We All Have Bright Futures

"Does the defendant, Lucius Malfoy, accept these terms?"

"I accept!"

After saying those words, Lucius let out a sigh of relief, inexplicably feeling as though a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders.

Perhaps his years at Hogwarts had truly changed him, or perhaps he had simply been too terrified when he first learned he would stand trial. At this moment, Lucius knew that his past crimes had truly been judged.

He no longer needed to hurriedly get rid of anything related to Dark magic in his home before the Ministry of Magic came searching.

Arthur Weasley had always believed his searches posed a great threat to Lucius, never realizing that even if he found those Dark magic items, at most the Ministry would seize the chance to extort another hefty sum from him. Lucius had chosen to get rid of them himself because it would cost him less that way.

But from now on, he would not have to worry anymore!

What expression would Arthur have next time he came to search the house and saw Lucius looking completely at ease?

Just as Lucius thought that, he suddenly remembered that Malfoy Manor had already been reduced to ruins by Voldemort’s rampage, with its antiques, books, and every other kind of collection destroyed along with it.

Thinking it over carefully, aside from what was in the vaults, the only property his family seemed to have left was the salary he and his wife had earned working at Hogwarts these past few years.

The smile gradually vanished.gif

Compensation! The Death Eaters had to pay compensation!

Lucius decided that after returning to Hogwarts, he would write several letters to urge the Ministry of Magic along. At the very least, he had to get the money to rebuild his home back first.

Fearing Voldemort’s retaliation, the three members of his family had lived at Hogwarts these past few years. Originally, they had been professors and Malfoy had been a student, so living at Hogwarts had not been a problem. But Malfoy had graduated this year. They could not keep living at Hogwarts…

Wait, maybe they could?

Thinking of his son’s fairly good grades, Hogwarts’ recent plans to recruit more trainee professors, and the possibility that there were still Death Eaters outside who had not been caught, Lucius fell into thought.

In the courtroom, Bernard, having finished the trial of the second person, took a deep breath.

Lucius’s successful defense had made everyone realize that the new laws were indeed warm and radiant, guiding people toward goodness. As long as one had not intended evil, even if one had been coerced into committing a crime, one could still seek leniency.

There was no need to worry about being unable to prove one’s innocence. Anubis’s Scales would determine whether one’s words were true.

Everything had gone very smoothly so far, but the main event was yet to come.

Bellatrix would not react in any way due to her special condition, while Lucius had been half a plant. The trials that followed would be far more complicated and uncontrollable than this one, and Bernard had no idea what tricks those who had originally benefited from the old system might use.

Although Adam could directly suppress everyone with force, that would go against Bernard’s original purpose in painstakingly writing these laws for the Wizarding World.

Magic magnified desire and accelerated evil, but it also provided greater means to fight evil and restrain desire. True rule of law, something that could never be fully achieved in the Muggle world, perhaps… no, would definitely be realized in his hands!

"Bang—"

"Bring in the next defendant!"

"Yo~ Isn’t this Amon? Long time no see. Why do you look a little haggard?"

The former Hogsmeade Village, now Hogsmeade, was currently undergoing massive construction. Only a handful of shops remained open.

For example, the place where Adam and Amon now sat: the former Three Broomsticks Pub, now the Nightingale Pub.

"Heh… hehe… That really is a good question."

Amon was surrounded by an almost tangible air of resentment as he looked at Adam and spoke gloomily.

"Do you happen to know anything about the N.E.W.T.s changing from a grading system to a 150-point system, nearly every subject having both written and practical exams, and the entire three months before the exams becoming revision months, Adam?"

"Huh? Is that so? Hmm… This is the first I’ve heard of it too."

Adam tilted his head and blinked innocently.

"…"

His fist hardened.

But then the memory of being brutally beaten by Adam flashed through his mind. Amon felt that a refined and gentle person like himself should not solve problems with violence.

That would not do. Not at all.

"Alright, don’t dwell on those unpleasant memories. How about a glass of Sweet Dream?"

Adam snapped his fingers, and two goblets appeared on the round table between them. The dreamlike liquid inside flowed like a galaxy.

"This is the legendary Sweet Dream?"

Even in the already expensive Nightingale Pub, it stood apart for its price. A single glass cost a full hundred Galleons, and it was said to have a dreamlike flavor, a delicacy found only in dreams. Yet its more widely known nickname was "Nightingale’s Mercy"—because it did not scam the poor.

What kind of liquor could possibly taste good enough to be worth a hundred Galleons a glass?

Did they know how many delicious meals that money could buy at Storm Restaurant?

Shameless profiteer!

Hah—ptui!

Regulus, owner of Storm Restaurant and owner of Nightingale Pub, Black: …

Regulus was helpless about this as well. The other drinks were one thing, but Adam had personally set the price for Sweet Dream and refused to allow tastings.

He had considered asking those who had tried it to testify, but although every single drinker insisted that it truly tasted like something found only in dreams, most people still believed they were merely comforting themselves after realizing they had been cheated out of a hundred Galleons.

"Hmm, this controversial vintage truly is extraordinary."

Amon’s spiritual perception allowed him to sense some of Sweet Dream’s unusual qualities.

He swirled the goblet, set the Sweet Dream down, and looked at Adam.

"You should tell me first why you called me here."

Adam raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, you won’t taste it first?"

"No. I’d rather hear you out before deciding whether to taste it."

He still remembered the last time Adam had asked him for help: divining the whereabouts of Eugene’s parents. No matter where he hid, he would be forcibly dragged out to perform divination. Thinking back on it brought tears to his eyes, so this time, he intended to be cautious.

"Don’t worry, it’s not a bad thing. Hogwarts is currently expanding its teaching staff for every subject, and most subjects are progressing very smoothly. But there is one exception… Divination. There are simply too few people talented in that area. At present, Hogwarts only has two Divination professors: Professor Trelawney and Professor Firenze."

Adam shook his head.

"I’ve already decided to remove this subject from basic education. Only first-years, when their academic pressure is at its lowest, will have a Divination class so they can get some exposure to it and see whether they have any related talent."

"So you want me to teach Divination to first-year students?"

Amon nodded. That was something he could discuss.

"No, no, no. Professor Firenze will teach the first-years. On one hand, Professor Trelawney’s personality is not suited to children who have only just come into contact with magic. I’m afraid she might scare them. On the other hand…"

Adam explained.

"Although he was abandoned by his herd, Professor Firenze ultimately still isn’t accustomed to life in human society. He has decided to spend most of his time in the Forbidden Forest, so he applied to reduce his teaching hours. I approved it."

"So…"

Amon blinked and pointed at himself.

"You want me, someone who has just graduated, to teach people who have also just graduated from seventh year?"