Chapter 661: Persuasion
Chapter 661: Persuasion
On the afternoon of March 10th, Felix appeared with a small piece of paper bearing an address. In front of him stood a charming little house. Standing on the steps, he looked around at the spacious surroundings, catching a faint whiff of flowers. He guessed there must be a beautiful garden behind the house.
Felix knocked on the door.
The door was opened by a man with golden hair and a large belly, who looked at Felix with a puzzled expression.
"Hello, who are you looking for—" the man asked, then suddenly paused. "Oh, you're Mr. Hep, Felix Hep?" After receiving an affirmative reply, he led Felix into the house and to the living room.
"Sorry, I didn't recognize you! I must say—compared to your great fame, you seem quite low-key. I hardly see you in the newspapers... Yes, Dora mentioned you would come, but I didn't expect you to be two hours early—Andromeda? We have a guest."
The man stood in the living room and called down a hallway. He then turned to Felix and extended a friendly hand.
"I'm Ted Tonks, Dora's father."
"Hello, Mr. Tonks, Felix Hep", Felix said, shaking his hand. He glanced around the living room at the cleaning tools and said somewhat awkwardly, "I think I might have gotten the time wrong..."
"Oh, no problem", Mr. Tonks said, picking up a Mrs. Scouring's All-Purpose Magical Cleanser from the floor and placing it next to a potted plant on the table. "Dora and the others won't be here until seven tonight. She's an Auror, and her responsibilities are significant."
"Is this a spider plant?" Felix asked, pointing to the potted plant. It was a perennial evergreen herb, known for its spider-like appearance due to its spider egg-shaped berries and spider-like underground stems.
"Exactly", Mr. Tonks began, but his words were interrupted by footsteps. Felix and Mr. Tonks turned around to see a woman standing at the living room doorway. At first glance, she resembled Bellatrix Lestrange, but her hair was a soft chestnut color, and her eyes were larger and kinder.
There was no doubt that this woman was Andromeda Tonks, a member of the Black family and the mother of Dora, who was a sister to Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy.
Mrs. Tonks smiled at Felix and exchanged a glance with Mr. Tonks.
"This is Mr. Felix Hep", Mr. Tonks introduced.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Hep. Nymphadora has mentioned you several times..." Mrs. Tonks said. "I was just cooking in the kitchen. But you're quite early."
Felix repeated his excuse about the wrong time.
Mrs. Tonks nodded reluctantly. "Please, have a seat", she said. "I'll prepare some tea—Ted, Ted, can you help me?" "Oh, oh, sure", Mr. Tonks turned to Felix and muttered, "I remember I have some tea stored away... I'll be right back! You can look at the newspaper on the table."
Felix nodded slightly and watched them disappear down the hallway. He picked up the newspaper and listened intently. As expected, a small argument broke out in a corner of the room—likely in the kitchen or a bedroom.
"...I know the reason... acting as a mediator, don't mention the war, it's over... I warn you, Ted Tonks, don't dare make any rash promises..."
Felix nonchalantly unfolded the newspaper. The noteworthy news was about Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour returning from the International Confederation of Wizards headquarters, where he had participated in several important meetings with representatives from around the world.
The details of the meetings had not been disclosed.
The newspaper speculated that the most likely topic was the law regarding exclusive wands, which might become a reality within a few years. A photo showed a dozen stiff figures standing together, with the new chairman, Babaji Akinbade, looking fatigued.
A few minutes later, Mr. Tonks returned, looking dejected, his expression mirroring that of Babaji in the photo. He stumbled into the table as he walked over, causing a pained cry. The potted plant wobbled, and he quickly steadied it.
"A few leaves fell off", he said softly, sitting down. "So—uh—"
"Oh, Mr. Tonks", Felix put down the newspaper and said, "I just remembered something." As he spoke, he reached into the potted plant, and two fallen leaves transformed into two beautiful invitations.
"I'm planning a small launch party this weekend, more of a social event. If you're free, you could come and see."
Mr. Tonks took the invitations and muttered, "A launch party? That would be at Future World Corporation Headquarters, right? I think... well, there might be some issues, it might not be convenient." His voice trailed off as he began to read the description on the invitation.
After a moment, he looked up.
"Mr. Hep, I don't quite understand—'witness the birth of a new healing technique and discuss the causes of some diseases that plague wizards'..." He read a passage and then asked, "It sounds like a serious academic report."
