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Chapter 613: The Clash at the Dining Table
Chapter 613: The Clash at the Dining Table
The next day, Felix was having breakfast in the Great Hall.
After finishing his sandwich and minced meat pie, he picked up a piece of toast and snapped his fingers. The raspberry jam on a distant plate twitched slightly but didn't fly over. Felix looked up and saw Grindelwald staring intently at the jam dish.
Compared to Felix, Grindelwald's breakfast was much simpler—just porridge with bread and a glass of milk.
Despite its simplicity, it was far from plain. The sweet pumpkin porridge paired with freshly baked, soft and crispy rolls, surrounded by various small plates of butter, jam, honey, cheese, and thinly sliced sausages and bacon.
His bread was already spread with a layer of butter. Perhaps having tasted the nearby strawberry jam, he was now eyeing the raspberry jam, which happened to be the same one Felix had chosen.
The two of them engaged in a silent competition.
The small plate, enchanted, was tugged back and forth, making a pleasant clinking sound.
Professor Mcgonagall, who was sitting between them, and Professor Flitwick, who was on Felix's left, noticed but showed little interest. This was not the first time such a minor magical spectacle had occurred at the dining table, and it was hardly worth making a fuss over. The last time, these two had even condensed a strand of magic from the thin air on campus, a feat that had earned the admiration of the Hogwarts professors.
What puzzled them was why the new professor had a personal wand, wasn't that a symbol of a Squib? However, they didn't delve into it. One reason was unfamiliarity, and the other was their own speculations: the wizarding world was never short of oddities, and a single magical experiment could result in irreversible injuries. They were wary of touching on sensitive subjects.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, leaned forward, and extended a long arm to disperse the entangled magic. The plate was pulled to his side, and he slowly spread a thick layer of jam on his toast, casually asking, "Old folks like something sweet and sour. It's my personal favorite. Would you like to try?"
"Strawberry jam is fine for me", Felix said.
"Ah, it's raspberry jam", Grindelwald murmured, "I thought it was cherry jam."
The professors, seeing no more entertainment, returned to their meals. Just then, a rustling sound came from above, and several owls flew into the Great Hall through the open windows. Everyone at the table, including Grindelwald, received mail.
Naturally, Felix received the most. Who wouldn't, after the big event he had just orchestrated? He quickly counted out five bronze coins and placed them in the small leather pouch tied to a brown owl's leg. The owl dropped the Daily Prophet, skillfully picked up a cookie, and flew away.
Felix set the newspaper aside and focused on the other restless owls.
"May I?"
Felix looked up to see Grindelwald eyeing the newspaper. He smiled slightly, "Be my guest", but his gaze swept over the thick, large package in front of Grindelwald, wondering who could be sending him something. Could it be Harry?
Grindelwald took the newspaper and began reading. Soon, he silently grinned.
"Quite a spectacle."
The other professors were also reading the newspaper. They seemed to have found something intriguing, their eyes wide as they looked up from the pages to glance at Felix. Professor Flitwick was so engrossed that he didn't even notice his fork had fallen. For a moment, the only sounds at the table were the rapid flipping of newspaper pages and the fluttering of owl wings.
Even Dumbledore opened a tightly sealed letter, his expression serious as he read its contents.
Felix finally finished detaching the letters from the owls' legs. He lined them up, placed a small cookie in each owl's beak, and watched them fly away. At that moment, Flitwick exclaimed, reading aloud:
"Felix, listen to this—yesterday morning, Hogwarts professor, Order of Merlin, First Class recipient, St. Mungo's Medical Badge holder, Wizengamot member, founder of Future World, initiator of the Ancient Runes learning craze, Memory Master, and internationally renowned Wizard Felix Heap once again caught our attention. This time, at the headquarters of the company known as 'Future World,' he unveiled a new product. The 'Personal Wand,' an auxiliary casting tool, has left countless wizards amazed and stunned, sparking heated debate... Truly remarkable!"
Felix blinked and tucked a stack of personal letters into his pocket.
"Is this about yesterday's launch? I haven't had a chance to read it, but I expected it to cause a major controversy—"
"More than just controversy, it's simply, simply—" Flitwick squeaked, standing on his chair and holding the newspaper while flipping through the pages, "You should read it."
