https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-718-A-Congress-Destined-for-the-History-Books/13463085/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-720-The-Charter-of-the-Confederation-and-Alliance/13463096/
Chapter 719: Subtle Changes
Chapter 719: Subtle Changes
Malavater Lebert spoke at the Confederation Headquarters:
"… It is necessary to protect the traditions of wizards—well, I believe he means those worth preserving. Otherwise, wizards could easily be swept away like waves in the sea, losing their footing, and the resulting danger would be fatal… We can set up some buffer zones. And in the education of young wizards… and in the face of actions that infringe on the overall rights of wizards…"
Gradually, more than twenty African representatives joined the meeting, but few realized that they actually represented Grindelwald's ideas, or more accurately, some radical and intense notions. If left unchecked, these ideas would take root in some people's minds and grow stronger in practice.
At least Felix didn't have to worry that the Confederation would become stagnant after he stepped down.
…
As days passed, the weather gradually turned cooler. On a Saturday morning as they headed to Hogsmeade Village, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all chose to wear scarves to keep warm. They gathered in the common room and walked toward the school gates, chatting and laughing with their classmates.
"Is it really that cold?" Ginny asked in a surprised tone, standing next to Harry.
Several younger girls passed by them, chattering excitedly. Each one wore a pretty, light-colored cloak. Harry was willing to bet they were third-year students. That kind of excitement he had only seen on the faces of those going to Hogsmeade for the first time. Besides the well-bundled young wizards, there were some who dressed very simply, wearing only a light jacket. Harry suspected they had confused the seasons.
"Parvati rummaged through her trunk last night and realized she had left her temperature-stabilizing pendant box at home", Hermione explained, solving Harry's confusion. "So I advised her to dress warmly. The temperature difference has been quite significant lately, and many people catch colds around this time. Madam Pomfrey has prepared a batch of pick-me-up potions."
Ron immediately pulled his scarf tighter around his neck.
Harry hurriedly offered his scarf to Ginny, who smiled happily, her eyes crinkling. "You can use the warming charm, Harry", Hermione suggested. Harry did, and he noticed Ron giving him a scrutinizing look, followed by a snort.
"How thoughtful", Ron said sarcastically.
Perhaps due to the warming charm, Harry felt his face growing warm, like a poorly ventilated furnace. Ginny, however, boldly linked her arm with Harry's, saying, "Ignore that petty hypocrite. He's the one writing letters to girls."
Harry's eyes widened. Ron's face turned red as he defended himself, "She wrote to me first! She asked if I wanted to join her team after graduation—" He turned to Harry, "You know about this, right? We even laughed about how she wasn't doing well…"
"I think so", Harry slowly recalled, "but I remember her birthday was a while ago. I didn't expect you two to still be corresponding."
Now it was Ron's turn to feel uncomfortable.
Hermione asked curiously, "Who are you talking about?"
"Collins", Harry said briefly.
"Oh—" Hermione drew out the word, remembering that both had wanted to become Minister of Magic, "How is she doing?"
"Alright", Ron mumbled.
Upon arriving in Hogsmeade Village, their first impression was that there were more people on the streets, many of whom were unfamiliar faces. A map stood at the village entrance, and they gathered around it, noticing that two new streets had been added to the eastern and northern parts of the village.
Hogsmeade, one of the two pure wizarding villages in Britain, always inadvertently showcased the magic and diversity of the wizarding world. As they passed a noisy group of wizards, Harry swore he saw one with vampire fangs.
Suddenly, a snow-white owl with black speckles silently landed on Harry's shoulder. The owl gently pecked his ear, "Ouch—Hey, Hedwig?" Hedwig held out her leg, allowing Harry to take the note tied to it. He unfolded it and read it before turning to the others.
"Mr. Doge will be a bit late. He wants us to explore other places first", Harry said. He patted Hedwig's beak, "The dormitory window is open, and I've left some food for you." Hedwig flew away.
"Great", Ron said happily, "Let's go to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and the Future World Company Branch first. There might be new products, and we can try them out—"
"Sounds good, so where should we go first?" Ginny asked.
