The day after the grand feast, we boarded the train back. The corridors of the Hogwarts Express were buzzing with a shared atmosphere of nostalgia and excitement for the start of the summer holidays.
Once again, the compartment I occupied was the most crowded, having expanded it via an Extension Charm. The girls settled down together to discuss their summer plans, though I couldn't help but sense a faint tension lingering in the air: several exchanged side-glances, silently questioning the group dynamic upon finding themselves gathered in this same space.
Despite everything, the journey passed amid laughter. We even received frequent visits from other students; my brothers and Harry popped in to say hello, and even Leah Jordan stopped by to thank me shortly before relinquishing control to Lee, who protested indignantly about the swapping before finally yielding the body to the old man's personality. Quite a singular spectacle.
Banter aside, the girls organized future meetups, looking for ways to bypass the objections of those purist families unhappy with their friendship with Muggle-borns like Hermione. The group remained solidly united, setting aside bloodlines and political stances; this would be one of the last periods of true harmony for a while.
Amid the general excitement, Ginny and Luna radiated a particular joy: they knew that over the coming months, they would have my near-exclusive attention.
The journey flew by, and soon we arrived at King's Cross Station. After disembarking, the time came for farewells in front of the families waiting on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The effusive hugs between students of such disparate backgrounds did not go unnoticed by the pure-blood houses, whose heads of family observed the scene with clear disapproval upon seeing their lineages mingling with opposing factions. Not even the fame harvested by the "Heroines of Hogwarts" managed to soften their misgivings; in certain circles, such notoriety actively worked against them.
Likewise, the discomfort was palpable whenever family glances landed on me. Following the death of Lucius Malfoy, my name had become a delicate subject: while some considered me a wizard of exceptional potential, others openly labeled me a dangerous element. I was well aware that more than one of the girls would receive a stern reprimand at home, accompanied by a harsh warning to sever ties with me and anyone else deemed "undesirable." But little did that matter at this point.
I limited myself to politely greeting a few adults—such as the parents of Hermione, Hannah, and the Patil twins, as well as Amelia Bones—before gathering with Ginny and Luna alongside our parents, who were watching us from an elevated spot on the platform.
My mother greeted me with her usual warmth, though not before scolding the twins when they began joking about "how hard I was making it for my girlfriend" with such a group of "girl friends." I chose to play innocent and let the hint pass. Fortunately, my parents didn't even entertain the possibility; after the Ministry incident, they treated me with blind indulgence, and Ginny enjoyed similar treatment thanks to the recognition for "rescuing" Percy.
With greetings concluded, both families set off on our return to Ottery St Catchpole. From that moment, the summer holidays formally commenced—a period that promised to be noticeably more eventful than anticipated for the Weasleys.
...
In the shadows, my gears were already in full motion.
Narcissa and Andromeda were doing an extraordinary job... perhaps a bit too efficient, to the point of setting off alarm bells across the political and merchant sectors.
The Black family was consolidating an unprecedented position of power, while the Malfoy house—destined "in theory" for decay following the fall of its patriarch—was experiencing an aggressive resurgence. Both factions were steamrolling commercial obstacles with overwhelming ease, expanding their operations at an unprecedented pace.
Those sectors that attempted to halt this rise through bureaucratic roadblocks, supply cuts, or even subtle sabotage failed humiliatingly. Each offensive served only to bolster the hegemony of both families, who responded aggressively by ramping up their advance.
By now, "The Dragons of Albion" stood as an institution far too influential to be shut down. A substantial percentage of the magical community depended on the services and innovations it offered; any attempt by the Ministry to impose sanctions triggered an immediate wave of public outrage. Even Gringotts, after attempting to contest the field when feeling threatened in the financial sector, opted to pivot strategies and formalize lucrative commercial agreements with the entity. The institution operated like a giant that managed its influence discreetly, and when its alliance with the Black and Malfoy families became evident—facilitated by the presence of the daughter of the head of House Black in its management—the power structure understood that traditional methods of containment were useless.
Even Cornelius Fudge himself had given up on taking the establishment head-on, limiting himself to sending formal invitations to preside over recognition ceremonies in an effort to build bridges. Beset by plunging popularity, the Minister desperately sought alliances to reinforce his position. However, to the Cabinet's frustration, "The Dragons of Albion" maintained strict neutrality, rejecting any attempt at governmental assimilation, expropriation, or regulation, leaving the Ministry with neither the legal nor political leverage to intervene.
In short, with the sheer volume of power and influence those pieces were providing, combined with Amelia's institutional backing and a series of subtle maneuvers directed from the shadows, my family soon reaped the benefits I was seeking... a long vacation for my family.
I arranged an extensive period of leave for my father under the cover of "the Ministry incident." Securing the combination of a temporary suspension alongside accumulated leave required a complex bit of work; I had to manipulate several intermediaries to prevent it from drawing unwanted attention.
Likewise, I discreetly secured that exceptionally large "prize" payout—making it far sweeter than it should have been—along with a mild subliminal push within the family environment, all tailored to build the ideal scenario for fulfilling the promise made to my two "sisters."
