Harry Potter: Archmage of Another World

The day before Christmas, Augustus and Malfoy returned home together on the scarlet train. At Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Aurora and Clovis were already waiting. Seeing Augustus emerge from the station, Clovis hurriedly approached and gave him a warm hug.

"This must be the Malfoy heir," Aurora remarked, her gaze falling on Draco, whose platinum blond hair and gray-blue eyes reflected the distinct Malfoy lineage.

"Yes, Aunt, Uncle, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Draco Malfoy, Augustus's most loyal friend," Draco responded politely, abandoning his usual aristocratic drawl in favor of a more respectful tone.

At that moment, another man with similarly platinum blond hair approached. With icy gray eyes, a pale, pointed face, and an aura of cold authority, he exuded a commanding presence. He greeted Draco with a faint smile before turning to Clovis.

"What a coincidence, Clovis. It's been a long time," the man said, his voice smooth but firm.

"It has indeed, Lucius. Many years," Clovis replied with a practiced, noble smile.

"This must be the heir of the Julius family," Lucius remarked, his gaze lingering on Augustus, who stood composed and dignified. "Impressive. I've read about his remarkable performance in this year's Prefect selection, as mentioned in the letter you sent. The Julius family is fortunate to have such a talented heir."

"Augustus has always been the pride of our family," Clovis replied, his modest tone not entirely concealing his pride.

"Well, it's getting late. Draco and I must take our leave. We'll see you at the annual banquet, Clovis," Lucius said, bidding farewell after a brief exchange. He and Draco then departed.

Boarding a large carriage waiting outside the station, Augustus and his family soared toward their manor under the dazzling afternoon sun.

Returning to his room, Augustus found the gifts from his Hogwarts classmates neatly arranged on his bed. Sorting through them, he began examining each one.

Harry had sent a wizard's chess set; once the pieces were arranged, they clamored loudly, eager to duel him. Malfoy's gift was a long staff capable of shooting great jets of flame—Augustus narrowly avoided scorching the ceiling when he tested it. Hermione had given him a book titled The Rights and Protections of Goblins, while Ron sent a package of Every Flavor Beans, which seemed to hum with magical energy. Lillian's gift was the most unique—a heart-shaped golden pendant that played enchanting music when opened, a melody resembling the song of mermaids.

As Augustus sorted through the diverse array of gifts, Aurora entered his room.

"So many gifts—it seems you've made quite an impression at Hogwarts. But, my child, you must prepare. Tonight is the annual banquet hosted by Fudge. Nearly all the nobles will be attending, and we must leave soon," Aurora said before turning and leaving the room.

Augustus nodded. Such gatherings were nothing new to him. In his previous world, as a legendary mage and the empire's spiritual pillar, he had attended similar events countless times. Back then, few dared disturb him, and these events always felt more serene than social.

As night fell, Augustus donned a white robe and arrived at Fudge's lavish banquet with Clovis and Aurora, both dressed in elegant attire.

At the gate stood a short, stocky man with gray curly hair. He wore a pinstriped suit, a bright red tie, a black cape, and purple pointed boots.

"My dear friend, you've finally arrived!" the man exclaimed, stepping forward briskly to embrace Clovis.

"Apologies for our tardiness, and thank you for waiting," Clovis replied with a polite smile.

"Nonsense! There's no need for formality between us. Come, let's go in. The banquet is about to begin," Fudge said warmly, leading them inside.

The sprawling estate, centered around the grand Bram Palace, was surrounded by meticulously manicured gardens, lawns, and sparkling lakes. Geese wandered along the lakeshore, while flocks of sheep dotted the grassy slopes, resembling tufts of cotton scattered on emerald hills.

Inside the reception hall, the ceiling soared over ten meters high, adorned with vibrant frescoes depicting scenes from the Wizarding Wars. A massive crystal chandelier cast dazzling light, while golden accents and opulent furnishings amplified the grandeur. Chinese porcelain and rare antiques decorated the grand fireplace mantel.

The hall buzzed with life as wizards mingled, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries. Clovis and Aurora were quickly surrounded by nobles, leaving Augustus to wander toward the frescoes.

While admiring the dynamic depictions of magical battles, a soft voice interrupted him.

"I didn't expect to see you here," said Lillian, approaching with her signature elegance. Her light-blue hair shimmered softly, and her deep red eyes carried a calm yet curious expression.

"I thought you didn't enjoy these types of events," she added when Augustus didn't respond immediately.

"I'm here to observe the uniqueness of such gatherings in this world," Augustus replied, his tone calm and measured.

"This world? Do you mean the wizarding world? Or have you attended Muggle banquets before?" Lillian asked, puzzled by his cryptic words.

Before Augustus could reply, a cocky voice rang out nearby.

"I hear the heir of the Julius family is here tonight. The Julius family may sit atop Britain's pure-blood hierarchy, but I wonder how strong their heir truly is—how long he'd last against me," the voice sneered.

Turning toward the source, Augustus saw a boy with sandy-colored hair and a hooked nose approaching, flanked by a group of similarly arrogant children.

"You're Augustus Julius, aren't you? You don't look like much. I'll bet if we dueled, it'd take me ten seconds to show you the true brilliance of magic," the boy said, his amber eyes flashing with malice. Augustus noticed the boy walked with a pronounced limp, his right leg visibly impaired.

"That's Loki Adams, the heir of the Adams family," Lillian whispered. "He's a prodigy—his magic surged uncontrollably at age three, and by seven, his reserves were already a quarter of an adult's. At ten, he ventured alone into Britain's Troll Forest and defeated a full-grown centaur. But his right leg was born with necrotic fractures, so walking is difficult for him."

"Lillian, you're here too? Perfect. You can be my witness as I crush this so-called 'once-in-a-century genius' from the Julius family," Loki said, his tone dripping with mockery. "Nothing brings me more joy than snuffing out so-called talent."

The banquet continued in full swing, with many nobles dancing to lively music. Amid the vibrant celebration, few noticed the quiet storm brewing in one corner of the grand hall.

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