a professor? She only graduated a year ago."
Fleur's expectant face darkened instantly, her shimmering silver hair seeming to lose some of its lustre.
"Papa!"
"Fleur, this is about being responsible for the students," Monsieur Delacour said seriously. "Although what's taught in the early years at school may seem simple, it's precisely the crucial period for building foundations."
"If your standard isn't sufficient, you wouldn't just be holding back one or two students, but hundreds, even thousands. Can you truly shoulder such responsibility?"
Hearing this, even Fleur began to doubt herself.
Overwhelming pressure washed over her, and the young girl instinctively turned to look at Wayne.
"Don't worry, sir," Wayne said, taking her hand with a smile. "I wouldn't have invited her if I didn't understand Fleur's capabilities. After all, as Headmaster, I'm also responsible for the students."
"Whether it's Charms or Transfiguration, Fleur is more than qualified to teach lower-year students."
Only then did Fleur regain some confidence, her eyes lighting up. "Can I teach Charms? Transfiguration is too difficult - I don't want to be driven mad by the students."
She had been working as a Transfiguration teaching assistant at Beauxbatons for the past six months, and there were times she genuinely wanted to split open those young wizards' heads to see what was inside.
"Either is fine," Wayne didn't refuse, since he hadn't managed to recruit any new professors anyway - Fleur could choose whichever position she preferred.
"In that case, I approve."
Knowing that Wayne wouldn't joke about such matters, Monsieur Delacour didn't persist further. Fleur let out a happy cheer.
Gabrielle, however, slumped back in her chair, the light completely fading from her eyes.
It's over!
...
Over the next two days, Wayne brought both sisters to the Veela forest to visit Madame Delacour, while making some transactions with the Veela tribe along the way.
To construct a floating city, possessing a core power furnace is merely the most basic requirement. This essentially involves building a city from scratch, one that requires many specialised materials.
A floating city not only needs defensive magical arrays but also the capability to retaliate. Additionally, functions such as air purification and weather control require vast amounts of materials to be piled on.
Just glancing at the list of items made Wayne's head spin.
Many of the materials couldn't even be found in this world.
Fortunately, he could start with a basic version and expand it gradually over time. Otherwise, even if he obtained the core, he could only stare at it helplessly.
Although the Veela had no habit of collecting ores, they had been rooted in these mountains for centuries and maintained contact with nearby magical races.
Using them as intermediaries, Wayne exchanged potions and daily necessities for a considerable amount of ores and herbs.
Then, on the third day, under Fleur's resentful gaze, he boarded a plane bound for Japan.
...
In the blink of an eye, most of the Christmas holiday had passed, and the new year had arrived.
Early morning.
At the Greengrass family castle, Astoria was hiding in her room, staring wide-eyed at the souvenir Ho-Oh had brought back—a snow-white fox, fluffy and utterly adorable, its fur colour matching Astoria's hair perfectly.
It was a Snow Fox, capable of creating illusions and bewitching minds.
The Muggle world of Japan had many legends of fox spirits and snow maidens, which were actually Snow Foxes driving away hunters who invaded their territory.
However, due to their high aesthetic appeal and the unique hallucinogenic properties of their fur, the Snow Fox population had dwindled, becoming an endangered species.
Gazing at the Snow Fox's fluffy, soft fur and its pitch-black, gleaming eyes, the wealthy young lady's eyes sparkled with delight.
It was just too cute!
"How about I call you Snow White from now on?"
After thinking for a long time, Astoria finally came up with a fitting name—well, essentially just "Snow."
Upon hearing this, the Snow Fox merely yawned lazily, swished its tail, and narrowed its eyes comfortably.
It had originally thought that man would keep it as a pet.
Because it found his aura comforting, it hadn't used illusions to drive him away and had even revealed itself willingly, hoping to secure a long-term meal ticket.
But who would have thought that man could be so heartless? After just two days of playing with it, he had a large bird carry it off to a foreign land and transferred its custody to this woman.
What a scoundrel!
The little Snow Fox let out an indignant chirp, which Astoria mistook for agreement. Overjoyed, she sat in a seiza-like posture and was about to cuddle Snow White in her arms when faint sounds of an argument drifted up from downstairs.
They were on the third floor. For the noise to reach them, it must have been quite loud downstairs.
Frowning, Astoria picked up Snow White, opened the door, and stepped out.
The Greengrass family had indeed received some uninvited guests.
"Rowle, Carrow, Lestrange..."
In the drawing-room, Madam Greengrass sat at the head of the table, her gaze coldly sweeping over the individuals before her. "I never imagined that fugitives like you would dare to seek out an official of the Ministry of Magic. Aren't you afraid I'll call the Aurors to arrest you all?"
