Chapter 695: Echoes

Chapter 695: Echoes

Professor Felix Harp, the ancient runic professor at Hogwarts, along with 14 students, excelled in their inaugural visit mission. Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones, confirmed the accuracy of the news on the evening's magical radio broadcast.

"Hogwarts faculty and students received a warm welcome. Afternoon tea was followed by an evening banquet and dance, which concluded satisfactorily at ten o'clock," said Madam Bones with a hint of delight in her voice. "The Prime Minister escorted them to the entrance of the Parliament, where the delegation collectively Apparated."

"This mission holds significant meaning. It signifies the complete opening of communication channels between the magical and non-magical worlds. Subsequent visits between both sides will become more frequent. Discussions on topics such as interaction and cooperation between wizards and non-wizarding communities will proceed smoothly. The Ministry of Magic promises to strive for an appropriate balance between tradition and openness..."

"In summary, we can now breathe a sigh of relief."

The wizarding populace cheered jubilantly. If it weren't for the late hour and existing prohibitions, they might have taken to the streets for extravagant celebrations.

Nevertheless, many wizards found ways to express their excitement and joy. They crowded into renowned wizarding spots such as Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and wizarding villages. Pubs of all sizes were packed, and Fred and George's new fireworks were put to good use.

Some wizards in remote areas opted for modest celebrations in their own homes.

In the non-magical world, Muggle newspapers also gave positive coverage. Some journalists were invited to participate in the Queen's afternoon tea, where they received more accurate information. Naturally, the newspapers to which these journalists belonged saw a surge in sales the next day.

"I've learned many incredible facts, quite different from what most people might imagine. For instance, the ratio of male to female witches is roughly equal, contrary to the belief that there are far more witches than wizards. Wizards' daily routines also align with those of normal people; they go to bed at night and don't fly around on broomsticks everywhere. However, one similarity to wizarding rumors is that flying broomsticks do indeed exist but are not commonly used for transportation—wizards have more convenient means of travel. Instead, they are used for a sport called Quidditch."

"This sport combines elements of football, basketball, baseball, and others, but is played on broomsticks—in other words, in the sky."

"I also unexpectedly discovered several students who wrote to 'The Sun,' including the little boy adopted by magic-hating relatives, whose real name is Harry Potter. He admitted the content of the letters was true but refused to disclose the names of his abusive relatives. Since that name is common in Britain, our child welfare agencies find it difficult to investigate. However, he doesn't seem to mind. He said he's doing well now and has found a home in the wizarding world."

"The girl who revealed the existence of several magical creatures to the public was not among the delegation, which is a shame. I wanted to ask her in person how to repel a boggart. I'm sure many readers have secretly practiced ritual dances to repel boggarts in their rooms, but this may be exclusive magic, as other students were vague about it..."

"Goodness, we're all eager to learn more about wizards—imagine that for the past two weeks, much of what we knew about wizards was wrong, based on folk rumors and imagined tales!"

"Famous historian Sheridan Mac re-evaluates the entire ghost culture and strange customs recorded in all civilizations after realizing that the activities of wizards span the entire history of humanity, giving him a new perspective. He believes that magic is the missing puzzle piece."

"Anthropologist Wickliffe Jules, the first to apply to live in wizarding villages for a year and a half, hoping to observe the wizarding way of life up close, had his request promptly and unequivocally denied by the authorities. Everyone knows he abandoned his wife and children to spend two years in a savage African tribe, conducting what he called field research. Upon his return, this anthropologist found fault with everything and was critical. He even suggested that all British people must build their own houses as a rite of passage into adulthood..."

"Hogwarts."

"The anti-wizard rhetoric in the newspapers seems to have decreased?" Snape stared at the newspaper thoughtfully.

"Because they realize they actually have very limited knowledge about real wizards." Felix pointed to the newspaper. "Apart from a few letters from students, they didn't have much valuable information before, so they had to dig through old papers. And the results were completely off."

"So, what did you talk about at the afternoon tea that wasn't mentioned in the newspaper?" Professor Flitwick turned a page, looking skeptical. "I only found a few socialites praising your graceful dancing."

"Ahem," Felix coughed and quickly explained, "Since it was an afternoon tea, only the Queen, the Prime Minister, and a few MPs were present, oh, and there was a small girl who seemed to be related to the Queen—"

"Though not exactly contentious, it was rather exhausting. Every sentence was laden with meaning."

