Chapter 694: Grand Fireworks

Chapter 694: Grand Fireworks

The appointed time arrived amid great anticipation.

The area in front of the Palace of Westminster was packed with people. Anti-Wizard groups chose this day to hold a demonstration, with attendees from various counties around London and even from the North, who had traveled long distances. They hadn’t even had much to eat and immediately pulled out banners and leaflets from their suitcases to join the march.

But there were just too many people. The printed leaflets weren’t enough, and many people laughed and pushed forward to get them. Even the organizers’ pamphlets were distributed, and the crowd slowly moved forward, occasionally raising their heads to shout slogans.

“Who are all these people?” the organizer couldn’t understand.

His assistant went out for a round and returned to report.

“There are many foreigners and people from nearby counties. They have come to witness this significant historical event,” the assistant said hurriedly, seeing the organizer’s glare. “Of course, we also have many comrades. I saw the names of six or seven familiar organizations, all recently formed.”

He was telling the truth. Although the internet was available, its influence still couldn’t match that of print media, leading to the absence of a nationwide anti-Wizard organization. Instead, they were mostly county-based, with few spanning multiple regions. To spread their message, many organizations published their information in newspapers, complete with addresses and contact numbers.

What they didn’t know was that a few Wizards had also mixed into the crowd.

The march never lacked for people in odd costumes, which provided a safe environment for the Wizards to hide their identities. Some Wizards walked with the crowd for a while but quickly couldn’t take it anymore.

“There are so many people opposing Wizards,” Ernie Macmillan said, his face pale, his legs trembling, and cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, overwhelmed by the massive crowd.

“It’s even more than the New Year’s Day parade,” Justin Finch-Fletchley added, still shaken.

The sky was dark and gloomy, heavy with clouds. It had rained lightly in the morning, but by the afternoon, the clouds had only thickened. The sky above them seemed to have been spilt with ink, pitch black, and poised to unleash a torrential downpour. The distant, cold, grayish-white light was ominous.

More Wizards chose to stand on rooftops, having received news from the Wizarding Wireless Network and newspapers, waiting for the outcome. From their vantage point, the winding, colorful procession filled the streets, occasionally erupting into loud slogans, like the surging waves of the sea. The closer to the Thames, the more clearly one could see the focal point of these gatherings—the Palace of Westminster.

The corner in front of the Palace of Westminster was already filled with various interview vehicles. Renowned news media from across the country and even the world had gathered, eager to get the first-hand information. Whether in the Wizarding world or among Muggles, it was easy to conclude:

What was about to happen today was of great significance, marking the first formal contact between Wizards and Muggles, with far-reaching implications.

“There are police maintaining order on the scene. We can see that the Sun has dispatched several well-known journalists, including Rita Skeeter, who gained fame for her coverage of the gun control series—she previously won a national journalism award. During the riots two weeks ago, she had a brief conversation with a Wizard. We wonder if she will continue her luck today...”

A reporter shouted into the camera, his voice reaching thousands of homes in the next second.

In the heart of London, the Grangers sat on the couch, their hands tightly clasped together; Mr. Finchley’s coffee cup hung in the air, the coffee inside growing cold; in Surrey’s Privet Drive, Uncle Vernon grumbled as he turned on the TV, muttering familiar curses.

In Cornwall, Abery, Devon, the Isle of Wight, and Kent, hearts were tied to the events unfolding in front of the Palace of Westminster...

On a tall building across the Thames, two figures suddenly appeared. The sky was dark and windy, so no one noticed them. The two seemed to be cut from the same mold.

“So it’s you, George,” Fred said solemnly.

“Indeed, what a coincidence. How did you end up here?” George replied in sync.

“I guess it’s because we apparated together,” Fred grinned.

“Alright, you two!” Mrs. Weasley shouted, clearly agitated. Ginny and Penelope stood beside her. “I’m warning you, no trouble today. If you dare to drop candy—”

Fred and George Weasley exchanged a glance.

“Brilliant, Mom, why didn’t we think of that? We only brought the latest Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes—”

“—the shop should hire you as a consultant.”

“Shut up, both of you!” Mrs. Weasley roared, waving her wand like a burning stick. Fred and George Weasley shrank back in fear.

“Where are Bill Weasley and Fleur?” Fred looked around.

“—and Charlie,” George added.

“Yes, I can’t believe I forgot. His size is quite noticeable,” Fred said.