"Greengrass, after all, you were once my senior and Slytherin's pride." Rodolphus Lestrange, Bellatrix's husband, showed no trace of panic. "I believe you're intelligent enough not to do anything foolish."
"Do you think numbers alone give you an advantage over me?" Mrs Greengrass's gaze was icy, yet her expression betrayed no fear despite her words.
Though unskilled in combat, the safeguards she had were sufficient to reduce these individuals to ashes.
Her hesitation stemmed from wanting to understand their motives.
"Just old friends catching up," Rowle grunted. "Greengrass, by blood relation, you're still my cousin."
"Would you truly help the Ministry against your own kin?"
Mrs Greengrass looked at him as if he were joking. "Pure-blood families have more relatives than they do Fwoopers. Speak your piece quickly - I want no association with you."
After two rebuffs, Lestrange and Rowle turned their attention to the sister among the Carrow siblings.
"Aren't you curious who helped us escape, Greengrass?" Alecto Carrow asked.
"Oh?" Mrs Greengrass feigned interest. "You'd tell me?"
"Of course." Alecto smiled confidently, her expression turning fanatical. "The Master has returned. He's subdued the Dementors and rescued his suffering servants."
"The Dark Lord?" Mrs Greengrass continued playing along, showing feigned shock before quickly regaining composure. "So Dumbledore was telling the truth. What has that to do with me?"
"The Greengrass family never participated in your conflicts before, and we won't now."
"Have you fallen so far, Greengrass?" Lestrange said angrily. "Dumbledore presses pure-blood families at every turn, Slytherin students are targeted by him and Lawrence at school - don't you find this disgraceful?"
"Hah, those are your family's children. Astoria is Lawrence's fiancée." Mrs Greengrass straightened slightly, quite satisfied with her choice of son-in-law.
"He only covets your family's wealth and status," Alecto persuaded. "Join us. The Dark Lord greatly admires the Sacred Twenty-Eight - the world will be ours to rule."
"Betrothing your daughter to a Mudblood like Lawrence only taints the family's purity."
"And if I refuse?" Mrs Greengrass inquired.
"You should consider your two daughters carefully," Rowle sneered, drawing his wand threateningly.
Having dared reveal the Dark Lord's return, they wouldn't let Greengrass leave unscathed.
Either join as Death Eaters or be silenced permanently while they plunder the castle.
"Rost, dispose of this rubbish."
A cold young woman's voice echoed from outside the drawing room. Mrs Greengrass's face paled, but before she could prevent Astoria from entering, the doors shattered and several thick tentacles slithered inside.
"What the devil!" Lestrange shrieked, firing spells that blasted away the tentacles charging toward him. But the number of tentacles kept increasing, and their defensive capabilities were remarkably high. Their spells could only blast away segments, which would regrow in the blink of an eye.
Boom!
The doors were completely crushed open as Astoria stepped through the gap, still holding the Snow Fox in her arms, her pretty face filled with rage.
"Ah!"
A scream erupted from the Carrow brother's mouth as he was bound by tentacles. The terrifying pressure snapped multiple ribs in his body. What horrified him even more was that the tentacles were dragging him toward the squid's gaping maw.
"Save me! Save me!"
The others were too busy protecting themselves to care about him. Seeing Astoria, Alecto shouted, "Kill that little girl! She's controlling the squid!"
"How dare you!" Mrs Greengrass instantly flew into a rage. She had just raised her wand toward Alecto when Astoria moved faster than her, extending a finger from which a ring shot a red light that struck Alecto like lightning, exploding her into a cloud of blood mist.
"Ah!"
Lestrange and Rowle were so disturbed by this sight that they forgot to defend themselves. They were tightly bound by the attacking tentacles and then delivered into the squid's mouth.
In the blink of an eye, three of the four previously arrogant Death Eaters had become fishing bait, while one had been utterly annihilated.
"Well done, Rost." Astoria stroked the squid's slimy skin. Rost made strange whimpering sounds as its body slowly retracted back into the box.
"Astoria..." Mrs Greengrass rushed over to hug her, still shaken. "That was too impulsive of you. How could you kill someone? Leave such things for me to handle."
"But they were speaking ill of Wayne."
Astoria buried her face sadly in her mother's chest. "I couldn't control myself. They actually said Wayne was... was!"
The wealthy young girl couldn't bring herself to say the word, growing even more upset.
Mrs Greengrass quickly comforted her by stroking her hair: "It's alright, I understand. Leave it to Mother from now on. Mother won't let them get away with it."
"Mhmm."
Astoria nodded gently.
Daphne, who had heard the commotion from upstairs, arrived at that moment. Seeing the largely destroyed drawing room and adjacent rooms, she was about to ask what had happened when a sudden noise erupted from outside the castle.
Astoria's face changed, "It's Mia. Could there still be enemies outside?"