Around eleven o'clock, the invited guests began to arrive at Shelby Manor one after another.
As some of the more prominent guests arrived, Jimmy personally escorted Artel to meet them. Artel, however, had little interest in these so-called bigwigs, dismissing them as mere Muggles. Moreover, following Freddy's warning, the Shelby family's top members refrained from indulging in wizardry and refocused on their business.
On Christmas Day, the dissolution of the USSR in the north sent shockwaves across the world. This upheaval presented a rare opportunity and challenge for various interested forces. Recognizing the moment's significance, the Shelby family hosted an unprecedented grand party. The goal was to unite numerous tycoons in Birmingham, ensuring they secured ample interests during this.
After attending to several guests and enjoying himself till the end of the party, Artel went to bed, noting the time was late.
....
During the subsequent days, Artel remained at the manor, immersing himself in information gathered using the Isil spar.
On the morning of the 4th, Artel, accompanied by Jimmy's car, arrived at King's Cross Station.
While boarding the train, Hermione spotted Artel, and they settled down in a compartment.
After securing their luggage in an empty compartment, Hermione sat beside Artel.
....
In the evening, the train arrived at Hogwarts.
Artel and the others disembarked. As it wasn't their first time entering Hogwarts, they skipped the traditional tour of the Black Lake, following the footsteps of the four founders. Instead, they chose the self-driving "carriage" to transport them to the castle.
While Hermione and others couldn't see Thestrals, Artel could.
This wasn't solely due to his status as a necromancer; it also stemmed from his orchestrating the demise of hundreds of lives. The destruction of the Forbidden Forest and the troll tribes had been carried out by his hands.
Upon reaching the castle, Artel and Hermione parted ways, wheeling their suitcases toward the underground Slytherin lounge.
Despite having one more day of vacation tomorrow, most young wizards had already returned to school. After a day off, they could resume their studies more seamlessly.
.....
In the Slytherin lounge, many nodded in Artel's direction, and he responded with a smile. Unlike most Slytherin students who simply nodded, Artel greeted them with a few words.
Finding no one in the dormitory, Artel concluded that Malfoy and others had either not returned or were elsewhere. After a quick tidy-up, he headed to the auditorium for dinner.
"Artel, please join us!"
Hermione beckoned, already seated at the Gryffindor table, and greeted Artel as he joined her.
After several days, Artel saw Harry again.
Harry's demeanor didn't radiate cheerfulness; he seemed unwell. The prospect of punishment from Professor Snape, including post-holiday detention, weighed heavily on him.
"Happy New Year, Harry and Ron," Artel greeted them.
"Happy New Year, Artel," they responded unison before returning to their meal.
"You guys don't seem to be in good shape. Do you need any help?" Artel offered, patting the table.
In an instant, a delicious dinner materialized before him. Artel sampled the dishes, noting the superior culinary skills of the Hogwarts house elves compared to those cooks in his family.
"I should get one of these house elves. Maybe I can get one from Hogwarts," Artel wondered.
"It's nothing... just..." Harry hesitated, choosing not to disclose the details of his last night's adventure and the subsequent point deductions from Professor Snape.
.....
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