Chapter 703: Negotiation Progress
Chapter 703: Negotiation Progress
A House-elf?
Harry's heart skipped a beat as he recalled Hermione's words at Gringotts. In the future, the House-elves at Hogwarts had unanimously agreed to join the Pan-Magical Alliance. The next step was for the Ministry of Magic to gradually free the House-elves from ancient families, particularly those who were being mistreated...
The House-elves in the future world company were in remarkably good spirits. This might have been due to their cheerful faces or the fact that their clothing was more aesthetically pleasing—instead of just wearing pillowcases, they had distinct tops, pants, and even whimsical accessories. This was a significant improvement over Hogwarts, and Harry suddenly understood Hermione's long-standing dedication.
He looked up at the lively little beings on the second floor, trying to identify a familiar face. It wasn't easy; he scanned the crowd twice without spotting Dobby. Just as he was starting to feel puzzled, he felt a hand tugging at his pants.
Harry looked down.
"Dobby?"
"Harry Potter, sir! Hello!" A House-elf with large, round eyes looked up at him, dressed somewhat like Professor Flitwick at school. It was Dobby, Harry's familiar friend, whose eyes shimmered with tears of joy at their reunion.
Harry had a bad feeling. Dobby took two steps back and then lunged into his arms, wrapping his long, thin arms tightly around him. His long nose poked Harry's stomach painfully. Harry struggled to break free. "You're well, Dobby", he said, breathless.
Dobby stepped back, smiling broadly as he examined Harry.
"Harry Potter, sir!"
Harry looked Dobby over. He seemed in good spirits, and his clothing reflected unique personal touches. For example, the maroon sweater he wore under his coat, which seemed to be a Christmas gift from Ron in some past year. Over the sweater, he had a tie with a green circle embroidered on it, featuring two black dots. Harry guessed it was Dobby's handiwork, though he wasn't sure what it symbolized. Dobby's feet were covered in mismatched thick socks, which made no sound as he walked.
"Harry Potter, sir, please follow me."
The House-elf grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him through the crowd, up a large, spiraling staircase.
"Wait, Dobby, I'm not alone. I have some friends with me—Ron, Neville, Hermione—"
Harry turned to look back and saw that Ron was being accosted by his twin brothers. Neville was with Mr. Ollivander, who seemed to be examining his wand. Hermione had vanished, though she had been there just a moment ago.
"Dobby knows. Dobby called Hermione Granger away. Dobby has something to give to Harry Potter, sir!"
"You called Hermione away?" Harry said, surprised.
"Yes, Dobby followed Mr. Lupin's advice. Dobby is willing to help." The House-elf led them to the second floor. "Dobby has prepared a gift for Harry Potter, sir—"
"Oh, um, thank you, Dobby." Harry was taken aback, realizing that his seventeenth birthday was just a few days away. The month had flown by. But he then remembered that Bill Weasley and Fleur's wedding was also scheduled for the same period, though he wasn't sure if it would proceed as planned. And why had Lupin called Hermione?
Harry's mind raced with various thoughts, but all his questions were put on hold when he saw a House-elf wearing a pink pillowcase with lace. "Dobby, is that Winky?" He recognized Winky's large brown eyes and her squashed tomato-like nose, a feature he remembered vividly.
"It's Winky", Dobby said. They continued along the banister, and Harry could see the back of people's heads in the Great Hall below.
"But she's still wearing a pillowcase. Why? Isn't she free?"
Dobby's pace slowed. "Winky can't forget Mr. Crouch. She's been counting the days, saving money as she counts. Three years, two years, now only half a year remains."
So Barty Crouch had only half a year left in prison, Harry thought.
They passed through several doors, each flanked by ten-foot-tall magical automatons. These puppets had proven useful during the Death Eaters' assault, and the Ministry of Magic had placed them in the main hall and important corridors. They stopped at a door that was unique in having two handles, one of which was unusually low.
Harry's confusion was resolved when he saw Dobby effortlessly turn the handle.
