Chapter 937: North American Congress of Magic
Chapter 937: North American Congress of Magic
On the morning of November 18th, Ivan quickly packed his bags and left Hogwarts through the fireplace, heading to the agreed-upon location.
Upon arrival, Ivan didn’t see Pierce, but Percy, Delius, and the group of Aurors responsible for guardianship were already there.
"Where's Minister of Magic Pierce? Why hasn’t he arrived yet?" Ivan asked, puzzled.
Delius was about to respond, but Percy Weasley beat him to it, speaking in an official tone. "Minister of Magic has important confidential matters to handle. That’s not something you need to know."
Ivan glanced at Percy Weasley but didn’t say much, joining the others in waiting.
Delius and the others seemed somewhat uneasy, their gazes toward Percy Weasley not particularly friendly.
About a minute later, Ivan suddenly turned his head to the right. With a soft popping sound, Pierce appeared there.
"I’m very sorry, Lord Hals. I’m late. I had to retrieve something important, and it turned out to be more troublesome than expected, so it took some time", Pierce said, walking forward with a look of apology.
"Is it that thing?" Ivan thought of the Key Cornell had mentioned and asked.
"Um… yes!" Pierce replied vaguely, glancing at Percy, Delius, and the others without offering any further explanation.
Ivan nodded, though he was curious. Seeing Pierce’s cautious attitude, he decided not to press the matter further and wait until they were alone.
"Since we’re all here and there’s nothing else, let’s head out now", Ivan suggested.
Pierce had no objections, adjusted his hat, and called for Delius and the others to follow. They would be using a special Portkey to travel directly to New York in North America.
On the way, Ivan and Pierce discussed the recent situation in the British Wizarding World.
Despite the chaos on the European continent, the British Isles were relatively peaceful. Grindelwald, whether out of fear or preoccupation with other matters, had not yet extended his influence to Britain.
However, the Ministry of Magic and the Aurors had discovered that some wizards were interested in Grindelwald’s ideology, though they weren’t his followers and hadn’t committed any crimes. Pierce was struggling with how to handle these individuals.
Should he eliminate the threat at its root to prevent future issues, or should he monitor them and arrest them if they cause problems?
The former was a one-time solution but too brutal, while the latter required a significant amount of resources.
Ivan pondered for a moment and then suggested that Pierce could tackle the issue through propaganda. For example, he could have someone pretend to be a Death Eater and create incidents that would make them universally despised, thus helping Muggle-born wizards see Grindelwald’s true, cruel nature.
"Really? That’s a new idea", Pierce’s eyes lit up, impressed by Ivan’s cunning, or rather, his wisdom, which always came up with useful, albeit unconventional, ideas.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Sometimes, using certain tactics to achieve a just end is not unjust", Ivan shrugged, feeling a bit reflective.
Perhaps because of the smaller population, Wizards are generally more straightforward compared to Muggles. These underhanded tactics are all too common in Muggle political struggles.
Ivan, though equally disapproving of such unsavory tricks, knew that if the enemy used them and he didn't, it could lead to significant losses!
Percy, standing a short distance behind, watched with envy as Ivan chatted amicably with Pierce, the Minister of Magic. Ivan was Britain's most talented Wizard in history, with a bright future ahead, naturally earning Pierce's favor. Percy had no complaints about this.
What really irked Percy was that Ivan seemed to take Pierce's indulgence for granted, even showing a hint of arrogance. He repeatedly contradicted Pierce's views, which was essentially a public slap in the face to their leader.
Percy keenly sensed that this might be an opportunity, so he boldly intervened, making an effort to save face for Pierce, and ultimately succeeded in ending the conversation between the two.
Pierce shot Percy a furious glance. He knew Ivan had a friend named Ron Weasley, which was why he had made an exception to bring the Weasley kid along. But he hadn't expected Percy to be so clueless.
Fortunately, Ivan didn't get angry over this minor incident. Pierce didn't want to ruin his good mood over a fool, so he refrained from lashing out and sending Percy back. However, he made a mental note to find a reason to transfer this dimwit to toilet-cleaning duties as soon as they returned from North America.
At this moment, Percy was basking in the satisfaction of having successfully saved the Minister of Magic's face, already daydreaming about his impending promotion.
……
The North American Ministry of Magic headquarters is located in the Woolworth Building in downtown New York, a prestigious 200-meter-tall building that houses many well-known Muggle companies as well as Wizards.
When Ivan and his group arrived, it was the peak time for Muggles heading to work. Dressed in suits and carrying briefcases, these business elites hurried in and out, completely unaware that some of them might be Wizards.
The North American Congress of Magic had creatively set aside a separate space within this bustling building, with the entrance in a highly visible location.
Pierce led the way into the building, and with a light tap of his wand hidden in his sleeve, he and the others diverged from the Muggles, stepping into a deeper and more expansive space.
"Welcome to the North American Magic Headquarters!"
A sharp voice immediately rang out in their ears. Ivan looked down to see a Goblin standing at the bottom of the stairs, bowing in greeting.
"Are you Minister Pierce and Mr. Hals?" The Goblin glanced at the list in his hand, confirming the identities. Upon receiving their affirmation, his demeanor became even more respectful. "Please follow me, Masters!"
Ivan and the others followed the Goblin up the stairs and into the main hall.
While it was somewhat disappointing that the North American Congress of Magic only sent a Goblin to greet the British Minister of Magic, it was understandable given the need to accommodate over a hundred guests, all of them leaders, and handle security. Even if all the Aurors in North America were mobilized, it would still be a challenge.
(End of Chapter)
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