[The Next Day]
[Durmstrang Institute]
Around Christmas, Durmstrang was in the harshest period of the year.
The biting winds and heavy snow here were enough to bury all life beneath the cold.
So normally, Durmstrang would take a long holiday during this time.
Even those who had to remain at the school for one reason or another would stay sealed inside the grounds to avoid the dangers brought by the cold wave.
Yet today, under the leadership of their current headmaster, Professor Beckman, a large number of Durmstrang students put on thick winter coats and braved the freezing wind to gather by the huge lake behind the castle.
This was actually a sea inlet.
It was also Durmstrang's only connection to the outside world.
Other than by water, anyone trying to reach Durmstrang through any physical route would be stopped by the surrounding mountains and terrible weather.
This difficulty increased countless times over during winter.
Because just as the students could see now, the huge lake before them, along with the giant ghost ship anchored within it, had been completely frozen solid by the polar cold.
Under normal circumstances, people would occasionally put on ice skates and head onto the frozen surface to play.
After all, it was one of the few outdoor activities available during Durmstrang's winters.
So even though the school expressly forbade it, everyone still enjoyed doing it.
But today was different.
Everyone gathered by the shore, rubbing their hands and breathing warm air into them while staring into the distance at the frozen sea entrance.
Despite the terrible conditions, the students showed no complaints. Instead, their eyes shone with anticipation.
The professors standing at the front were even more excited.
Again and again, they shouted at the students to maintain proper appearance, stand straight, and stop slouching.
This continued for a long time, until the cold sun reached a position directly above them.
Only then did Beckman, who had remained silent the entire time, glance at his pocket watch and say with a smile, "They're here."
The moment Beckman finished speaking, a series of dull sounds echoed from beneath the frozen lake.
Several huge cracks immediately spread across the ice.
Accompanied by terrifying cracking noises, a massive ghost ship covered in seaweed, octopuses, and barnacles burst through the ice and crushed its way toward the shore.
Seeing this, everyone on land stopped whatever they were doing.
Their enthusiasm, weakened somewhat by the freezing wind, flared up once more.
Eyes shining, they watched the ghost ship slowly dock.
Then a pale golden staircase made entirely of magic extended down from the ship's side, bringing Link, Madam Flamel, Emily, and the Hunters down to shore.
A loud cheer immediately erupted from the crowd.
The sound echoed through the mountains, growing louder and louder until it even triggered an avalanche on a distant peak.
Beckman hurried forward, gently taking the hand Madam Flamel offered him as he said with a smile, "Welcome! Oh, this truly makes me so happy!"
Perhaps because he was too excited, his entire body trembled slightly.
Madam Flamel, on the other hand, though smiling and able to feel the pure joy Beckman felt at seeing his daughter, was not nearly as emotional.
Years of leading the Flamel family had long tempered her heart into something as hard as steel. Other than in front of Link and Emily, that heart would never soften.
More importantly, Madam Flamel still couldn't forget Beckman's interference in her marriage when she was young.
Although that matter had been resolved through Link's efforts, the seed of those emotions had already grown into a towering tree and could no longer be uprooted.
Beckman probably understood this as well.
So after chatting warmly with Madam Flamel for a while, he quickly turned his attention to Link and Emily and asked somewhat proudly, "Well, Link? My Durmstrang hasn't disappointed you, has it?"
Link, who had been observing the distant Durmstrang Castle, smiled and nodded.
Although his last visit had been several years ago, he still remembered how terrible Durmstrang Castle had looked back then.
Compared to Hogwarts Castle, the old Durmstrang couldn't even be called a castle.
It had been more like a prison stationed in a frozen wasteland, built in the same style as the infamous Azkaban. Even their size and scale had been similar.
Now, after receiving Link's investment and Beckman's personal efforts, the castle still couldn't compare to Hogwarts or Beauxbatons in grandeur, but at least it actually looked like a castle.
This was probably the limit of what Durmstrang Castle could achieve.
The surrounding environment simply wasn't suitable for overly magnificent structures, even with magical maintenance.
Not only that, but the lake where Link and the others now stood had also changed greatly.
Link clearly remembered that the lake had once been filled with wrecked ships.
Aside from the ghost ship that had been repaired for the Triwizard Tournament, nearly all of Durmstrang's ancient ghost ships had been left rotting in the lake.
But now, apart from the ghost ship Link had taken away, there were actually two more ghost ships anchored in the huge lake, one large and one small.
Farther away, the remains of several other ships had been moved to a shipyard on the shore, apparently undergoing repairs and cleanup.
All of this was enough to show that Beckman hadn't been slacking off.
Being able to restore Durmstrang to this extent despite being constantly summoned away by Link from time to time meant he had truly done his best.
However, when Link's gaze shifted to the cheering students ahead, the smile on his face became somewhat strange.
Turning to Beckman, he said teasingly, "It must've taken quite a bit of effort to get all these students out here to welcome us, right?"
The smile on Beckman's face immediately froze.
He wasn't surprised that Link could tell not all the students were here willingly.
After all, Link himself had been a student. Naturally, he knew rebellious students would never voluntarily come out to welcome some visiting big shot.
In fact, anyone with even a little school experience understood this.