"Sort of, I've invited several well-known potion-makers and healers, and even a few alchemists", Felix smiled. "But it's essentially a party. I don't expect them to understand my content in the short term. The launch will last a week, of course. You're invited to the first day's dinner, which is primarily for socializing."
“By the way, I overheard Tonks mention that you have some knowledge of Muggle medicine?”
“Ah, you’re talking about that,” Mr. Tonks said cheerfully. “My uncle is a surgeon, and when I was a kid, I used to visit his house often,” he said enthusiastically. “He had a study with all sorts of surgical models, which scared me quite a bit at the time…”
Felix listened with a smile and said, “That’s a coincidence. The new treatment method I mentioned might incorporate Muggle surgical concepts. What surprised me is that Wizards seem quite averse to cutting into their bodies.”
Mr. Tonks excitedly slapped his thigh.
“Ah, I’ve thought about that too! When I was in school, I always thought Madam Pomfrey could only handle minor injuries. It wasn’t until after I graduated and visited St. Mungo’s a few times that I realized Wizards don’t have this concept. Of course, I think it’s because magic is so convenient that they don’t need to…”
The Muggle-born Wizard looked as if he had found a common topic.
“Anatomy,” Felix said softly. “This discipline hasn’t been applied in the healing field because what bothers Muggles can usually be solved with a simple spell for Wizards… However, there are some applications in the field of potions. When they research new potion ingredients, they conduct detailed drawings and potion tests.”
“But would that really be useful?” Mr. Tonks asked curiously. “I mean, in terms of treatment? I’ve discussed this with some Wizards, and they think Muggle doctors are…”
“Madmen who cut people open,” Felix nodded. “Personally, I think it’s a matter of perspective. Given the differences between the two societies, the surgical knowledge that is crucial for Muggles might just serve as a supplementary means in Wizard treatment methods. But having it or not is a different story.”
“Like—”
“Dragon Pox, a disease that only spreads among Wizards and can be fatal. Early symptoms include green and purple rashes between the toes and sparks coming out of the nose when sneezing. If treated in time, it usually heals, though it may leave some unsightly scars or bruising.”
Mr. Tonks nodded, a bit confused.
“I remember a Minister of Magic died from Dragon Pox?”
“Edgar Diggory, he continued working while ill and eventually died in his office. This disease is more common among the elderly and is more insidious when contracted, making it more dangerous. Some healers believe Dragon Pox initially stems from the Peruvian Vipertooth dragon.”
Felix, well-prepared, said.
“The teeth of the Peruvian Vipertooth are highly toxic,” Mr. Tonks reminded him.
“Indeed, for most Wizards,” Felix explained. “So it could be diluted toxins, saliva, or parasites and pathogens on their bodies that have yet to be discovered… In any case, there’s no definitive conclusion yet.” He then changed the subject, “However, I once encountered a late-stage Dragon Pox patient at St. Mungo’s. Out of curiosity, I examined his condition and, unfortunately, he was beyond treatment. His body was swollen and bruised—of course, that was a minor issue. The real problem was that his magic had become a mess, undergoing some unknown mutation that rendered all existing treatment methods ineffective.”
“That person must have been in a lot of pain,” Mr. Tonks murmured.
“I suspect that late-stage Dragon Pox patients have many hidden wounds. In fact, their bodies might be riddled with internal damage,” Felix said slowly.
“Hidden wounds?”
“I found a similar case. The body structure of Magical Creatures is different from that of Wizards. Their magical abilities are more dependent on special patterns within their bodies, which are integrated with flesh and muscle, making them hard to detect. These patterns serve as channels for magic, or you could say… magic circuits. Therefore, Magical Creatures don’t need to learn casting like young wizards.”
“I see,” Mr. Tonks said, realizing the point.
“…But such a condition is undoubtedly harmful to Wizards. Some patterns are chaotic, leading to life-threatening situations, like Dragon Pox. Others form a strange coexistence with Wizards, affecting them but not fatally, like werewolves.”
Mr. Tonks took a deep breath.
A scream came from the doorway. It was Mrs. Tonks, and the teapot she was holding fell. Felix waved his hand, and the teapot landed softly on the seat.
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Heap,” Mrs. Tonks said, her tone somewhat unnatural. She had been listening for a while. She carefully walked over and put down the cups. “So, can the werewolf problem be cured?”
“Good question. I’ve identified and isolated the ‘diseased patterns’ affecting werewolves. Based on what I’ve said, there’s a significant chance of making a breakthrough. Of course, I’m not an expert in this field, which is why I’m hosting the party this weekend.”
