A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts-Chapter 728: Side Story - Five Years Later - (1)

Five years have passed in a blink of an eye, and it's summer again.

"Time really flies," Mrs. Bones said with a smile, sitting on one side of the sofa. Across from her was Hermione, who had just returned from abroad after ending her two-year duty as an observer for the International Anti-Magic Federation. Dressed in formal attire, her hair pulled back, she exuded a capable and efficient aura.

"How does it feel to travel around the world?" Mrs. Bones handed her a cup of tea.

"Wonderful," Hermione grinned, sipping the hot tea and moaning in satisfaction. Then, she sighed, "It feels like I've used up a lifetime's quota for traveling. Unless there's a really good opportunity, I plan to stay in the country from now on."

"That's actually good news," Mrs. Bones said with a tone of relief. "You can come back and continue being my secretary. It was chaotic without you, with so much work and all sorts of things to handle."

Hermione pouted at her.

"Is that all I can do? Be a secretary?"

Mrs. Bones laughed.

"Oh, you want to be the Minister of Magic, ambitious girl. That does give me some comfort, especially in the current situation..." Seeing Hermione's puzzled look, she explained, "Scrimgeour is getting old, he might retire before me. The same goes for others like Sinistra, and old Crouch who adopted a nephew from a side branch last year and has rarely been seen in the department since; other senior officials are only good in one area, such as Ludo Bagman, Phineas Nigellus, Arthur Weasley..."

"...The requirements for the minister are getting higher nowadays. I have to keep learning and try to deal with all aspects." She said, slightly annoyed, "Someone stays in school and won't come out. I've written to him several times, but he always brushes me off."

"Are you talking about the professor?" Hermione perked up.

"Yes," Mrs. Bones said bitterly, then softened her tone, "I can understand Felix's approach. He seems to want to distance himself from the public, like Dumbledore after 1945... As the most important deterrent force in the present world, his personal image has become vague. The Swordbearer, that's what people call him."

Hermione nodded slowly, understanding Mrs. Bones's words more deeply after her recent experiences.

Wherever she went, people were keen to pry into the professor's private life. When she selectively shared trivial life details, people would show utter shock and surprise, as if myths had invaded reality. One person's response made a deep impression on Hermione:

"Is that true? Mr. Hipe sat down and had dinner with you? Didn't you feel pressured... and he even drank wine occasionally? And he's good at dancing? Ah, I always thought he was a—a—" The person gestured in the air and then trailed off, apologetically saying, "Sorry, I've only seen him on TV and in newspapers, and I also have a magic newspaper, about the night of the floating island bonfire, it's now turned into a small city..."

But Hermione knew: In that person's—or many people's—eyes, the name Felix Hipe had long ceased to represent a specific person. It was more akin to an abstract symbol, a law, a rule, an impression that would become increasingly ingrained over time.

Five years ago, when the grand maritime Christmas bonfire party on the floating island ended and life returned to normalcy, the magical and non-magical worlds began to negotiate and integrate orderly. Though there were bumps along the way, no major conflicts occurred. Everything was peaceful. Half a year later, their class graduated from school; Harry and Ron chose to travel around, while she dove into the Ministry of Magic's heavy workload.

There was so much to clarify.

Politics, economy, culture, law, education, art... Yes, even art. One of the first things Miss Granger did after joining was to receive an international art troupe that moved to England—the exhibition was inspired by Professor Hipe's super magic left in New York Harbor. Although Hermione had seen related pictures in the newspaper before, she had to admit the artists' chosen angles were tricky enough. She stood in front of a six-meter-long panoramic photo wall titled 'Art of the Gods' for a long time. The caption explained that this piece, pieced together from thousands of photos, not only encompassed a grand view of the city but also cleverly integrated hundreds of details.

Moreover, a painter's statement read, "If there truly is a god, he appeared on December 24, 1997, gently turning the direction of human destiny."

But Hermione knew 'divine beings' also had their troubles. Such as grading student papers,

finalizing the first batch of scientists to ascend the floating island, picking out full-month gifts for Muggle friends...

Recalling this, Hermione took a sip of tea, hiding the urge to roll her eyes.

What did the professor say at the time?

"I'm not very good at this. I've asked Sirius, Remus, even Harry, but they had no idea what gift they hoped for their first child, let alone Severus... So, help me out, Miss Granger."

This happened just after the New Year, when those asked were busy beyond measure, none planning to marry anytime soon, especially Harry—expected to marry Ginny by the end of this year (2003).

"Is little Rosalie doing well?" Hermione asked.

"Very well," Mrs. Bones hummed through her nose. "Sirius often takes her to visit Harry and Lupin. Before I leave work every day, I have to check where my husband and daughter are using the communication mirror. Honestly, I'm not used to being called 'noble mistress' by a house-elf, and neither is Sirius, but he seems to find it amusing..."

Hermione smiled lightly. Rosalie was named after Sirius's brother, Regulus. Born just before Lupin and Tonks's first child three years ago, and with Bill and Fleur's child a year older, the three little ones made perfect playmates.

Leaving the office, Hermione felt relaxed.

Mrs. Bones had given her a month's vacation, "Many people you know, many places you're familiar with, have changed a lot. Go around and see, then come to work full of energy, the position of the head of the Minister's Assistant's Office is waiting for you."

