Chapter 264: The Big One Isn't Coming

It was hard for Harry to say whether this birthday was good or bad. Compared to last year, it was indeed livelier, and without the threat of Voldemort, it was also more relaxed. But looking at the entire dance floor, a considerable number of guests made him feel a bit abnormal. Moreover, Luo En also looked listless. Originally, he thought that after giving up on Hermione, he could approach Ivy or Alina, but as a result, these two people not only didn't dance with him, but also snatched away the Muggle girls who originally intended to invite Luo En several times.

"Are you sure there's no great plan?" Luo En said discontentedly to Harry. "Searching for Hallows, destroying Horcruxes? Or organizing student parades, launching color revolutions? Anything is fine, as long as we don't hold dance parties anymore."

"Unfortunately, Luo En," Harry sat on the bench with him and shrugged. "For a long time in the future, we will only do things that students can do."

"For example, opening a joke shop?" In the blink of an eye, someone appeared beside Harry, giving him a fright.

"Oh, Fred and George," Luo En protested. "You can't use Apparition everywhere just because you've learned it!"

"This can't be called using it everywhere. We didn't flash around aimlessly, just using it to get around," one of the twins said, and the other immediately echoed, "Right, every step."

"Alright, but you mentioned a joke shop. Are you ready to open for business?" Harry chose not to dwell on this issue, but instead became curious about the two brothers' business. "What products have you prepared?"

"Aha, you will definitely be interested," George said. "All kinds of Skiving Snackboxes, fainting ones, fever ones, nosebleed ones, guaranteed to let you leave the classroom without obstruction, and all the effects will end quickly, so you have plenty of your own time!"

"Unless someone skipped class but still had nowhere to go," Fred raised an eyebrow. "There wouldn't be such a person, right?"

"Of course, considering Harry Potter might be about to become the greatest wizard, he might not look down on these little gadgets," George bumped him with his shoulder.

"We specially made improved Weasley fireworks, huge power, can cause multi-stage damage to all enemies in a large area, with burning effects," Fred introduced. "If combined with a Binding Curse or Freezing Curse, the effect is excellent."

"Thanks," Harry's mouth twitched. "But I haven't thought of any place where these fireworks would be useful yet."

"Do you really not need them?" George whispered. "I often hear Percy say, it's likely that a war is going to break out."

"Harry, you should be able to use this kind of weapon of mass destruction." The twins revealed a rare serious expression.

"No, no, if you think I will participate in it, then I will clearly say, I am trying my best to avoid war," Harry explained. "So take these magical gunpowder back. I'd rather you give me some laundry detergent."

"Let's go, George," Fred laughed happily. "If leader Harry says so."

"Then it's unlikely that a fight will break out." George took back the hand he had on Harry's shoulder, and with a loud 'pop', the two disappeared instantly.

Harry and Luo En looked at each other. After a long while, Luo En stammered: "Percy, I mean, he's been a bit wrong lately."

"'The big one is coming, don't sleep too soundly at night', 'Lots of people in the Ministry are discussing running to America, the big one is really coming'," Luo En said. "When Ginny asked him what the big one was, he answered 'I can't say'."

"This is too abstract," Harry laughed dumbly. "However, you can't blame him. I feel the entire Ministry of Magic is a bit abstract."

"Yeah, the newspapers lately just say some boring nonsense that doesn't hurt or itch," Luo En suddenly paused, then waved his hand and said, "Hi, Neville."

"Thank you for inviting me, the dance party is very interesting," Neville greeted first, then whispered, "I thought of a question—I heard Deng Buliduo was hit by the Yama Post, is it true?"

Harry instinctively wanted to pull Neville aside to talk, but then he thought, this topic doesn't have much meaning now, it doesn't matter if it's heard by anyone.

"Yes," Harry admitted.

"That is to say, the current Deng Buliduo cannot be killed by ordinary spells," Neville stroked his chin. "If the painting is destroyed, will he come out again?"

"You said..." Harry's eyes widened, and he stood there in a daze. After a long while, he said, "You said it very boldly, I'm a bit afraid to bet on it."

"Why not? If it succeeds, we will gain an immortal great Headmaster. Even if it fails, it's just letting him die as planned," Neville said calmly. "I did feel sad for a while, but I thought this might be a feasible plan."

"Immortality?" Luo En asked uncomprehendingly.

"Yeah, because the Yama Post can keep Deng Buliduo from dying before his destined death in 1997. After time is frozen, 1997 will never arrive," Harry added according to Neville's assumption. "And, the person who kills Deng Buliduo before 1997 will be backlashed by fate, but now fate doesn't exist."

