Harry Potter’s Morning Light

Chapter 3126 viaticum (4)

 London does not have the machine-based large-scale production model like Manchester's textile industry, but this does not mean that London is completely devoid of industrial machinery and large enterprises.

The shipyards in the Thames Estuary have dominated the British shipbuilding industry for centuries. Although there are no large steel plants here, there are many processing and production companies that provide high-quality iron castings for municipalities and shipyards. However, with the advent of the steam age, the tonnage of ships became larger and larger, and the narrow channel of the Thames River could not moor them.

However, a group of entrepreneurs have not given up. They plan to build piers with greater capacity and deeper draft than before to ensure that London's docks can serve for another century or more. Their plan is to call it "Land's End". "The swamp was dug out, which was considered to be whimsical by people at the time.

That place is now home to Victoria Royal Docks, and just to the east is London City Airport. This dock "used to" be one of the largest freight bases in London because it used new technologies such as cranes and was connected to the railway. However, the renewal of the terminal has not kept up with the development of the times. The terminal was only built 20 years ago and it has become too shallow for new cargo ships.

New expansion plans were soon on the agenda again, this time to build a larger, longer, electric-powered Albert Dock on the east side of Victoria Dock, where there would also be refrigerated warehouses for perishable goods.

 Later, the warehouse area became the target of key bombings by the Germans during World War II. Due to the shortage of supplies at the time, London implemented a rationing system. Many British children born in 1940 had never even seen a banana.

However, this did not cause complaints, because after the introduction of rationing, ordinary British people actually ate more healthy food than before the war. Butter and bacon were the first foods to be rationed, and citizens only needed to register at the town hall. If you can get it, you will get 4 ounces per person per week. Whether you are unemployed or employed, you need to queue up to receive it.

Bread, potatoes and fish were always available in unlimited quantities, and nutritionists analyzed how as many adults and children as possible could live healthy lives when fresh meat, cheese, sugar and jam were scarce. , and finally they came to the conclusion: As long as careful calculation is carried out, even if some foods are lower than what is usually considered intolerable, they are still enough to support physical exercise. Yogurt is used instead of cheese, and vegetable powder is used instead of fruit. Dairy products cannot supplement health needs. Calcium, calcium and vitamins can be added to bread flour, and this has been passed through legislation.

 Before the bombing began, children and mothers still received milk, fresh orange juice and cod liver oil delivered to their homes.

The most typical feature of British gardens is the domestic air raid shelter. Although it has a simple structure and is cold and damp inside, it is very effective. In addition, some people grew tomatoes and vegetables in their gardens, and raised chickens, rabbits and even pigs to increase their food supply. During the war, the average per capita intake was 3,000 calories per day, which was higher than the average per capita today.

 “Your order is ready.”

The shop owner said to Pomona with a smile on his face and placed the take-out food on the table in front of her.

"Thanks."

Pomona turned her attention from the TV to him and took a box containing pizza.

“Invite your friends downstairs next time. No matter how busy you are at work, the food should be delicious.” The shopkeeper said with a smile.

 “I’ll tell him,” said Pomona.

 “Hurry up.” The shopkeeper urged, “The taste of food will pass with time.”

Pomona smiled awkwardly and left the Sicilian restaurant with the food.

From the moment she walked in, the kind-hearted shopkeeper told her how authentic his Sicilian food was.

 Pizza is a very common fast food, but there are many types of pizza... Anyway, this store originally did not provide takeout food, although she did take a pizza and went upstairs like a delivery person.

When Pomona arrived at the door, just as she was about to take out her wand to open the door, a middle-aged woman came downstairs and stared at Pomona as if she were a thief.

Pomona smiled awkwardly at her again, and waited until she disappeared around the corner of the stairs before taking out her wand and opening the door.

This time, opening the door does not feel like walking into the Batcave, but into a normal person's home. The living room has been cleared out, and two second-hand sofas and a small coffee table have been placed. It is used as a desk and dining table. .

Severus was sitting on a high-backed armchair, looking at the file in his hand. The file bag this time was relatively new, and it looked like it had happened recently.

“What’s the ‘news’?” Pomona said as she closed the door.

