A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Chapter 719 Subtle Changes

Marawatl Lebert spoke at the Federation headquarters:

"...It's necessary to protect the wizards' own traditions—well, I think he means those that are worth preserving. Otherwise, wizards can easily be like waves caught in the ocean, losing their footing, and the resulting danger is deadly... We can set up some buffer zones. Also, in the education of young wizards... in dealing with acts that infringe upon the rights of wizards as a whole..."

Gradually, these twenty-odd African representatives joined the conference, but few realized that they actually represented Grindelwald's ideas, or more accurately, some radical and intense thoughts. If nothing unexpected happened, these ideas would take root in some people's minds and grow stronger in future practice.

At least Felix doesn't have to worry about the federation becoming stagnant after he relinquishes control.

……

As the days passed and the weather gradually turned colder, on Saturday morning before heading to Hogsmeade Village, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all chose to wear scarves to keep warm. After gathering in the common room, they walked towards the school gate chatting and laughing with their classmates.

"It can't be that cold, can it?" Ginny said with a hint of surprise, sitting next to Harry.

Several younger girls passed by, chattering excitedly, each wearing a pretty light-colored cloak. Harry bet they were third-year students. He'd only ever seen that kind of excitement on the faces of first-time visitors to Hogsmeade. Besides the young wizards bundled up tightly, some were dressed very simply, wearing only a coat over their clothes. Harry suspected they'd gotten the seasons wrong.

"Parvati was rummaging through everything last night, saying she left the constant temperature locket at home," Hermione said, which cleared up Harry's confusion. "So I told her to dress warmly; the temperature has been fluctuating a bit lately, and many people catch colds around this time of year. Madam Pomfrey prepared a batch of energy drinks in advance."

Upon hearing this, Ron immediately tightened the scarf around his neck.

Harry hurriedly handed his scarf to Ginny, who smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling. "You can use a warm-up charm, Harry," Hermione suggested, and Harry did so. Just then, he noticed Ron giving him a scrutinizing look, followed by a snort from his nose.

"That's very considerate," Ron said sarcastically.

Perhaps it was the effect of the warming spell, but Harry felt his face burning, like a furnace that couldn't dissipate heat. Ginny, on the other hand, casually put her arm around Harry's and said, oblivious to everyone else, "Ignore that despicable hypocrite; he writes letters to girls himself."

Harry's eyes widened. Ron blushed and vehemently protested, "She wrote to me first! Asking if I wanted to join her team after graduation—" He turned to Harry, "You know about this, don't you? I even joined you in mocking her for not doing so well..."

"It seems so," Harry said slowly, recalling the events. "But I remember her birthday was a long time ago. I didn't expect you two were still corresponding."

This time it was Ron's turn to feel uncomfortable.

Hermione asked, puzzled, "Who are you talking about?"

"Collins," Harry said briefly.

"Oh—" Hermione drawled, remembering that they both wanted to be Minister for Magic. "How's she doing lately?"

"Not bad," Ron muttered.

Upon arriving in Hogsmeade Village, their first reaction was that there were more people on the streets, and many of them were unfamiliar faces. A map stood at the village entrance; they glanced at it and discovered that two new streets had been built each in the east and north of the village.

For one of only—oh, now only two—pure wizarding villages in Britain, Hogsmeade always inadvertently displays the wonder of magic and all sorts of magical people. As they passed by noisy wizards and witches, Harry swore he saw a wizard with vampire fangs.

Just then, a snow-white owl with black spots silently descended from above them and landed on Harry's shoulder. The owl gently pecked at his ear. "Oh—oh, Hedwig?" Hedwig demurely stretched out a leg, allowing Harry to remove the note tied to it. He unfolded it, read it, and then faced the other three.

"Mr. Dorje will be here a little later. He told us to go explore other places first," Harry said. He patted Hedwig's beak. "The dormitory window is open; I left you some food." Hedwig flew away.

"Great!" Ron said excitedly. "Let's go check out the Weasley's Magic Tricks Studio and the Future World Company branch. There might be new products coming out, and we can be among the first to try them out—"

"That's a good point, so where should we go first?" Ginny asked.

