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Five years have passed, and it's summer again.

"Time flies so fast." Ms. Bones said with a smile on one side of the sofa. Opposite her was Hermione, who had just returned from abroad and completed her two-year position as an observer of the International Pan-Magic League. She was dressed in a formal suit, her hair was gathered behind her head, and her whole body revealed a capable temperament.

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

"Great." Hermione grinned, sipped the hot tea, and moaned with satisfaction. Then she sighed and said, "I seem to have used up my lifetime travel quota. Unless the opportunity is really rare, I plan to stay in the country forever."

"That's good news," Ms. Bones said in a thankful tone, "You can come back and continue to be my secretary. During the time you left, I was in a mess for a while, and there were many and complicated things to do."

Hermione looked at her angrily.

"Can I only be a secretary?"

Ms. Bones smiled.

"Oh, you still want to be the Minister of Magic. You're very motivated, little girl. That can bring me some comfort. In the current situation..." Seeing Hermione's puzzled expression, she explained, "Scrimgeour is old and may retire earlier than me. Others in similar situations include Thicknesse and old Crouch, who serves as a consultant. He adopted a nephew from a side branch last year, and has appeared in the Ministry very few times since then. Other senior officials are only good at one aspect, such as Ludo Bagman, Phoebus Penrose, Arthur Weasley..." "

...The requirements for ministers are getting higher and higher. I have to study every day and try to deal with all parties." She said a little annoyed, "A certain guy stays in school and doesn't come out. I wrote to him several times but he was perfunctory." "

Are you talking about professor?" Hermione asked, pricking up her ears.

"That's him," Ms. Bones said bitterly, then gently rubbed her forehead and softened her tone, "In fact, I can understand Felix's behavior. He seems to intentionally separate himself from the public, just like Dumbledore after 1945... As the most important deterrent force in the world, his personal face will become blurred. Sword bearer, people call him that."

Hermione nodded slowly, thinking of her experiences in the past two years, she had a deeper understanding of Bones' words.

No matter where she went, people were keen to pry into the professor's privacy, and when she picked and chose and described unimportant details of life to them, these people would show full surprise and astonishment, as if the myth had come into reality. One of the people's answers impressed Hermione:

"Are you serious? Mr. Happ sat down to eat with you? Don't you feel pressured... and occasionally drink some wine? And good at dancing? Oh, I always thought he was a, a-" The finger gestured in the air for a while, and then there was no follow-up. The man said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I've only seen him on TV and in newspapers. I also collected a magic newspaper, which reported on the bonfire night of the floating island. It has now become a small city..."

But Hermione knew: in that person's mind - or in the minds of many people, the name Felix Hepp no ​​longer represents a specific person, but is more like an abstract symbol, or a law, a rule. This impression will become more stubborn as time goes by.

Five years ago, when the grand Christmas bonfire party on the floating island ended, life returned to peace. Since then, the magic world and the non-magic world have been in contact and integration in an orderly manner. Although there have been occasional twists and turns, there have been no major conflicts. Everything is peaceful. Half a year later, their class graduated from school. Harry and Ron chose to travel around, while she plunged into the heavy affairs of the Ministry of Magic.

There are too many things that need to be sorted out.

Politics, economy, culture, law, education, art... yes, art. The first thing Miss Granger did after joining the company was to receive the international art troupe that moved to the UK. The inspiration for the exhibition came from the super magic left by Professor Hepp in New York Harbor. Although Hermione had seen relevant pictures in the newspaper a long time ago, she had to admit that the angles chosen by those artists were tricky enough. She stopped for a long time in front of a six-meter-long panoramic photo wall called "God's Art". The introduction on the nameplate said that this painting, which was made up of thousands of photos, not only encompassed the grand view of the city, but also cleverly spliced ​​hundreds of details.

In addition, the painter said: "If there really is a god, he appeared on December 24, 1997, and gently turned the direction of human destiny."

