The Return to Hogwarts

Chapter 789 Another

2024-03-06

Instantly, the atmosphere in the courtyard became tense.

Lying on the recliner, Vogel never got up, or perhaps he was no longer able to. But the sharp aura emanating from his aged, frail body still made Kingsley and Louise feel a chill. This was not due to powerful magic, but rather the imposing presence that Vogel himself had accumulated from his long years of high position and experience in war.

Kingsley glanced at the unmoved Amosta, a hint of worry in his eyes.

He didn't know where Amosta had confirmed that Jasna Rozier's real name was Jasna Vogel, and that she was the core of this criminal gang.

But Anton Vogel was a 'legendary wizard' who had served as the German Minister of Magic and the president of the International Confederation of Wizards, and had been retired for many years. They came to his door in an almost accusatory manner, and he had no connection with them whatsoever. Vogel could have simply kicked them out.

Without permission, they could not interrogate someone of Anton Vogel's status in private; at least Kingsley didn't have the guts, since they had secretly infiltrated Germany.

Unlike Kingsley's concerns and anxieties, Amosta remained calm and composed as he faced Vogel's cold gaze, silently revealing a kind of determination.

"You are helping Muggles persecute their own people—"

Finally, Vogel said coldly.

"Feel sorry!"

Before Amosta could speak, Louise behind him reacted strongly.

Louise had initially held Vogel in awe, considering his former status in wizarding society was even higher than Amosta's, and that he was an old man. However, after hearing those words, her awe vanished instantly, replaced by anger that overwhelmed her reason.

Louise jumped up from the stool, ignoring Kingsley's wink, and huffed angrily.

"Helping Muggles persecute their own kind?"

Louise laughed in exasperation.

“Mr. Vogel, perhaps you did not hear what Amosta just said. There is a group of wicked villains. Yes, they are wizards, but they have killed people, many people. They have even conducted some extremely evil experiments on human bodies, on pregnant women and babies!”

In our society, if such a thing were to happen, perhaps Parliament would be willing to reinstate the death penalty for them!

Louise, panting, glared at the silent Vogel, paused for a few seconds, and then shouted again, still not satisfied.

"If you wizards have laws—oh, of course you do, I know there's a Wizarding Secrecy Act—you must have other laws, right? Does that mean your laws allow these scoundrels to behave this way, or are Muggles not considered human beings in the eyes of wizards?!"

"It seems—"

Looking at the silent Vogel, Amosta said slowly, "I don't need to bother refuting your absurd statement anymore, do I, Mr. Vogel?"

"I see--"

Vogel was not much moved by Louise's indignant protest; his gaze returned to Amosta, dissecting this contemporary legend.

“You really need to be more like Dumbledore, believing that there is no difference between wizards and Muggles, hoping that wizards can further integrate into Muggle society, while ignoring the growing power of Muggles and the declining state of us wizards, pretending not to see the approaching danger.”

“Mr. Vogel—”

Amosta rudely interrupted the old man's whispers on the recliner. His fingers traced the rim of his teacup as he gazed at the rippling brown tea, his expression utterly calm.

"It really surprises me. I thought these views had disappeared half a century ago. I never expected that someone would bring them up in front of me today."

"You think this is all alarmist talk, Chairman Blaine?"

Vogel's hands, with their prominent muscles and bones, were tightly crossed, and his chest rose and fell slightly as his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.

That's not the case.

Amosta gestured to Louise to sit down, then calmly said,

"Oh, it's really embarrassing to say that you've been retired for many years, yet you're still worrying about the safety of the magical world. I rarely think about such issues."

Vogel pursed his lips, his breath coming in short gasps.

"--What you say is true. I mean, Muggles are growing stronger and wizards are declining. But what is there to complain about?"

Amosta smiled.

"Isn't this just the way things are? For so many years, Muggles have been striving to make technology serve them better and for society to become more civilized and progressive."

On the contrary, we wizards are stuck in our ways, and the mainstream voice in wizarding society is still to maintain tradition. A considerable number of ancient families, in order to preserve the purity of their bloodlines, still insist on consanguineous marriage. Wizards refuse progress and social change. So one day, the power dynamics between the two sides will reverse, and this process of development is perfectly normal.

Amosta tilted his head, and his penetrating gaze made Vogel realize that Amosta Blaine knew exactly what he wanted to say.

"--If you are truly worried about the fate of wizards, then what you should do is introspect, change yourself, and actively learn, rather than,"

Amosta's lips twitched, a hint of absurdity in his voice.

