What Is Dead May Never Die, but Rises Again!

The Hogwarts Express

Like an old car, it made a creaking sound as it clattered against the rails, and finally came to a slow stop at the station with a thud.

The train arrived at Hogwarts station, and the students hurriedly disembarked.

As seasoned seventh-graders, Harry and Ron squeezed through the crowd and walked confidently toward the Thestral carriage.

The station was bustling with noise, especially the first-year wizards, who seemed particularly uneasy.

A young wizard, swept along by the crowd, stumbled and ran, accidentally bumping into Ron's arms.

His face flushed red, and looking at Ron, who was much taller than him, he stammered in a low voice, "I... I'm sorry..."

"I can't hear you!" Ron rolled his eyes and grinned mischievously. "Speaking so softly, you think you can attend the Sorting Ceremony?!"

The young wizard was terrified by the freckled, red-haired demon before him, and his voice trembled as he cried, "I'm sorry!!"

"I can't hear you, I just can't hear you!" Ron deliberately put on a stern face and threatened, "Try again!"

The young wizard was so frightened he burst into tears. This wasn't Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; it was clearly Hogwarts School for the Deaf and Mute!

Just then, Hagrid's gruff voice rang out. Holding up his oil lamp, he boomed, "First-year students, come here!"

Ron, having had his fun, nudged the dazed little wizard and sent him to find Hagrid.

Then, excitedly putting his arm around Harry's shoulder, he said happily:

"Harry, being a seventh-year student is awesome! After William and his class graduates, we'll be the oldest in the whole school!"

From now on, you can do whatever you want. Did you see that child's expression?

Ha ha...

Oh dear, I forgot to tell him that the Sorting House needs to fight Troll...

Ron kept talking, seemingly finding it very amusing.

Harry didn't speak, but just gazed greedily at the familiar scenery, as if trying to imprint it in his heart.

"Harry, Harry!" Ron shook his shoulder.

Harry snapped out of his daze, "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong with you?!" Ron said. "You've seemed distracted the whole way here. Did something happen?"

"No." Harry forced a smile, but it looked more like a grimace. "I just can't bear to leave everything here; I can't get enough of it."

"You're exaggerating! We still have a year before graduation." Ron frowned and said, "Did you get some information?"

"The twins wouldn't tell me a single thing about the Order of the Order of the Phoenix."

Ron blurted out:

"Speaking of which, this journey has been quite strange. Have you seen Hermione?"

She's the newly elected president of the girls' council, and she didn't even show up on the train... William graduated, so she's not coming."

"She's probably off on a mission," Harry said vaguely. "She's a member of the Order of the Phoenix first, then the head of the Student Council."

"I want to go on a mission too!" Ron shrugged, whistled, and said enviously, "That way I won't have to go to school, do endless homework, or take exams..."

Ron clenched his fist and roared:

"But George and Fred mocked me, saying that if I were left out on a mission, I wouldn't last a month, complaining about the lack of good food... a warm bed... and crying and begging to go home..."

Ron, like a grumbling woman, complained:

"Do they really think I'm so worthless? I'm their own brother!"

Harry didn't reply, but suddenly turned his head and saw Malfoy was also pale.

The two exchanged a glance, but instead of arguing, fighting, or hurling insults at each other as they had done in the past, they simply passed by.

In that instant, Harry saw Malfoy give a barely perceptible nod.

Harry realized that he wasn't the only one who had grown up in an instant.

However, this kind of growth comes at a terrible price.

William sat in the faculty chair, watching the students file in.

Most of them were familiar faces, mixed with some young wizards waiting for sorting. They all stared at him curiously and whispered among themselves.

Sitting at the faculty desk was such a young and handsome professor; it was obvious without even thinking that this was William Stark, the national idol.

Otherwise, could it be that greasy, bat-like, gloomy middle-aged man beside him?

As all the students entered the Great Hall, they noticed something strange:

Professor Dumbledore is not here!

This is quite strange; for at least the past seven years, he has never missed Sorting Ceremony.

Many young wizards were prying for information from the ghosts of their respective academies.

Unfortunately, they all kept their mouths shut, their expressions extremely serious.

They weren't this solemn even when they attended their own funerals as ghosts.

At this moment, the Sorting Hat grinned, but instead of boasting about its own abilities or describing the characteristics of the four houses as it had done in the past.

Its sound was ethereal yet mournful.

