She knew that the wizarding world would be thrown into turmoil over the next few years.
Although she did not want to make Evelyn worry, she still had to give the reminders that needed to be given.
Australia was far from Europe, and the Muggle world was relatively safe.
It was the best choice for avoiding the coming chaos of war.
“Relax, relax.” Evelyn waved her hand, looking completely at ease.
“My parents arranged everything ages ago.
They bought a large manor in Australia, along with a pasture.
They said that once I graduate, we’ll move there and settle down.
You should come visit too.
I’ll take you to see kangaroos!”
“Sure.” Nora smiled, feeling a little relieved.
Evelyn was different from her.
She was an orphan, alone and unburdened, able to survive wherever she went.
But Evelyn had a family.
She had people she cared about.
Being able to go somewhere safe was the best possible ending for her.
Speaking of which, Evelyn’s family background was indeed quite prominent in the Muggle world.
Her father was a famous British banker, and her mother was descended from nobility.
Their family owned several estates in London.
If Evelyn had not awakened magical talent, she would probably be at Charterhouse School right now, studying Latin and horseback riding with the children of Muggle aristocrats, rather than sitting here eating Hogwarts roast chicken with Nora.
“But seriously,” Evelyn suddenly lowered her voice and leaned closer to Nora.
“Are you really planning to work at that antique shop after graduation?
You’re not considering the Ministry of Magic’s offer?
I heard the Auror Office is very interested in you.”
Nora shook her head.
“Not interested.
The Ministry is too complicated, full of scheming and infighting.
It doesn’t suit me.”
She only wanted to find a quiet place and steadily lie low through the coming turmoil.
Although Merlin’s Antique Shop was strange, at least it was far away from the center of power.
That suited her life motto of “survive quietly until the end.”
Evelyn was about to say something else when her eyes were drawn to the corner of a letter sticking out of Nora’s pocket.
She reached out and pulled it free, revealing a sheet of letter paper printed with a family crest.
The crest showed a silver eagle with its wings spread, an olive branch held in its beak.
It was the emblem of the Fawley family.
“Huh?” Evelyn frowned.
“An invitation from the Fawley family?
Didn’t you say you turned down all the invitations from pure-blood families?
What, did you change your mind?
Are you thinking of becoming a private tutor?”
The Fawley family was not among the very top of pure-blood society, but it was still one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, with no shortage of rules and traditions.
Evelyn knew that Nora had always kept a respectful distance from these pure-blood families.
Why would she suddenly receive an invitation from them?
“I’m not becoming a private tutor.” Nora took the letter back from her hand, folded it neatly, and put it back into her pocket.
“It’s their youngest daughter’s birthday banquet.
They invited quite a few people, and I just happen to be… going to join the fun.”
In truth, she had heard about the Fawley family from the Account-Keeping Quill, and it had been bothering her a little.
That girl named Jonah was Luna’s biological sister, yet the treatment they received was completely different.
She wanted to see for herself what this so-called “pure-blood family” was really like.
Of course, she could not tell Evelyn that, or her friend would start worrying again.
Evelyn looked at her suspiciously, but did not ask any further.
She knew Nora’s temper.
If Nora did not want to talk about something, asking would be useless.
“Speaking of which,” Evelyn changed the subject, her tone carrying a hint of teasing, “do you know what the Slytherins are saying about you now?”
“What are they saying?” Nora raised an eyebrow, not particularly concerned.
She had been hearing Slytherin rumors since first year and had long since become immune to them.
“They’re saying you’re actually a pure-blood!” Evelyn lowered her voice and imitated the mysterious tone of the Slytherin students.
“They say your parents must have been members of some hidden pure-blood family, and after giving birth to you, they withdrew from the world.
That’s why no one can prove you’re not pure-blood.
They also said that the reason you’re so talented must be because pure-blood genes are superior!”
Nora burst out laughing.
“What kind of nonsense is that?
Have they been reading A History of Magic like it’s a fairy tale?”
