Eight hundred and sixtieth chapters undercurrent and praying mantis
England, Gloucestershire, in the drawing room of the ancient manor of the Carrow family.
Amycus Carlo was drawing on an open newspaper with a magic quill filled with ink.
Beside him on the sofa in the living room, in addition to his sister Alecto Carlo, there were seven or eight middle-aged wizards with serious expressions, such as Hermetos from the Yaxley family,
Willie of the Burst family...
Without exception, they are all wizards from ancient pure-blood families in the magic world.
"The Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts have joined forces, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, and the Lestrange family are just the first two unlucky ones who happened to hit the edge. This is an extremely dangerous signal. Everyone -"
Amycus Carlo circled several key words in the Daily Prophet a few months ago.
"Cornelly Fudge, Dolores Umbridge...these greedy, corrupt politicians have already deserted our camp and become another force. They only care about their own money bags and status. As for Abu
Si Dumbledore, that old guy has never been with us. He wishes that more than half of the students at Hogwarts were Mudbloods——"
The experiences of the Lestrange family have left many pure-blood wizard families feeling somewhat saddened by the death of a rabbit.
When Voldemort was at his most arrogant more than a decade ago, except for a few pure-blood families who sided with Dumbledore, most of the pure-blood wizard families in the wizarding world were more or less closely related to the forces of the dark devil.
involve.
"Then what can we do? Are you going to try to run for Minister of Magic?"
Hermetus Yaxley interrupted impatiently, with a hint of joking appearing on the corner of his mouth.
"Anyway, the Ministry of Magic doesn't dare to go too far. Unless you really have some evidence, foreign aid, otherwise even if Dumbledore moves the vault of Gringotts Wizarding Bank to Hogwarts Castle, we won't have any objection.
."
In fact, this is not the first time such a private gathering has occurred.
But apart from complaining, they couldn't change anything. People like Lucius Malfoy never came again after coming once, and they used various business reasons to excuse themselves every time.
If it weren't for the fact that Amycus vowed to have big news this time, the number of people present might have been reduced by half.
"Yes, Amycus, to the point—"
Willie Bursted tapped his pipe on the table and raised his eyebrows.
"Peter Pettigrew, you have also seen the fate of the Lestrange family. The consequences of recklessly confronting the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts are like that. The Dark Lord is missing. I don't intend to end up in jail after having my house raided."
tragic end."
"Mr. Bursted, do you know that a few days ago, Dumbledore, Newt, the British Ministry of Magic... and a large group of top wizards went to the Russian magical world to hunt down the Dark Lord and search for the remaining Death Eaters?
?”
"I don't know," Willie Burst couldn't help being surprised when he heard the news, and said, "I didn't see the relevant news in the Daily Prophet. If it was such an international news, we wouldn't be able to
Not a sound was heard.”
"This is because the Ministry of Magic of various countries has jointly blocked relevant reports. They don't want people to know too much."
Alecto Carlo raised his head, looked around the wizards in the living room, and whispered.
"The Dark Lord did not disappear as the Ministry of Magic said. His footprints spread quietly from Britain to all over the world. This is why Dumbledore and others joined forces - compared to more than ten years ago,
The return of the Dark Lord will be even more terrifying... Peter Pettigrew, the Russian magical world is just the beginning."
Willy Burstead looked at Alecto Carlo's face, the woman's eyes flashed with unsettling fanaticism.
"But, what does this mean?"
Mr. Bursted frowned and expressed his doubts loudly.
"Since the Ministry of Magic in various countries hopes to solve this matter quietly, then we should stay away from this matter! If that person is facing the pursuit and suppression of the entire magical world, no matter how he plots in secret, the winning rate is close to zero.
right?"
"Yes," Amycus Carrow nodded in agreement, "unless the Ministry of Magic of each country is not monolithic, or someone intends to use this excuse to unify the magic world - there is more than one person who may become the Demon King - who is eager to obtain a higher level.
There is more than one person with prestige and power. Everyone, do you know who are the new professors at Hogwarts this year?"
"Nicholas Flamel, Newt Scamander! Of course - there are many famous wizards! But if you say -"
"Can't you imagine? Why would these wizards who have been in seclusion for so many years come back again? What else can impress these wizards who have reached the top in their respective fields?! Eternal life? So, what happens after that?"
For a moment, it was as if the air in the living room was suddenly sucked out.
Amidst the slight crackling of the fire in the living room's fireplace, people's eyes subconsciously fell on the newspapers in their hands.