She visited the Auror's office, where the staff expressed surprise and welcome at her return.

The office was divided into many small compartments, with the Aurors' names and their job responsibilities and content posted on the outer side. The inner walls were plastered with work-related and aesthetically pleasing wanted posters, family photos, and recent news clippings, creating a dizzying and diverse visual feast.

Hermione quickly found Harry, Ron, and Neville's spots based on memory, but all three chairs were empty.

"Potter and Weasley were rotated to maintain order on the floating island, and Longbottom is investigating a case of potion ingredient smuggling," an Auror nearby told her, his face covered in a beard, looking like a shrunken Hagrid. "You know, as the list of potions suitable for ordinary people's constitutions grows longer, smuggling has become more frequent..."

Hermione nodded slightly, well aware of the smuggling issue mentioned by the Auror, now a headache for magical governments worldwide. But the black market trade was definitely most rampant in the Americas—a consequence of the 'drill' incident years ago.

And then there was the Future World Company, whose headquarters had moved to the floating island earlier than the Federation—now the headquarters of the International Anti-Magic Federation, merging with the latter half a year ago after Arkimbalde's retirement and Professor Hipe's appointment. Over the years, the island's population gradually increased, with magical governments regularly sending Aurors to maintain order.

"What about Tonks? Oh, she must be on the island, with Lupin. And Collins?"

"Tonks reported to the department half a year ago to apply for permanent residence on the floating island, since her family is there. As for Miss Fawley," the bearded Auror showed a knowing smile, speaking solemnly, "Let me describe how it happened. Weasley wasn't supposed to participate in the routine patrol, but he spoke out of turn at the last gathering, claiming Collins was the one who pursued him..."

"Er." Hermione covered her face, fully imagining what happened next—Ron fleeing in panic, Collins chasing with a knife.

Her gaze passed Harry's spot (where his and Ginny's photo was, both riding brooms, Ginny in the Holyhead Harpies' uniform), and Ron's compartment had two separate photos. The desk was cluttered with documents, seemingly pushed to the corners to make room for the chessboard in the middle. It was a wizard chess set, with pieces bouncing lively. If not for a glass cover resembling a fish tank, they might have run out everywhere. A note on the glass warned: Dangerous item, do not touch.

Hermione's pupils flashed a silver light, seeing the dense magical symbols on the chess pieces.

"He hadn't finished before I left," she remarked nostalgically.

"What? Oh!" The bearded Auror enthusiastically said, "The famous 'Knight' Weasley, and the 'Stag' that shares the origin with the floating island's sky-covering Ouroboros guardian spirit, the 'Longbottom' who can enter dreams, Malfoy who established the first wizard-Muggle joint hospital, Lovegood who discovered multiple magical creatures... And of course, Miss Granger, these years have truly

seen a rise in talents." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

He then lowered his voice, "Your return is timely. I've heard some rumors: Mrs. Bones plans to resign as minister, and these next few years might be when she's looking for her successor..."

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"It's true!" The bearded Auror hurriedly said, "I heard Potter will soon be promoted to head of the Auror Office, Weasley transferred to the Muggle Affairs Department, and Longbottom in charge of smuggling cases, but he seems to have other plans, often seen at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade..."

"Thank you, Tartar," Hermione said, "I think it's too early to consider these things. Kingsley is an excellent wizard."

"Oh, Kingsley..." The bearded wizard seemed a bit lost, "You're right, he's suitable in all aspects."

Leaving the Ministry of Magic, Hermione wandered the streets of London. Magic seemed to have quietly found its place in this city, as if it had always belonged. She entered a bookstore and saw Dumbledore's benevolent face on a shelf—Harry and Efias Doge's joint biography, adorned with a purple ribbon, proclaimed "Bestseller for three consecutive years."

But today, another magic book took the central spot, making Hermione look puzzled at the name: "Harry Potter." The giant poster beside it explained everything, with the young face of Marfalda Prewett beaming, "Exclusive revelation of the real magical school life, unveiling a corner of the legend from key figures' perspectives. Based on the author's three-year observation for firsthand material (years five to seven), complemented by interviews with the subjects and eyewitnesses... The first movie of the same name premieres on June 25."

Hermione was stunned.

Memories flooded back, Marfalda actually wrote Harry into a book, he must be furious... I wonder what I'm like in the story? She glanced at the nearby calendar, today was precisely the 25th.

She picked up Dumbledore's biography and "Harry Potter" (having read the former many times), hesitantly also taking a book by Sybill Trelawney, "The Lion and the Firebird." She wasn't interested in Trelawney's book, nor surprised why the rambling seer's book was openly displayed in a Muggle bookstore—perhaps she occasionally demonstrated her prophetic talent, Hermione thought.

What really intrigued her was the endorsement on the book cover:

"Mars has always been associated with war and conflict. When it's closer to us, those talented and naturally sensitive individuals are the first to be affected—Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, Tom Riddle (Voldemort), Felix Hipe, including the author herself—all their birth dates verify this pattern. Now that this day is upon us again, what changes will it bring?"

"Mars." Hermione chewed on the word, then scoffed, "Old fraud."

But she still took the book to the counter to pay, casually stuffing the three books into her beaded bag. The clerk, intrigued, asked, "Wizard?" "Hmm." "Can you help me?" the clerk asked again, "I'll give you a discount."

Hermione stared at her in surprise.

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