"It's been a while since I've seen Fred and George," Harry said, and the group went to the Weasleys Wizarding Arts shop, but Fred and George weren't there, only two clerks bustling about. Harry was a little disappointed; he had wanted to ask if the twins had made it onto the Muggle government's shopping list, although he seriously suspected that the brothers' prank package would be mercilessly returned.

They politely declined the shop assistant's help and began browsing at their leisure.

Fred and George's shop was as enticing as ever, filled with colorful lights and a cacophony of comical noises, with strange and unusual things occasionally leaping out from shelves, corners, or ceilings to give people a fright. Harry repeatedly warned himself not to overreact, but when a web-spinning, big-eyed spider hung down from the ceiling, he couldn't help but laugh.

He turned to show Ron the booklet, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione reading a pamphlet and talking to the shop assistant. She didn't look like she was asking about the instructions for a new prank product. Curious, he went closer—a small jellyfish firework exploded in the crowd, and a little boy was immediately surrounded by a swarm of colorful jellyfish—Harry heard Hermione say to the shop assistant, "Can I take one with me?"

"Of course, it's a free gift from the Ministry of Magic," the clerk said.

"What's that in your hand?" Harry asked after the shop assistant left. Hermione pointed to a box on the ground, inside which were neatly stacked booklets identical to the ones she was holding. The box's packaging read, "Travel Guide—Enjoy unhindered travel in the Muggle world. Provided by the Ministry of Magic."

"Wow," Harry said.

"It seems pretty convincing, doesn't it?" Hermione smiled. "I've only read a little bit. It suggests that wizards should try to go to big cities, where they might be more popular. For example, London has seen a lot of foreign tourists lately, all of whom are interested in magic."

Ron and Ginny also came over carrying a bunch of things.

"Hey, look at this!" Ron exclaimed excitedly, carrying two brightly colored bags. "The Weasley's Best Prank Package includes the best-selling classic products since the store opened, plus a free Dark Lord figurine; there's also a Muggle-only snack package. It's a bit pricey, but barely acceptable."

"The uncut version—" Harry pointed to the printed words on the package and asked, "What does this mean?"

"Oh, remember that product list audit at Sword Keep? Percy removed some names, thinking they might harm Muggles, but—" Ron gave Harry a knowing look. Harry stared blankly at the image of the boy on the gallows on the package, unsure what product it represented. Just then, Ginny nudged his waist with her finger, gesturing for him to look at what she was holding.

It was a semi-transparent box. Through the packaging, you could see twelve small bottles inside, with several wizards and witches wearing expressions of fascination and ecstasy, alongside fierce-looking trolls and goblins. "Could it be some kind of contraband?" Harry asked worriedly. Ginny moved her thumb away so he could see the product name: "Daydream Charm, Quidditch Set."

"That's really interesting," Harry said dryly. "Now I understand why even goblins and trolls can ride on flying broomsticks." The idea of ​​playing Quidditch with goblins or trolls in his dreams was still very tempting for him, so he asked the clerk for two boxes.

They then went to a branch of Future World Company, where a large notice was posted in the window, attracting a crowd. Once the people in front of them had left satisfied, the four of them immediately moved closer.

"Recruiting Partners—Whether you're a wizard lost and directionless, a recent graduate without connections, or a werewolf, vampire, or banshee… as long as you have brilliant ideas and genuine talent, you can apply for subsidies and the full support of a professional team of over 300 people! Future World will fully assist you in realizing your dreams…"

Harry clicked his tongue in amazement. "If I have a good idea, the people at Future World Corporation can help me make it happen?"

"It's not that simple," Hermione said, pointing to the smaller print below. "First, your idea must be feasible, which requires professional evaluation—and it must be legal; second, you yourself must spend a lot of time on it, not be completely ignorant, but just stuck on some technical difficulty... only then will Futureworld be willing to help."

After wandering around for a while, they felt it was about time, so they went to the Three Brooms to wait for Mr. Dorje.

"I'm exhausted," Ron yelled. "I've covered the whole day's worth of ground."

While waiting for Mrs. Rosmerta to prepare their drinks, Harry looked around from his seat. He sensed that there were more guests than last year, and two tables were occupied by burly adult wizards who were clearly not used to the students who often appeared in the Three Brooms, and were speaking in rough, high-pitched voices.

