Harry Potter: The Last Exodus

The Meeting Begins

The warm light of the early morning filtered through the high windows of Hogwarts as Harry and the group made their way up the grand stone steps of the castle. The familiar sight filled Harry with a mix of nostalgia and determination. This had been his home for so many years, and now, it was the starting point for something much bigger. For the Russos, though, it was a whole new world.

Alex, Justin, and Max were speechless as they stepped through the towering entrance doors of the castle, their wide eyes scanning the ancient architecture, the sweeping staircases, and the magical portraits that greeted them as they passed. Even Alex, with all her bravado, found herself momentarily lost for words.

"This place is... huge," Alex finally managed, her voice almost reverent as she gazed up at the moving staircases.

"It's like something out of a fairy tale," Justin said, his eyes bright with curiosity. "I can't believe this is real."

Max was spinning around, trying to take in everything at once. "Can we stay here? Like, forever?"

Harry smiled, leading them through the halls. "It feels like that the first time you see it. But today, we're just here to prepare for the meeting."

As they moved deeper into the castle, the awe on the Russos' faces only grew. The ancient stone walls seemed to hum with magic, the portraits whispered and greeted them as they passed, and the warmth of the castle's magic wrapped around them like a protective cloak. It was nothing like the magic they knew back in New York—this was old, powerful, and filled with history.

Finally, they reached the massive oak doors that led to the Great Hall. Harry pushed them open, and they stepped inside, the echo of their footsteps bouncing off the stone floor. The enchanted ceiling reflected the bright, clear sky outside, and the long, empty tables that usually lined the hall were waiting to be rearranged.

"This is incredible," Alex whispered, for once in her life at a loss for her usual sarcastic remarks. "I've never seen anything like this."

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Harry said with a grin, feeling a surge of pride for his old school. "This is where we're going to hold the meeting."

The room was vast, and it would soon be filled with representatives from every magical community, creature, and being they had convinced to join them on this journey. But first, there was work to be done. The group spread out, each of them setting up the hall for what would be one of the most important gatherings in magical history.

Setting Up the Great Hall

Harry started by pulling out his wand and carefully arranging the long, narrow tables. With a few flicks, he moved them to the sides of the room, leaving a large open space in the center for the meeting. He levitated the chairs into place, setting them up in a semi-circle around the area where the discussion would take place. It was important that every voice was heard, every perspective considered.

Next, he summoned the shrunken trunks—700 million of them, all miniaturized and neatly stored in enchanted bags. With a sweep of his wand, he carefully placed them in the corner of the room, where they would remain until the meeting concluded. Each creature, wizard, and being who agreed to join them on the journey to Zenithara would be given one of these trunks to store their belongings before they left.

Nearby, Draco was hard at work setting up the information packets. Each seat in the Great Hall had one of the packets, filled with detailed information about Zenithara and its twelve planets. The packets included maps, descriptions of the magic that flowed through each world, and the role that every being would play in their new society. Draco's attention to detail was impeccable, and he made sure that every packet was perfectly aligned in front of each seat.

"These should answer most of their questions," Draco muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. "No one can say we didn't prepare."

Meanwhile, Neville and Luna were busy setting up a refreshment area along one of the walls. They had placed a long table filled with drinks and snacks—simple comforts to help ease the tension of the monumental decision everyone would be making today. Luna hummed quietly to herself as she carefully arranged platters of food, her mind likely already wandering to the possibilities of Zenithara and the creatures they might encounter there.

"I wonder what kinds of magical plants grow on Mirithis," Neville said thoughtfully as he set down a tray of pumpkin pasties. "The untamed magic there must make the flora incredible."

Luna smiled dreamily. "I bet we'll find species of plants that communicate through the ley lines. Maybe even creatures that live symbiotically with them. It'll be beautiful."

On the opposite side of the hall, Justin had claimed a spot near the entrance. He had set up a small scribe's area, complete with parchment, quills, and ink. He had decided that he was going to take meticulous notes of the entire meeting, documenting every decision and every conversation. It was a massive task, but one Justin was more than happy to take on.

"This is history in the making," he said as he arranged his quills. "We need to record everything—so that future generations know how this all started."

Alex rolled her eyes but smiled fondly at her brother. "Leave it to you to turn the end of the world into a homework assignment."

Max, meanwhile, was wandering around the hall, his hands stuffed into his pockets, already munching on one of the snacks Neville had put out. He wasn't much for planning, but his excitement for the adventure ahead was palpable.

Final Preparations

Harry stepped back from the center of the hall, surveying the scene. Everything was ready. The hall was set, the trunks were in place, the packets were arranged, and the refreshments were prepared. The only thing left to do was wait for the representatives to arrive. He could almost feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

This was it. The culmination of weeks of work, of planning, of convincing every magical creature and being to join them on the journey to Zenithara. Today, they would lay out the final steps of their plan, and soon, they would leave this dying world behind for a new beginning.

As Harry looked around the hall, his gaze landed on his friends—Draco, Luna, Neville, Alex, Justin, and Max—each of them busy with their tasks, each of them playing a crucial role in what was about to happen. He couldn't have asked for better allies.

The echo of footsteps in the distance caught his attention. The first of the magical beings and leaders would be arriving soon. The Great Hall would soon be filled with wizards, goblins, centaurs, merpeople, faeries, dragons, and creatures from every corner of the world. All of them here to make one of the most important decisions in magical history.

Harry took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.

"They're coming," Draco said quietly, standing next to him. His sharp eyes scanned the entrance as the distant sound of voices began to grow louder. "Are you ready for this, Potter?"

Harry's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "We're as ready as we'll ever be."

As the doors of the Great Hall began to creak open, the first of the representatives stepped inside, their eyes wide as they took in the grandeur of Hogwarts and the preparations made for the meeting.

The time had come.