The Moon Landing Plan That Couldn't Be Restarted

-- Huh? All me?

"You treacherous old man, you're the one to blame, aren't you!"

Harry was now both furious and calm. "Can I go to the moon? I mean, go there for a date."

"Impossible. That relies entirely on Muggle technology." Dumbledore shook his head. "The Portkey sent to the moon is too far away and has lost its effect."

"We originally planned to account for this with multi-node transmission—launching a transmission platform at intervals along the rocket's trajectory."

"But Connolly considered the cost too high and vetoed the proposal."

"That foolish Fudge! Always holding us back!" Hagrid voiced what everyone present was thinking.

Once it was clear that the existing claims of moon landings in the magical world were all rumors and falsehoods...

Even Ron could realize how crucial a stable channel for wizards to access the moon at any time would be.

"Is it feasible to get the Muggle government to restart the moon landing program?" Harry asked.

For Moon Demon Spell Blue at his peak, Phase Shift Magic was as effortless as Apparition.

For Harry, it was a Great Ritual that required daily perseverance and would only succeed after three years.

No wonder the task of finding the Hufflepuff Cup had such a lenient time limit of four school years.

"Theoretically feasible, yes." Dumbledore sighed. "Given your achievements in the Muggle world, you probably understand better than I do."

"Why?"

Unlike Harry, who instantly understood and turned into a quick-change fake smile boy, Ron pressed for an answer.

"This is a very, very complicated question." Dumbledore initially didn't intend to continue.

But seeing the eager looks from Hermione and the others, he went on.

"Our successful theft of the Hogwarts Express was because, at that time, the Muggle government was frantically building railways everywhere."

"The railway stock frenzy swept the nation. The Ministry of Magic chose that moment to steal the train very shrewdly—the railway companies were busy expanding, lacked a unified asset registration system, and local segmented operations created global oversight blind spots."

"A small amount of equipment going missing wasn't easy to notice."

"But even so, the Ministry of Magic used 167 Obliviation spells and the largest-scale Concealment Charm in history."

"The current Ministry of Magic couldn't manage it."

"Of course, that buffoon Fudge." Hagrid muttered.

"Moreover," Dumbledore continued, "the Muggle world has experienced two true world wars, with technology, intelligence, and state machinery highly integrated."

"Moon landing requires cutting-edge technology, astronomical budget investments, and attracts global attention."

"Restarting a manned moon landing program after success—the shockwaves it would cause: intelligence agencies launching full-scale investigations, intergovernmental suspicion and confrontation, panic selling on the stock market..."

"Perhaps even greater than the impact of Tom's resurrection."

"All of this would also be exposed to the International Confederation of Wizards."

The azure eyes behind Dumbledore's half-moon spectacles were filled with regret.

Perhaps at this moment, he finally regretted not taking the position of Minister of Magic.

Wizards' magic makes it easier for them than Muggles to survive in space and establish bases.

This might signify the dawn of the cosmic age.

And all of this had been delayed by Fudge's foolish actions.

"Really no way?" Ron asked reluctantly.

Even Lucius Malfoy stared at Dumbledore with eager eyes; he understood the value behind this even better—it was equivalent to the New World of the past—America.

Dumbledore sighed. "This requires deep magical intervention—the Undetectable Extension Charm to expand space and reduce weight, Goblin Silver to reinforce the carrier, and the coordinated cooperation of multiple skilled alchemists."

"This isn't something a single Ministry of Magic can achieve. Perhaps..."

His eyes suddenly lit up. "Perhaps there is one person with enough prestige, enough wealth, enough alchemical skill..."

"Nicolas Flamel!" Lucius Malfoy instantly thought of this man. "They say... he's currently living in seclusion in Devon! He's a friend of yours!"

The Philosopher's Stone, granting immortality and turning lead into gold, and its creator Nicolas Flamel, had never been forgotten.

"Ah, my family's in Devon too." Ron said in surprise.

"But... he's already decided to embark on an adventure." Though Dumbledore's words were hesitant, his face showed an eager excitement.

Indeed, what adventure could compare to the boundless cosmos!

Especially when one suddenly realizes how close it is!

"Harry, are you sure you want to set your date location at the Space Hall?" Dumbledore suddenly said.

[Ding ding ding! Task triggered: Retirement Rejection of a Six-Dynasty Veteran]

[The great Savior is about to be crowned, and the Six-Dynasty Veteran wants to retire with his wife? How can this be tolerated? Who knows if he harbors the ambitions of Sima Yi? Please reject his retirement papers and let him continue to shine for you.]

[Completion reward: 100 Experience Points, Gold Magic Knowledge·1, Gold Talent Entry·1]

--The man's already dead, and they bring up Sima Yi.

... Dogskin Book!

... A double-yolk egg!

Harry immediately changed his tune. "Perhaps... Devon, if that's what you decide."

"Harry, are you—" "Why are you shouting?!" Ron was about to yelp when Draco cut him off.

"Very well. But the time may no longer be this Friday," Dumbledore said. "Nicolas will certainly look forward to meeting you."

The certainty in his words was almost overflowing.

The power of Death, the host of an unprecedented and extraordinary magical force—even Nicolas Flamel, a six-hundred-year-old immortal, would surely take notice.

Dumbledore's guess was spot on.

That very afternoon, Harry received a letter in the Great Hall.

Hedwig had delivered it, and she was now leaning against Harry's arm, pecking at dried meat on his plate.

"Could this be..."

Ron was even more excited than Harry, his face nearly turning scarlet, his freckles almost vanishing.

"Shut up!" Draco hissed, but he wasn't much better off than Ron, his eyes blinking uncontrollably as if out of control.

Harry unfolded the letter.

[Dear Harry:]

[He responded faster than I anticipated. Please come to my office with Miss Gemma Farley at 7 o'clock this evening.]

[Yours faithfully,]

[Albus Dumbledore]

[P.S. I like Cockroach Cluster.]

"He likes... Cockroach Cluster?"

Ron, practically elbow-deep into Hedwig on the table, looked baffled.

"It must be the password!" Hermione said sharply, squinting. "This isn't fair—this is hardly even a date anymore, so why does she—"

Draco interrupted, "To make others think Harry's just going on a date."

"Cockroach Cluster... what if there are real cockroaches in there... blegh~" Ron made a gagging face. "That's even more disgusting than Percy kissing Peter Pettigrew."

Draco's pale gray eyes shot malice. "Weasley, how can you be sure you haven't? He slept on your pillow too."

"What are you talking about?" Percy's face turned ashen. "I heard 'pillow'?"

Even now, he hadn't forgotten the days of sharing a bed with Peter Pettigrew.

Because of Harry, his pursuit of personal magical power had made chasing Penelope nothing more than a fig leaf for his shame.

Ever since Scabbers' true identity was exposed, he had completely lost his right to date within the school.