Supreme Wizard Alliance Remnants

The next two days are the weekend.

However, the lounge lacked its usual relaxed atmosphere; instead, it was tense—most students were making their final preparations for Monday's Potions exam, with parchment, textbooks, and cauldron notes piled high on the desks.

Skylar, however, remained extremely busy.

His time was fragmented into conflicting pieces: on one side, the disciplined exams and courses at the academy; on the other, the ever-approaching wizarding war and the turbulent undercurrents of planning. These two rhythms pulled him at the same time, creating a persistent and sharp sense of tearing apart.

He was tired of this kind of life. He was just waiting for the end of this school year to graduate early.

News came from the Ministry of Magic that Grindelwald had awakened, but due to irreversible damage from Dark Arts, he had lost all his magic and could never use it again—he had become Muggle, the very thing he hated most.

It could be said that he received the most terrible punishment.

Without magic, Grindelwald could no longer cause any trouble. Under the strong demands of Amelia's faction and with Dumbledore's strong guarantee, Grindelwald, who was already nearing the end of his life, should have been released to live out his remaining days in peace. However, the International Confederation of Wizards chose this moment to intervene forcefully—the final result was that Grindelwald would be escorted to Nurmengard and then tried by the International Wizard Court.

Interestingly, at this sensitive time, someone risked great danger to secretly approach Skylar.

Matilda Eisenkrotz, the infamous Austria witch known as the "Iron-Blooded Hand."

Skylar had heard of this name. This woman had once attempted to assassinate the Austria Minister for Magic but failed, and had twice escaped from the Austria Auror's pursuit. She was skilled in infiltrating behind enemy lines, Transfiguration herself, and surreptitiously hiding, making her a dangerous figure comparable to Barty Crouch Jr. Crouch Jr.

The two met in a secluded spot in Dartmoor, a place that, besides being the venue for the 1994 Quidditch World Cup, is also a site of numerous illicit transactions.

For example, in September 1927, Newt Scamander bought an unregistered, illegal Portkey from a black market dealer here, which allowed him to smuggle himself into France.

Upon their first meeting, Skylar judged from her appearance and demeanor that she was a stern, serious, and unsmiling person, somewhat like Professor McGonagall.

And the facts have proven Skylar's judgment correct.

After the meeting, Skylar learned that Matilda was the current leader of the remnants of the Supreme Wizard Alliance.

After Grindelwald's rebellion failed, the Supreme Wizard Alliance was plunged into annihilation—its members were relentlessly hunted down, and of the seven Acolytes whose status was second only to Grindelwald, only two survived. The entire force suffered a devastating blow and disappeared without a trace.

It's unbelievable that they've still existed all these years, still holding fast to their beliefs, lying dormant in the darkness, waiting for the opportunity to rise again.

It turns out that Matilda came here to follow Grindelwald's last instructions before his death, leading the remaining Supreme Wizard Alliance to seek refuge with Skylar.

As a prophet, Grindelwald most likely foresaw his own end, which is why he arranged a way out for his subordinates in advance.

However, between Dumbledore and Skylar, he chose the latter.

Although the Supreme Wizard Alliance has never truly disappeared and has been secretly accumulating strength, the peace and stability of Muggle society and the rapid advancements in wizarding technology have rendered the "Wizard Supremacy" ideology outdated. The organization's main members are still descendants of the core Acolytes of yesteryear, with few opportunities to absorb fresh blood from the outside world.

Although her forces were small, numbering only about fifteen including Matilda, she was extremely strict in her discipline and demanding of her subordinates. Under her iron fist, every member of the Supreme Wizard Alliance possessed strength comparable to an elite Auror, and placed great emphasis on teamwork and iron discipline.

This is a force that cannot be ignored.

Skylar clearly saw that these people possessed the rigorous discipline of soldiers, and they regarded Grindelwald's dying wish as divine decree, their loyalty bordering on fanaticism. Since it was Grindelwald himself who had chosen the path of submission, they had absolutely no fear of betraying him.

Moreover, Matilda is meticulous and thorough in her work, and her ability to build such a formidable team with limited resources demonstrates her unique leadership skills. She is a rare talent.

Skylar readily accepted—it would not only strengthen his own power but also serve as a way of giving an explanation to that legendary dark wizard.

Then, Matilda brought unexpected news: Yan Feng had died unexpectedly in the Necromancer Underground Guild in Transylvania, and the cause of his death was mysterious and remains unsolved to this day.

The message came from the Supreme Wizard Alliance within the underground guilds, and is absolutely accurate and reliable. Grindelwald had suspected the underground guilds many years ago and had therefore made various arrangements in advance.

We won't go into what exactly happened to Yan Feng for now.

Skylar summarized the situation: the Death Eaters were severely weakened, the Shadow of the Magic Dragon was destroyed, the Cairo Black Market was besieged, and the China Corpse Raiser' forces had disappeared.

