Chapter 114: Ministry of Magic
Chapter 114: Ministry of Magic
Saturday, February 4th, 9:30 AM.
Felix was dressed neatly, standing in the fireplace, enveloped in a bright green flame. His figure disappeared from the office.
When Felix emerged from the public fireplace, he found himself in Diagon Alley.
Diagon Alley is the most famous magical commercial district in the British wizarding world, home to numerous renowned shops, bars, offices, and large enterprises. Gringotts, the Leaky Cauldron, the Daily Prophet Headquarters, as well as Ollivanders, Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Flourish and Blotts, and various apothecaries, all have their places here.
However, Felix was just passing through. He dusted off his hat and, in the next second, apparated directly into a dark, narrow alley.
When Felix stepped out of the alley, he found himself on a rather desolate street. There were only a few dilapidated, low-rise office buildings, a small pub, and an old, dusty antique car.
He walked a short distance and came to a red phone booth against the wall. It looked quite rundown, with large patches of red paint peeling off and several broken glass panels. Most people wouldn't even consider investigating it.
But Felix walked in, picked up the crooked handset, and dialed "62442", waiting quietly.
A few seconds later, a cold woman's voice echoed in the phone booth.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."
Felix calmly replied, "Felix Hepworth, invited to attend the award ceremony for Damocles Belby."
"Thank you", the woman's cold voice said. "Visitor, please take the badge and pin it to your clothing."
A square silver badge slid out of the coin slot, inscribed with: Felix Hepworth, Invited Temporary Visitor.
"The visitor to the Ministry of Magic needs to pass through the security checkpoint and register your wand. The security checkpoint is at the end of the main hall."
Felix pinned the badge to his robe, wondering if the woman was real.
But the floor of the phone booth suddenly began to tremble, and he slowly sank underground. After about a minute, the phone booth stopped.
"The Ministry of Magic hopes you have a pleasant visit today", the woman's voice said.
The door swung open, and Felix stepped out into a magnificent golden hall.
He walked on the polished dark floor, with gilded fireplaces lining the walls on either side. For the formal employees of the Ministry of Magic, these were their means of commuting.
It was a weekend, so there weren't many people, but a few wizards were still busy. A young man with a face full of acne, carrying a wobbly stack of parchment, passed by him.
Felix watched his back, wondering if he was an acquaintance?
He shook his head and walked past the fountain in the center of the atrium, arriving at a desk. Behind the desk sat a wizard in a peacock-blue robe, his beard poorly groomed.
A sign above his head read "Security Check."
Felix tapped the desk with his fingernail. "Good morning, sir. I'm here to register my wand." The wizard looked up, putting down his Daily Prophet.
"Come over here", the wizard said in a lackluster tone.
Felix approached, and the wizard raised a long, thin golden rod, similar to a car antenna, and scanned it over Felix's chest and back from top to bottom.
"Wand", the security wizard mumbled, extending his hand.
Felix flicked his wrist, and a wand sprang out from his sleeve.
The wizard paused. "I've seen many Aurors hide their wands like that. Are you a new Auror?"
"I teach at Hogwarts", Felix said briefly.
“Oh my, that’s quite a good job…” The wizard’s enthusiasm increased significantly. “I’m Eric Munch. I’m usually in charge of security checks, but I occasionally do guard duty as well.”
“Felix, you can call me that.”
Eric tossed the wand onto a peculiar brass machine that resembled a scale. The machine began to vibrate slightly.
The wizard’s interest was piqued. “What subject do you teach? I heard Professor Kettleburn is retiring. Is he still around? His classes were terrible when I was a student…”
“Mr. Munch,” Felix interrupted, “Professor Kettleburn is still teaching the young wizards. I’m in charge of Ancient Runes.”
As far as he knew, Professor Kettleburn was indeed retiring, but his replacement was already set—Rubeus Hagrid. Dumbledore was actively working to restore Hagrid’s reputation and clear his name. However, progress was slow because the culprit who opened the Chamber of Secrets had not yet been caught. Felix had already planned to get rid of the diary at the right time.
But this had to come after dealing with Dobby. Otherwise, a mistake in the middle might prevent him from meeting the clumsy little house-elf.
In reality, Dumbledore could resolve the issue of restoring Hagrid’s reputation and appointing him as a professor on his own. He just needed to mention it at a dinner during a holiday. However, to ensure Hagrid could use a wand openly, he needed the Ministry of Magic’s approval.
And the Ministry was known for being stubborn.
“Beep beep!” A narrow strip of parchment quickly emerged from the bottom of the brass machine. Eric pulled it out and read the words.
“Thirteen inches, ebony wood, dragon heartstring core, used for ten years. Correct?”
“Very accurate,” Felix replied gently.
“I’ll keep this,” the wizard said, pinning the parchment strip to a small brass nail. “You can take this back.” He grabbed the wand.
“Thank you.”
“Wait a moment,” Eric’s hand paused in mid-air as he leaned across the table to examine the badge on Felix’s chest.
He said slowly, “I remember you mentioned your name is Felix, Felix Hepworth? The one who facilitated the 1877 Duel Agreement…”
Eric’s nose turned red, his nostrils flaring with excitement as if he had just seen something extraordinary.
“Can you tell me about it? I mean, that was one of the 28 Purebloods! Although I don’t approve of them—I’m a Halfblood—they have existed for centuries and must have some merit. But now one of them has left Britain, which is a real shame…” he chattered on.
Felix calmly extended his hand, and the onyx wand flew into it. “I’m in a hurry. We can talk another time.” He nodded at Eric Munch and turned to leave.
Felix took the elevator to the second floor and followed the signs, passing the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Artifacts, and the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. Finally, he found the Wizengamot Affairs Office.
On the left side, there were two heavy oak doors that opened inward. A prominent sign hung on the door—Conference Room 3.
As Felix approached, he heard a familiar, drawn-out voice from inside: “The taste of a potion is not important. Personally, I prefer to increase the amount of aconite…”
(End of Chapter)
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