Noah's successful proposal and his upcoming marriage to Hermione were not hidden in the slightest.
Especially after the four Ravenclaw roommates spent an entire night drinking themselves senseless in a pub and were later discovered sprawled unconscious on the street-earning the title of the wizarding world's "most beautiful moment" of the year-everyone knew that the four famous figures from that dormitory were about to step into marriage.
They had gone completely overboard that night.
All four of them were spread flat on the street. Noah's posture was barely acceptable, leaning against a wall while sitting upright. The others were far less dignified. Their expressions turned dark the moment they saw the report.
Yet that report brought countless blessings.
Through it, people saw not only a rare bond of friendship, but also a side of the Sorcerer Supreme they had never seen before.
Every wizard knew Noah had come from Hogwarts. The three men lying beside him were his former roommates.
According to the report, all three were now high-ranking officials within the British Ministry of Magic. They had originally planned to marry on the same day and had even asked Noah to be their best man.
Ironically, now that Noah had joined them, the position no longer existed.
Their friendship had lasted over thirty years without change, stirring deep admiration and envy among readers.
As for the weddings themselves, they instantly became the focus of the wizarding world.
Countless people hoped to attend what was already being called a "Century Banquet."
A super wedding.
Too many powerful figures were expected to appear.
Time passed quickly.
Soon, it was the eve of Noah's wedding.
During this period, he and Hermione had done everything that needed doing-selecting suits and dresses, sending invitations, and arranging details.
Hermione complained a bit about Noah's drunken display in the street, but more than anything, she found it amusing. She was also deeply moved by how much he valued old bonds.
Only someone who treasured relationships that much could give her peace of mind about the future.
The guest list, however, was overwhelming.
Nearly eighty to ninety percent of the British Ministry of Magic's top brass were attending. Most of them were former classmates.
Beyond that were wizards from various fields, all sharing one identity.
The Mages' Union.
Additionally, all of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw from their school years were invited. Not inviting classmates simply wasn't an option.
After that came the professors.
In this universe, a wizard's lifespan was closely tied to strength. While Hogwarts professors weren't especially powerful, thanks to Noah's interventions, every one of them was still alive.
So none could be excluded.
Whether it was Dumbledore, who had once again become Headmaster.
Or the retired McGonagall.
Flitwick, who delegated most responsibilities to assistants.
Or Snape, who had become a doting father while continuing to "cruelly" torment every non-Slytherin student.
They all received invitations.
Naturally, Sirius Black and Lupin were included as well.
In short, every professor Noah had gotten along with-or who had taught him-was invited.
Except Quirrell and Lockhart.
After Hogwarts came Kamar-Taj.
This required no deliberation.
As the Sorcerer Supreme, even if Noah didn't know every mage there personally, his wedding would involve almost all of them.
The number was staggering.
Too many mages bore ties to Kamar-Taj. Students, award recipients, collaborators, and countless others with loose connections.
As the largest magical organization on Earth, its reach was vast.
Even Noah himself had no clear idea how many were associated with it.
He didn't bother counting.
Everyone was invited.
He was already prepared for the financial damage. The cost would be astronomical.
Fortunately, money wasn't a problem.
With Ark and Tony backing him, Noah was effectively a tycoon in the wizarding world.
No matter how many mages came, it didn't matter.
Exorcists and mutants were also invited. It was time to spend big.
In Noah's eyes, marriage was likely a once-in-a-lifetime event.
He was happy to make it grand.
With the magical world covered, the rest were friends from other fields.
The Avengers.
Fury.
Key figures from S.W.O.R.D. and S.H.I.E.L.D.
In truth, S.W.O.R.D. and S.H.I.E.L.D. overlapped heavily. Noah recognized the top brass, but the rest were mostly unfamiliar.
They were minor figures to him.
One thing did surprise Noah.
He had no idea how Fury managed to keep Carol Danvers on Earth for so long.
Carol and Fury had an excellent relationship. Compared to a mage like Noah, she felt closer to Fury.
Noah checked out of curiosity and discovered-half amused, half exasperated-that Carol was staying behind to investigate why small aliens were suddenly appearing on Earth.
Noah had no intention of telling her the answer.
He preferred letting her find it herself.
Since Carol was on Earth, Noah naturally invited her.
After all, she had provided the biological foundation for his body.
He would never forget that without her blood, he wouldn't possess a physique that even surprised himself.
Carol accepted the invitation.
Asgard, meanwhile, arrived without even being asked.
That saved Noah a lot of effort.
At this point, the guest list was finalized.
Yet after everything was done, Noah suddenly felt nervous.
For no clear reason.
"I didn't expect my first marriage across two lifetimes to feel like this," Noah thought, lying on his bed.
Hermione wasn't with him tonight.
She had returned to her parents' home. On the wedding day, she would wait at the church, escorted by them.
Alone, Noah briefly considered another bachelor party.
Then he remembered his alcohol tolerance.
And the possibility of collapsing on the street again.
He dismissed the idea.
Resisting the urge to go out, Noah lay awake.
Sleep refused to come.
A strange emotion spread through him. He was certain he hadn't felt this way even before heading to Hogwarts for the first time.
"...Forget it."
"I'll meditate."
Unable to sleep, Noah decided to enter the System Space.
If rest was impossible, meditation would have to do.
"I can tell from your heartbeat and stray thoughts that you are extremely nervous."
The System's voice echoed the moment he entered.
"This emotion is rare for you. Interesting."
"First time in two lives," Noah replied lightly. "Human instinct. You probably wouldn't understand."
"You intend to pass the time through meditation," the System said calmly. "A wise choice. Entering marriage means assuming greater responsibility. Protecting your family. Your lover. Your children."
"I know you currently do not want children and are using magic to prevent it. But I believe you will have one in the future."
"Only the powerful can protect everything. Especially someone standing before the mist of truth."
Noah hadn't expected something so philosophical.
As for "standing before the mist of truth," he felt the System was giving him too much credit.
The truth was terrifying.
The truth of the world, the universe, and beyond was deliberately blurred to prevent contact.
He was only Rank 10.
A small fry.
Yet he had done something dangerous.
He possessed an independent universe.
Through it, he could reverse-engineer countless things.
Still, the stage he stood on was low.
The System was overestimating him.
Noah sighed and stopped thinking about it.
Tomorrow was his wedding.
He didn't want his mind clouded by unnecessary thoughts.
The future would come when it came.
But one thing the System said was right.
Only by moving forward could he protect his family, friends, and lover.
And perhaps, the children who might one day be born.
Noah took a deep breath.
His mind gradually calmed.
In the next moment, he entered a special state.
His mental power tugged at his soul, releasing a terrifying aura.
Within his consciousness, endless stars appeared.
And at the center-
A massive golden sphere of light.
It pulsed like a heart.
With each beat, Noah began to perceive the laws woven into existence.