Hogwarts: The Wizarding World's First Capitalist

The sunlight was like golden fire, pouring down from the top of the sky, coating the castle with a layer of brilliant glow.

The breeze blew from the small window onto Cedric's face, waking him from his deep sleep and making him climb up from the soft big bed.

After a simple wash, the boy began his day's work by folding the messy sheets and quilts neatly.

Helping some irresponsible guy to collect the discarded clothes and put them in the laundry basket nearby.

Finally, after tidying up the desk, I poured a pot of clean water on the pot of blue tulips on the windowsill.

A week has passed in this monotonous and repetitive day. During this week.

Apart from tutoring Karl in German at night, Cedric usually sits in his room reading in his free time.

Or after lunch, he could listen to Grindelwald talk about his past. He also wanted to go to the reception room to see how Carl was learning etiquette.

But after he couldn't help laughing several times while watching, Carl punished him very cruelly one night.

As a result, when he woke up that morning, he could hardly get out of bed and his muscles were so sore all over.

Thinking of this, Cedric couldn't help but rub his shoulders. Three hours of strength training was really terrible.

Fortunately, apart from that night, he had gained a lot this week. He was a little worried about today's banquet.

After all, in all the education he received in his past life, Grindelwald was known as one of the most dangerous dark wizards.

He is the sworn enemy of Headmaster Dumbledore, but since lunch every day, he has been listening to the stories about his past told by the German old man.

He suddenly realized that things did not seem to be the case between Headmaster Dumbledore and the old man.

They are not the mortal enemies as rumored, but rather a little difficult to talk about.

Whenever he talked about the memories of that summer, Grindelwald's eyes always revealed an irrepressible joy.

The old man spoke clearly and eloquently, and he always talked endlessly when recounting his memories.

The story that happened that summer was told by him like a Midsummer Dream in a novel, but at the end of the story.

The old man would always suddenly fall silent, and beneath his calm appearance, he revealed an unspeakable sadness.

Recalling the other person's expression at that time, Cedric couldn't help but sit on the edge of the bed, looking out the window with empty eyes. The summer sun in mid-July was scorching.

Looking at the Alps mountains shrouded in the sun outside the window, my thoughts have drifted to who knows where.

Perhaps it was a flashback to the end of that same summer, on the train to Hogwarts.

I pushed open the door of the carriage and saw the blond boy sitting next to the window, shrouded in sunlight.

He had such a perverse personality, always with a smug smile on his face, and his head of golden hair looked like gold in the sunlight.

Perhaps at that moment, he began to understand what Grindelwald said.

"When I walked down the stairs from my aunt's attic, I saw him standing at the door."

"He was covered by the sunlight outside the door at the time. Just by looking at each other, I knew that my fate had taken an irreversible turn."

Thinking back to this, Cedric felt that his brain seemed to be overworking. Fortunately, there was a knock on the door at this time.

"Please come in."

Cedric quickly stood up from the bed, straightened his clothes, and sat at the desk pretending to read a book.

The door was soon pushed open, and Aunt Wenda Rozier walked into the room slowly, holding a black men's suit in her hands.

She placed the dress on the empty table next to Cedric and said jokingly while deliberately squinting at the boy in front of her.

"Mr. Diggory really loves to learn. Of course, if the book is turned in a different direction, I think it might be easier to read."

"After all, it's an upside-down book, so it's still hard to understand."

"Ah?" Cedric was stunned at first, then he looked at the open book in front of him and realized that the book was upside down.

After quickly straightening the book, he looked at the lady in front of him with some embarrassment and said.

"Excuse me ma'am, I was just thinking about something else. There's just too much going on these days."

"I need some time to digest this. The world I used to live in is not like this. I can't seem to adapt."

At the end of his words, Cedric began to unconsciously confide in the lady in front of him.

Wenda Rozier just smiled at the other person and spoke gently.

"There's no need to feel lost kid, you're a brave person, an ordinary person encountering a strange world on your own."

"The first thing that comes to mind is usually to run away, but you didn't choose to run away. Instead, you faced it bravely."

"You have done much better than many people, or maybe someone has tied your hands and feet."

"He forced you to stay in his world."

"No." Cedric was a little flustered, but just wanted to explain.

Wenda Rozier took out a golden mask from her bag and placed it on top of the dress.

"Well, if you have any inner thoughts, go talk to the person you want to talk to. It's no use talking to me."

"You are a very smart and honest child. You must have your own plans. Be brave to realize them."

"Tell me if you need help. By the way, remember to wear this mask when the party starts."

"After all, among those attending the banquet, there are also many wizards who serve as high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Magic of various European countries."

"Your identity also needs to be kept confidential."

"I understand." Cedric nodded obediently, but turned to look at the golden mask and asked with some confusion.

"Although after listening to the memories told by that gentleman, I already know the relationship between Headmaster Dumbledore and that gentleman."

"But shouldn't the Ministries of Magic of various European countries be extremely hostile to the appearance of this gentleman?"

"Why are they coming to this banquet?"

"It's not complicated, kid." Wenda Rosier smiled disdainfully, "For you, sir, the Ministries of Magic of various European countries."

"There is no way to deal with it at all. They will always just follow the four-step diplomatic strategy that Karl Jr. mentioned."

"Which four steps?" Cedric asked curiously.

Wenda Rozier deliberately pretended to be bureaucratic and spoke calmly.

"Step 1, they'll emphasize that nothing happened."

"Step 2 is they'll say there was a little bit of a problem but we don't have to do anything about it yet."

"Step 3, they'll say maybe we should do something, but nothing can be done."

"Step 4, they say, maybe we could have done something, but now it's too late."

After the performance, Wenda Rozier smiled gently at the stunned Cedric, touched his big head, turned around and walked away while speaking.

"Well, it's time for you to recover from your memories. Once you're dressed, have the house-elf take you to the living room."

"Our respected young lady is finally going to make her debut today."