In that case, the only forces the Knights of Walpurgis can rely on are the Pirate King Family under Barbarossa and the "Cobra" organization from the Middle East.

He had already obtained information about the number of members of the Pirate King Family from the prisoners, which was approximately one hundred; and he had also learned about Cobra's forces yesterday from the House Elf, which was approximately 40.

Although the demon lords are formidable in combat, they cannot possibly accomplish their ambitions with such a small force. Skylar has already established a terrifying, all-encompassing intelligence network across Great Britain, ensuring that no move they make escapes Skylar notice.

Most importantly, their goal had already been foreseen by Skylar —the key to the Hogwarts Prayer Wheel Portkey. By focusing on this, their plot could be thwarted.

Currently, the situation is tilting in favor of the Sleeping Dragon Society, but Skylar still cannot let his guard down. After all, this time Skylar no longer has Dumbledore and Grindelwald to rely on.

But he was confident that all of this was just a setback on his final journey.

[The remnants of the "Supreme Wizard Alliance" (15 members) have been subdued!]

[Subdued "Follower" Matilda Eisenkrotz!]

[Obtained from "Undercover" (Necromancer Underground Guild)!]

After the meeting, Skylar returned to Hogwarts.

Skylar settled the Supreme Wizard Alliance in a secluded house in Knockturn Alley.

He then wrote a letter and had House Elf deliver it to his informant within the Wizard Archives Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Magic, to re-fabricate identities for everyone who had just joined him—new names, new bloodlines, and new life experiences. Once completed, these former wanted criminals would be completely exonerated and finally able to live openly in the sunlight as normal wizards.

He planned to order each of his vassal families to select their most talented young men, numbering between thirty and forty, and send them to Matilda for systematic training and instruction, at a later time.

After this group completes their transformation, they will be integrated with the remnants of the original Supreme Wizard Alliance to form a well-organized, unified, and highly efficient frontline combat force, whose combat strength must at least meet the standards of Ministry of Magic Hit Wizard.

(Note: Hit Wizard are no less powerful than Auror in head-on confrontations; what they lack is the Auror's all-around ability to adapt to various complex situations.)

This matter requires careful planning from Skylar. Ideally, Savannah should design a military merit system that allows these families to exchange their military achievements for the status and resources of vassal families. In this way, these vassal families will be more willing to contribute their best talents.

The night passed, and it was Monday, June 15th.

It's the day of the Potions exam.

The written test in the morning was quite difficult. Even Polyjuice Potion, a Potions recorded in forbidden books, appeared on the test paper. Students needed to accurately describe the effects of this Potions and the risks involved in its preparation.

Stay tuned to Wind of the Sleep God, stay tuned to Cola Novels, stay tuned for every update of <Hogwarts: The Rise of Malfoy>.

The afternoon practical exam was conducted together by Gryffindor and Slytherin in the Potions Classroom. Skylar clearly saw that Hermione's work was still flawless, but Harry and Ron's work was appalling. Even the usually taciturn Professor Marchbanks couldn't help but click his tongue to express his dissatisfaction.

Skylar guessed that this was probably because she felt disappointed with the next generation of the Pure-Blood Traitor Faction.

The following three days consisted of exams in the fields of Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, alchemy, and the History of Magic. The process was unremarkable and will not be discussed here.

After the exams, there was a six-day break, during which students celebrated the end of the exams. Although the fifth-year students were relieved of their burdens and returned to their usual relaxed expressions, Hogwarts was different from usual.

As is customary in previous years, each house's common room would host an all-night celebration tonight to mark the end of exams, where students would indulge in revelry. However, the atmosphere at Hogwarts remained somber this year. The announcement of Voldemort's return had dampened everyone's spirits to some extent. Everyone knew that war had begun, and that Great Britain would no longer be safe.

In six days, the exchange student program will come to an end.

In Italy, the battle between the two major mafia families is reaching a fever pitch. Vongola patriarch Will hopes that his son, Sazerus, can remain in Great Britain to preserve himself.

Skylar himself was not concerned about granting Sazerus asylum, and it wouldn't be difficult for him to arrange an identity and job for him that would keep him away from the conflict.

But Sazerus insisted on returning to his family; his pride wouldn't allow him to be a coward or a deserter. The family was now facing a life-or-death situation, and every bit of fighting power was crucial. Sazerus was no exception; he wanted to contribute his strength and his life to survive and perish with his family.

Skylar was no longer the same person he once was. Having witnessed countless partings and deaths, he wouldn't feign sentimentality at this moment. He respected Sazerus' decision and chose to bid Sazerus a formal farewell, but before leaving, he gave Sazerus a bracelet he had personally commissioned—

This bracelet is equipped with his full-fledged Gods' Protection spell and an instant teleportation array. If the wearer is attacked in a life-threatening manner, the defensive magic will be activated and he will be instantly teleported to the safe house that Skylar has set up.