"The students barely said a word, like suits of armor in the castle. The real highlight was the social dance after dinner. You wouldn't believe how many people volunteered to dance with me and then subtly tried to gather intelligence about the wizarding world, or invited me to tour London." Felix added, "The other students experienced the same."

"It sounds like they were trying to win you over," Professor Flitwick frowned.

"More or less, it's a good thing," Felix calmly remarked. "It signifies their inclination towards negotiations, hence the urgency to outline a more authentic appearance of the wizarding world. Of course, I believe the monarchy is aware of the existence of wizards—"

"Nearly Headless Nick is quite representative, actually. He hails from a noble family and demonstrated magical talent, gaining admission to Hogwarts. After graduating, he mingled in the Muggle upper echelons, leveraging magic—possibly even the influence of his family—ultimately being granted a knighthood, becoming a courtier of King Henry VII."

Felix fell into thought as he continued, "He may have been among the first victims of the witch hunts. A wizard victim. Perhaps I should inquire... Oh, he might not even comprehend it himself."

The first large-scale witch hunts on the European continent occurred between 1480 and 1520, and Nearly Headless Nick, sentenced in 1492, coincided with this period. Though the two may not be directly related, as the witch hunts in England occurred slightly later than in Europe, and during the reign of Henry VII, there were only sporadic wizard trials. Unfortunately, Sir Nicholas's botched Transfiguration spell turned what should have been a simple dental correction charm—even possibly the beginning of a romantic encounter—into a severe magical accident, resulting in the lady Grievewell growing tusks.

Sir Nicholas was stripped of his wand and locked in the dungeons, desperately pleading to rectify the harm done to Lady Grievewell, but it was too late. The vain lady underestimated the uncertainty of magic, opting to end her own life before matters worsened irreparably.

"Would religious factors interfere with the negotiations?" Professor Flitwick inquired. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel⦿

"In England, it shouldn't be a problem since the Queen is their nominal leader. Outside of England—" Felix paused, hesitating, "it's hard to say. They do wield considerable influence in the minds of ordinary folks, but wizards also have their ways of dealing with it, despite having their own myriad of issues."

He planned to dispatch a copy of *A History of Magic* when the opportunity arose, knowing that its contents from the 14th to the 17th century would surely be enlightening.

For now, Felix didn't have the energy to focus on foreign affairs, merely occasionally operating under the guise of Gellert Grindelwald. A careful analysis would reveal that Grindelwald never convened his saints, nor did he espouse more provocative or extreme slogans. His actions, in line with the contraction policies of magical ministries worldwide, actually served to reduce conflicts.

Many believed this was due to the constraints of the "Unbreakable Vow."

And the Wizarding Decalogue, selected from the *Grindelwald Code*, was used to temper the expectations of the Muggle government in the upcoming negotiations.

An overview of Felix's strategy would reveal its simplicity: prioritize securing one nation, then leverage that reputation to deeply engage in subsequent wizarding reforms, thereby influencing the course of the world.

Something quietly occurred during this time: Mrs. Bonham, along with all members of Weasencott, recommended Felix as the Chief Wizard of Weasencott, automatically making him a member of the International Confederation of Wizards.

...

On the other side, the students were quite curious about the details within the Parliament building.

"Did you really sing the school anthem in public?" exclaimed Ernie Macmillan. He kept turning his head, but Harry, Ron, and Draco looked pale, clearly reluctant to discuss it further.

"Overall, the effect wasn't bad. Many people applauded," Hermione encouraged spiritedly.

Harry looked away. He preferred to call it a disaster. The Hogwarts anthem actually had a regulated rhythm, but Headmaster Dumbledore didn't bother with such trivial matters during his tenure, allowing students to choose their own tune. As a result, nobody knew who first sang it off-key, but eventually, the entire melody shifted to a funeral march, creating an extremely awkward atmosphere.

Professor Harp, however, could eloquently bring up the idea of "unrestrained magic," which left Harry quite impressed.

"Anything else interesting?" asked Colin Creevey, holding his notebook.

"Oh, right!" Harry exclaimed as if suddenly remembering something, "The professor said he's planning a lunar expedition to search for ancient wizarding relics!"

After much consideration, it was decided to downplay the content involving conflicts between wizards and religion. Mentioning religion would inevitably touch on many dark aspects of history, such as witch hunts, where in the world of *Harry Potter*, very few actual witches were tried; those brought to trial were falsely accused ordinary people. This contradicts the tone of this book. However, for the sake of completeness, there may be some mention in the future, but most of it will be glossed over.

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