She was a genuine Muggle orphan through and through.
She knew that better than anyone.
In the orphanage records, the section for her parents was marked “unknown.” The matron had said she was abandoned at the entrance of a church.
Aside from a note with the name “Nora” written on it, there had been nothing in her swaddling clothes.
Where could some pure-blood family have come from?
“Who knows?” Evelyn shrugged.
“Maybe they were just scared after you beat them up, so they had to find a reason to comfort themselves.
After all, being beaten until they were crawling on the floor by a ‘Muggle-born’ witch would be far too humiliating for them.”
Nora remembered the Slytherin students she had beaten up over the years and could not help laughing.
She was not a combative person, but she was absolutely not a soft persimmon who would let others bully her either.
In her first year, several Slytherin pure-blood young masters had mocked her as a “Mudblood.” She had knocked them down in the corridor with Petrificus Totalus, leaving them standing there as punishment for the entire afternoon.
In third year, someone had tried to snatch away An Illustrated Guide to Ancient Magical Artifacts, which she had finally managed to borrow from the library.
She had frightened him so badly with Incendio that he nearly burst into tears.
Even after she became Head Girl in fifth year, there were still a few blind fools who tried to provoke her, only to be scared off by a single look from her.
Over time, the way Slytherin students looked at her changed from initial disdain to fear, and then to… some inexplicable admiration?
“Let them think whatever they want.” Nora picked up a piece of treacle tart and took a large bite, the cloying sweetness melting on her tongue.
“Pure-blood, Muggle-born, it’s all the same to me.
Being able to work steadily, earn money, and stay alive is more important than anything else.”
Over the past seven years, the path of her life had been as simple as a straight line: attend classes, take exams, work part-time, and occasionally deal with some blind idiot who came looking for trouble.
Quidditch matches?
She had no interest.
Flying that high was too dangerous.
Dances?
No time.
She would rather sew a few more robes at Madam Malkin’s.
Pure-blood parties?
Even less likely.
Just hearing all that hypocritical small talk gave her a headache.
She had devoted all her energy to improving her magic and saving money.
“Speaking of which, you really have worked in a lot of places,” Evelyn said with emotion.
“Madam Malkin’s, Florean’s Ice Cream Parlour, Flourish and Blotts… Haven’t you worked in half the shops in Diagon Alley?”
“More or less.” Nora smiled.
“I had to work several jobs to save enough money.
What, did you think everyone was like you and had a mine at home?”
Evelyn burst out laughing and shoved her lightly.
“Oh, get lost!
Once I’m in Australia, I’ll send you local specialties!
Then you’ll know the joy of what it means to ‘have a mine at home’!”
“Sure.” Nora raised an eyebrow.
“Best send some Chocolate Frogs.
I haven’t tried Australian wizarding sweets yet.”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The noise in the Great Hall seemed to fade into background sound.
On the platform, the professors had begun to toast one another.
Students from the younger years were laughing and roughhousing as they discussed their summer plans.
The graduates gathered in small groups of twos and threes, exchanging addresses and promising to keep in touch.
The candlelight swayed gently overhead, stretching everyone’s shadows long across the hall.
Nora looked at it all, and a strange emotion suddenly welled up in her heart.
Her days at Hogwarts were truly coming to an end.
Tomorrow, she would pack her luggage, leave this castle completely, and move into Merlin’s Antique Shop in Diagon Alley, beginning her new “wonderful and exciting” life.
The road ahead was unknown.
Perhaps, just as that mysterious old man had said, it really would be filled with challenges and surprises.
But at least she was no longer the anxious, helpless little orphan she had been when she first entered school.
She had magic powerful enough to protect herself.
She had friends she could trust.
And she had a… strange, but at least sheltering, “home.”
“Nora!
Evelyn!”
Several familiar voices came from the distance.
They were a few friends from Ravenclaw, waving at them.
“Come take a photo with us!”
“Coming!” Evelyn pulled Nora up by the hand and ran toward them.
/Dvrac
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