Mrs. Weasley’s eyes blazed with anger, but she forced herself to calm down. Below them were Muggles. She lowered her voice to scold, “Behave yourselves! Your father and Percy are working with the Ministry of Magic, Bill Weasley and Fleur are maintaining order in the crowd, and as for Charlie...” she paused, “his work is confidential.”

"More important than Harry and Ron?" Fred and George Weasley asked curiously.

"That's different", Mrs. Weasley said sternly. "They don't need to keep it a secret; it's already been published in the papers. There are fourteen children in total... They're so young, yet they have to shoulder the future of the wizarding world..." She wiped her eyes.

"Don't upset Mom!" Ginny raised her eyebrows. "She's been crying secretly a few times already."

"Don't worry, Professor Hep will protect them well", Penelope added. "And there are hidden wizards around them too."

"Right, I think at least one-tenth of the wizards are here. Diagon Alley is half empty", Fred said, looking around. He pointed in a direction. "I saw some acquaintances over there. It's the Diggory family. See? Cedric is waving at us!"

"Shall we go say hello?" George tilted his head.

"You read my mind", Fred grinned, and the two of them Apparated, holding hands. Mrs. Weasley puffed up like a bullfrog, her chest swelling. "Still causing trouble!"

Ginny's eyes sparkled; she also wanted to go out for a walk, but she was too late.

Before long, Fred and George Weasley returned, bringing news from the area.

"Cedric said he can't reach Cho. I told him that in half an hour, his girlfriend will descend from the sky—too bad we've already graduated, or we might have sneaked in—"

"Fred!"

"Alright, they're all fine, and their moods are stable—for now. Except the Perkins family's location clashed with Muggle law enforcers, so they had to move!"

"Is Old Perkins still hunched over?" Mrs. Weasley asked with concern.

"Mom, I thought you wouldn't ask that. He's been giving away camping gear everywhere for the past two years—oh, don't interrupt, Mom. We also saw the Lovegoods. They looked like two goldfinches. Oh, and did we cast the protective charm?"

"It's already done."

If the parade on the ground was a surging sea, the rooftops around it were the reefs, seemingly occupied by wizards and charmed to repel Muggles. Everyone was anxiously waiting.

The parade finally converged in front of the Palace of Westminster, waving flags and banners of various colors (and raincoats). Every now and then, a group would shout slogans like "Expel the wizards" or "Punish the lawbreakers." Among them were some peculiar characters: a small group of young people had painted their faces with mystical symbols, and two were wearing wizard hats and a banner that read "Welcome Wizard Rule of the World." However, they were outnumbered and their faces were swollen from being hit by angry passersby, looking dejected.

Many more people were sitting in front of their televisions, waiting for the moment to see the wizards.

The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is the largest Gothic building complex in the world, covering over 8 acres and containing more than a thousand rooms. It is the seat of the British Parliament. As a famous national landmark, it naturally serves other purposes as well, such as today's event.

A group of soldiers wearing bearskin caps, red velvet coats, and black trousers stood guard at the entrance. They had arrived an hour earlier with the Queen's carriage, and the Queen was escorted inside by the Prime Minister and several cabinet ministers, not to be seen again.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the chimes of Big Ben rang out, silencing the restless crowd and echoing across the nation via the radio. Everyone perked up; the moment had arrived.

The Queen and the Prime Minister emerged from the palace, followed by a group of cabinet ministers and Mps, along with their elegantly dressed wives and families. While everyone knew the real reason, officially, the Queen had simply invited the wizards to her afternoon tea party, and if things went well, there might be a bonfire in the evening.

"How is the science department preparing?" an MP asked a servant.

"They are still calibrating the equipment. They are very enthusiastic about observing magic up close for the first time and are confident they will gather useful data."

"I'm not as optimistic."

The gates slowly opened, and the Queen's guard stood even straighter. Everyone, including those watching on television, waited with bated breath, speculating on how the wizards would appear.

"Are the tomatoes and rotten eggs ready?" a group of people hiding under a large banner whispered.

"Ready, and no matter where they come from, they won't be able to avoid them", his companion said confidently.

"Don't forget, those monsters can fly."

"We have water guns filled with chili oil, and I heard someone brought a taser!"

"They deserve a taste of their own medicine! Give me a rotten egg—no, make it a tomato."

"Look up!" someone shouted.

Black and dark gray clouds churned, and then a section turned orange. Fiery columns burned through the thick clouds, forming a vibrant fan shape like a leaky faucet. The ground erupted in chaos and cries of alarm— "It's a dragon!" More people looked up, and a black, fearsome creature emerged from the clouds, covered in black scales, with bronze horns gleaming on its head and yellow eyes surveying the scene. Standing on its back were several people.

