Outside the Broken Stone Tavern, Julian, who had been quiet all this time, flung herself into Hunter's arms in fright. His eyes were vacant, but he instinctively held her tight.
Ivanov had been drinking straight from a bottle. Now he even forgot to swallow, and liquor streamed down the corners of his mouth.
Even with some advance knowledge of what was going on, he had never expected the surprise to be this terrifying!
Just then, the enormous floating island in the sky began flying east, as though chasing the sun, with an incomparable majesty.
Only when the shadow overhead vanished did the wizards below breathe a sigh of relief.
Their gazes still followed the floating island.
It finally stopped when it hovered between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.
And at last, people could see the dreamlike scenery atop the floating island from the side. Everyone gasped!
The young wizards at Hogwarts had naturally spotted the floating island too. They abandoned their morning study sessions and crowded around the windows, shouting excitedly.
"Oh, by the Chief's underpants! Is that heaven?"
"What is that thing? Why is it so magnificent and beautiful? I want to fly up there right now!"
"Those three towering peaks are incredible! And that palace that looks like it's made of gold is even more magnificent!"
"..."
On the rooftop of the Ministry of Magic's Administration Building, the Muggle guests had been brought up to join the welcoming party.
Leaving aside the reactions of the wizards seeing the floating island for the first time, even the Muggle guests who had already stayed on it were dumbstruck at seeing it from another angle.
Looking full of energy, Barty was the first to tear his gaze away. He glanced at the rather haggard Fudge, who had probably spent the entire night tossing