"I don't want those Muggles coming in. They've already taken up too much space, and now they're finally going to take over the last piece of wizarding territory, aren't they?"

"This is a decision made by the Ministry of Magic, Dick." Another man absentmindedly stroked the pattern on the glass, seemingly surprised that it was so clean. Harry thought he must have been drinking in a place like the Hog's Head before.

The first man swore.

"Incredible—" Ron said.

"Yes, but I don't think everyone will be happy with the new policy." Harry turned around and saw Ron looking in another direction. He followed his gaze and saw four Hogwarts students playing wizard cards together. Coincidentally, there was one student from each of the four houses in the school.

"Eleanor Branstone," Ginny said quietly, standing up to greet the person opposite her before sitting back down.

"Who did you say?" Harry asked.

"The one wearing the bear hat, I think it's probably a club gathering," Ginny said. "Her club is quite famous; I don't know where she gets all the unique recipes and secret sauces, but I guess since Luna shared her family's recipes—"

Ron choked and coughed repeatedly.

"After hearing what you just said, I was thinking of going to check it out at the next club event," he said dejectedly. "Now I've given up hope."

"Don't say that," Ginny said reproachfully, then added in a tone that Harry found completely unnecessary and guilty, "Bebop wasn't popular when it first came out either, think about its current status."

"Yes, I can roughly guess the role Luna's family recipes played in it," Ron said sarcastically.

Mrs. Rosmerta brought over the drinks, and Hermione put away the brochure, casually asking, "Hello, Mrs. Rosmerta, how's business lately?"

"It's alright," she said casually. "Didn't they build a new wizarding town in Cornwall to house foreign wizards, called Rutherford?" Hermione nodded. "They allocated some here too, but not many. There are also some people who moved here temporarily from the Muggle community."

She also mentioned someone.

"You know that witch named Carlotta Pinkerston, right?"

Hermione nodded again. "I know, she advocates for the repeal of the Secret Service Act. I bet she's thrilled right now."

"She's been locked up again," Mrs. Rosmerta said sternly.

"What?" Harry exclaimed incredulously. The other three were also surprised. Mrs. Rosmerta explained, "The day after the wizard was completely exposed, she happily checked out of her room, saying she was ready to do something big. During that time, wasn't the Ministry of Magic asking everyone to stay hidden? But she was the only one showing off her magic in front of a Muggle tourist spot, and she was taken away by the Aurors in less than ten minutes... But now that the peace treaty has been signed, she'll probably be released soon. Maybe she already is." She added.

Mrs. Rosmerta then recommended new dishes, but after Ron placed the large snack bag on the table, she turned to attend to the other guests. Harry and his friends began to try one of the bizarre dishes that Fred and George had meticulously prepared.

"That woman got herself into trouble," Ron said, his mouth full of food. "There are always some people who want to be different and go against the grain. You have no idea how many overtime hours Dad worked during that time. I heard that a wizard cast a rain spell on their Muggle neighbors before they moved away, and the water was three feet deep..." He picked up a pale yellow grape and popped it into his mouth. "Not bad, orange flavor—what are you laughing at?" His face unconsciously turned the color of the grape.

Harry suppressed a smile, while Hermione and Ginny shrugged their shoulders on the table. Ron kept asking what was wrong. After a while, Ron finally figured out what was going on and forced Harry to eat a grayish, unappetizing multi-flavored grape. As a result, Harry's face turned bright red.

"An upgraded version, huh? That's quite interesting." Ron angrily pushed the remaining half bunch of grapes aside.

Once everyone had calmed down, and at least stopped laughing out loud, Hermione waved the pamphlet in her hand. "So the Ministry of Magic is advising wizards living in Muggle communities to behave better. Now it's joint enforcement, and every precedent will affect the future." She laughed as she finished speaking. "I think Carlotta Pinkstone's name will definitely appear in the new regulations..."

"And that guy who turned his neighbor's house into a swimming pool, that'll definitely be mentioned in any history of magic textbook," Ginny said.

"I'm not as confident as you are; it'll be difficult to change Professor Binns' mind," Harry said. They laughed again.