"I've read it, here, it's quite interesting", Grindelwald said, passing the newspaper to Felix. Felix glanced at the bold black headlines on the large photo of the event: Personal Wand, a Groundbreaking Invention.
He took the newspaper and read it carefully, while Grindelwald leisurely unwrapped his large package, revealing a corner that seemed to contain various magazines.
By now, Felix had reached the part Professor Flitwick had just read aloud and continued from there:
The Personal Wand is undoubtedly a groundbreaking invention with immense potential in numerous applications. The author wasted no time in interviewing the most qualified expert to evaluate this—famous wandmaker Ollivanders. He expressed a strong interest in Mr. Heap's offer of collaboration, and the resulting discussions (and even controversies) have his own perspective. "I always knew he would achieve great things—long before anyone else, from the day he first entered my shop... Yes, I understand wands. Just as he was favored by the ebony wand, he himself has always shown exceptional qualities, standing out, unbound by convention, and always knowing what he wanted. I could give many examples..."
Felix skipped over some of the flattering remarks.
... However, the emergence of the Personal Wand has also raised concerns among some knowledgeable individuals. An unnamed Ministry of Magic official admitted that this would put a heavy strain on the magical community's secrecy, perhaps even making it unsustainable. He repeatedly emphasized, "This is a good thing", but then confided in the reporter his worries.
"Many underestimate the number of Squibs. They are inconspicuous, almost invisible, like ghosts. This is because the number of Squibs who choose to remain in the magical world is very small; most live in Muggle communities, occasionally visiting Diagon Alley to purchase essential supplies. But after the news of the Personal Wand was released, over three hundred Squibs came forward to inquire and register in just two or three days, and the news hasn't even fully spread yet."
Further investigation by the author revealed even more startling information.
Since the Ministry of Magic does not keep birth records for Squibs, most of them and their descendants live as Muggles. This means that what we know is just the tip of the iceberg. The actual number of Squibs could exceed the current number of wizards. If they all had a Personal Wand, it would have a significant impact on our society, and it would also greatly increase the risk of the magical world being exposed to the Muggle world. The author hopes that the authorities will carefully consider the review and distribution of Personal Wands...
It is reported that the concept of Magical Frequency was first discovered and named by Hogwarts student Hermione Granger. The public may remember her primarily from the Triwizard Tournament, where she won the final cup for Britain. However, the truth is that she is also from a Muggle family and achieved outstanding results in this year's O.W.L.s exams. She has also made significant contributions to the fight against the Dark Lord and, along with her companions, was awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class.
Hermione Granger and her Muggle parents were also present at the launch event, leading us to speculate that her 'Muggle identity' may be in question.
Notably, she became Mr. Heap's assistant in her second year and was among the first members of the Runic Script Club (known to the outside world as the Ouroboros Club). She has published an astonishing 42 essays...
"Is she your follower? That Granger?"
Grindelwald held up a magazine, his interest piqued. Professor Mcgonagall glanced at him disapprovingly, clearly dissatisfied with his phrasing. These days of interaction had led her to a subtle conclusion:
This old man might be a follower of Grindelwald, perhaps even one of his saints. Professor Mcgonagall snorted; his words only made her conclusion more convincing. She resolved to guard the young wizards vigilantly in the new school year, preventing any evil ideas from corrupting them.
"It depends on how you define a follower. Personally, I prefer to call her a collaborator", Felix said casually.
He quickly scanned the rest of the pages: 'Personal Wands Bring Dignity: Interview with the Head of the Squib Support Association' on page two; 'The Forgotten Second-Class Citizens of the Magical World' on page three; 'The Annual Ancient Runes Review' on page four; 'Remarkable Achievements of Runic Script Club Members' on pages five and six; 'New Challenges to Wand Regulations: Goblins Demand Access to Personal Wands' on page seven; 'House-Elves and Assembly Lines' on page eight.
He put down the newspaper and muttered, "It's a trouble, but also an opportunity."
The outcome depends on how it is managed. One point in the newspaper aligned with his own thoughts: this matter should be handled carefully, 'carefully considering the review and distribution of Personal Wands,' without blindly increasing their numbers.
