A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Chapter 694 A Grand Fireworks Display

The appointed time arrived amidst great anticipation.

The area in front of Parliament was packed with people. Anti-wizards protesters chose this day to hold a demonstration. People came from all the surrounding counties of London, and many "solo stragglers" traveled from afar from the north. They barely ate anything before taking out banners and leaflets from their suitcases and joining the march.

But there were just too many people. The printed flyers were simply not enough, and many people squeezed in with smiles to ask them for flyers. Even the brochures in the organizers' hands were given away. The crowd moved forward slowly, occasionally raising their heads to shout a few slogans.

"Who are these people?" The organizers couldn't figure it out.

His assistant went out for a walk and came back to report.

"There are quite a few foreigners, as well as people from several nearby counties. They've come to witness this momentous historical event." Seeing the organizer glare at him, the assistant quickly added, "Of course, we also have many companions. I saw six or seven familiar organization names; they were all recently established."

He was telling the truth. At this point in time, while the internet has emerged, its influence still cannot match that of print media. This has resulted in the absence of a nationwide anti-wizard organization—most are based at the county or county level, with few spanning multiple regions. To promote their beliefs, many organizations publish their messages in newspapers, including their addresses and contact numbers.

Unbeknownst to them, a small number of wizards had also infiltrated the crowd.

The procession was never short of people in strange costumes, which provided a safe environment for the wizards to hide their identities. Some wizards walked with the procession for a while, but then couldn't stand it and withdrew.

"So many people are against wizards," Ernie McMillan said, pale-faced, his legs trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat beading on his forehead, terrified by the massive procession.

"There were more people than at the New Year's Day parade," Justin Finley said, still shaken.

The sky was dark and gloomy, covered with thick, dark clouds. A light rain had fallen in the morning, but the clouds hadn't dispersed by the afternoon; instead, they had grown even thicker. The patch of sky above them looked like an overturned ink bottle, pitch black, as if a downpour could strike at any moment. The distant, chilling, greyish-white light cast an ominous glow.

More wizards chose to stand on the rooftops, having received news from magical radio and newspapers, and rushed to await the results. From above, the winding, colorful processions filled the streets, shouting resounding slogans every now and then, like raging waves of the sea. The closer they got to the Thames, the clearer the focal point of these processions became—the Houses of Parliament.

A corner in front of the Parliament building was already piled high with all sorts of news vans. Prominent news media from across the country—and even the world—had arrived, eager to obtain firsthand information. Whether from the wizarding community or the general public, they could easily draw the following conclusion:

What is about to happen today is of paramount importance, representing the first formal contact between wizards and ordinary people, and its far-reaching impact is immeasurable.

"There are police maintaining order at the scene, and we can see that The Sun has sent many well-known reporters, including Skeeter, who rose to fame in the anti-gun series—she previously won a national journalism award—who had a brief conversation with a wizard during the riots two weeks ago. I wonder if she will continue her luck today..."

A reporter shouted into the camera, and his voice was heard in every household in the next second.

In central London—the Grangers sat on the sofa, their hands clasped tightly together; Mr. Finley's cup hung in the air, the coffee inside cold; on Privet Road in Surrey, Uncle Vernon turned on the television, grumbling and uttering a few familiar swear words.

Cornwall, Ébriate, Devon, the Isle of Wight, Kent—the Parliament House holds a place that captures everyone's attention…

Two figures suddenly appeared on a tall building across the Thames. The sky was dark and windy, so no one noticed them. The two seemed to be identical.

"So it was you, George," Fred said in a serious tone.

"Yeah, what a coincidence, what brings you here?" George said knowingly.

"I think it's because we both Apparated together," Fred grinned.

"Enough, you two!" Mrs. Weasley snapped, annoyed, with Ginny and Penelope standing beside her. "I'm warning you, don't cause any trouble today, or if you dare to throw candy down there—"

Fred and George exchanged a glance.

"That's amazing, Mom! Why didn't we think of that? We only brought the latest Weasley fireworks—"

"The theater company should invite you to be their consultant."

"Shut up, you two!" Mrs. Weasley roared, brandishing her wand like a fire poker. Fred and George shrank back in fear.

"Where are Bill and Fleur?" Fred looked around.

"And Charlie too," George said.

"Yeah, I never would have guessed, he's actually quite big," Fred said.

