The day before an exam, cramming at the last minute was less useful than simply letting yourself relax.
By the Black Lake, John watched the tentacle that had emerged from the water, opened Constellation, and poured it over the appendage.
Not a single drop of the golden liquor was wasted. The tentacle absorbed every bit of it.
Before long, it swayed unsteadily and withdrew back into the Black Lake.
John turned around and saw two figures sprinting along the shore.
A suit of armour sat on a wooden board attached to a rope, shouting at the top of its lungs.
"Charge, little dragon! I'm a Dragon Knight! Woohoo!"
"Overtake him, Barbarian!"
Malfoy and Neville were each dragging a suit of armour behind them as they raced under the added weight.
They were already on their second lap. Neville was as steady as a mountain, and even his breathing had barely changed.
Malfoy, on the other hand, was already beginning to struggle by the end of the second lap.
The suit of armour he was dragging kept shrieking, occasionally waving the tree branch in its hand.
Malfoy had been the one to issue the challenge. After beating Harry, he had probably started thinking he was capable again.
But after the third lap, Malfoy viciously told the armour to shut up.
By the tenth lap, even his legs were trembling.
Neville was only slightly out of breath and won with an overwhelming advantage.
"It's this armour! It picked something up to make itself heavier!"
Malfoy accused the armour of cheating. Neville silently glanced at the tree branch.
Even the branch itself probably had no idea it possessed such tremendous power.
"Then... again?" Neville hesitated before saying, "I can still run some more."
Malfoy sneered. "If I didn't still have to go pick up Astoria..."
Neville fell silent.
As if he were the only one with a girlfriend.
John walked over and said calmly, "Don't worry about that. Everyone's gathering at the Constellation Society later."
The meaning was obvious. He did not need to pick anyone up, so he could get back to racing.
Malfoy looked somewhat guilty, but his mouth remained stubborn.
"Forget it. Wouldn't want anyone saying I won unfairly."
Even the suit of armour could not resist giving him a thumbs-up.
"You really are shameless."
Malfoy immediately kicked the armour away.
Glancing at the other suit of armour, he asked, "What do you want to say?"
"I don't want to say anything."
The armour hurriedly shook its head.
John decided not to bother with Malfoy bullying the armour.
Today was the Constellation Society's gathering.
Their exams began tomorrow, so everyone had decided to meet up while they still had the chance.
...
Constellation Society.
Heinrich impatiently told Kim to move over and sit beside him.
Fleur looked miserable.
Cedric sighed. "You're all about to graduate."
He was two years ahead of John. After graduating, he had travelled extensively and seemed well on his way to becoming an adventurer.
Percy smiled at Fleur. "Since you're planning to work in Britain, why not join the Ministry of Magic?"
"Forget it," Fleur sighed. "My family wants me to join the French Ministry of Magic, and that Roland keeps finding all sorts of excuses to come see me."
"Bill hasn't forgotten you," Percy said. "He still hasn't found another girlfriend."
At the mention of Bill, Fleur hesitated as well.
Astoria asked with great interest, "Fleur, do you still like Bill?"
"Maybe." Fleur rested her chin on her hand. The silver-haired beauty, as elegant as a French fleur-de-lis, looked troubled. "I don't know either."
She and Bill had once been very much in love. If not for Mrs Weasley, the two of them might already have been married.
But someone as proud as Fleur would never allow herself to suffer such indignity.
Percy knew that too, so he did not try to persuade her any further.
For something like this, they could only wait for Bill to take the initiative himself.
Percy walked over to a cabinet, opened it, took out a bottle of wine, and poured everyone a glass. Then, as casually as if he were mentioning the weather, he said, "I'm getting married."
"Who? Who's getting married?"
The door opened, and Malfoy strode in with his usual arrogant swagger.
John and Neville both looked at him speechlessly.
Percy shrugged. "Penelope and I. After graduating last year, she started working for the Muggle Issues Mediation Committee."
"Then congratulations are in order." John chuckled. "I remember her. Penelope Clearwater. She's a clever girl."
