Chapter 692: Inheritance
Chapter 692: Inheritance
In the morning, the Prime Minister gave a speech in front of 10 Downing Street.
"... The Wizard community truly exists. They once publicly participated in court activities and their legends are still passed down in many places. However, during the 15th to 17th centuries, Britain and the world underwent tremendous changes. The medieval era, with its thousand-year history, came to an end, and the old order was destroyed while the new order had yet to be established. Our society underwent significant transformations in various aspects. At the same time, the conflicts between Wizards and ordinary people intensified, leading to some extremely serious incidents. These events were indeed scars left behind as we transitioned from thorns to civilization."
"Afterward, Wizards chose to conceal their identities, cut off ties with the public, and established laws to ensure this measure was implemented. They called it the Secrecy Law."
"Last week, the hidden Wizard society was unexpectedly exposed to the public. Everyone is now facing a significant choice, perhaps the most important in recent years. The two societies have been separated for so long that they are deeply unfamiliar with each other. The Cabinet has held multiple meetings, with all members of Parliament in attendance, including Her Majesty the Queen, who rarely attends such events. We have reached a consensus: to cautiously engage in dialogue."
"I am hereby issuing a public invitation, hoping that the Wizards will send a delegation. I believe that communication is the first step in resolving disputes..."
After finishing his speech, the Prime Minister looked around, waiting for questions from the journalists.
"Mr. Prime Minister, do you mean that last week's terrorist activities were accidental?" a journalist asked sharply. "According to various statistics, although there were no casualties, the nationwide traffic congestion, city shutdowns, and the destruction of some municipal public facilities have caused significant property damage. Not to mention, many people were hospitalized due to shock."
"Ah... we must acknowledge that Wizards, like us, can be both good and bad. The difference is that they possess magic, which greatly varies their individual combat capabilities. The panic we experienced was caused by an extremely evil and powerful Dark Wizard and his followers. You should know his name: Grindelwald... He was ambitious, longing to rule the world as early as six or seven decades ago."
"But he was eventually imprisoned, locked away for half a century, until he escaped from the Wizard prison recently and orchestrated this incident", the Prime Minister said cautiously. "He hopes to create division in our society so he can rise again and spread the war to every inch of land. In such a scenario, Britain will not be spared, nor will the world... Given this terrifying future, we must remain clear-headed and rational, avoiding falling into his trap."
Another journalist asked, "Has the government always kept the existence of Wizards secret from the public? What prompted you to keep this secret? Don't you think it's a violation of the public's right to know?"
The Prime Minister did not answer directly but changed the angle of his response.
"I believe that successive Prime Ministers have unanimously kept the secret not only because of national security concerns but also to prevent societal panic. Wizards have been hiding their identities for centuries, and their image differs greatly from what we imagine... They have established a government similar to ours, forming various organizations such as schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies. They even have an organization akin to the United Nations—Wizards are also progressing and developing."
The press conference concluded, and the Prime Minister turned to walk back into 10 Downing Street.
"Thank you for everything, Mr. Prime Minister", Kingsley Shacklebolt, his assistant, said politely.
The Prime Minister stopped in his tracks.
"You don't understand. Prepare to face a tidal wave of public opinion."
Kingsley Shacklebolt was taken aback, but the Prime Minister returned to his office without a word, standing by the window and looking out at the journalists and citizens who had not yet dispersed. He had a premonition that everyone would be swept into a larger wave of public opinion, and his speech today was the catalyst.
But he had no choice.
Whether for the sake of national interests or his own political future, promoting negotiations was the best approach. Even the opposition party did not overly pressure him during this event. When he presented the Wizard-related documents, members of Parliament from different parties and with different political views mostly voted in favor.
Not all of them were genuinely supportive, but no one wanted to clean up the mess at this moment.
If the current Prime Minister were ousted on the grounds of opposing Wizards, the only path left would be a hardline stance: fully integrating Wizards into government control, even at the cost of war.
But this approach was actually more dangerous than negotiations. While negotiations might violate some public sentiments and be a risky tightrope walk, opposing Wizards and forcing them to resist would be like setting off fireworks on a powder keg.
The opposition could gain public support through incitement and extreme slogans, but when war truly erupted, and loved ones, property, and stable lives were destroyed, those same people who once supported these politicians would hate them just as much.
The Prime Minister's intelligence confirmed his suspicions: negotiate, probe the limits during negotiations, and continuously gain advantages.
