great-warnovel Chapter 365 Dust Covered the Ground
Chapter 365 Dust Covered the Ground
Chapter 365 Dust Covered the Ground
"Another fairy—" Hermione frowned.
First, during the Battle of Hogwarts, the Soviet troops were transferred through the goblin cave, almost delivering a fatal blow to the wizards. Now, it has been revealed that Lucius's fall from grace was also due to the goblins.
This was even the seed of disaster sown fifty years ago, at the very beginning of their rebellion.
The extermination faction truly wants humanity to be wiped out; every plan they devise is vicious and insidious.
"The most important thing right now is to clean up this mess," Dumbledore said softly.
Their gaze swept across the dilapidated city and the bewildered, helpless crowd.
"That's 100,000 people!" Slughorn realized the seriousness of the problem.
"It's the coldest time of year right now, and the protective barrier built by meteorologists has been destroyed—."
"Houses, food—? How much usable food can be salvaged from this ruined city?"
The group exchanged glances. This was a huge problem, so huge that even the kind-hearted members of the Order of the Phoenix knew they couldn't easily show kindness.
Hogsmeade currently has a permanent population of only 10,000, a result of the combined efforts of several factions, including Beauxbatons. The magically grown food has only just produced its first batch, barely enough to feed its own people. The fact that it has quickly achieved a normal, self-sufficient cycle is remarkable.
It is already a manifestation of the high productivity of magic.
Nowadays, if 100,000 people were to flood in at once, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Moreover, among these people, apart from the citizens of Malfoy Castle in the outer city who are probably willing to abide by some order, the vagrants who once lived in the shantytowns will likely turn New Hogsmeade into a lawless city of chaos and disorder.
Leaving aside the future, even right now, some people have already started searching and looting in the ruins.
The half-collapsed house is very dangerous, but it may still contain sweet bread and thick clothing, which could be the most scarce supplies later.
The unrest has begun to spread, and if left unchecked, it could lead to another large-scale tragedy.
All eyes were on Dumbledore, waiting for him to make a decision.
"That—" Captain Auror couldn't contain himself. Not only him, but also his team members, many of whose families were in the crowd, some searching for their homes, others scrambling for useful supplies they had found.
The White Wizard did not make a decision immediately. His expression was somber as he turned to Hermione beside him and said, "You decide."
Then it disappeared with a snap.
Hermione could sense that the Death Veil was having a significant impact on Dumbledore; he was probably unable to handle various matters rationally at the moment, and he needed to get as far away from here as possible.
The decision was handed to her, and the sudden pressure made her twist her neck uncomfortably.
Hilmi stood silently beside her: "Go ahead and do it. We're all in this together."
Next, a terrifying bolt of lightning struck from the ground.
Hermione raised her staff high, and the Great Weather Charm was activated again. The swirling clouds formed a terrifying eye, gleaming with pale lightning, staring intently at the riotous crowd below.
"Anyone who moves without permission shall die!" The witch's icy voice echoed through the city.
Moody and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix immediately rallied around her. Since Dumbledore had chosen to entrust everything to her, and Hermione had made her decision, they naturally supported her.
Everyone witnessed the fight between the little witch and Lucius. Those with clear minds naturally knew to immediately stop fighting, while the more obedient ones simply covered their heads and crouched down.
But some cunning people thought that the girl was too young to harm ordinary people, and continued to rob others of their belongings. The next moment, a bolt of lightning struck from the sky and burned them to ashes.
Now they finally understood that Hermione was different from Dumbledore; she was truly capable of killing.
"Harry, you go back and find Professor McGonagall. Have her contact the city council, organize manpower, and prepare to receive the refugees."
Hermione gave the order.
"Mr. Moody, please organize the Aurors and take charge of maintaining order."
"Mr. Slughorn, please select people you trust to form a search team and try to salvage as much supplies as possible from the ruins."
"Draco, you stay—" Hermione said softly; the boy had just lost his father.
"Right now, you're the only one who can command these little sprites; we need to get them involved in the rescue efforts in the inner city."
The more exhilarating the fighting was before, the more painful it is to rummage through the trash now. The inner city was severely damaged by Lucius's violence, but many of the nobles' properties are protected by magic, so it's safer to let their little elves search for them.
"The focus is on the various livestock farms! First, organize shamans to temporarily reinforce the ecological dome, then rescue the livestock and crops!"
"And hospitals! Workshops! Granaries and oil shops!"
"No need to take any water! The purified Black Lake is cleaner than anything you've ever drunk!"
The noisy crowd finally gained some order, splitting into streams as they moved through the dilapidated city.
Hilmi flew into the air and used magic to mend the cracked earth as much as possible. She also lifted the stone archway of the Death Curtain from the ground. Although this thing was dangerous to Dumbledore, it was very valuable and it was best to find a proper way to preserve and study it.
The fireplace complex at the outer city gate had never been so busy. Large numbers of Muggles were waiting there, and they were lined up by the Aurors, with only those whose numbers were called allowed to pass.
During the previous battle, about a thousand people were transferred there. The sudden arrival of these Muggles startled the goblins and prisoners of war who were building the city. Fortunately, the city council intervened in time and brought them under control.
"Maria, go back and pick some law-abiding werewolves to form a patrol team. Any disobedient refugees heading to New Hogsmeade should be bitten," Hilmi ordered loudly in front of everyone.
"Why! This is unfair!" someone shouted. Just half a day ago, they were citizens of the world's largest wizarding city.
They used to look at outsiders with arrogance, but now they've become refugees, forced to be subservient to others and subject to their supervision.
"You can also choose to stay here and wait for the next spring," Hilmi said to them with a smile.
"New Hogsmeade is rescuing you out of humanitarianism and has no obligation to cater to everyone's emotions!"
The convenience of magic was once again demonstrated; the wizards and elves worked tirelessly to clear the damaged houses.
Move the rubble away.
Draco stood resolutely in the square, giving orders to the elves around him. The sound of Apparitions flashed incessantly. In addition to the hundreds of elves kept at home, Draco was surprised to find that the elves belonging to the Malfoy Castle public system had also been transferred to him by his father, numbering in the hundreds as well.
They serve Gringotts, the FlooNet system, and the administrative system, and are now under command.
"Create a list, record the address and family members of each household, and deliver as many usable supplies as possible from the ruins to each family as possible," Draco said to the elf beside him. Only with the help of magic could such accurate statistics be achieved.
"Malfoy Castle is finished." Slughorn sat on a collapsed stone pillar, gazing at the spot where his home once stood.
There's nothing left there now.
"Purebloods are finished too—" he laughed self-deprecatingly.
"You are still here, and the children of those families are safe and sound at Hogwarts under your protection," Draco said softly.
"Once this is all over, I will return these sprites and the contract to them."
The portly old man patted the boy on the shoulder: "You should keep him. Those kids—you'll probably have a headache later."