"I didn't expect you to marry her," Malfoy said as he walked over and sat beside Astoria. "I thought you'd find a pure-blood."
Percy glanced at him and said stiffly, "I'm not someone who treats marriage as a bargaining chip."
"All right." Malfoy shrugged, grinning mischievously. "My father said you're quite sought-after among the pure-blood families."
Penelope was a half-blood witch.
Once John sat down, every member of the Constellation Society was finally present.
John's gaze swept over Heinrich, and he said with some emotion, "After everything we've been through, we're gathered together again."
"Like the stars in the sky. Even after parting ways, we can still see one another's light."
Fleur smiled at John.
Heinrich looked devout and focused.
Kim shifted slightly to the side.
Percy composed himself.
Cedric gave a hearty laugh.
Daphne stared at John without looking away.
Neville was filled with emotion.
Malfoy wore his usual smug expression.
Astoria looked like a student listening attentively in class.
"In these final days, we will soon part ways." John raised his glass. "Some of us will teach at Hogwarts. Some will chase speed and excitement on the Quidditch pitch. Others will seek adventure in the forests, compete in the political arena, or make a name for themselves abroad."
"But like the stars in the sky, no matter how things change, we will always remain closely connected."
"The Constellation Society. We took the stars as our name, and each of us will shine in our own way throughout the wizarding world."
John was filled with emotion as his gaze swept over everyone.
"Parting is not the end." Looking at the familiar faces around him, he smiled. "Remember, the Constellation Society will always exist, each of us carrying it in our own way."
"When we're in need, when we're in danger, and when we're happy."
John raised his glass and chuckled. "Don't forget any of this."
"Cheers!"
Everyone in the Constellation Society drank.
This was their banquet.
They talked about their futures and shared amusing stories from the past year.
Fleur told Astoria about the handmade books Gabrielle made every year, while Cedric described to Neville the excitement that came with adventuring.
Percy and Kim discussed the changing political situation. Malfoy tried to steal Astoria back, only to be driven away.
Daphne, her face flushed, quietly asked Fleur for advice about romance.
Heinrich sat to John's left with a glass in his hand.
"I think we should clink glasses." John chuckled. "Welcome back. To who I was in the past, who you will be in the future, and who we are now."
"I missed a lot," Heinrich said, lowering his eyes.
John asked, "I didn't disappoint you, did I?"
He rubbed his nose. "The Light of Edgar. I think I've done a decent job of living up to that title."
"You always have." Heinrich raised his eyes. At that moment, they seemed like the first light of dawn. "Your light reaches every corner."
"Even dark Edgar is filled with light."
Heinrich placed a hand over his heart. "A heart filled with light."
John placed a hand over his own heart, his smile turning earnest. "It is my honour to be your king."
...
The banquet was lively, while the Star Spirits watched their Creator's gathering from the sidelines.
Eleven Star Spirits sat neatly in a row.
Hector and Herme imitated John, raising their cups.
The little dragon planted its hands on its hips just like Malfoy.
The long-haired Star Spirit looked like a model student.
The Star Spirit beside it used a rope of light to hoist the noisy little dragon into the air.
The silent Star Spirit curiously examined the burly Star Spirit.
The lively Star Spirit swung its legs back and forth.
The old-fashioned Star Spirit walked over to stop the little dragon from continuing to provoke the others.
Another glittering Star Spirit, eager to stir up trouble, urged the rope to keep the little dragon hanging there.
The adventurous Star Spirit was already wondering which door it should explore next.
They were like shadows of the Constellation Society. Perhaps one day, when everyone was gone, those who later joined the Constellation Society would still be able to glimpse the original members through these eleven Star Spirits.
They would see the shadows of those who had once shone like stars during that brilliant era of the wizarding world.
The gathering continued until eleven that night.
With exams beginning tomorrow, eleven o'clock was also when everyone had to leave.
Only Malfoy stubbornly insisted on wrestling Neville again.
After being pinned down three rounds in a row, Malfoy fell into despair.
The next day, the Ministry of Magic examiners arrived at Hogwarts.
The N.E.W.T. examinations began.
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