"It's been a while since we've seen Fred and George Weasley", Harry said. So they headed to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, but Fred and George were not there, only two busy shop assistants. Harry felt a bit disappointed; he had wanted to ask the twins if their Muggle government had approved their prank gift sets, though he seriously doubted they would be accepted.
They politely declined the shop assistant's help and began to browse around.
Fred and George Weasley’s shop was as captivating as ever, with multicolored lights and a cacophony of amusing sounds. From time to time, peculiar gadgets would pop out from shelves, corners, and even the ceiling, startling visitors. Harry repeatedly reminded himself not to overreact, but when a spider with bushy eyebrows and thick legs, which could spin silk, dangled from the ceiling, he couldn’t help but laugh.
He turned to show Ron, but his peripheral vision caught Hermione reading a small booklet and chatting with the assistant. She didn’t seem to be asking about the instructions for new prank products. Curious, he moved closer—along the way, a small jellyfish firework exploded in the crowd, instantly surrounding a little boy with a variety of colored jellyfish. Harry heard Hermione ask the assistant, “Can I take one of these?”
“Of course, it’s free from the Ministry of Magic,” the assistant replied.
“What do you have there?” Harry asked once the assistant left. Hermione pointed to a box on the floor, which was neatly stacked with booklets identical to the one in her hand. The box was labeled, “Travel Guide—Your Passport to the Muggle World. Provided by the Ministry of Magic.”
“Wow,” Harry said.
“It looks quite official, doesn’t it?” Hermione smiled. “I’ve only read a bit, but it suggests that Wizards should head to large cities where they might be more welcome. For example, London has recently seen many foreign tourists who are interested in magic.”
Ron and Ginny joined them, each carrying a pile of items.
“Hey, check this out!” Ron exclaimed, holding up two colorful bags. “Weasleys’ Deluxe Joke Gift Set, featuring our best-selling classic products since the shop opened, plus a free Dark Lord figurine. And there’s a Muggle-Special Snack Gift Set, a bit pricey, but worth it.”
“Unedited version—” Harry pointed to the printed text on the package. “What does that mean?”
“Oh, remember the product review at Sword Castle? Percy removed some names, thinking they might be harmful to Muggles, but—” Ron gave Harry a knowing look. Harry stared at the image of a boy being hanged, wondering which product it represented. Ginny poked him in the side, gesturing for him to look at what she was holding.
It was a translucent box, and through the packaging, he could see twelve small bottles. Several Wizards, both male and female, had dreamy, entranced expressions, and there were also fierce-looking trolls and goblins. “Is this some kind of contraband?” Harry asked, concerned. Ginny moved her thumb aside, revealing the product name: “Daydream Charm, Quidditch Exclusive Set.”
“Interesting,” Harry said dryly. “Now I understand why even goblins and trolls can sit on broomsticks.” The idea of playing Quidditch with goblins or trolls in a dream was quite appealing, so he asked the assistant for two boxes as well.
Next, they visited the Future World Company Branch. A large notice on the storefront window drew a crowd. Once the people in front of them left, the four of them moved closer.
“Recruiting Partners—Whether you’re a lost Wizard, a recent graduate with no connections, a werewolf, a vampire, or a siren… if you have a brilliant idea and real talent, you can apply for subsidies and support from a team of over three hundred professionals! Future World will help you realize your dreams…”
Harry whistled in admiration. “If I have a good idea, Future World Company can help me achieve it?”
“It’s not that simple,” Hermione pointed to the fine print. “First, your idea must be feasible, which requires professional evaluation—and it must be legal. Second, you must invest a significant amount of time, not just be clueless but stuck on a technical challenge… only then will Future World Company be willing to help.”
After wandering around for a while, they decided it was time to meet Mr. Doge and headed to the Three Broomsticks.
“I’m exhausted,” Ron announced. “We’ve walked the whole day.”
While waiting for Madam Rosmerta to bring their drinks, Harry looked around the room. He noticed more customers than last year, and there were two tables of rough-looking adult Wizards who clearly weren’t used to the frequent presence of students. They were speaking in gruff, hushed voices.
