A certain Hogwarts professor of runes.

“I remember you have an organization similar to the United Nations?” he said cautiously.

“The International Federation of Wizards,” Ms. Burns said, pursing her lips.

“That’s right, the International—cough cough, the Wizarding Federation, that’s it, Fudge told me about it once.” The Prime Minister asked hopefully, “What do they think?”

“They’re still undecided,” Felix suddenly interjected. “They’re worried about war.”

"War?" the Prime Minister exclaimed.

“Yes,” Felix blinked, as if he had discovered something interesting. “You might not know this, but not all Ministryes of Magic maintain friendly relations with their local governments. Britain is quite good in this regard. In fact, many Ministryes of Magic have had very tense relations with their governments at times. They don’t hesitate to assume the worst about each other and assess the balance of power. For example, I’ve heard the word ‘nuclear bomb’ more than once.”

"Nuclear bombs?" The Prime Minister's eyes bulged out. He jumped up excitedly, his hands on the table, spitting as he spoke. "Do they really think a nuclear war is going to break out?"

“Oh, they do have that concern,” Felix said, spreading his hands 'frankly.' “Some ministries of magic cut off contact with Muggle governments early on, so their information channels are quite limited… I’ve never worried about a nuclear attack.”

"Of course not!" the Prime Minister roared. "No leader of any country would agree to detonate a nuclear bomb in the territory where their own people live, much less allow another country to do so! This is utter nonsense. If anyone dared to issue such an order, their political enemies would laugh themselves silly, and the angry public would tear them to pieces."

Felix glanced at Bones without making a sound.

Ms. Burns received the signal, cleared her throat, and said, “Mr. Prime Minister, no one wants war. We sincerely hope that both sides can reach an agreement and do our utmost to facilitate negotiations. In the meantime, to avoid unnecessary conflict, we will recall the wizards who have been living in seclusion in Muggle society, and we will go into hiding.”

The Prime Minister nodded; he could indeed sense the other party's sincerity.

"However... I hope you won't take too long to consider this. On one hand, I cannot suppress the will of the wizarding populace indefinitely; on the other hand..."

Our concessions will also create a vacuum in the local wizarding community, which may not be a good thing at this crucial moment.

"Power vacuum? What do you mean?" the chief asked astutely.

“During our strict enforcement of the closure policy, other wizarding forces may infiltrate,” Ms. Burns warned solemnly. “It could be foreign wizards—for example, wizards from Africa or the Americas, whom Felix mentioned before. They have poor relations with the local governments and may flee to England for refuge; dark wizards driven out by the Aurors and forced to hide in the gutter may also take the opportunity to stir up trouble; but the most likely candidate is Grindelwald’s saints.”

When he heard the first point, the Prime Minister merely frowned. Compared to foreigners, he certainly trusted his own countrymen more. However, as a seasoned politician, he was well-versed in the art of negotiation and compromise and did not mind using this as an excuse to gain benefits. But when he heard that the Ministry of Magic intended to let dark wizards run rampant, he immediately became restless.

“This is a threat!” he shouted. “You’ve been up to no good, haven’t you? Secretly raising dark wizards just so you could—”

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Ms. Burns exclaimed angrily.

"Don't lie to me, I'm not completely ignorant of you," the Prime Minister said, feigning deep thought as if trying to recall something. "Your...you know..."

"—Your former Minister of Magic revealed quite a bit of inside information about Knockturn Alley in several conversations, didn't he? Fudge once complained that the Aurors had found another batch of cursed items in Knockturn Alley, and it just wouldn't stop… You wouldn't deny that, would you!?"

“I don’t deny it,” Ms. Burns said calmly. “Officially, Knockturn Alley is another magical commercial district besides Diagon Alley, selling a wide variety of strange and wonderful items. Many of these items are useless, secondhand, or defective… and naturally, some are dangerous goods. Law enforcement targets the latter category of goods.”

"...Different people have different perceptions of it. If he is just a student or a law-abiding civilian, he may never step into Knockturn Alley in his life; but if his interests are special enough, such as being interested in ancient magical items, cheap and novel gadgets and rare magical materials, or simply wanting to get rid of a rare plant disease that conventional methods do not work...he can go there and try his luck."

Of course—you have to be constantly aware of your wallet and your personal safety. There are always some strange, scary people around. But they haven't broken the law, and the Aurors can't deal with them.

"It sounds like an unregulated, large grocery market," the Prime Minister said in a dry voice.

"Are there absolutely no stolen goods, drug abuse, or secondhand guns in your grocery market?" Ms. Burns asked.

The Prime Minister remained silent.

"The most common people in Knockturn Alley are petty thieves—either smugglers or those obsessed with dark magic, the latter also classified as dark wizards. But they are much more endearing than truly cruel and evil dark wizards. At least the Aurors don't have to worry too much about a killing curse flying from the other side when enforcing the law," Burns concluded.

"What does a real dark wizard look like?" the Prime Minister asked.

“Or to put it another way—what is a dark wizard who harbors strong hostility towards Muggles like?” Ms. Burns adjusted her monocle. “You should have seen his abilities this morning, although he himself didn’t even show his face; the trouble was caused by his saints.”