But Hermione knew that the "god" also had his own troubles. For example, grading students' papers, finalizing the list of the first batch of scientists to board the floating island, and choosing full-month gifts for Muggle friends' babies.

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

Let her think about what the professor said at the time?

"I'm not very good at this. I've asked Sirius, Remus, and even Harry, but they have no idea what gifts they would like their first child to receive, not to mention Severus... So help me, Miss Granger." It

was not long after the New Year when this happened. The people being asked were all very busy. None of them planned to get married in the near future, especially Harry. He probably looked confused when asked - he and Ginny were going to get married at the end of this year (2003).

"How is little Rosalie?" Hermione asked.

"Very well," Ms. Bones snorted, "Sirius often brings her to visit Harry and Lupin. Every day before I get off work, I have to use the sound mirror to confirm where my husband and daughter are. To be honest, I'm not used to the house-elves calling me 'honorable mistress', and Sirius is not used to it either, but he seems to think it's very interesting..."

Hermione chuckled. Rosalie is the female name of Sirius's younger brother Regulus. She was born three years ago, right around the same time as Lupin and Tonks' first child. Together with Bill and Fleur's child, who is one year older than them, the three little ones are just the right playmates. Coming

out of the office, Hermione felt relaxed.

Ms. Bones gave her a month's vacation. "Many of the people you know and the places you are familiar with have changed a lot. Go around and take a look, and then come to work in high spirits. The position of the head of the assistant minister's office is reserved for you."

She walked around the Auror's office, and the staff along the way expressed surprise and welcome at her return.

This place is divided into many small compartments. The outside of the compartments are posted with the name of the Auror and the nature and content of the work they are responsible for. The inner walls are covered with wanted criminal portraits, posters, family photos, recent news clippings, etc. that are needed for work and meet personal aesthetics. It looks dazzling and varied.

Hermione quickly found the positions of Harry, Ron and Neville by memory, but the three chairs were empty.

"Potter and Weasley have been rotated to the floating island to maintain order, and Longbottom is responsible for investigating a case of smuggling of potion materials." The Auror next to her said to her. He had a beard and looked like a shrunken Hagrid. "You know, as the list of potions suitable for ordinary people's physiques becomes longer and longer, smuggling in this area is becoming more and more frequent..."

Hermione nodded slightly. She was well aware of the smuggling problem mentioned by the Auror. This has become a common headache for the Ministry of Magic of various countries. However, the most rampant black market transactions must be in America - it can be regarded as one of the follow-up effects of the "exercise" incident that year. There is

also Future World Company. Its headquarters moved to the floating island a long time ago, earlier than the Federation headquarters moved - now it is the headquarters of the International Pan-Magic Union. The two merged half a year ago with the retirement of Akinbad and the appointment of Professor Hepp. Over the years, the number of people on the island has gradually increased, and the Ministry of Magic of various countries regularly dispatched Aurors to maintain order on the island.

"Where's Tonks? Oh, she should be on the island too, with Lupin. And Collins?" "

Tonks applied to the Ministry for permanent residence on the floating island half a year ago. After all, her family is there. As for Ms. Foley," the bearded Auror showed a knowing smile, and said seriously, "Let me describe what happened to you. Weasley didn't have to participate in routine patrols, but he said something he didn't want to say at the last party, saying that Collins took the initiative to chase him..."

"Uh." Hermione held her forehead, she could completely imagine what happened afterwards - Ron fled in panic, and Collins chased him with a knife.

Her eyes passed Harry's place (there was a photo of him and Ginny, the two of them riding on brooms, and Ginny was wearing the uniform of the Holyhead Harpies). There were two separate photos on Ron's cubicle, and the documents on the desk were scattered, as if they were pushed to the corner before leaving to make room for the chessboard in the middle. It was a wizard chess set, and the chess pieces were jumping around lively. If it weren't for the glass cover like a fish tank, they would probably run out and run around. There was a piece of paper on the outside of the glass cover, which read: Dangerous items, do not touch.