The appearance of the mythical creature struck fear into the hearts of the people below, and the microphones the reporters had raised somehow fell to the ground.

"Let's go down", Felix said calmly. "Remember, don't overreact. I'll neutralize any danger in advance. Charlie, once we're down, you can take the fire dragon away."

"Professor, can we skip the school song part?" Ron asked hopefully. "I can't find the tune." Draco Malfoy stiffly turned his head and glared at him, for the first time finding Ron's suggestion quite constructive.

"Very funny, Weasley", Felix said coolly, "but the answer is no."

With that, he jumped down.

Harry followed closely behind, then Ron, Hermione, Neville, Cho Chang, Susan Bones, Draco Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass... in total, fourteen students. They had spent a lot of time practicing to make their movements look more graceful while using the floating spell.

"One, two, three, four... fifteen wizards in total!"

Fifteen wizards descended from the sky, spotless. The crowd below was amazed. A thunderous roar echoed from the clouds they had come through, followed by a long tail covered in bronze spikes breaking through the clouds and swinging forcefully before disappearing.

Soft sunlight cast a beam of light on the empty ground in front of the Palace of Westminster, illuminating Felix and the others' faces. Everyone stared at them in awe. The clouds gathered again, blocking the sunlight, but the scene was unforgettable.

The Prime Minister was the first to recover.

He knew part of the wizards' plan. Even if he didn't, he and his advisors could have deduced that the wizards might use this opportunity to showcase their power—this suited his plans, and he had arranged for scientists and military personnel to observe nearby.

The absence of war did not mean the absence of competition. On the contrary, this struggle would be more hidden and more comprehensive. Today was just the beginning; the real negotiations would be intense, and even after a resolution was reached, they planned to use laws and regulations to confine the wizards.

The Prime Minister strode over and shook hands warmly with Felix, who was standing at the front of the group.

Felix was a beat slower. Another part of him was in the Mind Chamber, gathering, summarizing, and processing information from a dozen miles around. He also used a weak emotional magic to amplify the feelings of some people, who were now preoccupied with the fearsome creature overhead, worrying that interrupting the process might result in a fireball or a claw grabbing them.

"Welcome", the Prime Minister said warmly, shaking hands for a long time to give the photographers ample time. Then they slowly walked toward the entrance, where the Queen stood quietly, smiling gracefully.

Reporters, with their keen senses and higher psychological resilience, eagerly moved to the front, extending countless microphones along the path. A barrage of questions was thrown at them:

"What mission have you come on?"

"The newspaper says you're the wizards' teacher, but you look very young. Is the average age of wizards lower than that of ordinary people?"

"If the negotiations fail, will the wizards go to war with the government?"

"Do you really have magic? You're not just frauds, are you? Are you willing to undergo rigorous testing?"

"Today, the weather across the UK is overcast. Does this suggest the negotiations won't go smoothly?"

Felix glanced at Rita Skeeter. I only told you to mention London, what are you doing talking about the whole country? He ignored her and continued walking. The students held their heads high, following behind in the practiced manner, though they were struggling to maintain their composure.

"These questions are ridiculous—"

"Shut up", Harry muttered through gritted teeth, pretending to cough as he led the way under the flash of camera shutters.

Felix stood before the Queen, whose smile grew even more warm and graceful. She extended her gloved hand. Felix bowed slightly, then quickly straightened up and turned to face the crowd. His loud voice carried across several blocks:

"Thank you for the Queen's gracious invitation. We have prepared a gift, but there is one that is more fitting at this moment." He raised his wand, and those around him took a collective step back. The Prime Minister's eyes widened, and the expressions of the Mps behind him varied.

"Hogwarts students—"

The fourteen students raised their wands in unison, their expressions solemn and dignified.

A beam of milky-white light shot up into the sky, its radiance pure and holy. People seemed to see an elegant figure with outstretched wings in the light beam, its head held high as it soared straight up into the clouds.

Fourteen thin beams of light also rose over the heads of the crowd, converging high above. The sky seemed to have a new sun, which emitted a gentle glow, illuminating the entire ground.

A layer of light seemed to envelop their heads, and it was rapidly expanding.

In a secret room of the Palace of Westminster—

"Have you detected it?"

"… Not yet, all the instruments suddenly malfunctioned!"

"Damn, what kind of magic is this? Why is its range so large, covering at least a dozen blocks? Oh God, will it spread to the entire city?"

"General, this magic doesn't seem to be harmful right now."