“Grindelwald? Oh, right, that’s what I was just about to ask. You mean he’s the mastermind behind the whole thing? An extreme subversive?” the Prime Minister asked urgently. “I’ve watched the interview with the guy who caused the tornado in front of the Parliament building, I’ve watched it several times!” He couldn’t contain his anger again and slammed his fist on the desk.

Why don't you arrest him?

“If you knew what he had done, you wouldn’t have asked that question,” Ms. Burns said seriously, waving her wand and producing a bulging folder on her desk. “Inside are some materials we’ve compiled: his ideas, his propositions, his influence…”

The Prime Minister opened the folder and poured out a clipping that looked quite old, as it was yellowed.

"It's worth mentioning that the evaluation criteria for combat differ greatly between wizards and Muggles. I know that Muggle armies rely more on collective strength, while wizards—" Borns sighed, "some only need a wand to do all sorts of incredible things."

"Like this person?" the Prime Minister asked uncomfortably, frowning at the sinister-looking man in the photo.

"And Dumbledore."

"The person in the news said he's dead."

“…Yes, alas, if only he were still here. He thwarted Grindelwald’s plots to rule the world many times,” Ms. Burns sighed, seeing the Prime Minister open his mouth as if speechless. She continued, “But that doesn’t mean he was unrestrained. We also have archmages here who have reached the pinnacle of magic in certain areas. Oh, the researchers in the ministry borrowed Professor Hyp’s classification system for magic; this form is also attached to the document.”

“Professor Hyp? Is he a scholar who studies this field?” The Prime Minister turned his gaze to Felix, who was not very noticeable.

“No, he’s currently the only one who can rival Grindelwald, even though he’s young, only one…” Ms. Burns paused, turning to look at Felix, seemingly equally surprised by the number she was about to say, “If I remember correctly, you’re only two years old?”

Felix nodded. "If we compare magic to science, then only scientists in the magical world can wield that power, and I just happen to have some talent. There's no need to make a fuss."

The Prime Minister murmured, "Yes, 26 is nothing. Many scientists publish their most important papers at this age, like Einstein. I remember he did something earth-shattering when he was 26."

“He proposed the special theory of relativity,” Felix kindly reminded him.

"Grindelwald nearly destroyed a city in the 1920s?" the Prime Minister asked incredulously, flipping through the documents. He glanced quickly at the parchment. "Paris, no less? How did he do it?"

“A spell that’s out of control,” Felix said softly.

“Fiendfire.” He toyed with a small flame between his fingertips. “Even in the magical world, it is considered an extremely evil curse. It is called a curse because it can sense living beings and prioritize them as its targets. It is difficult to extinguish and can only be extinguished by burning itself out. Oh, I mean it cannot be extinguished by conventional means, but it has a counter-curse.”

The prime minister stared intently at the small flame in his hand, without uttering a word.

“What I have is just a regular flame, no different from the flame of a lighter,” Felix said.

"Felix, are you sure he's using Fiendfire?" Borns asked doubtfully. "The magical world hasn't reached a conclusion yet."

“He tamed Fiendfire,” Felix said calmly. “Grindelwald seems to be very skilled at fusion magic. For example, the one I saw in the documents, I suspect is a combination of a high-level form of armor protection and the Fiendfire spell. It wasn’t just a random mix; it was a fusion of the properties of different spells, perhaps with other elements added as well… He must have a very deep understanding of magic itself.”

The Prime Minister swallowed hard, then continued reading the documents, occasionally asking a question or two.

As he left the Prime Minister's residence, Burns breathed a sigh of relief.

"It was a worthwhile trip. Although the Prime Minister didn't agree to stand on our side, at least he promised to do his best to facilitate the negotiations, and he also asked us to continue to maintain magical order in the meantime—well, that's what we were planning to do anyway."

“This is just the first step,” Felix said calmly, raising an eyebrow. “The Prime Minister is someone who knows half about the existence of the wizarding world and has had past interactions with it. At least he won’t start by shouting for war. However, he will be facing a group that knows nothing about wizards, and this Prime Minister has never been known for his decisiveness or tenacity… Let’s wait and see.”

"Sigh, I'm even thinking of retiring."

“This doesn’t sound like something you would say.” Felix turned his head in surprise.

“I’m serious,” Ms. Burns said earnestly. “I’m not trying to run away. I just feel increasingly inadequate and unable to lead the people through this crisis. How about you become Minister for Magic, and I’ll return to my position as Head of the Department of Law Enforcement to assist you?”

"No, I didn't mean that."

“Felix…”

“Alright, let’s talk this out.” Felix stared directly into Bones’ eyes. “At this point, I can no longer remain neutral. I do intend to seize power—but not as Minister of Magic, you understand?”

“That one…” Borns blinked, then said in shock, “The president of the International Wizarding Federation?”

"That's right."

"But what about the oaths of Abakind and Grindelwald?"

“Amelia, certainly not now. Let’s take a longer view: even if wizarding society and Muggle society reconcile…”

Will the contradictions and conflicts simply disappear? Even counting from the moment the peace treaty is signed, it will take at least until the next generation has fully grown up before any initial results are seen.