"Savior of the Squibs, huh? How will they thank you, by erecting statues in your honor?" Grindelwald said with an ambiguous tone. "You should be careful, though. Watch out in case they change their minds later..."
He stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth, chewed it slowly, and swallowed. Then, he leisurely wiped his lips and turned the page of the magazine in his hand.
Felix felt several gazes fall upon him, but he wasn't about to take the bait. He muttered under his breath, "Professor Bashat, it's great to see your appetite has improved so much since the last few days. I was worried before, having heard that eating with false teeth isn't as enjoyable... I didn't expect that new teeth would grow back so quickly. Madam Pomfrey's skills are truly remarkable." He said this with a look of admiration.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're quite rude?" Grindelwald asked.
"Quite a few... but they all eventually realized it was a misunderstanding", Felix said, lightly shifting the topic. His gaze lingered on the cover of the magazine in Grindelwald's hand, feeling a bit surprised. He couldn't help but glance at Dumbledore, who was putting away a letter and lost in thought.
"Jane's Defence Weekly?" Felix asked curiously.
"It's for lesson preparation", Grindelwald said briefly.
"Oh." Felix's heart skipped a beat, and he smiled slightly. "I read this magazine during my Muggle social practice. It does a decent job in its observations, accuracy, and impartiality—"
"You're quite knowledgeable about Muggle military affairs?" Grindelwald asked, his eyes sharp.
"Just familiar with the basics..."
Grindelwald sat up straight. "What do you think of their large-scale thermal weapons?"
"Quite powerful."
"Have you ever considered the possibility of them being used against you?"
"I have", Felix admitted frankly. "But they won't hit me."
"Ah, yes, even the strongest—"
Grindelwald clicked his tongue, his eyes sharp. "But what about your friends? Your fellow wizards?"
"We have defensive spells."
Grindelwald sneered and pointed at the newspaper.
Felix hesitated, understanding that Grindelwald was referring to Squibs. If Squibs flooded in, they might not align with traditional wizards.
"Mr. Bashat, why are you so fixated on confrontation? It's the worst option. You may not know, but the Ministry of Magic has always maintained contact with the Muggle Prime Minister—"
"So what?" Grindelwald's tone was aggressive. "He's just a puppet. What if things go to the worst-case scenario? Hm? After all your preparations fail—"
Felix's expression froze, and he spoke slowly.
"I still believe in peaceful means, negotiation, and deterrence. War is a lose-lose situation. Besides, if it comes to what you say... Britain has three islands, and beyond those islands, there are many countries. Their opinions will never be unified, and that is our greatest advantage."
"We represent order, and we stand against the threats posed by Dark Wizards."
Professor Mcgonagall and Professor Flitwick were completely stunned. What were they discussing? How did it lead to the exposure of the magical world and a war between wizards and Muggles?
Grindelwald, however, looked impressed.
"It seems we have some common ground in this area—"
"Leopold." Dumbledore came back to his senses, his tone stern. "You promised me."
Felix immediately understood. The name belonged to Grindelwald. He had known that Grindelwald had borrowed his aunt's surname but hadn't known his first name. Now it was clear that Leopold Bashat was the full name Grindelwald had fabricated.
Dumbledore stood up and said in a grave voice.
"Leopold, they insist on coming to perform a comprehensive examination of your body." Grindelwald's eyes narrowed, and his expression suddenly turned violent and defiant. He rasped, "They dare?"
"I have agreed. You must comply", Dumbledore said calmly, not looking at Grindelwald. He turned his head, his tone softening.
"There's something you might need to do, Felix. I can't find a better person for the job."
Felix's mind was racing. A comprehensive examination? By whom? A healer from St. Mungo's? But the tone of the conversation didn't suggest that.
"What is it?"
"Return the snake wood wand to Ilvermorny." Dumbledore held out a wand slightly thicker than usual and said softly, "I have resigned from my position as the President of the International Confederation of Wizards and no longer deserve to keep it. I need you to return it to its rightful owner."
"You should go to the Ministry of Magic first. Their delegation is getting impatient."
The snake wood wand landed in Felix's hand, and its surface immediately shimmered with a faint glow. Instantly, hundreds of snake hisses echoed through the Great Hall.
"Silence."
Felix commanded in Parseltongue.
The snake wood wand fell silent.
(End of Chapter)
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