But the world is never short of opportunists.
Before long, Felix received the news.
"Only an invitation? The details haven't been finalized?" he asked, somewhat surprised.
"The details are set, but the Prime Minister doesn't want to appear too familiar in public", Madam Bones said. "The meeting is scheduled for a week from now, at 3 PM, at the Parliament Building."
Felix blinked.
"Parliament Building? Not Buckingham Palace?"
"The Prime Minister initially hoped to meet at Buckingham Palace, but the Queen carefully considered it and refused."
Felix smiled. "Hmm? Perhaps she didn’t want to show any obvious personal bias, to avoid upsetting certain extremists... The Parliament Building is fine too, with many rooms..." He suddenly stopped speaking.
"What’s wrong?"
"Something just came to mind." Felix's smile faded, and he spoke seriously. He remembered the prophecy Dumbledore had shown him—the grand anti-Wizard protest. In the vision, Rita Skeeter was present, and the most prominent landmark was the Parliament Building in the background.
It seemed events were indeed moving toward what Grindelwald had seen.
Over the past week, there had been anti-Wizard protests in various places, but they were relatively small. On one hand, the issue had only been discussed in newspapers, with no official government stance. On the other hand, the Ministry of Magic had adopted a defensive strategy, making it difficult for Muggles to find a target for their protests.
The most critical point was that 'Wizard' was a new concept, and opponents needed time to organize.
But now, they finally had a perfect opportunity—time, next week; location, Parliament Building; participants, the Wizard delegation.
Everything seemed so inevitable.
Not long after Madam Bones left, Hermione approached with a list.
"Currently, over thirty people have signed up." She handed the parchment to Felix and said earnestly, "Since we’re here, it means we’re willing to contribute to peace. However, many are worried about their performance and have some suitable candidates in mind..."
"I bet they’ve nominated you, haven’t they, Hermione Granger?"
Hermione rolled her eyes.
Felix stared at the list, lost in thought. "I do need to consider this carefully." Since the upcoming event might be related to the prophecy, he needed to be cautious. The chosen individuals should at least have strong mental fortitude.
The students had finished sorting the newspapers for the day, and it was nearly noon. Some students used the school's Floo network to return home, while others stayed to discuss the day's news. They were mostly sixth and seventh-year students, either adults or close to adulthood, and their mannerisms and attire reflected their maturity.
Since it was summer, the students weren’t wearing their school uniforms. The ongoing collaboration and shared sense of purpose had united them, erasing any divisions.
The professors who remained at the school observed these changes with joy. If not for the current circumstances, they might have celebrated with a few feasts. Professor Slughorn had definitely considered it.
As Felix crossed the entrance hall, he saw Snape. He was standing by the stairs leading down, seemingly waiting for some time.
"Is there something you need, Severus?"
Snape looked up at Felix and asked in a neutral tone, "Has the time been set?"
"Next week", Felix said with a playful grin. "Isn’t it exciting?"
Snape wouldn’t answer such a question. He continued, "You plan to bring a group of students to negotiate with the Muggle government?"
"It’s not a negotiation, more like a parade before a big Quidditch match", Felix mused aloud, explaining his thoughts. "Young faces can help distinguish us from Grindelwald’s followers, and... I’m considering how to subtly showcase some of our strength. Negotiations are about showing sincerity and power, but the approach is crucial. We can’t seem too aggressive. Do you have any ideas?"
"That’s your problem", Snape said coldly, turning and letting his robe billow behind him. "Follow me."
Felix was a bit puzzled but followed Snape to his office. The door opened, and Snape slipped inside. Felix pushed the door and stepped in, wondering about Snape’s intentions. Had some potion made a breakthrough?
Since he demonstrated several magical lesions, including werewolf and dragon pox, at Swordhold, many potion masters and healers had chosen to stay nearby to conduct research, sharing their insights occasionally. Snape had visited a few times.
The Potions Professor’s office was as dimly lit as ever. Felix’s gaze swept over the glass specimen jars lining the walls before settling on Snape, who was facing away, blending into the darkness.
Snape’s body was trembling slightly, one hand gripping the table, as if he was struggling to control his emotions, like a patient snake. Felix sensed the strange atmosphere and didn’t prompt him, waiting quietly.
Finally, Snape turned to face him, his eyes calm.
"Disarm me, Felix."
(End of Chapter)
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