Chapter 189: Arc 5: Chapter 32: End of the Wizarding War

17th August 1998.

Merlin in his gray casual suit appears yet again at Heathrow Airport.

Everything on his hands has come to an end, for now, thus Merlin has arrived again in Europe using the vacation given to him by Fury. He plans on having a long trip to console his exhaustion over the past few years.

But he wasn't here alone.

A happy Erik, wearing jeans, a T-shirt, backup, and short hair, was following behind Merlin with his luggage.

This was the 17-year-old young man's first time in Europe, he even had a camera hanging from his neck, seeming like a complete tourist.

"Hilt Record Store."

Merlin stops a taxi and tells the driver an address. As the car begins to move, Merlin leans against his seat while saying to Erik, who was gazing outside the window:

"I'll say, you'll be graduating high school next year, thought of which university you're gonna go to?"

"Is that a question? MIT, of course!"

Erik says to his guardian without looking back:

"I've already laid out my life plans, Merlin."

"Is that so?"

Merlin pouts his mouth and says softly:

"Then who left their plane ticket on the bed earlier this morning?"

"That was just an accident!"

Erik says embarrassingly:

"I'm more or less excited for my first time in Europe. Oh right, Merlin, Ron said he'd invite me to his place, he said his house had just been rebuilt, and that it's a big one with many rooms so I can live over at his place for the summer."

"Sure."

Merlin takes out his phone, he says casually while reading through his emails:

"You decide on your holiday. But remember what I told you, when school starts, there will be a girl who's just transferred to Empire State High that will need your care; she'll be living at May's house since I can't handle her daily affairs, so...she'll be in your care."

"That pretty girl Charlie?"

Erik brightens up, he remembers the scene when he had a meal with the pretty and elegant miss Charlie a few days back, and immediately snorts confidently:

"I'll take care of it!"

"Mmm?"

Merlin glares at Erik, he instinctively knows that he's thinking of something unfitting.

But that was between them adolescent teens, even the serious Coulson once had some embarrassing stories during his teens, so they're free to do whatever as long as no one's killed.

"I'll say, Merlin, you're on vacation!"

A dozen minutes later, a bored Erik turns to find Merlin sending messages on his phone and immediately complains:

"Stop working for now, you just saved the world, give yourself a break."

"Er..."

Merlin looks at the phone in his hand and looks at Erik, moments later, he shakes his head, sends out his last message, and places his phone back into his pocket.

He looks at the view outside the window and says:

"Yeah, vacation, let's take a good rest this time."

Soon, the taxi stops outside Hilt Record Shop, Merlin then brings Erik into the bustling Diagon Alley. This place was much busier than the last time Merlin had come, but it also seemed desolate.

From the letters sent by the young wizards, Merlin knew that Voldemort had perished in May, ending the wizarding war along with it. But now it would seem that the aftereffects of the war were still taking effect.

The British wizarding world took a devastating hit during this conflict, it will take around 5-10 years for the order to return here.

After all, there were only so many wizards.

There were also plenty of oddly dressed wizards in Diagon Alley, thus no one minded Erik and Merlin's muggle clothing. Erik treated this purely as a traveling experience while Merlin purchased several needed magic resources; afterward, he ordered a tailored suit for Erik from Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

This guy was gonna go for his graduation prom next year, can't let him wear his old suit there.

Plus, he was almost an adult, and it was time for him to have his own suit.

After shopping, Merlin brought Erik to the Burrow, which was where the Weasleys resided, from the Floo Network.

When the two walked out of the burning fireplace, there were already lots of people seated in the open living room. Clearly, they were having a gathering, while Merlin and Erik were the last ones to arrive.

"Merlin!"

After seeing Merlin appear in his constant casual gray suit, Hermione, who was holding a wine glass and chatting with Ginny, lets out an exclamation and rushes into Merlin's arms like a child.

On the other side, Harry and Ron enthusiastically welcomed Erik, who had never been here before.

Though it was somewhat odd seeing a muggle appear amongst a group of wizards, the people present did not express much for Merlin's sake.

Not to mention that Erik was not the only muggle here in this family gathering.

Hermione's parents were conversing with Mr. Arthur while trying some odd magic wine.

The majority of the population in the wizarding world is filled with people like the Granger couple, along with Erik, a muggle who entered the wizarding world by having a wizard relative. They reside between the wizarding world and muggle world, whilst being under the supervision of both the Ministry of Magic and the government.

They're forbidden from disclosing the existence of the wizarding world to normal people, but they can also witness the feats of wizards; in fact, 70% of all rumors about magic until now originate from these people.

They were uncommon, but not rare.

"Mmm, nice ring."

Merlin strokes Hermione's hair affectionately, he notices the ember ring on Hermione's left finger, and like a nosy elderly, he takes a glass of wine from the side and says to Hermione with his voice lowered:

"So you're engaged with Ron now?"

"Mmm."

Hermione was shy, she glances at Ron, who was playing with Erik, lets out a sigh, and tells Merlin:

"Ron proposed to me a few days ago, and our parents agreed to the proposal..."

"But you look unhappy."

Merlin takes a sip of his wine, he looks at Ron, looks at Hermione, and says:

"Truthfully, you should know that if you don't allow it, you can refuse. At worse, you'll come live with me in North America, where no pure-blood family can force you. Not to mention that Mr. Arthur and Madam Molly aren't old-fashioned parents."