"Homeland comes last,"

The world is ahead,

Traveling thousands of miles

Through the shadows,

Until night fell

Until I saw a sky full of stars,

Dense fog and shadows,

Dark clouds covered the area.

They will all disappear.

All will...

The singing was suddenly drowned out.

The voice was high-pitched, cold, and clear; it was impossible to pinpoint its origin, as if it were emanating from the wall itself.

"I know you are holding Sorting Ceremony, and I had no intention of interrupting this ancient process."

But after this battle, there were no other houses left, only Slytherin...

Screams erupted from the students, some huddled together, and looked around in terror, searching for the source of the sound.

"My army of Death Eaters is at the gates of the castle; they have surrounded it."

My servants are about to seize the Ministry of Magic; my allies have trapped Dumbledore, preventing his return.

I know you will resist, but such efforts are futile.

You are no match for me. I do not wish to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts, and I do not wish to see wizards shed blood.

William raised his wand, Voldemort's voice began to fade, then became intermittent, as if there was a malfunction, or like a cry from the deep sea.

"Stark... William." Voldemort had already sensed who was casting a spell and was mute his voice.

"You wait... Dumbledore isn't coming back; he's tied up with an old friend."

This war... you have lost.

I really admire you. How about we work together?

I can assure you... your friends won't die, even if they're Mudblood.

I can bring you boundless glory, making you second only to me among the Death Eaters... provided you swear allegiance to me...

The Great Hall was completely silent; this moment of tranquility felt oppressive to everyone's blood vessels.

The students from all four colleges watched silently as the man, so recruited by the Dark Lord, prepared to make his choice.

William stood up, looked around, and his voice echoed throughout Hogwarts.

"Tom, of course I can pledge my loyalty to you..."

I will pledge my allegiance to you as long as you repay the lives of the Muggle killed since the outbreak of war, the centaurs, Giant, Werewolf who died on the battlefield, and all the innocent Muggles who perished...

As long as you repay the heinous crimes you committed over the past seventy years; as long as those survivors whose families were torn apart and whose lives were ruined because of you are able to avenge themselves...

When your soul is completely dead, your head is chopped off and made into a chamber pot, and your Death Eaters are all wiped out... then I will pledge my allegiance to you!

William's murderous voice echoed from Hogwarts Castle, across the Black Lake, and throughout the Forbidden Forest.

"Is this your final answer? What a pity."

Voldemort's voice could no longer enter Hogwarts; only the army of Death Eaters behind him could hear it.

But he didn't get angry; who would argue with a dead man?

"Since that's the case..." the Dark Lord waved his arm and said:

"Attack, destroy... Stark, and occupy Hogwarts!"

The army of Death Eaters continued to Apparition, rushing towards Hogwarts Castle.

The Great Hall's enchanted ceiling was dark and hazy, twinkling with starlight.

William's voice still echoed.

The students sitting around the long table, the first-year wizards, the phantom with its milky white figure... whether dead or alive, every pair of eyes was fixed on William.

Some were terrified, some were confused, and some students were moved by William's words, banging on the table and cheering loudly.

William raised his hand, silencing the commotion. He looked at his former classmates, now students.

He said softly:

"As you can see, Voldemort has arrived with his army of Death Eaters. War is imminent, and you must leave this place."

Hundreds of students stood up from their tables in unison, shouting passionately:

"William, what if we want to stay and fight?"

"No, I won't allow you to go to the battlefield unless all the professors are dead!" Professor McGonagall shouted excitedly.

If a student were to die at Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall would never forgive herself.

"Why should we stay behind?" Ginny stood up and shouted.

"Our reasons for wanting to go to the battlefield are no less than anyone else's! We also want to fight for our loved ones, and you shouldn't doubt our courage!"

"Gryffindor once said..." William began.

"The song of humanity is the song of courage; the greatness of humanity is the greatness of courage."

He looked at the group of vibrant young students and said earnestly:

"I never doubt your courage, but war is a field for adults, a battlefield for well-trained soldiers."

Passion alone is not enough; strength, wisdom, cunning, and fighting spirit are all indispensable.

I believe in you all; you will become outstanding soldiers in the future, but not tonight.

William looked at everyone, his deep voice echoing throughout the Great Hall.

"The dead are not truly dead; they will rise again, with even greater force... I hope to see you all again after this war."

He raised his glass and said, "Gentlemen, let's drink to victory!"

All the students... whether Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin... at this moment, all four houses raised their glasses.

William drank it all in one gulp.

The Portkey, and all the students vanished.