“It sounds convincing, Mr. Heap. I can’t find any flaws,” Mrs. Tonks said after a moment, her tone flat. “But you can’t deny that it’s all just theory, a castle in the air… Even if the theory is correct, it could take years to become reality.”
Even as the conversation approached the crux of the matter, both parties were well aware, but neither mentioned the name.
"I agree, Mrs. Tonks."
Felix said with a somewhat cheerful tone, as if, in his view, everything was progressing smoothly.
"In the field of healing, especially in potions, I may not be able to contribute much or achieve groundbreaking results. But don't forget, I am an expert in Ancient Runes, and I always approach problems from that angle. Fortunately, we have made some progress... although it's extremely challenging and not suitable for widespread use, it can still be effective for one or two individuals, solving some tricky issues. Would you like to hear about it?"
Mrs. Tonks pursed her lips and, after a long pause, said coldly, "You are quite the persuader, Mr. Hep—I'm all ears."
Half an hour later, Felix, accompanied by Mr. Tonks, toured the rooms in the house.
"These are Dora's toys from when she was a child", Mr. Tonks pointed to a row of plush dolls on the shelf. "Originally, there were many humanoid dolls, but when we realized she was imitating the expressions of the dolls, we replaced them with creatures, mostly rabbits and teddy bears. But her taste still had some quirks; she clearly preferred violet or pink hair over her natural brown." He said with a hint of hurt.
Felix understood; Tonks' natural hair color clearly inherited traits from both parents—a balance between light brown and gold. However, she was clearly unsatisfied with it.
They walked to the garden in the courtyard.
Mr. Tonks dutifully introduced the various plants, "You've seen the pink ones, and here are the purple ones— we've planted quite a few violets, of all kinds. See that sunken area in the middle? It's not very pretty now, a bit ugly, but during the rainy season, it fills with water, and we plant water-loving plants like water hyacinths. Oh, purple again, I just realized..."
At that moment, there was a commotion from the house behind them.
"Someone's here", Mr. Tonks said, puzzled.
"Are they the Tonks family?" Felix asked.
"I don't think so, it's still early, and Dora won't be off work for over an hour... That's strange." Mr. Tonks said, heading toward the house. They could faintly hear voices.
Felix followed, his eyes narrowing, and he had a pretty good idea who the visitor was.
"Hello, Sirius", they heard Mrs. Tonks say somewhat irritably as they entered, "you didn't need to bring so many things, the living room can't hold them all."
They then heard a hearty laugh.
"Oh, come on, dear cousin. And Remus and I are so close, I can't believe he beat me to it..." Mr. Tonks suddenly slowed down, even tiptoeing, and he quietly opened a crack in the back door, making Sirius' overly enthusiastic voice clearer.
"... Cousin, talking about Remus, he's one of the few people I truly admire, both brave and kind, always putting others first. I swear, over the years, the number of people he's helped is beyond imagination, even when he was poor himself, well, I mean, he was, but now he's quite wealthy and could easily buy a house in Diagon Alley..."
Felix peered over Mr. Tonks' shoulder and saw Sirius smiling and talking, dressed formally in a well-tailored suit with a green handkerchief with silver thread in his breast pocket, embroidered with the Black family crest.
He looked like a best man.
But Felix wasn't sure if this attire was having the opposite effect or if it was Sirius' increasingly obvious hints. Because Mrs. Tonks' face was growing darker, her fingers gripping the soup spoon tightly, as if ready to raise it and strike her cousin at any moment.
Felix wanted to pretend he hadn't seen, to get back at Sirius for the betrayal, but considering the stability of 'Future World' Corporation in the coming decades, he cleared his throat.
Sirius stopped talking and turned around, surprised.
"Felix? What are you doing here so early?"
"What else", Mrs. Tonks said sternly, with a touch of sarcasm, "for the same reason as you."
...
When Tonks, looking nervous, and Lupin, with a tense expression, returned about an hour later, they were surprised to find that they were treated with a warmth that, while not enthusiastic, was certainly not cold. Even when Sirius brought up childhood memories, Mrs. Tonks' lips curved into a slight smile.
After dinner, they bid their farewells. Lupin walked out of the Tonks' house with a light step, his face a mix of disbelief and relief.
As they parted ways, Sirius patted his shoulder, and for a moment, Lupin seemed to understand something. His eyes welled up with tears. He hugged Sirius tightly, holding on for a long time before turning to Felix.
"Felix, this birthday is—"
"Work hard", Felix said, ruining the mood. Sirius rolled his eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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