https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-558-Nick-If-Not-for-This-Book-I-Wouldn-t-Have-Known-You-Had-Such-Ambitions/13449216/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-560-What-Are-You-Hiding-From-Us-/13449218/
Chapter 559: Let Fate Decide!
Chapter 559: Let Fate Decide! (Combined)
Thinking about this, Nicolas Flamel couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
While the existence of wizards is a secret to the average Muggle, the Muggle upper echelons are well aware of it.
Both sides usually establish a certain level of cooperation, with the balance of power between the Muggle Government and the Wizarding World depending on the strength of each side.
For example, in France, the Muggle Government has less control over the Wizarding World. The Ministry of Magic is nominally a department of the state, but it enjoys a high degree of freedom and tends to operate in a complementary and mutually supportive manner. There are also corresponding seats for wizards in the Muggle parliament.
Additionally, the Muggle Government helps cover up the existence of the Wizarding World. The fact that the Wizarding World can still maintain its secrecy in an era of increasing technological advancement is largely due to the assistance of the Muggle upper echelons.
In exchange, the Ministry of Magic supervises domestic wizards, regulates their behavior, and dispatches powerful Aurors to protect the president and other important officials, preventing Muggle leaders from being controlled by malicious wizards, or even foreign spies.
Occasionally, they also handle matters that the Muggle Government finds difficult to manage.
As a result, the attitude of various countries toward the wizard community is quite contradictory—both courting and guarding against them!
Courting is to defend against foreign wizards and protect national interests.
Guarding is due to the fear of wizards' abilities to modify memories, read thoughts, and teleport!
No ruler wants to become a puppet in someone else's hands.
The two worlds have maintained a delicate balance in this contradictory relationship!
Until now, there hasn't been any major upheaval, and the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, signed in 1689 and officially enacted in 1692, has played a crucial role!
The foundation of this law was the increasingly severe Witch Hunts that began in the 15th century.
At the time, the persecution of wizards by Muggles had reached an extreme.
Wizards, though born with magical powers, were vastly outnumbered.
There were probably fewer than ten thousand wizards in all of Europe, scattered across different countries and regions, and most had not received systematic training. They could only instinctively release weak magic, making them very vulnerable to Muggle persecution!
The implementation of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy provided wizards with sanctuaries, isolating the Wizarding World from the Muggle world and uniting the scattered community to learn and practice magic. This made Muggles hesitant to act rashly.
This law significantly alleviated the most intense conflicts between wizards and Muggles, transforming them into high-level interactions.
However, it also created significant risks, forcing most wizards to become disconnected from the times.
From then on, Muggle actions against wizards became less frequent, and after the Industrial Revolution, they shifted to a more conciliatory approach.
Muggle elites clearly understood that dragging things out would benefit them. This "boiling frog" strategy avoided a war between wizards and Muggles, making it nearly perfect!
The wizards, who had chosen to hide, found themselves trapped, unable to express their dissatisfaction.
Who would have thought that in just a few hundred years, the Muggle world would undergo such a dramatic transformation!
In comparison, the pace of magical advancement lagged far behind technology. Wizards, confined to a small circle, had outdated and backward ideas, leading to an ever-widening gap.
When they finally decided to make changes, they realized that this status quo had persisted for centuries and had become a global consensus. Change would mean facing even greater obstacles!
Not everyone has the courage and willingness to bear the consequences!
Turning a blind eye and maintaining the status quo, leaving it to future leaders to handle, has become the preferred choice for most leaders in the Wizarding World!
Nicolas Flamel sighed slowly and flipped open the New Century Manifesto again. Reading the book's optimistic vision of wizards and Muggles coexisting and integrating, he felt increasingly naive.
But there was also a hint of longing.
"Peace, communication, a new era," Nicolas Flamel murmured to himself. Could this vision really be achieved?
He vaguely recalled his previous conversation with Dumbledore and suddenly felt that Dumbledore might be right. This could be the best opportunity!
