"Quickly, before the water completely disappears," Slytherin urged.
"Yes." Harry didn't hesitate, and the Sorting Hat fell from his hand and disappeared into the 'lake'.
(As water splashed, countless spectators applauded as if they were experiencing the same sensation.)
(Basil understands this perfectly; it's normal for them not to want the Mother-Child River to be destroyed.)
(The issue of childbirth among wizards has always been a major problem.)
(In the Wizarding World, where contraception is not practiced and everyone hopes for many children, there are still many wizarding couples who only have one child.)
(Only a minority of the Weasley family are capable of having children like this.)
(This is also why Ginny, who wasn't particularly attractive in the movie version, still had so many boyfriends.)
(Just look at Harry, who had been the only son in his family for generations, and how he suddenly had three children after marrying Weasley family.)
The water level continued to drop, and the Basilisk's enormous body was like a dried-up sponge, with all the lake water seeping into it.
In the end, only the completely bare ground and the enormous snake's body remained.
There is no trace of the Sorting Hat anymore.
Harry understood that the Sorting Hat had merged into the lake of frozen memories and returned to the Basilisk's body.
Now, Basilisk Harley gone, and only Slytherin remains.
Its bright yellow serpentine eyes, gleaming with intelligence and completely controlling even the Basilisk's deathly glare, flashed. "You can leave now. The Sorting Hat will stay here with me forever."
"Hmm." Harry nodded, looking a little confused.
He could sense how powerful Slytherin was now. Even though she only possessed memories and thoughts, compared to her when she was still Basilisk, she was like heaven and earth.
With such a powerful figure in her hands, the Sorting Hat should be safe and sound.
But Harry found that the mission completion announcement was not playing in his ears.
Slytherin, who had coiled up his serpent and was preparing to fall into another long slumber, asked, "Do you have any more questions?"
"I meant to ask, is this all there is to it? I mean, the Mother-Child River," Harry asked quickly.
"Of course not. If my bloodline wanted to, he could sever the source by destroying the Hogwarts Sorting Ceremony." Slytherin's voice was somewhat impatient. "I remember saying that. But don't worry, as long as the Sorting Hat remains intact, there's still a chance to do it again."
On the way back, Harry kept thinking about the meaning of Slytherin's words.
The meaning of the words is very simple: as long as the core remains, the Mother-Child River can still be revived even after it is destroyed.
Even if the sorting system is abolished, it can be rebuilt.
The difficulty lies in why the Behind-the-Scenes God still hasn't determined the mission to be complete.
Is it because Riddle's side, even knowing that the core had been stolen and protected by someone else, still hadn't given up on the idea of destroying the Mother-Child River?
But in the Prophecy, Riddle should have realized his mistake.
Back in his tent in the common room, Harry still couldn't understand.
If that's the case, then wasn't his farewell to Draco and the others for nothing today?
He even promised to marry them.
In this world, their birth month is very early.
Even the latest Harley was born on February 4th.
In that case, wouldn't he have to consider marriage on February 4th, which is about 3 months from now, after Harley turns 18?
He made that promise because he thought he would leave this world soon.
Could it be that he really intends to get married in this world and then leave?
Meanwhile, Krum and his team were also wondering why the mission was not yet complete.
"You're finally back, Diggory. Where have you been?" The screen of the encyclopedia in Krum's hand lit up, Phoebe's face appeared in it. It was clear that the two were video chatting.
"I think. I know." Phoebe glanced at the hickeys on Cedric's neck through the encyclopedia and said teasingly.
Cedric awkwardly adjusted his collar, silently praying that Cho Chang wouldn't be too angry.
(Cho Chang wasn't really angry; his breathing was slow and rhythmic.)
(However, this was because she had Ginny as a comparison, and the fact that the Basilisk was from Slytherin was too surprising.)
"Now that you're back, we can discuss this," Krum said, "Why the mission isn't over."