Inside was a vast, circular space. Harry quickly noticed that it was divided into several areas, including rows of small benches for work and a resting area for the House-elves. All the furniture was miniature, making Harry feel unusually tall.
He instinctively turned his head, catching a glimpse of Hermione's figure as she passed by on the fifth floor.
...
"Professor, you're here too?" Hermione was surprised to see Felix when she closed the door to the room. Dobby had only told her that Lupin was looking for her, not mentioning anyone else. While theoretically, Swordhold was Professor Hup's property, she hadn't expected to see the professor here.
Sometimes Hermione had a clear feeling that if the professor ever resigned from the school, he might hide in some place where no one could find him (like the moon) to study magic, only remembering he had friends after three or five years and then popping out to visit. But the professor wasn't actually good at socializing; many of his reactions were premeditated, ready to be used in different situations. Only the closest people could discover this secret. Moreover, the professor wasn't a particularly warm person, and there were few things that could move him, which gave him a calm and composed demeanor.
Felix, of course, had no idea what Hermione was thinking. He nodded at her, gesturing for her to come over. In the spacious office, there were others, and Hermione looked at each of them in turn: Lupin, Snape, and—
"Professor Slughorn?"
Hermione's voice rose slightly as she looked at the short, plump old wizard curled up on the sofa, his round body encased in a beautifully elaborate robe, his walrus-like mustache twitching. He was none other than Professor Slughorn, the Potions professor at Hogwarts.
"Come over, Hermione Granger, we were just discussing the simplification of potions", Slughorn said warmly. Hermione found a seat, and he continued, "Felix mentioned that you have similar experience, having united students from all four houses last year, right? For the O.W.Ls exam..."
"That's a different matter from what we're discussing here", Snape said coldly. He hadn't forgotten that the simplified formulas originated from a textbook he had once used, the content of which was essentially a shortcut. He had been proud of it in his youth but later abandoned these methods because they didn't contribute to the advancement of potion-making.
"You're right, Severus", Slughorn said absentmindedly, "but I believe the ingenuity and leadership shown in that effort are worth acknowledging... of course, what we're discussing is more challenging. My suggestion is to start with the simpler parts; they're all in the textbooks!"
Hermione listened for a while, realizing they were talking about how to make potions accessible to ordinary people. Snape had warned in class not to try giving potions to Muggles, as you couldn't be sure which potions required the wizard's own magic to work, and there were no potion masters who had compiled such data.
Snape and Slughorn chatted casually, mentioning many potion theories not found in textbooks. Hermione understood some of it but wished they would slow down so she could take notes. Just then, she heard a soft laugh.
Hermione looked at Felix blankly.
Felix lowered his head, the corner of his mouth curling slightly. He cleared his throat and pulled out a silver pocket watch, saying in a normal tone, "If you don't plan to specialize in potions, it's not necessary to listen. I've summarized a Spell-Potion Comparison Chart; the effects are similar... I called you here today for another matter, to get your opinion. Oh, I recommended you, thinking you'd be suitable..."
Before Hermione could respond, Snape suddenly looked at Felix and said sarcastically, "The subtlety of potions lies in the minute differences. Those who abandon this subject early can never appreciate its intricacies and the beauty that can captivate the soul."
Hermione blinked. Was he saying Professor Hup didn't understand potions? She looked at Professor Slughorn.
While Slughorn wasn't as direct as Snape, he also conveyed the same sentiment subtly. Hermione's well-honed summarizing skills kicked in again, distilling their message: don't listen to amateurs.
Felix rolled his eyes, snapped open the watch, and out popped Valen, who dodged the Dark Lord's hand and ran to Hermione, gesturing wildly. Hermione's heart stirred—golden card? She looked at Felix, who turned his head away stiffly.
At that moment, the door opened, and Madam Bones and Mr. Weasley walked in, both looking exhausted.
"You look tired. The negotiations didn't go well?" Lupin asked gently.
Mr. Weasley took off his glasses, lowered his head, and wiped the lenses with the edge of his shirt. He was a bit balding, which made one worry that in a few years, he might have a hairline like Slughorn's. Mr. Weasley muttered, "Tough. The Muggle Prime Minister brought in a bunch of legal experts who nitpicked every word. In short, we made little progress this morning."