Nicolas Flamel flipped through the book, rereading the contents of the New Century Manifesto. When he reached the call for change at the end, he smiled and said,
"Hah, not bad at all!"
Ivan's ideals, though somewhat idealistic, were precisely the kind of pure and sincere notions that were most captivating and infectious.
If the *New Era Manifesto* were to be widely distributed in the **Wizarding World**, Nicolas Flamel was confident it would gain the admiration and even the adoration of many young **Wizards**!
"So, are you not going to help that boy?"
In the quiet, empty living room, a faint voice suddenly sounded.
"I'm too old. Two hundred years ago, perhaps my old bones might have still been willing to move," Nicolas Flamel shook his head and glanced at an empty space beside him.
An elderly **Witch** in a loose robe stood there, her face serene and her features etched with the marks of time. Most importantly, her body was ethereal, shrouded in a light mist, much like a **ghost**.
The elderly **Witch** looked at Nicolas Flamel with a loving gaze, but then her expression turned slightly reproachful. She pointed at his left hand and murmured something.
The room was silent, but only Nicolas Flamel could hear her faint voice.
"No, I can't return this to Albus," Nicolas Flamel shook his head, refusing her suggestion. He gently caressed the **Ring** on his left hand, the black gemstone shining brightly.
If Dumbledore were there, he would have been surprised to find that the **Ring** was in perfect condition, unlike what Nicolas Flamel had claimed—that it would take two years to repair.
However, the **Resurrection Stone** had never been damaged at its core. For a master alchemist like Nicolas Flamel, eliminating the minor effects was a simple task, taking little time.
Initially, he had deliberately said it would take two years because, after a period of research, Nicolas Flamel discovered that this **Deathly Hallow** contained an astonishing amount of energy, rivaling that of the **Philosopher's Stone**.
The deeper he delved, the more he was alarmed.
Additionally, Dumbledore's fervent obsession with the **Deathly Hallows** was a source of great concern.
Nicolas Flamel had read the **Britain** fairy tale collection and was well aware of the story of the **Deathly Hallows**. After his recent research, he did not believe that collecting the Three Hallows would resolve Dumbledore's predicament.
The **Resurrection Stone** did not have the power to bring the dead back to life; instead, it could potentially become a catalyst for disrupting the fragile balance. Therefore, he preferred to let this **Deathly Hallow** be buried with him upon his death.
However, Ivan's *New Era Manifesto* had begun to sway his original thoughts.
Powerful and unrestrained forces often lead to turmoil, but they could also become a sharp sword to cut through obstacles.
"Alright, let fate decide!" Nicolas Flamel hesitated, then sighed. After all, he didn't have much time left, and the affairs of the **Wizarding World** were beyond his control. He could only leave them to the younger generation.
With this in mind, Nicolas Flamel's furrowed brow gradually relaxed. He looked at the elderly **Witch** before him, his expression becoming more serene. He took off the **Ring** from his hand and mouthed some words.
After I finish my last task, I will come to be with you!
The elderly **Witch**'s form slowly faded, and just before she disappeared, she smiled and nodded, acknowledging Nicolas Flamel's words.
Meanwhile, at **King's Cross Station** in London,
With a spatial shift, Ivan's figure materialized in an alley near the station.
*Ding, after practice, Apparition has been upgraded to level 6 (13/6400)*
"Apparition has been upgraded? That was pretty quick!" Ivan glanced at the System's Skill section and remarked with a sigh.
It seemed that the frequent long-distance Apparitions he had been performing recently had indeed been effective. No wonder he had noticed a significant reduction in the **Magic** consumption and found it increasingly easy to use.
If he had some time, he might practice more and even try to use Apparition in the midst of battle.
Ivan thought about this as he carried his small trunk and owl cage, heading towards **King's Cross Station**.
He had rushed to get here, but now, with fifteen minutes to spare before the train departed, he had plenty of time.
