She Walked into Hogwarts (GL)

Chapter 259: The Grand Finale (Part 1)

The Hogwarts Express let out a sharp whistle. White steam billowed from the engine as the wheels began to pick up speed. The towers of Hogwarts Castle grew smaller in the distance until, after rounding a bend, the castle completely disappeared from view.“I can’t believe we’re graduating already! Time really flies,” Fanny murmured, gazing out the window.

“Yeah… time does fly,” Hermione replied softly.

The compartment was quiet, occupied only by Hermione, Fanny, and Anne. The party the night before had gone on until after one in the morning. Anne had stayed until the very end, but the Hogwarts Express departed at nine o’clock that morning. Counting the hours, she had barely over six hours of sleep and had been half-dragged onto the train by Fanny and Hermione.

Once inside the empty compartment, Hermione helped Anne put on a sleep mask. Nestled against her backpack, Anne soon drifted off.

Watching Anne curl up in the seat, Hermione quietly asked, “Fanny, what do you plan to do after graduation?”

“Me?” Fanny fiddled with the teacup on the table, smiling. “Anne told me I could take a gap year, just like in the Muggle world after university. I discussed it with my parents, and they agreed.”

“A gap year? That sounds wonderful.”

“Yeah, two whole years. I plan to visit other countries, explore their wizarding communities on my own, and check out how Quidditch is developing elsewhere. Anne even suggested I write a book or get an international Quidditch referee license. I really like that idea! If I get the license, I can officiate matches in other countries.”

“So you’ll understand Quidditch development worldwide firsthand. That’s brilliant!” Hermione said admiringly.

Fanny glanced at Anne, still sleeping, then back at Hermione. “Of course, I’ll come back for your wedding no matter where I am, I’m going to be your chief bridesmaid!”

Hermione blushed instantly, turning her head and murmuring to the window, “That’s still a long way off.”

“Is it?” Fanny chuckled. “My intuition says otherwise. But anyway, I’ll get the invitation. What about you? What do you plan to do after graduation?”

“I?” Hermione looked at Anne, still asleep, and smiled. “Naturally, I’ll join the Ministry of Magic and see if I can further advance the House-Elf Rights Advocacy Association.”

“Wow! That’s a great idea!” Fanny said sincerely. “You know, the house-elves did a lot during the Battle of Hogwarts. They saved many wizards on the battlefield. And with Dobby and Skoll’s autographs, I’m sure you’ll succeed. Go for it!”

“Thanks.” Hermione smiled, glancing at Anne. She knew how much effort Anne had put into helping the house-elves.

As night fell, Anne sat in the Roland Manor dining hall, chatting casually with Diana and Aaron while enjoying dinner.

“Anne, are you sure you want to follow the arrangements in your letters after graduation?” Diana asked, slicing the roast wagyu on her plate.

“This is perfect,” Anne replied seriously. “Aunt Diana, given the Roland family’s current economic scale and future expansion plans, handling everything alone would be exhausting. Besides, I won’t overwork myself.”

“What arrangements?” Aaron poured himself a cup of tea.

“I plan to take over all the Roland family affairs after graduation,” Anne explained. “In the next year, I’ll establish the family’s upper and middle management framework. Then I’ll join the Ministry’s International Magical Cooperation Department to understand official procedures and international diplomatic affairs. After that, I’ll decide on the next steps.”

Aaron looked at Diana. Diana sipped her tea and then asked Anne, “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely,” Anne replied.

“Good,” Diana nodded. “Attend the meeting at eight in two days. I’ll preside.”

“Yes!” Anne said, her joy barely contained in her voice.

That evening, the Roland Manor conference room was filled with branch leaders from North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Some retired or nearly retired family elders were also present. Anne chatted pleasantly with them throughout.

The purpose of the meeting was simple: to decide whether Anne was qualified to become head of the Roland family, don the head ring, and take over all family affairs.

A vote was taken, unanimous approval.

That night, Anne and Diana went to the castle’s basement. The flickering torchlight stretched their shadows as they entered the storage area and bypassed the shelves. They arrived at a solid wall and walked straight through it.

On the other side was a short corridor, heavily reinforced with protective bricks and magical wards. At the end, a massive Roland family crest appeared on the stone wall: a shield-shaped emblem with an elephant in the background and the initials RL carved in relief.

As they approached, the silver elephant spoke in a cold, steady voice, “When? Where? Who?”

Diana looked at Anne.

Anne answered seriously, “1873, India, Johnny Depp Roland.”

“Correct. What is the matter?”

