Gandalf looked at the joyful atmosphere filling the Great Hall, at the innocent children laughing freely, and the smile on his face never once faded.
He said cheerfully to Galadriel beside him,
"This is truly wonderful, isn't it, my lady?"
Galadriel, warmed by the lively scene, also smiled, her radiance softening into something gentle.
"This kind of joy," she said softly, "I have not seen anywhere else. So carefree and full of life… even the Blessed Lands cannot compare in this moment."
Then she glanced sideways at Gandalf, amusement brightening her eyes.
"So this is why you chose to stay at Hogwarts, Mithrandir? As a wanderer, neither Rivendell nor Lothlórien could hold you, yet now you are willing to remain here. I truly did not expect it."
Gandalf laughed heartily. His eyes, full of kindness, rested on the children beaming and chattering below.
"These children are the hope of the future," he said gently.
"What I admire most about Sylas is not his clever creations, but this, founding a school of magic, and giving all these children a chance. Wizards, Dúnedain, elves… and perhaps others in the future. When they grow up, they will become a powerful force against darkness and evil.
I have already glimpsed the coming of a golden age of magic. Even if Sauron were to rise again, he and his shadows will find no victory here."
Galadriel nodded slowly. Her deep eyes shone with ancient wisdom, as if she too had already seen that future.
But then a faint crease formed between her brows.
"Yet we must protect the minds of these children," she said gravely.
"We must not allow Sauron even the slightest chance to corrupt them. Not one child must be lured into darkness."
She spoke from deep history.
The mighty Númenórean Empire, greatest of men, had once defeated Sauron again and again, even taking him captive. And yet, through deception and corruption, Sauron brought that entire empire to ruin.
Sauron's deadliest weapon was never brute strength, it was the corruption of the mind.
And now that Hogwarts was growing stronger and producing more wizards, it would inevitably draw his attention. If he found an opening to corrupt them… the consequences would be unthinkable.
Gandalf fully understood her concern. He nodded.
"You are not wrong, my lady. That is also one of the reasons I chose to remain here. I believe Narya's power alone can keep the castle untouched by darkness."
Then he looked toward Sylas, his gaze warm with admiration.
"And we can trust Sylas. He has wrought many miracles already. I am certain he has prepared for this as well."
Galadriel followed Gandalf's gaze.
She saw Sylas caring for Arwen tenderly, and her expression softened.
Meanwhile, Sylas, who was busy offering Arwen a golden cup of warm milk and urging her to drink more, had no idea that Gandalf and Galadriel were discussing him.
Arwen had now been pregnant for over two years, and according to elven gestation, she was expected to give birth early next term, around March of the following year.
Because she was carrying twins, her belly was quite large. Though Arwen still walked with light steps, Sylas was cautious with her every move, terrified she might slip or fall.
At Sylas's urging, Arwen finally agreed not to continue teaching next term, entrusting her courses to her grandmother Galadriel.
Elven pregnancies required immense energy, the unborn children drew on their mother's magic and strength, leaving her weakened.
Carrying twins placed even greater strain on her body.
Elrond had already prepared large quantities of potions and nourishing draughts to ensure his daughter remained healthy. Madam Amanda, the finest healer in the school, stayed in the castle around the clock to monitor Arwen's condition.
Sylas worried even more than all of them.
To nourish Arwen, he specially brought out Frost Dragon meat and asked Galadriel to invite the finest elf chef from Lothlórien to prepare it properly.
He also designated a golden cup for her daily use, a cup imbued with magic and life force.
Sylas used it only for Ent-draughts and Alavu bison milk, determined to ensure Arwen's strength and the babies' health.
Under Sylas's meticulous care and constant attention, Arwen had experienced none of the usual discomforts of pregnancy, aside from her gently swelling belly.
With the end of the year-end banquet, the school year officially concluded.
The next morning, the students left the castle and rode carriages down the mountain to Hogsmeade.
Parents who had received the notice were already waiting. Many children who hadn't seen their parents for months immediately leapt from the carriages and threw themselves into their parents' arms.
After saying goodbye to their classmates and friends, they all returned to their homes.
Now that every household had a Floo-connected fireplace, most students could simply step into the flames and walk straight home.Alternatively, they could take the Knight Bus, as long as they knew their destination, the bus would take them anywhere, even to places outside the Floo Network's reach.
Children like Adam Bailey, who lived in Hogsmeade, didn't even need Floo Powder; they just walked home.
Some didn't go home at all, choosing instead to run off to Diagon Alley for magical snacks or play with friends until dusk.
Naturally, they returned to find their parents waiting with stern faces… followed by a loving lecture.
Once the students were gone, Hogwarts Castle returned to its peaceful, quiet state.
Most professors also left for the summer, traveling back to their homes.
Even Gandalf resumed his wandering journeys, riding Shadowfax across distant lands. He wouldn't return until the next term.
Sylas felt a bit unsettled by the sudden silence, but his attention quickly returned to Arwen.
She was now deep into the late stages of pregnancy, and at such an important time, Sylas had no intention of focusing on anything except caring for her.
Mordor — Barad-dûr
A white-robed phantom materialized inside the tower, bowing deeply before the shadowed figure upon the throne.
"Master, what do you command?"
Sauron's burning red eyes glinted with satisfaction as he regarded the spectral form kneeling before him.
"Saruman," he said coldly, "I will give you a chance at revenge. Go to Hogwarts Castle and infiltrate it."
His voice echoed like iron striking stone.
"Your tasks are threefold:"
"First, discover the whereabouts of the One Ring. Even if Sylas does not possess it, it must be connected to him."
"Second, seize the Philosopher's Stone. With it, your body can be restored. You will rise again and regain your power."
"Third, I shall give you a Ring of Power. With it, corrupt the wizards in secret, especially the young ones. I want Sylas to taste betrayal from the very students he has painstakingly raised."
Saruman's ghost lifted his head slightly.
At the mention of Sylas's name, hatred flooded his eyes, deep, venomous, and unending.
Even though he was now bound to Sauron and nothing more than a servant, he vividly remembered the moment Sylas killed him… and his hatred burned like poison.
He hesitated.
"Master, Hogwarts is Sylas's stronghold. It is protected by countless enchantments… and Sylas himself is no ordinary wizard. I fear I will be discovered the moment I approach..."
Sauron cut him off with a flick of his hand.
"You need not worry. I have already devised a method. Even if you stand before him, Sylas will not notice you."
Saruman stared in shock.
"Master… what method?"
A cold smile spread across Sauron's unseen face as his gaze pierced the tower walls, stretching westward, filled with dark calculation.
"Sylas's school recruits children with magical talent. Those students have just returned home, and the castle will reopen in two months."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Find a child. Possess his body. Disguise yourself as a student… and walk into the castle."