Chapter 534: Press Conference
Chapter 534: Press Conference
The day passed quietly. The next day, the Ministry of Magic held a press conference, with Minister of Magic Amelia Bones personally serving as the spokesperson. She stood on the steps, with a crowd of reporters and photographers below, and a few onlookers who had come to see the spectacle. She glanced at Kingsley Shacklebolt, who nodded slightly in response.
Ms. Bones calmly announced:
"Regarding the rumors in the newspapers about Mr. Felix Hep obtaining the Elder Wand, these have been confirmed as false. I personally inspected his wand, and it is not the rumored Elder Wand, which speaks volumes. As is well known, Mr. Hep is not only an accomplished scholar in Ancient Runes and Muggle Studies but also a writer with a childlike heart. The popular comic strip Adventures of Little Wizard Mick, which revived L.C.A Publishing, was his creation. In crafting this masterpiece, he drew inspiration from numerous similar works, naturally incorporating the spirit of Beedle the Bard, who has influenced countless young wizards."
"Are you suggesting that Mr. Hep named his wand the Elder Wand out of admiration for Beedle the Bard?"
"Exactly."
"Madam, are you denying the existence of the Elder Wand?"
"Perhaps it does exist, but it is certainly not in Mr. Hep's possession, nor is it within the scope of our discussion today", Ms. Bones replied.
"How did you verify this? What if he disguised it?"
"I trust my own eyes", Ms. Bones said coldly. "Next question."
"What if he has a second wand?"
Ms. Bones looked down from her monocle at the person speaking. "I don't recall inviting you. Which newspaper are you from?"
"Ahem, I'm just a tourist, just a tourist", the bald man stammered.
"Very well", Ms. Bones said calmly. "We will check your approved entry documents after the press conference, or you'll have to pay a fine."
She cleared her throat and continued:
"The situation may be more complex than we think. I can reveal that the editor of the Daily Prophet who approved the article is suspected to have been under the Imperius Curse. This suggests that a significant conspiracy may be behind the events. Given the current circumstances, we have reason to suspect Voldemort and his evil followers."
The press conference venue, draped in red carpets, fell silent, as if a spell had been cast.
"Cough, are you sure?"
"I used the words 'suspected' and 'possible,'" Ms. Bones said sternly. "But if you are well-informed, you would notice that the article appeared in over a dozen countries. This can't be a coincidence!"
"I personally hold the perpetrators in contempt, as they fail to grasp a basic fact: Mr. Hep's research field is Ancient Runes. The current Runic Script craze in Britain was largely driven by him.
Although Mr. Hep is not a skilled orator, he deeply regrets this baseless accusation. Therefore, he has entrusted me to announce that on the last weekend of October—October 27th—a symposium will be held in Hogsmeade Village."
At this point, another journalist raised a question.
"Why wait so long? Couldn't he just come forward and deny ever possessing the Elder Wand?" Rita Skeeter's eyes flickered, and her question was met with nods of agreement.
"Because that's a minor issue!" Ms. Bones interrupted. "Compared to promoting Ancient Runes, the Elder Wand is worthless to Mr. Hep. That's the difference between you and him—"
Rita Skeeter glared at her.
The other journalists excitedly took notes, their quills almost smoking, and the flashes of cameras lit up the room.
"Moreover, it must be noted that Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and the President of the International Confederation of Wizards, has submitted an application to the International Confederation of Wizards to make this symposium an international event. Distinguished wizards, including experts in ancient scripts and Headmasters from various magical schools around the world, will be invited."
The journalists were stunned. The floating quills, as if experiencing a short circuit, fell to the ground.
This is big news.
Rita Skeeter grabbed the emerald-green feather of her quill, her expression excited. She had agreed to plant this story, and if done well, it would be a best-selling series.
For the next few minutes, the only sound was the excited "squawks" of the quills.
"… All visitors must register in advance, and the activity will be limited to Hogsmeade Village. Violators will face severe penalties …"
"Can you tell us more about the symposium?" Rita Skeeter asked dutifully.
"Currently, I can reveal that, in addition to showcasing his research, Mr. Hep will reluctantly take time to accept any challenges—"
"Wait! Challenges?"
The journalists picked up on the key word.
"Indeed", Ms. Bones said, looking at the few excited faces in the crowd—obviously foreign wizards. She felt a pang of pity, as only she and a few Wizengamot wizards had seen Felix Hep's battle with Voldemort.