"Call me Mr. MP—do I need to tell you that? Of course, they won't kill in broad daylight, but what if they decide to do so one day? Hurry, measure the range of this magic—forget the broken instruments, use your eyes!" The MP said excitedly, rushing to the window and peering through a telescope. Under the effect of the unknown magic, the black clouds were pierced and dispersed, as if the sky had been torn open, revealing patches of deep blue.

The sun found a chance to shine through, the mist in the clouds refracting the magical white light into a spectrum of colors. Raindrops gathered and fell, each drop seemingly transforming into a rain of light, casting countless rays of dawn. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful.

Fred and George Weasley stared in amazement.

Fred quietly swallowed, "Our fireworks can't even compare." George didn’t say anything, just nodded. Ginny was completely engrossed in the young wizard with black hair on the open ground. The light beam from his wand tip was the brightest among all the students, almost rivaling Professor Hep. Her pride was almost overflowing.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of another building, Luna suddenly widened her eyes.

"It’s happening now."

"What?" Mr. Lovegood looked at his daughter in surprise.

"A grand fireworks display. The scene I saw in my fire divination is happening right now", Luna said earnestly. She wore a bright dress, adorned with small stones and colorful sequins in her hair, dressed in her finest. She was perhaps the most confident of them all.

Now, she clasped her hands together, and Ancient Runes rapidly converged, forming a crystal-clear light sphere in the blink of an eye.

"Luna—" Mr. Lovegood said nervously.

"It can’t be wrong", Luna said, "I’ve been waiting for this moment." She raised her hands devoutly.

The light sphere floated into the air, precisely transforming under the control of magic into a beam identical to the one below, merging seamlessly with the light curtain in the sky.

The light curtain expanded slightly faster. Many people turned their attention, and Mrs. Weasley gasped, about to faint.

"Guess what we’re seeing?" Fred said excitedly, "This is far more spectacular than fireworks." He and George raised their wands, white light gathering at their tips.

Not far away, Cedric smiled and raised his wand high.

More people joined in, wizards hidden throughout London and students on holiday lighting their wands... It was as if they had received an invitation to a grand celebration, and they seemed eager to participate. Beams of light instantly illuminated the entire city.

Fine rain fell like a woven fabric, and fireworks enveloped the entire city.

The sacred light beams pierced through the clouds, crossing the city’s boundaries, covering most of the London suburbs.

The Wizarding Wireless Network mysteriously paused for several seconds, and the wizards gathered around their radios looked at each other in confusion. They didn’t understand why the sound had suddenly stopped. The young man had been quite talkative before. Suddenly, Lee Jordan’s voice, filled with excitement, came through the radio.

"Unbelievable! All wizards—though I’m not sure if I should say this—if you can cast Lumos, then step out of your rooms and join this great relay! For everyone!"

Many wizards, skeptical but hopeful, walked out of their houses with their radios.

The wizards living in the outskirts of London were the first to witness the grandeur. They widened their eyes as the massive white light surged, like an ocean wave shattering the dark clouds above, followed by a gentle, multi-colored glow that illuminated the ground and bathed their faces. Without a word, they raised their wands, magic flowing into them like a tide.

Thanks to the magic’s effectiveness against dark creatures, thanks to Future World Inc., the Ministry of Magic, and the Anti-Dark Magic Alliance’s relentless promotion during the war, thanks to Lumos being the simplest form of Ancient Magic, and thanks to Lumos being able to merge...

This might be the most widely cast spell in history.

Centered in London, it spread beyond the suburbs, quickly reaching neighboring Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, and Essex, where new wizards joined in, expanding the range. In just a few minutes, even the Scottish Highlands were illuminated.

At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Professor Mcgonagall looked up, the bright light shining into the Headmaster's Office through the window. The wrinkles on her face relaxed as she gazed at Dumbledore’s portrait on the wall, which also showed a look of joy and amazement.

"He did well, didn’t he?" Professor Mcgonagall said gently.

Dumbledore nodded with a smile.

Felix, far in London, was unaware of all this. His Mind Chamber couldn’t project so far.

His initial plan was to ‘light up’ all of London. He had intended to summon the thunderbirds to gather the clouds, but the weather forecast said it would be overcast for the next few days, so he didn’t need to do that.

Although things didn’t go exactly as he planned, there were strange but positive changes.

Felix put away his wand and faced the stunned crowd, speaking clearly and accurately:

"This is the gift that wizards are giving to the queen and the entire non-magical world. I believe that as long as both sides work together sincerely, we can not only dispel the dark clouds above us but also the shadows in our hearts."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end