You can now access up to chapter 115 on p@treon: patreon.com/palevolt100
+++++++
The cross-cultural opening set the tone for the whole afternoon, and the refreshments became a living lesson in cultural exchange.
Cho Chang explained the symbolism of the lotus flower to Hannah and described the traditional role of osmanthus cake in the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Henry added that Eastern and Western dessert traditions differed not merely in ingredient but in their underlying philosophy of preparation, what a dish was meant to express, and to whom.
"As a Ravenclaw, I believe wisdom truly takes many forms," Cho Chang said in English. "We tend to value logic, innovation, and rigorous thinking. But since coming to Hogwarts, I've come to see that every House carries its own kind of wisdom. Hufflepuff, for example—" she looked at Hannah and Susan "—yours is a quiet wisdom. Knowing how to work with real care and consistency, looking after everyone without needing to be seen doing it. In Chinese philosophy, that's the quality of water."
Henry nodded. "Water benefits all things without striving. The highest good is like water."
Cho Chang looked at him with open surprise, then a slow, pleased smile. "Your Highness has read the Tao Te Ching? That book is one of the deepest wells of wisdom in Eastern thought. You are genuinely well-read."
Henry accepted the observation without comment.
Hannah's cheeks coloured slightly, but she was smiling. "We don't really go looking for the spotlight—but Hufflepuffs do know how to keep things moving."
"And Slytherin," Cho Chang continued, turning to Henry with a considering expression, "was probably the House I understood least, before coming to Hogwarts. But you've shown me another dimension of it, Your Highness—a sharp reading of situations, a capacity for building connections deliberately, and an ability to hold balance in complicated environments. That is actually a very sophisticated form of wisdom. Knowing how to move within the rules, and over time, how to shape them."
Henry looked at her with genuine respect. She was not merely polite and observant—she had clearly been thinking carefully about what she was seeing.
"And Gryffindor?" Justin asked.
Cho Chang considered this. "Courage is its own form of wisdom—knowing when to act without calculating every consequence. Though it sometimes lacks a little of Slytherin's tact." She paused, and the corner of her mouth lifted. "What happened on Halloween, for instance. Perhaps that was Gryffindor wisdom in its purest form: solving problems through action, even when the path looked rather dangerous."
Everyone laughed.
As the afternoon went on, Cho Chang taught them a few Chinese greetings.
Hannah committed herself enthusiastically to the sounds; Justin wrestled with the tones with the slightly pained expression of someone discovering that the system is more complicated than it appeared; Susan practised quietly and wrote phonetic notes on her paper.
"The four tones in Mandarin work rather like the precise pronunciation of a spell," Henry said. "Say it wrong, and the meaning changes entirely. The same syllable can mean mother, hemp, horse, or to scold, depending on which tone you use."
This produced a fresh wave of laughter. Cho Chang looked at Henry, and there was something in her expression that went beyond polite appreciation.
"Your understanding of Chinese isn't simply linguistic, Your Highness—it reaches into the cultural reasoning behind it. If I didn't know better, I might genuinely wonder."
Henry smiled and said nothing to that.
"Language is the key to another mind's way of seeing," he said instead. "I count myself fortunate to have some access to that key."
As the light outside the windows deepened into amber, Cho Chang drew out a small, thread-bound notebook.
"I'd like to write down some of today's discussion," she said. "Ravenclaw has a kind of informal forum where students share ideas that seem worth keeping. The points raised today about the different forms of House wisdom were genuinely valuable—the kind of thing I'd want to return to." She looked at Henry. "Would you object if I noted some of your observations anonymously? I would take care not to identify any specific participants or mention anything sensitive."
"I would be honoured," Henry said. "Wisdom is worth circulating."
Cho Chang smiled and thanked him quietly in Chinese: "This afternoon made Hogwarts feel considerably more like home."
By the time the tea party ended, Cho Chang and Hannah had already made a plan to visit the library together the following week to research the connections between Eastern magical plants and Western Herbology.
Justin had declared his intention to begin learning Chinese. Susan had quietly copied down several introductory texts on Eastern philosophy that Cho Chang recommended, adding them to a list she had apparently been keeping since the conversation about the Tao Te Ching.
Henry saw them all to the door and then remained alone in the dimly lit classroom.
The progress bar, which had been fixed at 99.75% for what felt like a considerable time, tipped quietly past the final quarter-percent as the last footsteps faded down the corridor.
[Ding. Detected: host has completed initial construction of a social network, establishing effective channels of communication across all four Houses of Hogwarts. Conditions met. The Magic Monarch System is now officially activated.]
A semi-transparent interface in pale gold unfolded in his field of vision, its elegant cursive script settling gradually into clear, stable text.
The interface was divided into two main sections.
Left Side: Influence Panel
[Current Influence Range: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]
[Influence Level: Emerging (5/1000)]
[Available Influence Points: 5 (Initial Gift)]
[Influence Sources:]
Slytherin House: +5/week
Hufflepuff House: +3/week
Gryffindor House: +3/week
Ravenclaw House: +1/week
Professor's Attention: +3/week
[Current Weekly Income: 15 points]
[Influence Shop (Unlocked, requires Influence Level 5)]
Right Side: Monarch Panel
[Monarch Trait: Not Awakened]
[Monarch Points: 0]
[Monarch Behavior Record:]
Upholding Royal Dignity and Responsibility: +1 (Repeatable Task)
Establishing Cross-House Dialogue Channels: +5
Demonstrating Inclusivity Beyond Prejudice: +5
Promoting Knowledge Exchange and Inheritance: +5
Monarch-Inspired Behavior: None (Behavior cannot be repeated)
Imperial Mindset: None
[Current Convertible Monarch Points: 16]
[Convert?] (Yes/No)]
Bottom Center: Magic Skill Tree
[Currently Mastered Spells: Lumos, Scourgify, Wingardium Leviosa, Spongify, Alohomora, Reparo]
[Available Monarch Points: 0]
[Tip: Monarch Points can be used to directly increase spell mastery, unlock magic talent branches, or accelerate the learning of special skills]
At the bottom of the interface is a line of small text: [System Motto: A true monarch not only rules the territory but also guides the mind. Magic is your scepter, wisdom is your crown.]
Henry reached instinctively for his teacup, found it empty, and set it down. Without standing, he called out quietly.
"Lucy? A cup of tea, please—with a little honey."
Before Lucy had appeared, the system responded.
[Host detected behaving in accordance with monarchical conduct. Monarch Points +1]
Henry stared at the notification for a moment.
'?????'