Harry Potter: The Last Exodus

A Moment of Rest

The Great Hall was buzzing with the low hum of conversation as the leaders and creatures took a much-needed break. The snack table, piled high with drinks and treats, became the gathering spot for wizards and magical beings alike, offering a brief respite from the monumental decisions that had been made. While everyone mingled, Harry stood off to the side, his mind still occupied with what lay ahead.

Justin Russo sat at his scribe's desk, hunched over his parchment. He was meticulously going over the notes he'd taken, ensuring he had recorded every introduction and detail accurately. When Harry approached, Justin looked up, pushing his glasses back up his nose.

"Everything coming together?" Harry asked, glancing at the stack of parchment.

"Yeah, I think so," Justin replied, tapping his quill thoughtfully. "I've got the introductions down and the continents everyone picked. It's a lot to keep track of, but this will be one for the history books, no question."

Harry smiled. "Definitely. Keep it up. We'll need everything documented so no one gets lost when we get to Mirithis."

Justin gave a small nod and returned to his notes, his quill scratching across the parchment with renewed focus. Meanwhile, Harry walked over to a small table he'd set up at the far end of the hall, his mind buzzing with thoughts about the map. He knew the leaders would need more than just static names and locations—they'd need a living, adaptable guide.

He conjured a large, blank piece of parchment and began sketching a detailed map of Mirithis. With every flick of his wand, a continent appeared—each one labeled with the names they had decided on earlier. Eldoria sat in the center, surrounded by the 100 other continents, all in their rightful places. Harry included the islands, the mountain ranges, the rivers and oceans. But this map wasn't going to be just a simple layout. It needed something more.

As he hovered his wand over the map, he muttered a soft incantation, pouring a touch of magic into the parchment. The map shimmered for a moment, then stilled. Now, whenever a leader or group named an ocean, river, lake, island, or even a village or town, the name would automatically appear on every copy of the map, ensuring all information was up to date, no matter where they were or what they named.

Satisfied, Harry conjured several copies of the map and placed them on top of the packets that had been distributed earlier. The leaders would now have a map that could grow alongside their new world. Each continent could be named and shaped by its inhabitants, allowing them to record the history they were about to create.

At the snack table, Alex tossed a biscuit toward Max, who barely caught it in time, much to the amusement of Draco and Luna.

"I still can't believe we just picked continents," Alex said, popping another snack into her mouth. "Feels like we're playing some sort of magical Monopoly, except, you know, with real continents."

Neville smiled as he nursed a glass of pumpkin juice. "It's overwhelming, isn't it? A whole new world to explore, to cultivate. I can't stop thinking about what kinds of plants and herbs we might discover there."

Draco smirked, leaning against the table. "And what kind of hidden dangers we'll find. Dragons, giants, and who knows what else."

Luna, her dreamy voice cutting through the conversation, added, "I think we'll find creatures that we can't even imagine yet. Some might be friendly, but others... well, they might need some convincing."

Max, seemingly unconcerned with any dangers, was busy piling his plate with snacks. "Either way, I'm in. This whole thing feels like the best kind of adventure."

While the others enjoyed their break, Harry reviewed the map one more time, watching as the magic worked through it, ensuring that it responded to new information. Every river named, every village built would appear on the maps, keeping everyone informed, no matter how spread out they became.

With a satisfied nod, Harry stepped back, allowing himself a moment of calm. The break wouldn't last long, but it was a chance for everyone to breathe before the next stage of their journey. Soon, they would reconvene, and the real work of planning their new lives on Mirithis would begin.

As Harry glanced back at the group, watching the laughter and camaraderie among creatures and wizards alike, he felt a quiet sense of hope settle over him. They were doing this—together.

But for now, they had a few more minutes to enjoy the calm before the storm.