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"It's not that I don't want to, Merlin."

Hermione tells Merlin about the depression of youths:

"I don't dislike Ron, he acted very bravely and heroic during the final battle against Voldemort. But...how do I put it, he's quite far from the ideal image of the person I want to spend the rest of my days with."

"And this all was too sudden and I wasn't mentally prepared for it."

Hermione glances at Merlin, the latter then coughs lightly and tells Hermione from an elderly's perspective:

"Imaginations are just imaginations, we have to live in reality, so find someone who may not be the best, but is the most perfect marriage partner, and live a good life, young Hermione."

"I wish for you to be happier more than anyone, since in my heart, though we are not related by blood, you are always my adorable younger sister. If you ever need me, I'll be at your side immediately."

He reaches out and pinches Hermione's cheeks, saying:

"Mmm, when's your wedding?"

Hermione chuckles as she dodges away from Merlin's fingers, saying:

"There's still 2 years."

"Oh, then it would seem that I have enough time to prepare a wedding gift for you."

Merlin smiles and tells Hermione:

"Don't forget to send me an invite."

"Then you'll have to come with a partner."

Hermione also smiles, her smile was as sunny as when Merlin had first met her a few years back; she blinks her eyes at Merlin slyly and says:

"I've already found my partner, so it's about time that you find one for yourself too."

"Ahem, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

The first person to appear in Merlin's mind was Carol, who was searching for her worth in the universe; his second image was a certain black-clothed female mercenary whom Merlin had not seen for years now.

Unfortunately, neither of them was suitable for bringing to Hermione's wedding.

A few minutes later, Ginny calls for Hermione to her room to help her pick what she should wear for Hogwarts Prom, Merlin then greets all the wizards and witches he knows in this large house while holding a glass of wine.

Though he had not been involved with the British wizarding world for long, Merlin had met many wizards from the Order of the Pheonix through the lead of the owner of the Burrow, Mr. Arthur. And surprisingly, Mr. Ollivander, who usually focused on making wands, also attended this gathering.

Merlin sat with these official wizards, and using this chance, he asked them plenty of questions he faced while learning magic. Merlin too was a wizard who partook in the wizarding war, though he had an unclear connection with demons, the wizards still did their best to answer Merlin's questions for the sake of what he did for the British wizarding world.

Merlin felt that it was a good choice to attend this gathering.

In these 4 hours, he had learned from these wizards more knowledge than him learning them personally for a year.

Looks like magic cannot progress behind closed doors.

Time flies when you're learning, it was already midnight in the blink of an eye, and the guests all began to leave after having dinner. Hermione's parents will stay in the Burrow for the time being to discuss with the Weasleys about Hermione and Ron's marriage.

Merlin did not interrupt them, and he wished not to intervene for Hermione's sake.

Merlin came to Ron's room after dinner.

It was as Ron had said, the Burrow was destroyed by Death-Eaters during the war, and after rebuilding it, Ron received a big bedroom with lots of sunlight which would become his and Hermione's future living space.

And after seeing Merlin enter the room, the three young men who were playing magic cards on the bed immediately retract the Golden Galleons in their hands, it was clear that some 'gambling' was involved in their little game just now.

But how could Merlin not see such little details?

He shakes his head and knocks on the heads of the three young men.

"No gambling! It's meaningless whether you lose or win, you must understand that nothing is destined in life aside from death, and gambling is always a foolish behavior."

"You're starting to sound more like Professor McGonagall now, Merlin!"

Ron holds his head and complains:

"You're only 9 years older than me, but the way you talk is just like my parents!"

"I'm still older than you, you brat!"

Merlin looks at Ron sternly, this remained for half a minute, and just when Ron began to feel scared, and when Harry and Erik could feel the tense atmosphere, Merlin suddenly sighs.

He reaches out and pats Ron's shoulder.

He says to the not-yet-18 young man with a stern yet deep tone:

"Hermione is one of the most important people in my life. I hope for her to be happy forever, Ron Weasley...can you give her that?"

"I..."

Ron was somewhat speechless when he saw Merlin's eyes.

He looks to his friends for help, but both Harry and Erik's eyes became serious too.

It was clear that what Merlin had asked was also what they were concerned with; Hermione was their friend too, and they also wish for their friend Hermione to have a perfect and happy life.

"I can!"

Ron grits his teeth and looks at Merlin straight in the eyes, a hint of bravery appears in Ron's eyes, albeit they were dodgy. After all, he had seen how Merlin led the muggle agents to massacre the Death-Eaters like vegetables.

How could he, who was still immature, handle such a person?

"Good."

A faint smile appears on Merlin's face as he says softly:

"Remember your promise, Ron, I'll be watching you."

"If you dare make my young Hermione cry even once...then I'll let you have a good cry for yourself, as you know, I'm a man of my word."

Ron instinctively shrinks and feels a chill run down his spine when he saw Merlin's expression.

"Alright, don't be so nervous."

Merlin waves his hand at Harry and says:

"Come, Harry, our great hero, demon slayer; tell me how you finished Voldemort off."

"I've been curious about Voldemort's miserable end after having all his Horcruxes destroyed."

 

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