Cedric stroked his chin. "The Prophecy says that Riddle will realize his mistakes. But it doesn't say when. That time could be a few days, a few months, or even a few years."
Phoebe shook her head. "Let's not be too careless. What if the Sorting Hat we hid is eventually found?"
Krum was silent for a moment. "Leave that to me. I'll send one of my bodies to be stationed there permanently."
"Now, there's no need for us to inquire about any more information. The most important thing is to protect the Sorting Hat from being found by the Demon Man and his Knights."
(Upon seeing this, Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore and asked, "Do you still stand by your opinion? Riddle will abandon the plan to destroy the Mother-Child River.")
("Of course," Dumbledore said, "We are different from the Champion in the quest; we have witnessed firsthand the Demon Man's actions in that world.")
("We generally know what kind of person he is.")
("I think he will give up, but it will take him some time to confirm the truth of the Prophecy and verify the error of his plan.")
("So you think Mr. Diggory's version is more likely?" Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow.)
("Not necessarily," Dumbledore shook his head. "The Demon Man himself might give up, but his order of knights, those dreamers who were willing to join him against the tide for their dreams, might not give up so easily.")
(.)
(As time went by, more and more viewers came to agree with Cedric's view.)
(Because, during these three months, the Wizarding World on the screen remained calm, as if the intrusion into Hogwarts and the escape of the Demon Man and his minions from the Hunger Platform were just illusions that never happened.)
The most talked-about topic in the British Wizarding World, and at Hogwarts, right now is the marriage between three ancient wizarding families.
Weasley, Malfoy, Peverell will be getting married this Saturday, the 8th of this month, in Godric's Hollow.
Almost everyone wanted to know how this unknown wizard from the Muggle World had won the hearts of three witches from ancient families.
But because the wizard named Harry Potter was still attending Hogwarts, even the Daily Prophet, which was as eager for news as a dog smelling a bone, could only keep its reporters quietly in their offices, waiting for the wedding to arrive.
The time was 6 PM on February 7, 1997.
A large crowd had gathered in front of the gates of Hogwarts Castle, with a significant portion of the crowd also in the Great Hall.
The professors guided the crowd, keeping them quiet and preventing any witches from taking advantage of the wizards.
In this situation, even Neville would dare to leave the wizard's lounge.
However, he remained hidden behind Percy, among the group of male wizards.
Harry stood at the front of the crowd, his expression seemingly normal, but his mind was in turmoil.
He didn't understand why the professors were making such a fuss over something as simple as getting married.
Tomorrow is his wedding day, and also the day he meets the parents of Draco, Roan, and Harley.
During the previous Christmas holiday, he did not go to meet Roan and the others' parents. He only knew that the marriage was set after the holiday ended in January.
Is it really that hasty?
Draco, Roan, and Harley had already left the school yesterday.
He is now waiting here for the transportation that will take him to Godric's Hollow.
No, it wasn't just him, but also Percy, Freda Georgiana, and other family members of the woman.
As for the man's family, he, being an orphan, chose Hagrid, and had already reconciled with Cedric's girlfriend Cho Chang.
The reason for not choosing the more convenient Floo Network and Door Key is that the wedding could not use such a rudimentary mode of transportation.
"I'm so envious," Sirius sighed, gazing at the sky.
Harry understood what she envied; she also wished she could be like Roan and the others, sharing James Peverell with Lily in this world.
"What kind of person was Harley's mother?" Harry couldn't help but ask.
"Her?" Sirius said after a moment of silence, "A beautiful, kind, cheerful witch who is so outstanding that I can't even be jealous of her."
("Of course," Snape nodded.)
"I also have to admit that she deserves James more than I do."
"But I can't help it. I can't suppress my love for him," Sirius, her face flushing as she looked at Harry's face, so strikingly similar to James Peverell's. Her hands trembled involuntarily as she reached forward. "James, James."
Just as her fingertips were about to touch Harry's face, a hand landed on Sirius's shoulder, and a drowsy magic made her slump into the person's arms.