"The fact that we hoped to enslave, conquer, and control Muggle society has proven that such extreme ideas cannot succeed, and are doomed to fail, because—"

Amosta turned to look at Louise, then looked at Vogel and said...

"Wizards and Muggles are both human beings; we are no more noble than Muggles."

Vogel's chest heaved more and more, and his eyes filled with anger.

Kingsley's gaze grew more worried; Amosta's assessment was undoubtedly correct.

However, the prevailing ideas in the wizarding community during Vogel's reign were not like that. He feared that if they really angered Anton Vogel, they couldn't very well use the Imperius Curse or Truth Potion on the former president of the International Confederation of Wizards to force him to tell the truth.

As the conversation continued, Louise's brow furrowed as she began to realize that the wizarding community's attitude towards Muggles was probably not so friendly.

It seems that while holding a contemptuous attitude towards Muggles who do not understand magic, it is also wary that the obviously larger number of Muggles will one day besiege wizards like the religious extermination of heretics in those myths.

"So, what would you do?"

Vogel said,

"If you want to avoid the inevitable extinction of wizards, if you want wizards to change themselves, you should know that this will—"

“The wizards will shed blood like rivers—” Amosta said calmly, “but they will eventually rise from the ashes.”

Amosta's calm tone carried a chilling undercurrent of menace. Kingsley's lips tightened instantly, a sharp coldness rising from his heart, creeping up his spine, making his skin tremble.

What do you mean?

To eradicate the deep-seated ills of wizarding society, is Mr. Blaine about to wreak havoc in the magical world?!

Even Anton Vogel was startled by the sharp edge Amosta Blaine was displaying at that moment, and for a moment, he seemed to see that era when the world was engulfed in flames!

"Are you going to do it yourself?"

Vogel's head, resting on the cushion, was slightly raised, but constrained by his injured body, he could not sit up.

"Would Dumbledore allow it?"

"Oh--"

Amosta smiled happily, as if the iron-blooded voice he had just heard was merely a dream.

“This is tough and tiring work, why should I do it myself? Just wait and see, Mr. Anton Vogel, you will see changes—”

A cloud of dust rose into the sky, obscuring the sunlight and plunging the world into darkness.

Vogel stared intently at Amosta Blaine across from him, at that young face, at those unwavering eyes, and suddenly, he let out a wheezing laugh.

"Another one."

Old Vogel closed his eyes and spoke in an almost delirious voice.

"If you want to know anything, just ask Hein; he knows everything about me—"

Chapter 790 Difficult to Comment

2024-03-07

"Miss Jasna is the old master's great-granddaughter—"

On the banks of the Rhine, beside a small mill with creaking blades turning, the little elf Hein spoke in a somber voice.

"Great-grandson?"

Amosta's gaze fell on Hein, a hint of doubt showing in the vertical line between his brows.

"Judging from the age, it doesn't quite match up, and, if I may be so bold, it seems to me that Mr. Vogel doesn't really care much about his great-grandson?"

"That's because Miss Jasna doesn't have Vogel family blood in her body; she only lived with the old master for a few short weeks."

Hein, who also looked very old, leaned forward, his voice tinged with sadness.

"The old master's son died during the war, and at that time, his grandson had just been born."

“Wait,” Amosta interrupted Hein’s narration, “which side is he fighting for?”

Hein fell silent, and after a long while, he simply bowed slightly to Amosta.

Hein's attitude spoke volumes; Amosta didn't accuse anything, only saying something understated.

"Go on—"

"Many people died in that war that lasted for many years, but the hatred did not disappear after the war ended. Instead, it continued. Adam Vogel, the grandson of the old master, lost his parents at a young age. Hatred was planted in his heart, and under the watering of his arrogant dreams, that seed of hatred grew into a towering tree early on."

He vowed to avenge his parents and to uphold the honor of wizards.

The old master always hoped that he could face reality and let go of his hatred, but young Adam wouldn't listen. In order to realize his arrogant dream, after graduating from Durmstrang with excellent grades, he rejected the old master's advice to work in the Ministry of Magic and instead chose to wander around.

He rarely goes home, and might not visit his old master even once every two or three years. He never stays there for more than three days, and he's always alone.

The little elf said with a hint of regret,

"Hain once told young master Adam that he hoped he would give up his pursuit of magic and work for the Ministry of Magic, and that he would marry a noblewoman to continue the Vogel family bloodline. But young master Adam did not listen, and was immersed in his dreams and revenge until twenty years ago."