"I don't want those Muggles coming in. They've already taken up too much space. Now they're finally going after the last piece of land for Wizards, right?"
"This is the Ministry of Magic's decision, Dick", another man said, absentmindedly stroking the pattern on his glass, seemingly surprised by how clean it was. Harry thought he must have been drinking in a place like the Hog's Head before.
The first man swore.
"Unbelievable—", Ron said.
"Yeah, but I don't think everyone will be happy with the new policy", Harry turned around and saw that Ron was looking in another direction. He followed Ron's gaze and saw four Hogwarts students gathered together playing Wizard cards. Coincidentally, there was one student from each of the school's four houses.
"Eleanor Branstone", Ginny whispered, standing up to greet someone across the room before sitting down again.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"The one with the teddy bear hat. I think it's a club meeting", Ginny said. "Her club is quite famous. She gets a lot of unique recipes and secret sauces from somewhere. I think since Luna shared her family's recipes—"
Ron choked and started coughing.
"I was just thinking about checking out the next club meeting", he said, looking dejected. "Now I don't have much hope."
"Don't say that", Ginny scolded him, then in what Harry thought was an unnecessary guilty tone, she said, "Remember how Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans weren't popular at first? Look at their status now."
"Yeah, I can guess Luna's family recipes played a big role", Ron said sharply.
Madam Rosmerta brought their drinks, and Hermione put away her booklet, asking casually, "Hello, Madam Rosmerta, business has been good lately, hasn't it?"
"Alright", she said nonchalantly. "Didn't they just build a new Wizard town in Cornwall to accommodate foreign Wizards, called Rutherford?" Hermione nodded. "We got a few here, but not many. And some have moved here temporarily from Muggle communities."
She mentioned someone else.
"There's a witch named Carlot Pinks, do you know her?"
Hermione nodded again. "Yes, she advocates for the repeal of the Statute of Secrecy. I bet she's over the moon about it."
"She's been locked up again", Madam Rosmerta said with a stern face.
"What?" Harry exclaimed in disbelief. The others were also surprised. Madam Rosmerta explained, "The day after Wizards were fully exposed, she checked out of her room, happy as a clam, saying she was going to start a big project. During that time, the Ministry of Magic was asking everyone to stay hidden, but she was the only one showing off magic at a Muggle tourist site. She was taken away by Aurors within ten minutes... But now that the peace treaty has been signed, she'll probably be released soon. Maybe she already has been." She added.
Then Madam Rosmerta recommended some new dishes, but when Ron brought the Muggle-Special Snack Gift Set to the table, she turned to serve other customers. Harry and the others started trying the bizarre treats prepared by Fred and George Weasley.
"That woman brought it on herself", Ron said with a mouth full of food. "There are always people who want to stand out and be contrarian. You don't know how many extra shifts Dad had to work. I heard one Wizard cast a Rain Charm on their Muggle neighbor's house before moving out, flooding it to a depth of three feet..." He picked up a light yellow grape and popped it into his mouth. "Not bad, orange flavor—what are you laughing at?" His face had turned the same color as the grape.
Harry struggled to hold back his laughter, while Hermione and Ginny were doubled over on the table, shaking with laughter. Ron kept asking what was so funny, and after a while, he finally figured it out and forced Harry to eat a dusty, unappetizing Flavour-Changing Grape, which turned Harry's face bright red.
"Upgraded version, huh? Pretty interesting", Ron grumbled, pushing the remaining half of the grape bunch to the side.
Once everyone had calmed down and stopped laughing unexpectedly, Hermione waved her booklet. "So the Ministry of Magic is suggesting that Wizards living in Muggle communities behave better. It's joint enforcement now, and every case will affect the future", she said, then laughed, "I bet Carlot Pinks' name will appear in the new regulations..."
"And the one who turned his neighbor's house into a swimming pool will definitely be mentioned in the History of Magic textbook", Ginny said.
"I’m not as confident as you are. Getting Professor Binns to change his mind is no easy task", Harry said. They laughed again.
