Chapter 296: Muggles and the Strength of the Wizarding World
Chapter 296: Muggles and the Strength of the Wizarding World
Ivan's steps did not falter, and the distance between the two parties grew closer.
At this moment, the two people in front suddenly stopped. Ivan, observing his past self, called out to him. Then, he took off the Time Turner hanging around his neck.
Witnessing everything that happened two hours ago from an outsider's perspective, this intertwining of time and space gave Ivan a sense of the magical wonder of time.
The two walked past smoothly without being noticed.
Was it because his past self was distracted and didn't pay attention? Ivan thought to himself. It seemed that everything he was doing now was still within the time loop.
What would happen if he revealed himself now? Would it be the same as before?
A thought formed in Ivan's mind, but he shook his head.
Forget it, better not to take such dangerous risks.
The rest of the journey went smoothly, with no further incidents. The two of them arrived at the Muggle Studies classroom together.
There was still some time before class, but the room was already full of people. Ivan was somewhat surprised to see so many students interested in studying Muggles.
Ivan scanned the room curiously. From their attire, it seemed that the students who chose this course were mostly from Hufflepuff, with the fewest from Slytherin.
It appeared that, apart from a few pure-blood wizards who were curious about Muggles, most of the students taking this course were from Muggle families or were half-bloods.
This was normal, as the entire wizarding world still had a clear bias against Muggles.
Especially the pure-blood wizards, who often used derogatory terms when talking about Muggles to highlight their own noble bloodlines!
Soon, the classroom door opened from the outside, and Professor Cuthbert Binns, dressed in a light-colored wizard's robe, walked in. She glanced around the room and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Welcome to my Muggle Studies class!"
"Here, I will not teach you various magical spells, but I will broaden your horizons and let you understand the vastness of the outside world, rather than limiting your vision to the small magical world."
At this point, Professor Binns' tone became very serious, and she continued.
"Additionally, I have always believed that wizards and Muggles are equal. There is no real difference between them and us."
"Professor!" Just as Professor Binns finished speaking, a young female Slytherin student suddenly raised her hand and spoke up. "But I've heard that Muggles are very foolish and cannot learn even the simplest magic!"
"That is only because they lack magical talent, which does not mean they are foolish. On the contrary, although Muggles cannot perform magic, they have achieved many things through their intelligence and ingenuity that magic cannot accomplish", Professor Binns emphasized.
"This is why we need to offer this course!"
"For centuries, our wizarding world has seen little substantial change, but the outside world is different. It has changed beyond recognition. If we continue to be closed-minded, we will eventually be completely surpassed by Muggles!"
Professor Binns spoke eloquently, recounting the great achievements of Muggles in recent years and the changes in their travel and lifestyle.
Many of the young wizards in the audience wore skeptical expressions, but Professor Binns did not expect them to understand immediately. She asked them to open their textbooks and began the first lesson.
Ivan glanced at the textbook in his hand and recalled Professor Binns' remarks. It seemed that the wizarding world did have some research into Muggle technology, but it was far from comprehensive.
The Knight Bus, Hagrid's Flying Motorcycle, and the Weasleys' Flying Car were all products of the integration of Muggle technology and magic.
However, this understanding and research likely only extended to modifying technological items to make life more convenient, without delving into the fundamentals. This was evident from the centuries-old, unchanged educational system at Hogwarts.
Hogwarts, as one of the Three Major European Wizarding Schools, had only ever offered one Muggle Studies course, and it was optional!
It wasn't mandatory for all young wizards to take it, which indicated that the wizarding world's interest in the Muggle world was still far from sufficient.
Ivan was acutely aware that as Muggle technology continued to advance, the balance of power between the wizarding world and the Muggle world was tilting in favor of the latter.
Once the world fully entered the information age, the existence of the wizarding world would no longer be able to remain hidden.
Wizards had an advantage over Muggles in their ability to use various supernatural magics!
Especially spells like the Imperius Curse, Polyjuice Potion, Gemino Curse, Apparition, and the Elixir of Life. When used effectively, these could cause significant damage to the Muggle world.
For example, replicating vast amounts of gold and other important resources to disrupt and impact the Muggle financial market.
Or the allure of immortality, which could entice many greedy Muggles to defect. The disguise provided by the Polyjuice Potion, combined with Apparition, would allow them to enter any place at will. Add the Imperius Curse, and they could control Muggles in important positions.
Indeed, the destructive power of wizards was far less than that of Muggle mass-produced technological weapons, but the strongest technology is still controlled by ordinary people. It would be foolish to engage in direct conflict. The correct approach is to use their own advantages to leverage the other side's power.
More importantly, wizards could learn and master Muggle knowledge, whereas it would take Muggles much longer to use technology to counter magic.
Of course, the disadvantages of wizards were also very apparent. They were few in number, often in conflict, and conservative in their thinking.
The latter was the most fatal. Many wizards' mindsets were still stuck in the previous century. They didn't want to know about new Muggle inventions, living in their small circles, vying for power and influence. This further eroded the wizarding world's initiative.
Moreover, mixed-blood wizards and those from Muggle families made up the majority, which meant that if someone wanted to stir up trouble and provoke a war between wizards and Muggles, they wouldn't even need to incite the Muggles. The wizards would start fighting among themselves first.
That was how the last reformer met his end.
"This wizarding world is doomed", Ivan sighed. He suddenly realized that the wizarding world could only watch as Muggles rapidly advanced, while they remained stagnant. He couldn't help but feel a sense of despair.
Was this what the saying meant?
Ivan's thoughts shifted, and he opened the system's task panel, looking at the task activated from the previous school year—forming a House-Elf Army. Below it, a note read:
"A new era is about to dawn, and it is time for the wizarding world to change! —Ivan Hals."
The note had once left him puzzled, but now Ivan understood it a bit better.
(End of Chapter)
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