"You put forward a great assumption, Neville," Harry paused, then changed the subject. "But more importantly, the existence of the painting is to help us lock Voldemort's chance of resurrection. I agree to destroy the painting to see if we can save Deng Buliduo, but before that, we must destroy all the Horcruxes first."

"Then do you have a plan?" Neville asked. "How to deal with those Horcruxes?"

"The Order of the Phoenix is already worrying about it," Harry felt that Neville was also eager to move, so he continued. "We should still continue to operate the student clubs at Hogwarts and accumulate strength."

"Alright, then let's do that," Neville's tone was a bit disappointing, but he didn't refute. "I just want to say, if you have any new plans, please be sure to let me know."

"I feel this is wrong," Harry said to Luo En after Neville left. "Everyone thinks about things too optimistically."

"Indeed, I can understand, starting a war is not good," Luo En agreed. "I hope the Order of the Phoenix can come up with some good ideas."

"I hope so," Harry didn't say that even in the Order of the Phoenix, half the people were eager to start a war.

In the time that followed, Harry didn't have much interest in dancing. Even for a long time after the birthday party ended, Harry felt that he had lived too leisurely. Clearly, everything was calm outside, but the newspapers always portrayed him as a hero who was turning the tide, which made Harry feel very uncomfortable.

In mid-August, Sirius took Harry to another Order of the Phoenix meeting.

"The Death Eaters had a meeting a few days ago, but I told them Hofa was still checking the clues for the Horcruxes," Sirius whispered. "I pretended you were in single-line contact with me, which can both raise Regulus's status and reduce the risk of you being discovered."

"Fantastic," Harry echoed. "Anyway, there's nothing for me to say even if I go. Lu Xiusi must still be hiding the existence of the diary, right?"

"Right, but I snapped at him once, at least I figured out one thing: the Horcrux in Lu Xiusi's hand is a big snake," Sirius said. "Very strange, Voldemort would actually make a living animal into a Horcrux."

"There's nothing strange about that," Harry tapped his scar.

At this time, they saw Doge coming to greet them, so they stopped that topic and turned to wave at him enthusiastically.

Doge led them to the headquarters. As soon as they entered the door, Harry's attention was attracted by a huge figure, and then he revealed a big smile.

"Hagrid!" Harry said loudly. "Are you also a member of the Order of the Phoenix?"

"Of course," Hagrid said proudly. "Deng Buliduo gave me a great task, and I'm working hard on it."

Only then did Harry notice that Hagrid's leather jacket looked much smoother, bright and shiny, and seemed to have been carefully groomed. His hair and beard were also, although still fluffy, but the shape was much more regular.

"Right, Hagrid was sent to contact the giant community, and he also needs to investigate and collect some magical animals," Sirius said. "We are worried that Malfoy will put the dragons in the dragon farm into the battlefield."

"Don't look at me like I'm stupid," Hagrid said, patting his belly. "Among the giants, I am the smartest one."

"With the support of the giants, our chances of winning have increased by one point," someone Harry hadn't seen before said excitedly.

"I think it's enough to let Hagrid persuade the giants not to participate in the war," Aberforth said gloomily. "No need to drag them into it to die."

From this sentence, the people in the Order of the Phoenix who were keen on starting a war and solving problems with violence, and those who held firm principles and were unwilling to increase casualties, started arguing again. Doge tried hard to persuade them to make peace and wanted to turn the topic to the Horcruxes, but every time it was easily turned back to the war.

Suddenly, I don't know who asked "What's Harry's opinion?", so many people quieted down and looked at Harry with burning eyes.

"Actually, I have a plan to save Deng Buliduo," Harry took a deep breath. He thought of Neville's idea. "But that must destroy the painting, which is to say, at the same time, it also lifts our blockade on Voldemort."

"So, we should collect and destroy the Horcruxes first, completely breaking Voldemort's hope of resurrection," Harry said. Someone seemed to want to interrupt, but was pressed down by Lupin.

"And if you think we need to rely on war to clear out those Death Eaters, we also need Deng Buliduo's help, don't we?" Harry said. "If we save Deng Buliduo and completely eliminate Voldemort, those Death Eaters might fight to surrender."

The members of the Order of the Phoenix discussed happily, praising Harry's wonderful plan, discussing and exchanging all information about the Horcruxes, and imagining the scene of Deng Buliduo's return. But for Harry, who was sitting among them and gradually revealing his presence, a terrible fact was gnawing at his heart every moment: Deng Buliduo actually couldn't come back. ===== CHAPTER 265 =====