Hermione's pupils flashed a silver light, and she could see the dense magic symbols on the chess pieces.

"He hadn't finished it before I left." She said with emotion.

"What? Oh!" the bearded Auror said with great interest, "The famous 'Knight' Weasley, and the 'Stag' which is of the same origin as the Ouroboros patron saint that blocks out the sun on the Floating Island, Longbottom who can enter dreams, Malfoy who established the first wizard-Muggle joint hospital, Lovegood who discovered many magical animals in succession... and of course you, Ms. Granger. There have been so many talented people in recent years."

He then lowered his voice and said, "You came back at the right time. I heard some gossip: Ms. Bones is about to step down as minister, and the next few years may be the time for her to look for a new minister..."

Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"It's true!" the bearded Auror said quickly, "I heard that Potter will be promoted to the head of the Auror Office soon, Weasley will be transferred to the Muggle Affairs Department, and Longbottom will be in charge of smuggling cases, but it is said that he has other plans. Recently, he has often appeared in the three brooms in Hogsmeade..."

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

"Oh, Kingsley..." The bearded wizard said a little absent-mindedly, "You are right, he is suitable in all aspects."

Coming out of the Ministry of Magic, Hermione strolled on the streets of London. Magic seemed to occupy a place in this city unconsciously, as if they were originally like this. She pushed the door and walked into a bookstore. On a separate bookshelf, Dumbledore's kind face looked at her-it was a biography jointly published by Harry and Ephias Doge. The cover decorated with purple ribbons read "Bestseller for three consecutive years."

But today, another magic book was placed in the center. Hermione stared at the name on it with a strange look: "Harry Potter". The huge poster next to it said it all. Mafalda Prewett's young face was printed on it, with a bright smile.

'Exclusively decrypt the real magic school life, and unveil a corner of the legendary curtain from the perspective of key figures. The author observed for three years to obtain first-hand information (content from grades five to seven), and interviewed the parties and witnesses to restore the truth... The first movie of the same name was released on June 25. '

Hermione was stunned.

Past memories emerged in her mind. Oh my God, Mafalda actually wrote Harry into the book. He must be very angry... I wonder what I am like in the story? She glanced at the calendar next to her. Today was exactly the 25th.

She took Dumbledore's biography and "Harry Potter" (she had read the former many times). As her fingers moved, she hesitated and picked up the book signed by Sybil Trelawney, "The Lion and the Firebird". She was not interested in Trelawney's book, nor was she surprised that the book of this mysterious fortune teller could be placed in a Muggle bookstore. Maybe she would occasionally show her talent as a prophet, Hermione thought. What

really interested her was the recommendation on the cover:

'Mars has always been associated with war and conflict. When it is close to us, those who are gifted and sensitive will be affected first - Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, Tom Riddle (Voldemort), Felix Hepple, including the author herself - their birth dates all verify this rule. Now that this day has come again, what changes will it bring to us? '

"Mars." Hermione chewed on the word, and after a while she said "Pooh", "Old liar."

But she still took the book to the counter to pay, and stuffed the three books into the beaded bag. The clerk asked with interest: "Wizard?" "Yes." "Can I do you a favor?" The clerk asked again, "Give you a 20% discount."

Hermione stared at her in surprise.

"It's like this," the shopkeeper said with a smile, "My daughter, Lily, likes "The Adventures of Little Wizard Mick". Can you cast a spell so that she can see it at a glance?"

Hermione hesitated and asked, "What does she like?"

"Anything is fine, ma'am." The clerk immediately said, "Toys that little girls like, bows, dolls, kittens..."

Hermione bit her lip, then stretched out her hand, and gradually, a pair of beautiful butterflies were outlined in the air. They flew in the air and landed on the clerk's hand.

"When they are not moving, they are bows, and they can also play with your daughter."