 “Psychic medium.” He threw the document in his hand on the coffee table and said tiredly.

“Like the psychic who found Vermeer’s painting in 1974?” Pomona asked, putting the food on the coffee table.

"No, she's a fortune teller." Severus opened the pizza box.

Roman-style pizza is a crispy crust, while Sicilian pizza is more like American-style pizza. The crust is fermented and tastes softer. The boss downstairs said that American-style pizza is actually the evolution of Sicilian pizza because many Sicilians immigrated. Arrived in the United States.

"What did she divine?" Pomona said nonchalantly, taking out the "Sicilian Baked Pasta" from the brown paper bag.

 “The Queen’s death date.”

 “You’re kidding,” said Pomona, dumbfounded.

 He smiled hypocritically, showing his yellow teeth. “And she used carrots.”

Pomona wanted to ask again what department he was in, but she ended up holding a box of pasta and sitting on the other couch, the pink inflatable couch that had served its purpose and now sat shriveled in the corner.

"By the way, I just saw a piece of news downstairs..." Halfway through Pomona's words, there was a knock on the door.

Severus put down the food, took out his wand from his sleeve, and cautiously came to the door.

 “It’s me.” The man outside the door whispered.

Severus then opened the door. Standing outside the door was a tall and thin middle-aged man. He was wearing a beige summer coat with a light blue golf shirt underneath. He walked into the apartment naturally. “Oh, you are eating.” The stranger said with a relaxed smile.

 “What’s the matter?” Severus said seriously.

“Nothing, I just came to see how you are doing.” The stranger said, taking out a letter from his coat pocket and giving it to the young Snape. “By the way, I want to inform you that you must come to the ceremony tomorrow.”

 “What ceremony?” Severus asked confused.

 “The Queen will attend the opening ceremony of the new airport.” said the stranger.

"I thought there was adequate security," Severus said.

“Just in case, we don’t have anyone as special as you.” The stranger looked at Pomona. “Is she like you?”

"I think the Ministry has enough people," Severus said.

"Yeah, I know." The stranger said impatiently, "The Prime Minister won't go, only the Queen."

 “Can I come with you?” Pomona asked immediately.

 “Do you know where it is?” the stranger looked at Pomona and asked with a smile.

“It’s near the Victoria and Albert Dock. It’s called London City Airport, right?” Pomona asked.

 “Your girlfriend is better informed than you are,” the stranger said to Severus.

Severus looked like he wanted to say something, but the stranger opened the door and left without waiting for him to say anything.

“Remember to take her with you tomorrow,” the stranger said before leaving, and then the door closed.

 After a brief silence, Pomona asked, “Who is that person?”

"Connector." Severus said, placing the envelope on the coffee table, and then picked up the pizza. "The news you just wanted to tell me..."

"It's about the new airport. It was bombed during World War II, and there may be unexploded bombs," she said nervously.

He seemed to have heard the joke and ate it with pizza as a condiment.

 Then she chattered about the information she had just received about the airport, without mentioning the "girlfriend" thing.

 “What shall I wear tomorrow?” Pomona asked.

"Whatever it is, don't act like a secret agent," Severus said, chewing on the pizza.

 “Looks like I’m going shopping.” Pomona muttered.

 “Want me to accompany you?” he said suddenly.

 Pomona looked at him in shock.

“Lucius often goes shopping with Sissi.” He looked at her and said, “Do you want me to accompany you?”

“No,” Pomona said, numbly chewing on the pasta.

 “You don’t want me to accompany you?”

“I want you to get some fresh air, and you need to be dressed for that occasion.” Pomona poked the noodles. “But I feel terrible just thinking about that image.”

 “How terrible is it?” he said casually.

“It’s like seeing an alien ‘mother ship’. By the way, what about the Muggle who photographed the house elf?” Pomona asked.

“The Ministry of Magic is in charge,” Severus said, picking up another box of pasta.

 “Did he send the photos to the United States?” Pomona asked.

 His face was expressionless, as if he didn't want to pay attention to her.

She didn't know what was wrong with him, but she immediately forgot about this little thing.

While eating noodles, she was thinking, where would she go while shopping in the afternoon?

 (End of this chapter)