Under the pitch-black night sky, Felix explained his thoughts in detail, and Ms. Burns listened quietly.

"Whether they are young wizards or Muggle children, they may still be in their swaddling clothes, babbling and taking their first steps. But they will eventually grow up in a new world order, which is exactly what I hope to see—unlike the Muggles of today who feel unfamiliar and fearful of magic."

Unlike modern wizards who feel uncomfortable living in the sunlight.

In the silence, the moonlight shone on Ms. Burns's bright and resolute face.

“Then go for it, Felix, I’ll support you wholeheartedly,” she said.

Felix smiled.

"We took the first step tonight: kicking the International Confederation of Wizards and other countries aside, successfully shifting the conflict from the massive issue of Muggles and wizards to an internal national affair. If all goes well, we could very well be the first successful example!"

"Will you gain great fame and step onto a bigger stage through this?" Ms. Burns asked with some excitement.

“Yes, so we can’t be lazy anymore. Aren’t you going to give a speech to all the wizards in Britain? Count me in.”

"Are you planning to back out?" she asked, her eyes wide.

“Cough, I’m still adjusting.” Felix looked away, his eyes gleaming, and said, “Let’s go. We’ll go talk to the mole planted in the newspaper office, and then I have to go to Hogsmeade. There’s too much going on, and many of my research projects have been put on hold.”

Chapter 687 Letter

The next day, the day after the magical world was exposed, the Ministry of Magic...

Felix, Amelia Bones, and Sirius entered a small conference room. They had just finished a meeting with high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Magic and came here directly afterward. Former members of the Order of the Phoenix were seated in the conference room.

"Where's Kingsley?" asked Hestia Jones, with her jet-black hair and rosy cheeks, her voice lively.

“He was ordered to protect the Prime Minister’s safety,” Ms. Burns said. “We cannot guarantee that Grindelwald or the Saints will not take advantage of the situation, and his role in the coming period will be crucial.”

"Oh, Kingsley went to be the Prime Minister's secretary again?" Hestia Jones exclaimed in surprise. Her words were not without basis. When Voldemort was on the verge of defeat, the Ministry of Magic was worried that the Muggle Prime Minister would be hit by the Imperius Curse (especially after the Prime Minister's assistant had already been hit by the Imperius Curse, albeit unsuccessfully). Kingsley was sent to carry out this task, and unbeknownst to the Prime Minister, he was very satisfied with the Prime Minister's efficiency, which was comparable to that of two people.

Of course, the Prime Minister himself was very surprised when he learned the truth.

"So, that Muggle prime minister is on our side?" Moody asked gruffly.

Ms. Burns cautiously stated, "He promised to strive for a peaceful outcome, but we cannot be complacent; he alone cannot control the situation. Ladies and gentlemen, starting a war is easy—any fool could do it—but peace is hard-won and requires careful planning."

"Well said." Sirius clapped his hands twice.

Felix was thinking about something else entirely. No one knew Grindelwald's whereabouts. Everyone—mainly Abakind and the Ministers of Magic, including Burns—believed that Grindelwald was hiding in the shadows, waiting for the situation to become chaotic so that he could seize power in the wizarding world.

Felix didn't see Grindelwald either, but he did meet Vita Rozier in Hogsmeade, who was again using the alias Nicole Noel. Vita Rozier refused to reveal Grindelwald's whereabouts, perhaps because she herself didn't know.

As the second most important figure among the saints, she had two missions: first, to act as a relay station for the saints' members, gathering intelligence from all directions; and second, to teach Felix how to flawlessly impersonate Grindelwald.

“Since you have all temporarily joined the Ministry of Magic,” Ms. Burns looked around, “I won’t stand on ceremony; I really do need manpower right now.”

—The first thing, the Pan-Magic Alliance. Felix agreed to have the 'Future World' company cooperate, with Lupin in charge.

Lupin nodded, took a deep breath, and said firmly, "Leave it to me."

“Bill will be with you; he knows a lot about fairies,” Ms. Burns continued. Bill, seated, added earnestly, “And Fleur too.”

She'd wanted to join the Order of the Phoenix for a long time. "Sure, you can arrange it yourselves. The second thing is the mission. Until the negotiations are resolved, the Ministry of Magic will adopt a withdrawal strategy; ordinary citizens should stay home as much as possible, and the Ministry will send people to check the defenses of each household—"

"Do we have to do this too? It's a bit of a waste of our talents," Mundungus asked, looking like he hadn't woken up yet.

“No need,” Ms. Burns said sternly. “You’ll be in charge of another matter: monitoring, patrolling, and issuing warnings about various gray areas within the country. I’m demanding a complete halt to all smuggling, theft, and black market transactions operating in the shadows. Of course, all you need to do is lead the way; that shouldn’t be too difficult for you, right?”

“This, this…” Mundungust became fully awake and said with a bitter face, “You can’t ruin my job.”

"Is your livelihood built on smuggling, theft, and black market trading?" Moody yelled at him.