Mrs. Weasley's eyes blazed with fury, but she forced herself to remain calm; below her were Muggles. She lowered her voice and began to reprimand, "All of you, quiet down! Your father and Percy are working with the Ministry of Magic, Bill and Fleur are blending into the crowd to maintain order, and as for Charlie…" She paused, "His job is classified."

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

“That’s different,” Mrs. Weasley said sternly. “They don’t need to keep it a secret. It’s already in the newspapers. 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 make Mom angry!" Ginny raised her eyebrows. "She's cried secretly several times already."

"Don't worry, Professor Hyp will protect them," Penelope said, "as well as the wizards hiding around."

“Yeah, I think at least a tenth of the wizards are here. Diagon Alley is half empty,” Fred said, looking around. He pointed in one direction. “I see some familiar faces. It’s the Diggory family over there. See? Cedric is waving at us!”

"Should we go over and say hello?" George asked, tilting his head.

"You've hit the nail on the head," Fred said with a grin. The two Apparated, hand in hand. Mrs. Weasley, huffing and puffing out her chest like a bullfrog, said, "Still so troublesome!"

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

A short while later, Fred and George returned, bringing news from the neighborhood.

"Cedric said he couldn't get in touch with Qiu, and I told him that in just half an hour his girlfriend would fall from the sky—it's a shame we've already graduated, otherwise maybe we could have gotten in too—"

"Fred!"

"Okay, they're all fine and in stable condition—except the Perkins family ran into Muggle law enforcement at the location they chose, so they had to find another place!"

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

"Mom, I thought you wouldn't ask that question. He's been giving away camping gear all over the place for the past two years—oh, don't interrupt, Mom, we also saw the Lovegoods; they were dressed like two orioles. By the way, did we cast a protective spell?"

"It has already been done."

If the procession on the ground is like surging waves, then the rooftops of the surrounding buildings are like reefs in the sea, seemingly occupied by wizards and cursed with Muggle expulsion spells, with everyone anxiously waiting.

The marchers finally converged in front of the Parliament building, waving flags and signs of various colors (and raincoats). Every now and then, a group of people would shout slogans such as "Expel the wizards" and "Punish the lawbreakers." Of course, some strange people were mixed in with them. A small group of young people had their faces covered with occult symbols, and two of them were wearing wizard hats and carrying a banner that read "Welcome wizards to rule the world." However, they were outnumbered and outmatched, their faces swollen from being punched by angry passersby, and they looked listless at this moment.

More people sat in front of their televisions, timing their arrival to catch a glimpse of the wizard's true face.

The Houses of Parliament, originally named the Palace of Westminster, is the world's largest Gothic architectural complex, covering more than 8 acres and containing over a thousand rooms, including the main building, transepts, and towers. It is the seat of the British Parliament. As a famous national symbol, it naturally serves other purposes as well, such as today's occasion.

A squad of soldiers wearing bearskin hats, red velvet uniforms, and black trousers stood guard at the gate. They had arrived an hour earlier with the Queen's entourage, where she was escorted inside by the Prime Minister and several state ministers and had not emerged since.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Big Ben in the northeast corner of the palace struck the hour precisely. The resounding chimes quieted the restless crowd and echoed throughout the country on the radio. Everyone perked up; the time had come.

The Queen and the Prime Minister emerged from the palace, followed by a group of cabinet ministers and members of parliament, along with their elegantly dressed wives and families—although everyone knew what was going on, at least nominally, the Queen had simply intended to invite the wizards to her afternoon tea party, and if things went well, there might be a bonfire party that evening.

"How are the science departments preparing?" a member of parliament asked his attendant.

"They're still setting up the equipment. It's their first time observing magic up close, and they're all very enthusiastic. I'm sure they'll be able to get useful data."

"I'm not as confident as you."

The gates slowly opened, and the Queen's retinue stood even more upright. Everyone (including those watching on television) craned their necks, wondering how the wizard would appear.

"Are the tomatoes and rotten eggs ready?" a group of people asked in a low voice, hiding under a huge banner.

"We're ready. We'll make sure they can't escape no matter where they come from," the person next to him said without hesitation.

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

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

"They deserve to be taught a lesson! Give me a rotten egg—no, let's use a tomato instead."

"Look at the sky!" someone with sharp eyes shouted.

Black and dark gray clouds churned and rolled, then a patch turned orange-red as a blazing pillar of fire burned through the thick clouds, forming a vibrant fan shape like a leaking faucet. A commotion and gasps erupted from the ground—"It's a dragon!" More people looked up. A black, menacing creature loomed in the clouds, covered in black scales, with gleaming bronze horns on its head, and yellow eyes looking down. Several figures stood atop it.