The reason everyone still went through this routine despite knowing the truth was simply for safety.
It was the same logic behind the Slug Club members desperately flattering Link the previous night.
Leaders might easily see through your little tricks and might even dislike such formalities.
But you still had to do them.
Because it showed that you valued them.
Doing it might not make them happy, but not doing it carried a high chance of making them unhappy.
What really surprised Beckman was that Link had actually brought up something everyone normally left unsaid, and did so in front of everyone.
That made things awkward.
Fortunately, Beckman was an old hand.
After only a brief pause, he replied, "Most of the students are genuinely happy to welcome you. Or rather, they've been looking forward to this day for a very long time."
"Of course, to make up for them not being able to go home for Christmas, I also offered some compensation. Things like scholarships."
Link couldn't help laughing.
Based on experience, Beckman's first statement was probably nonsense.
The enthusiastic students before him had most likely come almost entirely because of the scholarship money.
Still, Link had no intention of blaming Beckman.
He had only been joking.
Besides, Beckman really had done well.
At least he was giving out scholarships.
Back in Link's previous life, schools wouldn't give you scholarships when leaders came to visit. Just not forcing you to give up your day off and come to school was already considered good.
"Everything Headmaster Beckman said is true!"
Just as Link was thinking this, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
Turning toward the sound, Link and the others saw a burly man in a thick fur coat stepping out from among the professors and waving at him.
"Krum? I didn't expect to see you here. Shouldn't you have graduated already?"
"That's right, I graduated," Krum said with a shrug as he walked over. "But you know how I feel about Durmstrang. So after graduation, I stayed and became a flying instructor."
"I understand your love for Durmstrang, but what about your Quidditch career?"
The joy had faded from Link's face.
Frowning, he looked at Krum.
After all, Krum had led Bulgaria to a World Cup runner-up finish while still a student and had been hailed as the finest Seeker in the world.
In the original story, he had indeed become a professional Seeker afterward and achieved considerable success.
Yet now he had chosen to stay at the school?
That made Link feel a little guilty.
Because he felt it might have happened because of his presence.
However, Krum shook his head strangely and said, "Of course I'm still continuing my Quidditch career. My teammates and I are still preparing for the next Quidditch World Cup. I don't understand why that would conflict with staying here as a flying instructor."
Hearing that, Link was momentarily stunned.
He turned back toward Beckman.
He was sure Beckman would explain.
"Ahem.."
Beckman coughed lightly.
"Link, there really isn't any conflict. That's because the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team's training grounds are now located at Durmstrang."
"Have they gone crazy? Leaving their own training facilities to use one in another country?"
"No, they're definitely not crazy!" Krum stepped forward and added.
"In fact, our manager is very happy to train here. First, Headmaster Beckman completely renovated Durmstrang's Quidditch stadium, and it's equipped with the newest and most advanced facilities available."
"Second, the rental fee he charges is extremely cheap. Many teams want to train here. Headmaster Beckman only gave this opportunity to the Bulgarian National Team because of me."
Link nodded, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at Beckman gradually calmed.
That made Beckman somewhat embarrassed.
After becoming Durmstrang's sole school governor and taking control of the entire school, Link had continuously poured huge amounts of money into Durmstrang.
Although the scale wasn't comparable to Beauxbatons, which had inherited Nicolas Flamel's fortune, it was still enormous.
The reason was simple.
Link valued Durmstrang's deep historical foundation and excellent geographical location.
Unlike Beauxbatons in France, Durmstrang, located in the far north of Europe, wasn't actually competing with Hogwarts.
The two schools drew students from entirely different populations.
So investing in Durmstrang allowed Link to attract far more students without affecting Hogwarts.
He had already achieved that goal.
Because he noticed that among the students welcoming them today, the lower-year students greatly outnumbered the upper-year students.
That meant more and more young wizards had been choosing Durmstrang in recent years.
However, among all those investments, there certainly hadn't been one for building a state-of-the-art large Quidditch stadium.
"Link, let me explain. That stadium actually, "
Beckman tried to explain, but before he could finish, Krum interrupted him.
"No, Link. I just want you to know that everything Headmaster Beckman said is true. The students at Durmstrang genuinely admire both you and Headmaster Beckman, and they're truly excited about your visit."
"Because Headmaster Beckman didn't just improve the environment and build a new Quidditch stadium. He also did many other things!"
"Such as?"
Link asked with interest.
Krum didn't waste words.
"Come with me and see for yourself."
With that, Krum grabbed Link and ran toward Durmstrang Castle.
Emily, Madam Flamel, and the others were left completely confused, while the students on the shore didn't know what to do.
Among everyone present, Beckman was undoubtedly the most depressed.
He was already regretting agreeing to Krum's request to join the welcoming party.
The ceremony had originally been arranged to perfection.
Beckman had considered every detail of the process.
And now Krum had completely ruined it.
Looking at the somewhat stunned crowd around him, Beckman felt utterly defeated.
In the end, he sighed and said, "Since things have come to this, everyone should head back to the castle. Stop standing out here in the wind."
Emily and Madam Flamel seemed to notice Beckman's embarrassment and couldn't help laughing.
As for the students below, they cheered and happily ran after Link and Krum.
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