"Now you understand why she wouldn't allow her to attend the wedding," said Sylphides Snape, glancing disdainfully at Sirius in her arms. "If she were here, she would be calling that man's name incessantly and ruining Harley's wedding."
Harry nodded, not exchanging many words with her, even though she was a guest at tomorrow's wedding.
He also had a bad relationship with the Snape of this world.
Regardless of the world, Snape loved Lily, even in this world where he was a woman.
Similarly, she disliked Harry, who looked a lot like James Peverell.
The difference is that Harry in this world is a woman and looks like her mother.
In this world, Snape dotes on Harley. His greatest hobby is finding excuses to give her extra points, even though Harley is actually Gryffindor and the head of the rival house.
Harry looked around, but since Roan and the others weren't there, he couldn't find anyone else to talk to.
Krum and Cedric kept exchanging glances whenever he got close.
Phoebe, on the other hand, thought he was too scummy and couldn't stand him.
As for Percy, Harry, who married his sister, also didn't get a good look from him.
Roan's two twin sisters, Freda and Georgiana, have a bad reputation among the warlocks, and he hasn't had much interaction with them.
In the end, he could only stare straight at the Black Lake, as if it could see through him.
No, flowers are really blooming on the water!
Huge splashes erupted on the calm, dark surface of the water, waves crashing against the damp shore—and then, right in the center of the lake, a massive whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug had suddenly been pulled from the lakebed.
A long, dark, pole-like object slowly rose from the whirlpool, and then Harry saw the sails and rigging.
Krum, standing to the side, instinctively stood on tiptoe; he was very familiar with this way of making an entrance.
That's how Durmstrang arrived at Hogwarts.
Although Black Lake is an inland lake, their magical ships can use magical shortcuts to travel to other bodies of water, just as Floo Network can travel to other fireplaces through fireplaces.
"We're here." Percy led the way, followed by Penelope —his fiancée, then Freda and Georgiana.
Harry and the others quickly followed.
The large ship had risen above the water; it looked magnificent, as if it were carved from pure white marble and then painted with luxurious gold lacquer.
With a splashing sound, the large ship emerged completely, bobbing on the undulating water, and began to sail towards the lake shore.
A moment later, there was a splash as an anchor was thrown into the shallow water, followed by a snap as a plank was laid on the lake shore.
Harry and his friends were now standing on the lawn by the lake.
Several people could be clearly seen approaching.
Leading the group was a handsome young man with long, platinum-blonde hair, leaning on a snake-shaped cane, and arm in arm with a beautiful woman with gray hair.
(The scruffy-bearded Malfoy in Azkaban couldn't believe it was him; he hadn't been this handsome in his youth. Narcissa hadn't been this beautiful either.)
(At the Malfoy Manor, Narcissa Malfoy was incredibly excited; she truly felt like she was marrying off her daughter.)
Harry had to look several times before he recognized Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy.
They are so young in this world, and so much more handsome.
Behind them was a red-haired couple, who were also young and beautiful. They waved enthusiastically to Harry after noticing his gaze.
Although Mr. Weasley was no longer bald and Mrs. Weasley was also no longer bald and had a great figure, Harry still recognized them immediately.
(Mr. Weasley's gaze couldn't help but drift towards the even more stunning and beautiful Mrs. Weasley, and he began to feel fortunate that he was currently working overtime.)
(Mrs. Weasley's eyes gleamed with reminiscence as she recalled her school days with her husband.)
However, what attracted Harry the most were the two figures that followed.
A very beautiful woman with deep red hair and green eyes, just like his.
("Lily ~" Snape's face twisted with excitement, because he felt he had betrayed Lily, and now he found this Lily even more beautiful and charming.)
The tall, thin man next to him had messy hair, with a tuft of hair sticking up unruly at the back of his head, just like Harry's.
("James ~" Almost simultaneously with Snape, Sirius began to go berserk.)
Harry's eyes involuntarily welled up with tears; he had the illusion of seeing his parents.