Another peaceful semester ended. Before the students went home for the holidays, Ethan had already sent a message to Dumbledore, informing the headmaster of the personnel changes on his side for the next year.
Logan wouldn't be coming back. He and Scáthach might stay at the school for another year, while Rin and Leah would need Dumbledore's care. Illya, on the other hand, would decide her future next year.
Hogwarts had a year-round boarding system, and Ethan saw no problem with Leah, Rin, or even Illya staying until graduation.
The flow of time could be slightly adjusted or even directly synchronized. Illya and the others could return to the Artemis during the holidays, come back when the break ended, and stay at school during the academic year without any worries.
As for how Logan's departure would be explained publicly, there was no need to mention it specifically. Dumbledore knew exactly how to handle such matters.
What he did care about was the other piece of information Ethan shared.
"You won't be coming back after next year?"
"I've gathered almost all the knowledge here. It seems unnecessary to stay longer. Unless you want to give me a graduation certificate or something?"
"I'd certainly look forward to that day."
All preparations for the Order of the Phoenix were going smoothly, and the members were in high spirits, looking forward to giving Voldemort a surprise next year.
The current situation looked very promising, and Dumbledore's mood had improved significantly. Unlike before, when he was constantly troubled by Voldemort and the state of the wizarding world, his spirits had always been low.
"It's a pity I won't give you that chance."
What use was a Hogwarts diploma to him? Instead of that, it would be better to arrange a time for Ethan to copy all of Dumbledore's private book collection.
However, a wizard's private notes often contained their personal insights into magic and the world, as well as casting habits and secrets. If such information were leaked, enemies could easily exploit their weaknesses.
In most cases, even a close disciple rarely had the chance to see a wizard's private notes, unless the wizard was near death and decided to hand them over to a chosen successor. If they were dying anyway, there was no longer any fear of their secrets being exposed.
Dumbledore was currently full of life. Back when the situation was more dire, he might have considered sacrificing himself. But now, given how things stood, he was thinking about possibly retiring and living out his days in peace.
"You'd better not jinx it."
Watching Dumbledore stroke his beard with a smile, Ethan could guess what he was thinking and casually poured cold water over it.
"Before the real battle even starts, people who say things like, 'I'll go home and get married after this mission...' or 'I'll retire after this last job...' never end well."
Dumbledore's pleased expression stiffened noticeably. He looked like he had swallowed something and couldn't get it to go up or down, clearly uncomfortable.
"For the Triwizard Tournament next semester, Harry will be relying on you. He's just a child who hasn't truly experienced anything yet..."
Ethan felt a headache coming on too.
Because of all his interventions, the plot of the Harry Potter world had essentially been erased. Of the major events from the first three years, only the Philosopher's Stone incident remained, and even then, the outcome hadn't diverged much from the original.
Harry hadn't experienced the events with the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets or the turmoil following Sirius Black's escape.
The current Harry really was just a child. Calling him the "Savior of the Wizarding World" was out of the question.
Even if Harry was considered an excellent student among his peers, that was only within his age group. Compared to all of Hogwarts, he wasn't at the top. And compared to adult wizards, especially elite ones, he was far from qualified.
Without Ethan's protection, Harry might have already died at Voldemort's hands.
"Don't worry about that. I'm more concerned that if the Ministry of Magic isn't completely brainless and decides to cancel the Triwizard Tournament, wouldn't that cause even more trouble?"
If the Ministry were the slightest bit reasonable, they would have canceled the tournament before it even began. The Death Eaters forcing Harry into the competition was ridiculous.
But clearly, the Ministry wasn't sensible. Even though anyone with common sense could see the Goblet of Fire had been tampered with, they still insisted on proceeding with the tournament.
"It probably won't be canceled."
In the original timeline, when the professors encountered this situation, they all recommended postponing or canceling the tournament until they figured out what was wrong with the Goblet. It shouldn't have started under those conditions.
But the Minister of Magic, Fudge, insisted on pushing forward, which led to the events that followed and allowed Voldemort to successfully return.
If the Hogwarts faculty didn't stop it, normally no one else would.
Another thing had made Ethan curious.
He had cured Lupin, and now Lupin wasn't facing opposition from parents because of his werewolf identity. It seemed he wouldn't need to leave Hogwarts, so would the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor still change?
"The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next year?"
As headmaster, Dumbledore was naturally clear on faculty changes.
"Have you heard something?"
"Did Lupin leave the school?"
From Dumbledore's words, it was clear the position would still change. Was Voldemort's curse really that powerful? Ethan hadn't sensed anything unusual.
"Lupin has other tasks. Sirius needs help."
Dumbledore didn't hide anything from Ethan and directly told him what the Order had been busy with.
In fact, since the beginning of the year, the Order of the Phoenix had been investigating everywhere, trying to locate Voldemort's Horcruxes. That way, once he returned, they could destroy them immediately, cutting off his retreat and ensuring that once the Dark Lord was taken down, he wouldn't come back again.
"So that's how it is."
Ethan already knew what Voldemort's Horcruxes were, but since Dumbledore hadn't asked, he didn't offer the information.
Dumbledore's silence showed that he didn't need Ethan's help with this matter. Perhaps he didn't want to trouble him with something so trivial?
"So this summer, I'll need to find a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor..." Dumbledore thought for a moment, then revealed a little more. "Also, if I don't bring in a new face, it'll be hard for those Death Eaters to sneak in..."
Dumbledore and the others were aware of one key issue. The Death Eaters had to disguise themselves as Hogwarts staff to legitimately help Harry win the tournament. Otherwise, if a contestant kept assisting him, anyone would find it suspicious.
It could be said that Dumbledore was deliberately leaving a gap to lure them in. Whether Mad-Eye Moody would still be invited was unknown.
If it really was Moody, perhaps he already knew he would be targeted. This time, he would be walking into danger willingly, which was very different from being caught off guard. Not everyone could face death so calmly.
More importantly, he would also have to act as if he didn't know anything.
The conversation ended here. The students boarded the train home, and after a happy and peaceful summer, they would return when the new school year began.
Ethan and the others packed up as well. Including Selina, who no longer needed to remain in this world pretending to be a guardian, everyone prepared to return to the Moon Goddess. Even if they were coming back next year, there was no need to maintain a residence in the Muggle world.
They would spend most of their time at school and return to the Moon Goddess during the holidays. Since Dumbledore knew their situation, he wouldn't mind.
"Pack your things properly. Don't forget anything."
There wasn't much to pack. They didn't even need to bring all their clothes.
Everyone present had storage space. The important or frequently used items were already stored inside. Most of what was left behind wasn't necessary or simply wasn't worth taking.
"Isn't it a bit of a waste to just throw it away?"
"Then donate it."
They finished wrapping up in one day, then left the world together.
As soon as they returned to the Artemis, the first thing Logan did was head to his room, drink a potion, and change clothes. Within ten minutes, Logan appeared again in his original form, a cigar between his teeth.
"This feels so much better."
The moment he returned, Logan started showing off in front of Ethan.
"Aren't you jealous?"
"Tch."
"I wonder when you'll be able to return to your 'original form.'"
"..."
Ethan suspected that years of living as a child might have regressed Logan's mental age. Did this guy always have this side to him?
Annoyed by having his sore spot poked, Ethan quietly added something to Logan's cigar that night.
It wasn't anything dangerous. It just ensured that as long as Logan lit up a cigar, he would turn back into a child the next day and the effect was strong enough that no amount of magic or potions could reverse it within twenty-four hours.
(To be continued.)