"Thank you so much."

"It's nothing. Um, do you know the nearest movie theater?"

"Of course! There is one on the corner."

Hermione thanked him, came out of the bookstore, and found the movie theater on the street according to the direction pointed out by the clerk. The result was a little dumbfounded - the winding line from the entrance of the movie theater to the back door, and these people seemed to be here for the first wizard movie. She looked around and went into an alley when others were not paying attention. The next second, she appeared several kilometers away.

After searching three movie theaters, she finally found a place with few people. There

was only one person in front of her. He was wearing a long windbreaker, carrying a small suitcase in one hand, with short black hair and the newspaper of the day in the other hand.

"A ticket for Harry Potter," the man paused and seemed to find it very interesting. "Oh, I've been looking forward to it for many years."

The ticket seller obviously didn't take the words "many years" seriously and asked casually, "Do you have inside information, huh?"

"I guess so."

Hermione's eyes widened, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated. She approached the ticket window, but the man had already taken the ticket and left.

She quickly bought the ticket, looking around anxiously in the process, then bent down and sat opposite the man in a sneaky manner. The man leaned on the sofa chair and spread out the newspaper to read with relish. Hermione caught words such as "the distance between the earth and Mars", "the moon landing plan", and "new breakthroughs in magic science" from the other side of the newspaper.

"Uh, cough cough." She cleared her throat.

After a few seconds, there was no response from the other side.

She cleared her throat again, this time making some other sounds, and then she heard a "chi?" "Didn't finish reading? Reading speed needs to be improved." The man said, Hermione could fully imagine the expression on his face when he spoke, and the furry, flat-mouthed little guy sticking his head out of a silver pocket watch on his chest.

She made the cups on the table make a "ding-dong" sound, which was close to noise.

The other side really noticed it - Hermione was so excited that she was thinking about what to say first. A slender white hand stretched out from behind the newspaper, tapped the table lightly, and then retracted.

Whispering a curse, Hermione gritted her teeth secretly, Professor, you are suspected of breaking the law!

Wizards should try to avoid performing magic in public unless they are allowed - this is your own decision.

A silver light flashed in Hermione's eyes. Almost at the same time, an irresistible ripple of magic spread from another perspective, and the dim environment in the cinema faded, and Hermione's breath was choked.

"Granger - Oh, Hermione?"

Hermione came back to her senses and saw Felix and Valen looking at her over the newspaper, with a smile on Felix's lips.

"What a coincidence, you are here to watch a movie too."

The pleasant atmosphere fermented and brewed in the air, exuding a wine-like aroma. Hermione's heart beat faster, and she seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. Even during the two years as observers of the International Pan-Magical Union, the two of them still kept in touch, every two or three months, and occasionally met on the floating island, but Hermione felt as if they were in a different world. Counting carefully, they have known each other for a long time, since the second year when they listened to the secrets of the ancient runes in the ancient rune office. No, it should be earlier. At that time, she was in the fourth year, and he was also in the fourth year. They communicated for the first time after nine years...

Hermione stroked her hair and said, "Long time no see, Felix."

...

Outside the cinema, people were coming and going on the street. Felix and Hermione followed the crowd out. It was dusk at this moment, and it seemed that it had just rained. Even the air was moist. The puddles on the ground reflected the sky mixed with the soft sunset glow.

The two stood at the door of the cinema for a long time, and no one spoke. People who watched the movie passed by them, discussing the plot enthusiastically as they walked.

"It's really wonderful!"

"But why doesn't Felix Help appear?"

"He will join the company in the second year. Didn't you see the easter egg at the end of the movie? The person who applied for the job should be him--" The girl suggested: "I heard that many actors recommend themselves, even if the crew said that his role is relatively small."

"Oh, I would rather see his independent film. He is a legend!"

"What do you think about letting Bradley Fitzgerald play Felix Help?"

"No!" The girl said fiercely: "His chin is too round, he looks like a blacksmith..."

