Chapter 515: A Thick Book on American Magical History
Chapter 515: A Thick Book on American Magical History
After signing the contract, Albert returned to the villa and joined the others in the living room, chatting about alchemy. Katherine would chime in occasionally, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
However, as conversations tend to meander, the topic eventually shifted to Albert's victory in the International Wizard Chess Championship and then to Nicholas Flamel's decision to forgo the Sorcerer's Stone.
Nicholas expressed his regret about the renowned alchemist's decision, sharing that he had visited Flamel in his youth.
Katherine could barely contain her envy when she heard that Flamel intended to mentor Albert in his remaining years. She longed for the opportunity to learn from the greatest alchemist in history, but she couldn't bring herself to voice her desire. Doing so would be a sign of disrespect to her grandfather.
Nicholas, of course, was aware of his granddaughter's unspoken wish, but his hands were tied. He didn't have a close relationship with Flamel, so he couldn't write a letter of introduction for her. Moreover, as his chosen heir, Katherine had responsibilities to shoulder and much to learn.
The pleasant chat concluded with Nicholas inviting both Albert and Katherine to visit his alchemy workshop the following day.
As night deepened, Albert, lying against his pillow, found himself wide awake. He took advantage of the room's lamp to delve into a book borrowed from Katherine—a spellbook used at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, titled 'Chwick's Power' and authored by the school's founder, Chadwick Boot.
Of course, the version of 'Chwick's Power' that Albert perused had been revised and corrected numerous times by later generations. Yet, it shared a similar issue with Miranda Goshawk's 'Book of Spells'—the content pertaining to dark curses had been largely expunged.
It was highly unlikely that an ancient tome on spells would omit dark curses altogether. Those old books often contained peculiar and bizarre incantations, and the ones suitable for educational purposes had been carefully curated and rewritten.
If one had to judge which spellbook was superior, it would likely be the 'Standard Book of Spells' series, adapted from Miranda Goshawk's specialized research.
Furthermore, the fact that the 'Standard Book of Spells' was adopted as the textbook in numerous magical schools around the world spoke volumes about its quality.
What truly piqued Albert's interest was the book on magical history, specifically American magical history. Despite America's relatively brief history, this particular volume was the thickest in Katherine's collection.
It provided a detailed account of notable events in American history: the founding of Ilvermorny School, the Salem Witch Trials, the establishment of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, the atrocities committed by the Scourers (a group guilty of murder, trafficking of wizards, torture, and other heinous acts), the birth of the Twelve American Aurors, the eradication of the Scourers, the secrecy breach by the witch Dorcas Twelvetrees, the five relocations of the magical community, and the chaos caused by Bigfoot.
By perusing this comprehensive book on American magical history, one could easily discern why the American magical community differed from its counterparts in other countries.
Ironically, the root cause could be traced back to the Puritans of Britain and Europe. These reformed remnants of Catholicism, in their exile to North America, displayed a low tolerance for divergent beliefs, which led to a series of unfortunate incidents.
While the direct victims were Muggles, the relationship between wizards and Muggles soured considerably.
This sentiment was evident in the very first line of Ilvermorny's school song:
"We unite, against the Puritan."
...
Later, the witch Dorcas Twelvetrees, enamored with the handsome Muggle Bartholomew Barebone (a descendant of the Scourers), caused yet another uproar.
The implementation of the Rappaport Law served to completely sever ties between the No-Maj and wizarding communities.
The law forbade witches and wizards from befriending or marrying No-Majs and imposed severe penalties on those who associated too closely with them.
It was also under the Rappaport Law that wand permits were introduced.
According to the law, only witches and wizards of legal age (17 years old) were allowed to possess a wand outside of school, which explained why that person from the Ministry of Magic had to confiscate his wand.
As for students of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, their wands were borrowed from the school, and they had to leave them there during vacations. Only upon graduation could they purchase their own wands.
The American wizarding authorities were strict about wand manufacturers, even more so than Muggle gun control regulations.
The enactment of the Rappaport Law further deepened the cultural differences between the American and European wizarding communities and was a major reason why many witches and wizards disliked visiting the United States.
One had to be extremely careful in the States, or they might find themselves inadvertently committing a serious crime and landing in prison.
Later, the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) must have felt that the Rappaport Law was undemocratic, for they repealed it in 1965.
The Rappaport Law was repealed? Albert's expression turned even more peculiar as he read this.
Yes, in 1965, the MACUSA repealed the Rappaport Law to showcase their commitment to freedom, equality, and human rights.
To be precise, the MACUSA abolished the term 'Rappaport Law'.
Based on the incidents Albert had encountered since arriving in the US, most of the policies under the Rappaport Law were still very much in effect. For instance, witches and wizards needed wand permits, No-Majs and magical folks couldn't intermarry or associate, and magical families were forbidden from keeping magical creatures as pets... All of these were considered capital offenses.
Indeed, any witch or wizard entering the US was subject to the MACUSA's supervision; failure to comply was also a capital offense.
Of course, in a country as vast as the US, there were bound to be shadows that the MACUSA's influence didn't reach. But if those living in those shadows committed serious crimes, they would face the death penalty.
It was said that the MACUSA upheld humanitarian values and carried out executions without pain.
According to records, the famous author of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', Newt Scamander, nearly lost his life in the US. He only managed to leave that land of freedom and democracy alive by capturing the Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald and making up for his previous mistake.
Albert closed the book and placed it on his desk. He concluded that it would be best for him to stay away from the United States in the future.
As he picked up his Dark Arts textbook, there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Albert placed his book on the table and walked towards the wooden door.
It was Katherine, wearing a pink pajama.
"Is there something you need?"
"I noticed that you were still awake, so I made you a cup of hot cocoa. Consider it my apology," Katherine said as she handed Albert the cup. "I'm really sorry for the trouble I caused you today."
"Oh, I didn't take it to heart. People like that exist everywhere," Albert replied as he accepted the cocoa and took a sip, signaling that he accepted her apology.
Indeed, he didn't dwell on the incident, knowing that he wouldn't be returning to the US or seeing that person again anyway, so there was no point in letting it bother him.
"Well then, good night."
"Thank you for the cocoa, it's delicious!" After Katherine left, Albert closed the door and returned to his bed. He read for a while longer before finally turning off the lights and falling asleep.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