This would greatly increase the survival rate of the Sazerus, and Skylar would not have betrayed the ancient alliance between the two families.

Akabane Sakura is going back too.

If we consider their spiritual connection through correspondence, she was actually the first girl Skylar ever met.

In those short six days, Skylar devoted almost every spare moment to her. The two of them sat side by side at their desks, repeatedly deducing and revising hypotheses amidst the densely packed magic rune sketches and ancient documents, almost forgetting the passage of time.

Over the past year, thanks to Skylar's almost inexhaustible supply of resources, the two researchers have already overcome countless difficulties and can be said to be only one step away from success.

The final experiment was conducted late at night.

The candlelight flickered low, the talisman array slowly lit up, and the air was filled with the low hum unique to the awakening of ancient bloodlines.

Skylar didn't say much, but before the ceremony was completed, he raised his hand and made a small cut on his fingertip.

A hint of surprise flashed across Akabane Sakura's face, but she didn't say anything.

A drop of blood fell into the heart of the formation.

In an instant, Cherry Moon's pet Fluffy Tail, let out a low whimper.

The original six tails trembled violently. Amidst the interplay of pain and ecstasy, three new tails slowly emerged from the tailbone, accompanied by a low hum. Each tail shimmered with a silvery-white light, growing longer and longer.

Its originally messy tan fur was quickly shed, replaced by long, pure white fur that shimmered like snow. Its aura changed drastically, exuding an ancient and noble charm.

At the end of the ceremony, the Fluffy Tail fox lay prone in the formation, its nine tails unfurled, officially evolving into the legendary nine-tailed white fox.

"We did it!" Tears welled up in Akabane Sakura's eyes; she could hardly believe that what she was seeing was real.

The nine-tailed white fox lay in the center of the formation, quietly falling into a deep sleep. The light of the runes gradually dimmed, and the room returned to silence, with only the sound of their breathing remaining.

This moment came too quickly.

It happened so fast that there wasn't enough time to prepare for "what's next".

Cherry Moon stood still, not turning around immediately. Her fingertips unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, as if trying to grasp something that was slipping away.

Skylar saw it, but said nothing.

He simply watched the nine-tailed white fox quietly, and also watched Cherry Moon's profile, which was filled with joy mixed with a hint of bewilderment.

"Without you..." Cherry Moon paused, seemingly realizing where her words were headed, and quickly stopped herself, simply shaking her head gently, "Never mind."

She finally turned around and met Skylar's gaze.

In that instant, they both clearly realized that this might be the last time they stood side by side in the same laboratory.

"I'm going back to Japan." Cherry Moon's tone was soft, but more serious than ever. She tried to force a smile that was no different from usual, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Skylar," she looked at him, her tone gentle, almost cautious, "Thank you for taking care of me these past few days... Thank you. I am truly grateful for everything you have done for me."

"It's what I should do." Skylar's voice was soft, yet unusually steady, as if he were putting a period to an ending he had long foreseen.

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the nine-tailed white fox that had already completed its metamorphosis, before returning to Cherry Moon. This time, his gaze seemed to return to the innocent days when the two of them communicated through letters in their childhood, devoid of his usual shrewdness and composure.

"I'm very happy to have spent these days working together on this project," he said slowly, as if each word had been carefully considered. "Being able to help you achieve your dream is something I'm proud of."

He reached out his hand, gazing intently at Cherry Moon's face. "I wish you all the best after you return to Japan. I will never forget everything we went through together."

Cherry Moon paused for a moment, as if she wanted to say something.

She lowered her head and looked at the nine-tailed white fox lying on the ground. Its pure white fur gleamed with a warm luster under the light, and its nine tails swayed slowly and quietly, as if sensing something, yet not daring to break the balance of the moment.

She reached out and gently stroked the white fox's head.

Then, she looked up.

In that instant, Skylar saw her eyes redden. She tried hard to maintain that gentle and restrained smile, but ultimately failed to do so completely.

A tear silently slid down her cheek.

As tears streamed down her chin, a relieved smile spread across her face. "Speaking of which, you're also family to Fluffy Tail. I'll take good care of it when we get back to Japan."

She gazed intently at Skylar, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"Well... I'm leaving."

She turned around, her steps initially steady, one step at a time, without looking back.

She suddenly stopped when she reached the door.

"Skylar."

Skylar raised his head.

She didn't turn around, but simply said to him with her back to him, "Take care."

"I will," Skylar replied.

The door was pushed open, then slowly closed again.

Silence returned to the room.

Skylar stood there, looking at the empty room, at the experimental table where they had once worked side by side, at everything that was over and could not be undone.

He felt empty inside, as if he had lost something.