The door opened from the outside, and Ephias Dogi came in looking travel-worn. Harry stood up and waved to him. After Dogi sat down, the group noticed that he looked a little tired, with sunken eyes and an angry expression.

"I'm so sorry, kids, I'm late," he said apologetically.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, noticing his emotional state.

"It's nothing," Dorje said immediately, but all four people present were staring at him intently. He sighed, "Well... I ran into a crazy woman on the way, and I argued with her for a long time." He said angrily.

"Why?" Ginny asked.

"Some rumors, conspiracy theories and stuff. I've been collecting details for Dumbledore's biography, and since Harry couldn't leave school, I took the list and went to visit him..." He shook his head, a few strands of hair fluttering on his forehead.

The three stared at him blankly. He glanced at the guests a few tables away and lowered his voice, saying, "As you know, there have been a lot of changes in the wizarding world recently. Individually, they don't have a big impact, but when put together, they make people uncomfortable... People naturally want to vent their dissatisfaction, and those big shots who can be named have naturally become targets for venting their anger, even Dumbledore..."

"But Professor Hyp and Ms. Burns, along with the staff of the Ministry of Magic, the Order of the Phoenix... are doing everything they can to plan for all wizards—don't those who are dissatisfied know that these measures could prevent hundreds or thousands of conflicts in the future?" Harry said angrily.

"Obviously, they don't know," Dorje said calmly.

He explained understandingly, "They only know that their lives have changed, that things have changed, but whether it's for better or worse remains to be seen. They are filled with fear about the future."

Harry and the others exchanged glances silently.

"But, Mr. Dorje, we rarely hear similar opinions at school, nor in the newspapers," Hermione asked, puzzled.

"Ah, I think it's because your minds haven't fully developed yet. As for the older folks," Dorje said slowly, "many wizards are actually still alive, but they're practically dead. They only come out of their houses once or twice a year, and the things in their minds are already outdated."

“That’s easy to understand, just like our Aunt Muriel,” Ron said to Ginny.

Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Without you reminding me, she warned me after Bill and Fleur's wedding that if I wanted to borrow her headdress for my own wedding, I had to follow the old customs."

Harry gasped for breath.

"What did you say to her?" Ron asked.

Ginny waved her hand with a grin, "I told her not to bother, I plan to hold the wedding in the sky, and give every guest a flying broomstick..."

Ron gave Harry a strange look, then gave him a thumbs-up and exclaimed in admiration, "Amazing! I can't wait to see it!"

Dorje chuckled and said, "If that's the case, be sure to invite me; I'd like to see it too." Then he noticed that all four people present were staring intently at him. He was a little confused. "...Did I say something wrong? Even though I'm over a hundred years old, I still occasionally fly around the yard on a broomstick..."

"Um, Mr. Dorje?" Hermione asked cautiously, "Did you just eat the grapes on the table?"

"Oh, yeah, I just grabbed one... What's wrong?"

The four quickly shook their heads guiltily. Hermione whispered a word, "Fifteen minutes." The other three immediately realized she was referring to the duration of the multi-flavored grapes' skin-changing effect. "Mr. Dorje, let's talk about the biography," Harry said hastily. "I've written two more chapters of the draft, but I feel some parts are prone to misunderstanding..."

He gestured for Hermione to take the manuscript out of her beaded pouch, trying to avoid looking at her green, wrinkled face.

Dogi took the thick parchment from Hermione and began to read. As he read, he said, "That's why I admire Mr. Hyp. He's a very farsighted man, especially when it came to writing Dumbledore's biography. What's that word? 'anticipating the enemy's moves.' At first, I had some doubts..."

The rest of October was spent in continuous rain, with a chill creeping in and enveloping the entire country for the next two weeks, bringing temperatures close to freezing. It wasn't until Halloween was just around the corner that the air finally stopped being so damp all the time.

Compared to the enthusiasm of the people inspired by magic in the cold weather, governments around the world are more concerned about what the International Wizarding Organization, which is said to be comparable to the United Nations but with stronger law enforcement, is doing. Their Secret Law alone has been in effect for three hundred years, which is longer than the current existence of most countries in the world.

On October 27, the Federation headquarters finally made a move.

(End of this chapter)