The appearance of the mythical creature silenced the crowd below, and the microphones the reporters had been holding fell to the ground at some point.

"Let's go down," Felix said calmly. "Remember not to overreact. I'll de-escalate the danger beforehand. Charlie, once we're down there, you can leave with the fire dragon."

"Professor, can we cancel the school song segment?" Ron asked expectantly. "I can't find the tune." Draco Malfoy turned stiffly and stared at him, finding his suggestion quite constructive for the first time.

"That's a good joke, Weasley," Felix said calmly, "but the answer is no."

He said that and then jumped.

Harry followed closely behind, followed by Ron, Hermione, Neville, Cho Chang, Susan Bornes, Draco Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass… a total of fourteen students. They had spent a great deal of time these past few days practicing how to appear more ethereal while in levitation.

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

Fifteen wizards descended from the sky, spotless, astonishing the people below. A deafening roar came from the clouds from which they had come, followed by a long tail covered in bronze spikes that pierced through the clouds, flicked forcefully, and then disappeared.

A soft beam of sunlight shone down onto the open space in front of the parliament building, illuminating Felix and his companions' faces. Everyone stared at them in disbelief. The clouds gathered again, blocking out the sunlight once more. But this entrance was unforgettable.

The Prime Minister was the first to come to his senses.

He knew part of the wizards' plans. But even without knowing, he and his advisors could analyze the possibility that the wizards wanted to use this opportunity to demonstrate their power—which suited him perfectly, so he arranged for scientists and military personnel to observe them closely in advance.

The absence of war does not mean the absence of strategic maneuvering. On the contrary, this struggle will become more covert and comprehensive. Today is just the beginning; the real negotiations will reach their climax, and even after the negotiations conclude, the conflict will not subside. They intend to confine the wizards with the cage of systems and laws.

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

Felix was a step too slow. His other self, high in the Mind Chamber, collected, summarized, and processed information from within a radius of several miles. He also used a weak emotional magic to amplify the emotions of some people. At this moment, their minds were filled with the ferocious monster above their heads, and they were worried that if it jumped out and interrupted the process, a ball of fire would fall from above their heads, or they would be grabbed by a claw.

"Welcome," the Prime Minister said warmly, shaking hands for a long time and giving reporters ample time to take photos. They then slowly walked towards the gate, where the Queen stood quietly with a graceful smile.

Reporters, with their keenest instincts and superior mental fortitude, eagerly crowded to the front, countless microphones thrusting out from both sides of the road. A torrent of questions was unleashed:

"What mission have you come here with?"

"The newspaper says you're a wizard's teacher, but you look very young. Is the average lifespan of wizards shorter than that of ordinary people?"

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

"Do you really possess magic? Or are you just scammers? Do you agree to undergo rigorous testing?"

"The weather across the UK is overcast and cloudy today. Does this foreshadow difficulties in the negotiations?"

Felix glanced at Rita Skeeter. "I only asked you to mention London. Why are you bringing up the whole country?" He ignored her and continued walking. The students followed behind, heads held high and chests puffed out, following their pre-rehearsed posture with great difficulty.

"These questions are absolutely stupid—"

"Shut up," Harry uttered through his teeth, then coughed and led the way amidst the flashing camera shutters.

Felix stood before the Queen, whose smile grew even more gentle and dignified. She wore white gloves and was about to extend a hand. Felix gave a slight bow, then quickly straightened up and turned to face the crowd. His booming voice carried for blocks:

"Thank you for the Queen's kind invitation, and we have prepared a gift for it, but there is a more suitable gift at the moment." He said, raising his wand, and everyone around him took a step back. The Prime Minister's eyes widened, and the expressions of the members of parliament behind them varied.

"Hogwarts students—"

Fourteen students raised their magic wands in unison, their expressions solemn and respectful.

A milky-white beam of light shot into the sky, its radiance pure and holy. People seemed to see an elegant figure spreading its wings within the beam, its head held high, soaring straight towards the clouds above.

Fourteen slender beams of light also passed overhead, converging high up, as if a sun had appeared out of nowhere in the sky, emitting a soft glow that completely illuminated the earth.

A curtain of light seemed to be hanging over their heads, and the curtain was expanding rapidly.

The secret room in the Parliament building—

"Has it been detected?"

"...Not yet, all the equipment suddenly malfunctioned!"