Since you're all so cheerful, I doubt you'd refuse to sign a life-and-death contract, right? She continued reading her speech with a calm demeanor:
"The event is expected to last three days..."
"The Ministry of Magic will actively negotiate with the Ministries of Magic from other countries. On-site broadcasts will be provided, with technical support from Future World Company..."
The press conference ended amidst intense gazes.
When the news reached Hogwarts, it was already the next morning. Students exchanged information hurriedly at the dining tables, occasionally exchanging knowing glances, which meant, "I told you there would be big news." Then they rushed off to class.
In the following days, the school was filled with a restless atmosphere. This restlessness was evident in the subsequent classes, where bolder students couldn't help but ask related questions.
"Professor Black, who is more powerful, you or Professor Hup?" an unpopular student asked an equally unpopular question.
Sirius Black glared at him. "Such comparisons are meaningless. Additionally, I forbid you from sowing discord among professors. Therefore, Gryffindor loses five points."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione grinned.
Their actions didn't go unnoticed by Sirius Black. He regretted telling them about the time Felix had beaten him, and he was now somewhat embarrassed and angry. With a dark expression, he said, "Since you asked, I can answer a similar question: How do you think you compare to Aurors?"
"We can give it a try", he said, raising his wand and looking at the students with a mischievous glint. "Aurors have a lot of opportunities to engage in combat, unlike your pretend battles... it's real combat, usually against cunning and dangerous Dark Wizards."
"The performance of those with duel training and those without is vastly different. Even more so, those with combat experience and those without have a significant gap. This difference is reflected in their understanding of dueling and in the subtle details."
"Take me, for example. I may not be much stronger than you, but even if we use the same spell with the same power, the difference is still quite significant..." He paused, adopting a challenging stance, his meaning clear.
"Who wants to go first?"
Harry was eager to try, but Sirius Black pretended not to see him, still holding a grudge. "Zabini, you come up." He called on Blaise Zabini, who confidently stepped forward, his friends whistling loudly. "Harry, you start the count."
Sirius Black and Blaise stood facing each other, eyes locked. When Harry shouted "Start!" both of them moved at the same time. Sirius Black flicked his wrist, and Blaise's wand flew out.
"It's a small trick, but if you grip your wand too tightly, the spell's force might only make your arm move slightly. But used correctly, it works perfectly." Sirius Black explained. "Again!"
Blaise, still discontent, picked up his wand, this time gripping it firmly.
"Start!" Harry shouted.
Both raised their wands—
"Expelliarmus!" Blaise shouted with authority, but Sirius Black cast the spell first, hitting him.
"Non-verbal casting always gives you the edge", Sirius Black said, tilting his head.
"Let's try again, this time I'll say the spell with you", he said.
Blaise hesitated, picked up his wand from the ground, and cautiously looked at Sirius Black.
After a moment of silence—
"Expelliarmus!" "Expelliarmus!" they shouted in unison.
But this time, Sirius Black quickly ducked, dodging the spell, while Blaise was hit, his wand flying out for the umpteenth time.
"Even if two people cast the spell simultaneously, I still have a chance to dodge or deflect the spell with my wand. There are many ways to respond", Sirius Black said. "You might have read about similar dueling techniques in textbooks or storybooks, and even practiced them in private, but in a real fight, you might forget to use them or use them poorly."
"Your professor last year, Alastor Moody, and I have crossed paths. He had a good saying: always be on your guard. I'm not asking you to be like him, but at least you should know what to do when danger comes. If you can't learn it, then remember it with your body!"
...
Deep into the night, Felix spread out the New Marauder's Map. The lines of Hogwarts Castle and the Forbidden Forest intertwined, sprouting like mushrooms after the rain. His index finger lightly touched an inconspicuous corner, and in an instant, the light flickered, the fog swirled, and the original pattern quickly disappeared. A new path extended from a corner of Hogwarts Castle, winding and twisting until a new map appeared.
It was a small village, composed of numerous cottages and shops, with many familiar names: Ambrosius Flume of Honeydukes, Madam Puddifoot of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, Madam Rosmerta of The Three Broomsticks, Zonko of Zonko's Joke Shop, and the barman of The Hog's Head—Aberforth Dumbledore.
Honestly, Felix was quite startled the first time he saw that name.
Now, he lowered his head, using the dim light to survey the names in Hogsmeade Village—
"Let me see, who are the strangers, and who are foolish enough to wander near Hogwarts?"
(End of Chapter)
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