The door opened from the outside, and Aberforth Doge entered, looking travel-worn. Harry stood up and waved to him, waiting for Doge to sit down. When he did, they noticed he looked a bit tired, with sunken eyes and a scowl on his face.
"I’m really sorry, kids, I’m late", he said apologetically.
"What happened?" Harry asked, sensing his mood.
"Nothing", Doge replied immediately, but the four of them stared at him intently. He sighed, "Alright... I ran into a crazy woman on the way, and I argued with her for ages." He said this with evident irritation.
"About what?" Ginny asked.
"Some rumors and conspiracy theories. I’ve been gathering details for Dumbledore’s biography, and since Harry can’t leave school, I’ve been visiting people on the list...", he shook his head, a few strands of hair fluttering on his forehead.
The three of them stared at him blankly. He glanced at the guests a few tables away and lowered his voice, "You know, a lot has been changing in the wizarding world recently. Individually, the changes might not seem significant, but collectively, they make people uneasy... People with grievances naturally vent their frustrations, and the big names naturally become targets, even Dumbledore..."
"But Professor Hepp, Madam Bones, and the Ministry of Magic, along with the Order of the Phoenix, are doing everything they can to plan for all wizards—don’t those people realize that these measures could prevent hundreds or even thousands of conflicts in the future?" Harry said angrily.
"Clearly, they don’t", Doge replied calmly.
He added understandingly, "They only know that their lives have changed, and whether it’s for better or worse will take time to see. They are filled with fear about the future."
Harry and the others exchanged glances.
"But, Mr. Doge, we don’t hear such views at school or in the newspapers", Hermione asked, puzzled.
"Ah, I suppose it’s because your minds are still forming, while older wizards..." Doge said slowly, "Many wizards are still alive, but they might as well be dead. They come out of their houses once or twice a year, and their minds are outdated."
"That makes sense, like our Aunt Muriel", Ron said to Ginny.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"You don’t need to remind me. She warned me after Bill Weasley and Fleur’s wedding that if I want to borrow her headdress for my own wedding, I must follow the old traditions."
Harry caught his breath.
"How did you respond?" Ron asked.
Ginny waved her hand with a smile, "I told her not to bother, I plan to have the wedding in the sky and give each guest a broomstick..."
Ron looked at Harry with a strange expression and then gave a thumbs-up with a look of admiration, "Impressive! I can’t wait to see it."
Doge chuckled, "If that’s the case, you must remember to invite me; I’d like to see it too." He then noticed that the four of them were staring at him intently and felt a bit puzzled, "...Did I say something wrong? I’m over a hundred years old, but I still occasionally ride a broomstick around the yard..."
"Hmm, Mr. Doge?" Hermione said cautiously, "Did you just eat a grape from the table?"
"Oh, yes, I grabbed one... Why?"
The four of them quickly shook their heads guiltily. Hermione whispered, "Fifteen minutes." The other three immediately understood, realizing she was referring to the duration of the skin-color change caused by the flavor-changing grapes. "Mr. Doge, let’s talk about the biography", Harry said hastily, "I’ve written two more chapters, but I think some parts might be misunderstood..."
He gestured for Hermione to take out the manuscript from her beaded purse and tried not to look at his green, wrinkled face.
Doge took the thick parchment from Hermione and began reading. As he read, he said, "So I admire Mr. Heap; he’s a very forward-thinking person, especially regarding Dumbledore’s biography. The phrase is 'anticipate the enemy's moves.' At first, I was a bit skeptical..."
The rest of October was mostly rainy and cold, with the chill gradually setting in and enveloping the country for the next two weeks, bringing temperatures close to freezing. By the time Halloween approached, the air finally stopped being damp all day.
Compared to the public’s enthusiasm for magic in the cold weather, the governments of various countries were more concerned about the actions of the international wizarding organization, which was said to be as significant as the United Nations but with stronger enforcement powers. Just the Statute of Secrecy they enacted has been in effect for three hundred years, longer than the existence of most countries in the world.
On October 27th, the Confederation Headquarters finally showed some activity.
(End of Chapter)
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