"Damn it, what kind of magic is this? Why is its range so large? It covers at least a dozen city blocks. God, will it spread to the whole city?"

"General, it seems that this magic is not lethal at the moment."

"Call me Your Excellency, Congressman—do you need to tell me? Of course they wouldn't kill someone in broad daylight, but what if they did one day? Quickly, quickly determine the range of this magic—forget those broken instruments, use your eyes!" the congressman said excitedly. He rushed to the window, grabbed a telescope, and looked at the sky. Under the influence of the unknown magic, the black clouds were pierced and dispersed, and the sky seemed to have a huge hole, revealing patches of azure blue.

Sunlight streamed down, and the mist in the clouds refracted the magical white light into seven colors. Raindrops gathered and fell, each drop seemingly turning into a rain of light, reflecting countless rays of light, creating a breathtaking scene.

Fred and George were dumbfounded.

Fred swallowed hard. "Our fireworks are utterly inadequate." George didn't speak, only nodded. Ginny stared intently at the dark-haired young wizard in the clearing. The beam of light emanating from the tip of his staff was the brightest among all the students, almost rivaling Professor Hyp's. Her pride was overflowing.

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

"Now."

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

"A spectacular fireworks display. This is the scene I saw in my fire divination," Luna said earnestly. Dressed in a bright dress, adorned with pebbles and colorful sequins, she was probably the most confident of all.

Now she held her hands together, and the ancient magical runes quickly coalesced, forming a crystal-clear sphere of light 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 reverently.

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

The light curtain expanded at a slightly faster pace. Many people turned their gazes, and Mrs. Weasley gasped, as if she were about to faint.

"Guess what we saw?" Fred said excitedly. "It's much more spectacular than fireworks." He and George raised their wands, and white light gathered at the tips of the wands as well.

Cedric, standing not far away, smiled and raised his wand.

More and more people joined in; wizards hidden throughout London and students on holiday lit their wands... as if they had received an invitation to a grand event, even seeming impatient. Beams of light instantly illuminated the entire city.

A light drizzle fell, and fireworks illuminated the entire city.

A holy laser beam pierced through the dark clouds, crossed the city's boundaries, and covered most of the London suburbs.

The magic radio station mysteriously stopped for over ten seconds, leaving the wizards and civilians waiting in front of their radios exchanging bewildered glances. They couldn't understand why the sound had suddenly gone silent; wasn't that young man quite talkative before? Suddenly, Lee Jordan's extremely excited voice came through the radio.

"Incredible! All wizards—I don't know if I should say this—if you know any light magic, then come out of the room and join this great relay! For everyone!"

Many wizards, still somewhat skeptical, carried their radios out of the house.

The wizards living in the suburbs of London were the first to witness this spectacle. Their eyes widened as a vast expanse of white light surged forth, churning away the dark clouds overhead like a boundless ocean. What followed was a shower of soft, fragmented, seven-colored light that shone on the ground and onto their faces. In unison, they raised their wands, and magic surged into them like a tidal wave.

Thanks to the magic's effectiveness against dark creatures, thanks to the tireless promotion by Future World Corporation, the Ministry of Magic, and the Anti-Dark Magic Alliance during last year's war, thanks to the fact that Illumination is the simplest ancient magic, and thanks to the fact that Illumination can be fused...

This may be the most wide-range spell ever created.

Centered on London, the light radiated outwards across the suburbs, quickly reaching neighboring Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, and Essex, where new wizards joined in, further expanding the area. Within minutes, even the Scottish Highlands were illuminated.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Professor McGonagall looked up as bright light streamed into the headmaster's office through the window. The wrinkles on her face smoothed out as she gazed at the portrait of Dumbledore on the wall, his face also reflecting joy and amazement.

"He did a good job, didn't he?" Professor McGonagall said gently.

Dumbledore nodded with pleasure.

Felix, far away in London, was of course unaware of all this; his mental hut couldn't project his thoughts that far.

His initial plan was to "light up" the entire city of London, and he even intended to have the Thunderbirds gather clouds in advance, but the weather forecast said that the next two days would be cloudy, so he skipped that as well.

Although things didn't go exactly as he planned, and strange changes occurred along the way, they seemed to be for the better.

Felix put away his wand and, facing the stunned crowd, spoke clearly and precisely:

"This is the gift the wizard has given to the Queen, and indeed to the entire non-magical world. I believe that as long as we work together sincerely, we can not only dispel the dark clouds overhead, but also the gloom in our hearts."

(End of this chapter)