“Differences are inevitable, but we must respect each other.”

“Decisions have been made. Uphold them.”

The elephant’s voice deepened as the stone door moved aside.

Inside was a square room. Two walls were lined with wooden shelves reaching the ceiling, displaying various magical items and wands of deceased family members. Everything was as before, except for one shelf now holding a Merlin Level 2 Medal, awarded to Diana by the Order of Merlin for the family’s efforts in the recent war.

A wall of translucent crystal bricks emitted a soft white glow. Names were etched into some of the bricks, faintly shining purple. Diana led Anne to the family genealogy display, her expression serious.

“Anne Roland Reeve, do you swear before the family genealogy, under the gaze of every deceased member, to uphold your oath?”

“I do.” Anne stood straight, her voice clear and resolute.

As she spoke, the purple light of the names deepened. Portraits appeared within the bricks, gradually enlarging and arranging neatly on the wall. Anne could see Sonia and Lambert smiling at her gently from their portraits.

Diana pressed the head ring against her own name in the crystal, then gestured for Anne to do the same. Anne placed her hand on the crystal below Lambert Roland Reeve and Sonia Roland, and her own name appeared.

Diana whispered a spell. The ring glowed faintly before dimming. She removed it from her right thumb. Lines of text appeared on the crystal.

“Swear, Anne.”

“I, Anne Roland Reeve, willingly assume the duties of head of the Roland family—”

Anne recited her oath slowly, firmly, prepared to take on the responsibilities and affairs that lay ahead.

Taking the ring from Diana, she placed it on her right thumb. Her name glowed faint gold.

The next day, Diana accompanied Anne to the Ministry of Magic and Gringotts to finalize the paperwork and agreements. From that day on, Anne officially became head of the Roland family, responsible for all family affairs.

NEWT results would only arrive by owl in early June. Only with the appropriate grades could students work or intern. The rest of May became a short period of happy leisure for all Hogwarts graduates.

After attending Anne’s birthday banquet, Fanny embarked on her path to obtaining an international Quidditch referee license. That night, Hermione took out a well-preserved box containing a roly-poly toy resembling Anne.

Anne felt slightly nervous seeing it but quickly relaxed, what was meant to happen, would happen.

The next evening, Anne used the fireplace in Roland Manor’s living room to briefly connect to Hermione’s home, bringing Hermione back with her.

Upstairs, in Hermione’s room, Hermione asked curiously, “Why come to my house?”

“Because you have a hundred percent choice, Hermione,” Anne said, summoning a stone basin with her wand, a rare magical meditation basin.

Placing it on an automatically assembled wooden stand, Anne took two small glass vials from her pocket. Her hand trembled slightly, but she poured the silver substance into the basin. The silver strands swirled gracefully.

“This… is a meditation basin? Anne, is that… a memory?” Hermione asked, intrigued.

“Yes.” Anne tried to keep her voice steady, taking a slow breath. She then placed a miniature magical headset on Hermione’s right ear.

Hermione grasped Anne’s hand. “You’re not coming in with me?”

Anne looked down, avoiding her gaze. “No, Hermione. If I go in with you, it will affect your judgment. I can’t do that.”

Hermione frowned, cupping Anne’s face. “Why… why don’t you trust yourself? I’ve felt this before, not just today.”

“I…” Anne’s lips pressed tightly. Hermione sensed her nervousness, panic, and a touch of fear.

Hermione tried to remove the headset, but Anne stopped her.

“If what I see scares you, I don’t want to see it.”

“No! Hermione.” Anne looked into her eyes. “I am a little afraid. But please, let all judgments wait until after you’ve seen it. This is my last and greatest secret. It used to be unspeakable, but now I must tell the truth. I don’t want any future conflict between us because of it, I would regret it forever.”

“So you want to confront it now, before anything begins?” Hermione asked sharply.

“I… just see it first, okay?” Anne pleaded.

Hermione nodded. Before entering the basin, she said, “Anne, after everything, I don’t want to see the Anne who ran from problems with the two of us.”

“I’ll try,” Anne said weakly.

Hermione pressed her lips together. “Fine, I’ll see it first, then talk to you.”

She immersed her face into the meditation basin. Hermione entered the memory Anne had prepared.

A whirling sensation, like a phantom apparition, and Hermione landed on a grassy field resembling a park. Asian adults and children ran across the grass, laughing and chatting.

Through the headset, she could understand what they were saying.

“Anne! Don’t run too far! Stay here!” a young woman laughed, chasing a little girl running ahead.