The two talked and laughed and left.

Hermione pursed her lips and smiled.

"To be honest, I also want to see your independent film."

"You know I don't like it," Felix shook his head slightly, his light blue eyes staring at her and said: "I have rarely appeared in public in recent years, and basically stayed in school. It is due to my personality, but there are more realistic reasons: I am too conspicuous. Unless I plan to make the wizarding world my own one-man show, it is better to restrain my edge."

Edge? Hermione thought of the conversation with Ms. Bones during the day, "Sword of Damocles? Sword-Bearer?"

Felix said with a little distress, "People seem to accept this statement easily, and even arbitrarily put me in the position of the second-generation Sword-Bearer... But compared to other more exaggerated titles, I think it is not bad, and it implies the expectations of the people: whether it is the Sword of Damocles or the person holding the sword, it will not be easily shown to others, and it is only used for deterrence."

"- But no one can ignore his existence." Hermione smiled brightly, but she quietly set a language trap in her heart. "Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to ask, is Professor McGonagall okay?"

"Minerva is very good, and occasionally gives open classes to students; but she is usually busy--" Felix nodded. Hermione looked over quickly with an inquiring look in her eyes, and she pressed on: "I'm really surprised. I remember she was very busy when Headmaster Dumbledore was here."

Felix said uncomfortably: "Well, Miss Granger--"

"Call me Hermione."

"Okay, Hermione," Felix paused for a moment and found an excuse for his laziness, which was of course the truth. "This is indeed rather strange. Perhaps there is an explanation for this phenomenon: Minerva is too conscientious, and any sign of a problem will attract her attention. As for Dumbledore and I, well, we prefer to observe for a while and let the problem be exposed more thoroughly, just like..."

"Just like the host and hostess quarreling over housework," Hermione continued his words, "It's not necessarily that one is lazier than the other, or not paying attention, but that the two have different standards for judging 'cleanliness' and cannot reach a consensus." After saying this, she stared at him with burning eyes.

Felix was stunned, "This is not the metaphor I thought of, but it is very wise in life."

"You know too little about this." Hermione blurted out. After saying this, her face became hot, like the sunset in the sky. She lowered her head, revealing only a red forehead, and said in a weak mosquito voice: "I also know this by observing my parents, I think..."

Felix looked at her steadily, as if he was looking at an intractable magic puzzle.

"I'm going to travel." He said suddenly.

"What?"

"Travel." Felix pointed to his suitcase and newspaper with his eyes. "Mars is the closest to the Earth during this period, and I plan to go up and take a look." Then he asked in a gentle tone: "I remember you said - well, I just came back from the moon - you said that if there is a chance next time, you also want to go to space to take a look..." He suddenly felt a little dry in his mouth and his heartbeat accelerated.

He could control a magic that enveloped the entire city, but he was helpless in the current situation and had no way to know the answer in advance. At this time, an irrelevant idea suddenly popped up in his mind: he must master the magic of time.

He pretended to be calm and said:

"...Of course, it's been so long, you may have forgotten that many people had impulsive and fanatical ideas when they were young, but eventually they gradually forgot about them... But if your ideas haven't changed and you are still willing..."

"I do!" Hermione raised her head and shouted.

"...I want to invite you to join me."

Silence. Then a strong desire surged in his heart, and Felix took a big step and embraced Hermione in the afterglow of the sunset and the brilliant glow of the sunset, and their shadows also snuggled tightly together. It seemed that the whole world had quieted down, and the drizzle fell, and the neon lights became hazy in the rain. For a long time, the two looked at each other, and then laughed together.

Passers-by gave them blessings. They looked no different from other lovers, except that the topic they were discussing was a little scary-

"Mars... How far away is it from us?"

"About 60 million kilometers."

"It sounds so far, there are only two of us-"

"Chi!"

"-Oh, and Valen."

"Actually it's not bad, only two days away..."

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