"We're at a disadvantage in numbers", Lupin said. "This limits our development in many areas, such as law. Of course, it doesn't have to be identical. I've always believed that the purpose of law is to articulate our expectations for society within the bounds of limited text." He paused, then continued, "Do we have a plan to deal with this situation?"
"Of course." Madam Bones managed a smile, casting an admiring glance at Felix. "Because of the Pan-Magical Alliance, they have no excuse to command the Wizards, but they want to restrict Wizard freedom through cumbersome laws. We proposed the concept of joint law enforcement and external liaison, catching them off guard. Negotiations will continue tomorrow."
According to Felix and her ideas, the Wizards won't fully lift restrictions for a long time. They will manage their own affairs, only collaborating when their paths cross. This won't be pre-planned but will develop on a case-by-case basis, gradually forming regulations.
Joint law enforcement will address emergencies, but they also need a stable communication channel. Two options are on the table: one is a shop selling Wizard-specific items, and the other is a designated location where both sides can freely interact within a certain range, including cooperation in technology and magic, as well as allowing Muggles to experience magic.
They chatted for a while, and Madam Bones brought up the main topic. "Law will be the focus of the next negotiations, determining the balance of power between both sides. I expect it won't be easy to reach an agreement. This morning, trade issues were mentioned. If there's no progress tomorrow, I plan to discuss this aspect first."
"Showing them the potential benefits of magic will help secure better outcomes", Felix nodded in agreement, then asked, "Has Babaji Ajibade been in touch with you?"
Madam Bones sighed. "No, he just sends a representative daily to request the day's negotiation records. To be fair, he's a capable person, but he's facing a completely unfamiliar field and is responsible to dozens of Ministries of Magic. He can't and dare not make hasty decisions."
She shook her head. Without help from others, she would be equally helpless in his position.
"You hit the nail on the head", Lupin pointed out sharply. "He's confused and fears making mistakes, so opportunities are being delayed."
"Find a suitable opportunity to invite him to meet", Felix suggested.
"A suitable opportunity?" Madam Bones thought for a moment, as if an idea struck her. "I'll arrange it. There are two more things. First—" She looked at Snape and Slughorn. "—related to potions. First, potions, then medical applications. Magic still has a significant advantage in this area."
"I need help", Snape said calmly. "A lot of help."
"Of course", Madam Bones nodded. "A group of potion masters is temporarily residing in Diagon Alley. I'll invite them on behalf of the Ministry of Magic. Professor Slughorn, I know you're getting on in years and deserve a peaceful life, but we need your strength now. Even just advice would be valuable."
"Oh, certainly, no problem", Slughorn said. "I've been retired for decades and found that the school suits me best. I'll stay at Hogwarts, but if the students have no interest in learning, I'll have nothing to do."
He mused, "Dumbledore reminded me of this... in his final days... He said the school is the safest place and the best place to retire. If even the school loses its peace, other places will fare even worse."
Everyone in the room fell silent, as if suddenly remembering something troubling. If there was one common thread among them, it was that Dumbledore had spoken to each of them in the past few months, for various reasons.
"The second thing is..." After a moment of silence, Madam Bones adjusted her monocle and continued.
...
"Accept a television interview?" Ron looked at Hermione, as if she were suggesting something outlandish.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"It's a way to build trust between both sides. You know, the Ministry of Magic is selecting some non-magical people to visit Wizard society. The principle is the same", Hermione explained. "I'm not the only one; Mr. Weasley and Professor Slughorn are also on the list."
"My dad is going on TV?" Ron said excitedly. "He didn't tell us at home, but then again, he's been really busy lately."
"So I need to prepare. There's not much time left", Hermione said hurriedly. "I need to go to the Library to research—"
"The Library won't have what you need", Harry reminded her.
"Why wouldn't it? Wizard history, Wizard culture... it must be there", Hermione rolled up her sleeves, ready to dive into the task.
(End of Chapter)
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