Amortaste originally intended to have Remus and Sirius take Harry and the rest with them immediately after they left the orphanage and returned to the wizarding world the next morning.
But these people seem to have agreed on one thing, insisting to stay here for another day. He originally thought that they didn't give up and still hoped to ask some questions about Bat-Chaokoui from him, but in fact, they didn't ask anything. On the extra day of staying, they tried their best to help the orphanage. Perhaps, they wanted to express their apology for coming here without permission in this way.
However, they did not have dinner at the orphanage, and it was only before they left that Remus found the time to talk to him about the current difficulties faced by the Alchemy Workshop.
"--On the other side, there is also a prosperous magical civilization in America."
Amortaste mused, after listening to Remus' narration, he probably guessed what happened. The American magical council repeatedly questioned the safety of their product sales, is nothing but, the head of the relevant leading departments have some ideas about the workshop's profit.
In business, that is actually quite normal.
Over here in Europe, fairies intentionally or unintentionally associated this alchemical item with Remus' promotion and publicity campaign. His name is still quite useful in Europe, but across the Atlantic Ocean in America, he is not necessarily feared to that extent.
"We can't give up the vast market over there."
Amortaste said slowly.
"Well, Remus, when you apply for entry into the American magical council, please also submit an application on my behalf. I think I have to go there personally---"
"No problem, Amortaste, that would be the best thing to do ---"
Remus nodded, his smile tinged with a hint of bitterness.
Amortaste wanted to personally go out of hand for several reasons. On the one hand, he was afraid of the complex environment of the magical society over there. On the other hand, this trip was inevitable and he would have to deal with the American magical council. As a werewolf, he might be disregarded and watched by others.
Hermione, who was listening to Professor Brain's conversation with Remus, pulled her mouth slightly and showed a bit of dissatisfaction.
Professor Brain plans to go to the United States, which means he will have to take leave and miss classes again for the first half of the year.
This year's Christmas holiday was the most time he had spent at the orphanage since he graduated from Hogwarts, until the children in the orphanage went back to school, he only packed his bags, leaving quietly in the dead of night on a night when no one knew him.
The storm is coming, and the darkness is returning.
Disorder will come first, followed by war, and these are events that are bound to happen. Neither Amortaste nor Dumbledore has the confidence to control the scale of the war. This war is sure to affect the Muggle world. In the remaining scarce peaceful time, Amortaste hopes to spend more time with the children and staff here.
The Christmas holidays for Muggles are longer than those at Hogwarts. When Amortaste returned to Hogwarts, the school had already been in session for four days.
The winter cold comes abruptly and goes away as slowly as taking off silkworms.
The snow on the Hogwarts campus was still as thick as when he left, except that it was covered with chaotic footprints. The Black Lake was still frozen solid, but along the lakeside, near the embankment, there were miniature ice castles.
These ice castles, which are about the size of Filius and Hagrid in height, were mostly poorly crafted with twisted and bent shapes that lacked aesthetic appeal. Amortaste saw at a glance that these were the work of young wizards.
Even during his time in the Muggle world, he had been reading The Daily Prophet regularly.
During the Tri-Wizard Tournament, he and Dumbledore had created an eye-catching ice castle for the Christmas ball, and this had spread throughout the British magical world, causing countless wizards who had not witnessed it in person to be regretful.
But strangely, when the newspaper mentioned the creators of the ice castle, it only mentioned his name and did not mention Dumbledore.
This is not because Amortaste privately gave a large sum of money to the editor-in-chief of The Prophet, Gubei.
Perhaps, for more than half a century, people have become numb to Dumbledore's achievements. People need freshness, and The Prophet has understood this, so they have lavished him with praise.
And after the exaggerated reporting by The Prophet, wizards who had thought they had seen through Amortaste·Brian's magic were once again amazed by his exquisite magical skills.
During the Christmas holidays, Professor McGonagall sent him a copy of "Today's Transfiguration" where almost half of the articles are from renowned scholars in the magical world discussing how difficult and unbelievable it is to create such an impressive ice castle.
In the midst of hot topics, his reputation in the magical world will climb another step, which is something Amortaste is glad to see. This is because these reputations will enhance his weight, that is, his influence in the magical community.
It was midnight, and there was no one in sight on the Hogwarts campus. Instead, there were occasional shadows of night watchmen passing by the dimly lit windows of the busses from Bicester and the ghost ship from Durmstrang.
"I will inform Professor Sprout of this matter, and it will be up to him to decide on your disposition!"
As Amortaste stepped onto the grand marble stairs outside the entrance hall, he could already hear Professor McGonagall's angry voice.
He walked quickly into the entrance hall and found Professor McGonagall standing on the small platform on the second floor of the castle, wearing a purple and red robe and holding a stack of papers, scolding two second-year Gryffindor wizards. Behind her, there was a smug-looking Filch, who occasionally poked Mrs. Weasley's beard, which was standing on his shoulder.
"What's wrong, Professor McGonagall? What happened?"
Amortaste smiled as he walked up the steps inside the hall, asking with feigned ignorance.
"Filch caught two night-walking wizards who were throwing large dungbombs at the oil paintings on the walls and up the spinning staircase. It's outrageous, this is only the first week of school!"
Professor McGonagall said angrily, but after she spoke, she was stunned and then quickly turned her head to look at Amortaste, who was climbing the stairs.
"Oh, Amortaste, you're back!"
Professor McGonagall said happily, but her face suddenly changed as soon as she finished speaking, her eye corners drooping down, and her lips tightly pressed together. She looked at Amortaste.
"Oh, I thought you had already quit, Professor Brain——"
Amortaste smiled awkwardly, just about to make a defense, when Professor McGonagall roared.
"On the first week of school, not to show up, not to write a letter to me or Mr. Ron telling me the reason, just letting the owl bring a leave application over, how do you expect me to view your behavior?"
What a good person--
The two Hufflepuff wizards looked sidelong at the slightly embarrassed Brain professor, filled with gratitude.
"I apologize--"
Amortaste smiled apologetically.
"I swear, this is the last time. I mean, the next time I will definitely give you a reason in advance---"
Perhaps considering the arduous journey Amortaste had taken, Professor McGonagall did not hold him for a half-hour of lecture on the second floor. After sending away the two Hufflepuff wizards, she handed over some documents that needed to be dealt with by Amortaste and then stepped aside to clear the path.
"Oh, Amortaste, at dinner, Filius proposed that we go to Hogsmeade for a drink this weekend as a celebration for the new semester. He invited Pomona、Alastor and me. If you're free, you can join us---"
"Oh, no problem---" Amortaste stood at the junction between the second and third floor stairs, turning his head and speaking in a light tone, "I'd be delighted to participate---"
"By the way, Amortaste---"
Just as Amortaste was about to leave, Professor McGonagall suddenly remembered something and said again,
"I've heard many students feedback that the skills they learned in your P.E. class are very useful. If you plan to continue this class next year, I suggest that you prepare your materials and submit them to the school board and the Ministry of Magic for review---"
(Chapter ends)