Even if he were to accidentally miss the **Hogwarts Express**, it wouldn't be a problem.
He wasn't Harry or Ron; if necessary, he could Apparate directly to Hogsmeade and use the **Secret Passage** to return to school, which would be much faster than taking the train!
Stepping into the station, Ivan headed straight for Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. As he approached, he was surprised to find that he had arrived just in time. Harry, Hermione, and the Weasley family were all waiting there, seemingly discussing something.
Due to her keen eyesight, Hermione spotted Ivan first.
A look of joy spread across the young witch's face, and she started to move forward, but then she seemed to remember something. She hesitated, pursed her lips, and her expression turned sour.
"Hey, Ivan! Over here!" Harry and the others soon noticed Ivan and waved him over.
"Long time no see, Harry!" Ivan smiled and opened his arms, giving Harry a brief hug.
George and Fred joined in, playfully sandwiching him and Harry between them.
Ivan barely managed to wriggle free, looking rather helpless as he glanced at the mischievous Weasley Twins. "George and Fred, how’s your research going?"
"Absolutely fantastic! Our Skiving Snackboxes and Self-Inking Quills are selling like hotcakes. We received so many orders over the summer that we had to work overtime to keep up with demand.
And that Portable Swamp we told you about? We’ve improved it. It can turn the entire Great Hall into a swamp! If Filch confiscates our stock again, I’ll sneak one into his office!"
George got excited as he talked about their joke items.
"Cough, cough," Fred interjected, nudging him.
George felt a chill run down his spine and turned to see Mrs. Weasley standing there with her hands on her hips, her face dark with anger.
"George, I remember you promised me that your toys wouldn’t cause any trouble for the professors at school!" Mrs. Weasley said, clearly upset.
While she had reluctantly agreed to the Weasley Twins' research on joke items, it was with conditions. George had assured her that their creations were harmless and purely for entertainment.
"Mom, that was George’s promise to you, not mine. You should be scolding him!" George, feeling guilty, tried to shift the blame by switching identities, a tactic he and Fred often used to evade trouble.
Fred glared at him, and the two quickly started bickering.
In the end, neither of them escaped a stern lecture from Mrs. Weasley, drawing the attention of several passing Muggles.
Ivan watched as George and Fred got scolded, feeling a bit embarrassed. He had assumed that Mrs. Weasley had already accepted their Magic Items, which was why he had asked about them!
"Alright, Molly! It’s getting late, and the children need to board the train!" Arthur Weasley checked the time and quickly intervened, saving George and Fred from further ear-bashing.
The group then lined up, preparing to enter Platform Nine and Three-Quarters in small groups.
Ivan had intended to go in with Hermione and Harry, but Hermione’s fierce glare made him back off.
Confused, Ivan turned to join George and Fred instead.
"Ready, you’ve got a limited time. Go on, three, two, one, go!" Mrs. Weasley gave the command.
Ivan took the lead, carrying his trunk and owl cage, and quickly ran through the barrier, emerging on the Wizards' platform.
The station was bustling with activity as the departure time drew near. The air was filled with the sounds of excited chatter, and several young Wizards were waving goodbye to their parents at the train doors. A timid first-year, overwhelmed by the prospect of leaving home for the first time, even burst into tears.
A few seconds later, George and Fred emerged from the barrier behind him.
"Sorry, George. I shouldn’t have asked about that," Ivan apologized.
"It’s fine, not your fault. Mom’s just a bit overbearing," George waved it off.
Fred added with a grin, "Looks like we need to come up with a secret code next time!"
"Right! That way, Mom won’t catch on," George patted Fred on the shoulder, excitedly. "Fred, you’re a genius!"
"Of course I am! Did you just figure that out today?" Fred raised an eyebrow.
The two laughed, and their earlier bickering and anger seemed to have had no lasting impact on their relationship.
Or perhaps their fight was just an act to fool Mrs. Weasley, but unfortunately, it didn’t work this time.
(End of Chapter)
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