The climax unfolded one afternoon a few days after returning from Hogwarts. The day was drawing to a close, and the members of the household were scattered across the ground floor of The Burrow when my father returned from the Ministry after receiving a series of administrative resolutions. On one hand, the awarding of a financial prize of extraordinary proportions; on the other, confirmation of his suspension with full pay.
"Family..." Arthur announced with a stern expression as he crossed the threshold, taking off his work robes.
All eyes locked onto him. My mother paused the domestic charms washing the dishes; Fred and George froze mid-step on the stairs; Percy looked up from the tome he was flicking through on the armchair; Ron, subjected to a forced study regimen due to his poor grades, paused his quill; and I, sitting on the floor entertaining Ginny with a game of enchanted marbles, slowed my movements.
"I have an announcement to make," he continued, holding the tension of the moment before breaking his rigid expression with a wide smile: "We're going to Egypt!"
The news landed as an unexpected shock to everyone—except me. My mother, visibly disoriented, asked in confusion what he was talking about, prompting my father to excitedly detail everything that had transpired that day and our upcoming family vacation.
Within minutes, the room transformed into a flurry of conversation regarding preparations, weekend logistics, and the prospect of crossing the continent to reunite with Bill amidst the desert sands.
Excitement swept through my siblings, unaccustomed to trips of such magnitude given the well-known state of our family budget.
For my part, I limited myself to feigning the required awe and anticipation. Shaping events to this degree of precision without resorting to altering my father's mind had taken a great deal of effort: I not only inflated the amount of the awarded prize, but also ensured that his superiors and subordinates subtly suggested, in a seemingly casual manner, the wisdom of stepping away from the daily grind following the accumulated tensions with his children throughout the year. In a context marked by the incidents involving Percy, Ginny, and myself, the proposal of a breather outside the country proved irresistible.
Guaranteeing a whole month abroad was primarily my response to the commitment I had made to Ginny and Luna to give them their very own "adventure." Regarding the inclusion of the youngest Lovegood, Ginny's intervention saved me any need for prior maneuvering.
"Dad! Can we bring Luna with us?" Ginny piped up immediately, considering the girl to be akin to another sister. "We could go to Egypt together!"
"Ginny, that's..." my mother began to object, taken aback by the enthusiasm of the proposal.
"Well... I would have to consult the matter with Xenophilus..." Arthur replied, unable to hold firm against his daughter's insistence.
Even with enough capital to cover the young girl's stay, the final decision required her father's consent. Sensing the adults' hesitation, Ginny deployed a highly persuasive dramatic flair, adopting a touching posture that ultimately neutralized any remaining objections.
The following day, a meeting between both families was arranged. As a precaution ahead of that moment, I had visited the Lovegood residence to hand Xenophilus a considerable sum of Galleons. My relationship with him was as good as ever; he was even a regular client of "The Dragons of Albion" and was one of the few who knew quite a bit about me without being my own people—even if it was only partial knowledge. Despite the reservations that arose following Lucius Malfoy's death, I successfully mediated to preserve his trust. With those groundwork elements established, coordinating the trip met with no resistance.
Thus, when my parents arrived to formalize the invitation, Xenophilus not only accepted with pleasure, but also announced his intention to join the trip. Both families would share the itinerary, ensuring that Ginny and Luna enjoyed the journey in my company... and under the formal custody of the adults—a minor detail those two couldn't care less about.
In parallel, I notified the members of the girls' group about our prolonged absence. Although I would maintain a presence in Great Britain through the periodic deployment of clones, I deemed it prudent to warn them that physical distance would be greater during that period... mostly to the delight of my sisters, who wanted me all to themselves.
...
When the time for departure arrived, the luggage was packed for an extended stay. The corresponding warding charms were applied to The Burrow, and the automated maintenance mechanisms were programmed.
After meeting up with the Lovegoods, we traveled to the Ministry of Magic to process our departure from the country. My presence in the main concourse sparked an immediate whisper among the officials present, well aware of the memory of recent events. My parents made a point of flanking me during the walk, attempting to shield me from the stares and covert comments—a precaution that left me entirely indifferent.
Once the departure registration was completed in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, we commenced our transit through the Portkey network.
The Weasley and Lovegood families set course for Egypt.
...
[Main Campaign (Chapter 2: The Chamber of Secrets) Completed]
[Achievements Fulfilled]
[...]
[Rank Obtained: S]
[- Corresponding rewards distributed -
- S-Rank rewards and S-Rank classification can no longer be acquired -
- Other ranks and rewards can be obtained if the chapter is replayed -
- If a previously locked rank is obtained again, the rank and rewards granted will be those of the next nearest lower rank -
- If all rewards have already been obtained, the rank will correspond to the achievements of that playthrough, but the reward will be a default one -
- Shop updated -
- Data saved -]
(S):
>2,000 MC
>20,000 G
>+1% ??? Permanent - {Note 1: Does not stack with rewards from other ranks in this chapter.} - {Note 2: ???}
>[Skill: Parseltongue OR Poison Resistance] (Choose one)
>Crafting Recipe: Imperial Basilisk (Legendary Beast): Phoenix egg soaked in the blood of 100... incubated by... hatched on...
---///---
There will be no chapters next week—apologies, personal matters.