In the center of the front page of the "Daily Prophet" that I just arrived today, Cornelius Fudge is explaining to the media the new curriculum reform being carried out in Hogwarts with high spirits. He looks like the excitement of a newly appointed minister.
.
"Some people say that we are destroying the foundation of society. I think it is pure nonsense. The education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has always been the cornerstone of our magical world, but we must not stop our pace of innovation because of this..."
"Because if there is no progress, it will stagnate and decline. Of course, at the same time, progress for the sake of progress should never be encouraged. Our traditions have been tempered for thousands of times and often do not need clumsy revisions. To achieve a
A balance between the old and the new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation..."
"...Some old habits will be retained, which is understandable, while some habits have become obsolete and must be abandoned. Let us continue to move forward and enter a new era of enlightenment, efficiency and reasonableness, and resolutely maintain what should be maintained.
Improve what needs to be improved and abandon what we should ban..."
Perhaps to many ordinary wizards, these are just boring politicians' speeches.
But in the eyes of the people present, the meaning and edge behind this passage can't be said to be too clear, and combined with Amycus Carlo's previous words, it gives people a sense of oppression that a storm is about to come.
"Are you saying," Hermetus Yaxley said in a low, hoarse voice, "that the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore..."
Tuk, Tuk, Tuk——
"Sorry, sorry, we shouldn't be too late, right?"
Before Hermetos could finish his words, there was a rhythmic knock on the wooden door outside the living room, and then, three wizards wearing gray turtleneck trench coats appeared in front of everyone under the guidance of house elves.
The strange wizard at the head nodded politely towards the living room, smiled and pointed to the emblem on his chest.
"Christopher Ryan, General Manager of the Overseas Liaison Office of the Magic Congress of the United States of America."
"American? Oh?"
Willy Burst narrowed his eyes and looked meaningfully up and down at the uninvited guests.
"Dear Mr. Carrow, I don't think it is a smart idea to involve foreigners - even if the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts really have any ambitions, it is a headache for the Ministry of Magic in other countries, right? This is
On the contrary, it’s a good thing.”
"The premise is that they did not betray the wizard class——"
Christopher Ryan raised the corners of his mouth and answered softly, but there was no smile in his eyes.
"Gentlemen, if Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the British Ministry of Magic are studying the 'Wizard's Sorrow', including how to release it, how to immunize it, and how to cure it...who do you think it will be used on?
If we use the excuse of cleaning up Voldemort's remnants to launch an attack, who will be the first experimental target?"
Following Christopher's voice, the wizards present shuddered in unison.
"I remember I mentioned it to you before. On our side, we usually call that person 'the mysterious man', 'the dark lord' or 'the one who cannot even be named'. If you really want to cooperate,
If you come with the purpose——"
Amycus Carrow glared at the American wizard with some annoyance, and made a cold voice through his teeth.
These damn arrogant Yankees!
He was at least half sure that this guy must have done it on purpose!
"Sorry, you know...the Dark Lord over here usually refers to another person, and we usually call him by his first name."
Christopher shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, explained briefly, and continued.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the British Ministry of Magic, oh, yes... and Gringotts Wizarding Bank, they are trying to form an alliance in the form of an alliance to form an overriding force in the wizarding world - Fu...
...The mysterious man may be one of the baits and targets they deliberately released so that they can legitimately interfere and affect any piece of land."
"Impossible! It is impossible for the Dark Lord to work for those politicians and hypocrites who like Muggles!"
Amycus Carlo waved his hand and interrupted a little rudely.
"Of course, but what if it's a kind of use..."
Christopher Ryan said, looking at Amycus with a playful expression, and said softly.
"If the 'Mysterious Man' is unknowingly made a target, can we logically define all the ideas supported and advocated by the 'Mysterious Man' as evil, abandon those that should be banned, innovate, and move forward..."
"Then, it is naturally reasonable to get close to Muggles, learn Muggle knowledge, and lower the status of pure-blood wizards——"
"Absolutely ridiculous!"
Willie Bursted frowned and retorted loudly.
"The Ministry of Magic and the Hogwarts Board of Directors will never allow such a thing to happen——"
Before he could finish speaking, the middle-aged wizard suddenly stopped. Willy Burst's mind flashed through his daughter's letters from the past few days. It seemed that a professor who "didn't know magic" was looking at him.
Teach them how to count.
"Oh, really not? You should know better than us... At this time, many people are discussing the changes in Hogwarts, even in Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United States.
Where are the new courses?"
Christopher Ryan glanced at Willie Burst, who suddenly stopped, and said softly with a sneer.
"It seems that we should have reached a preliminary consensus, right? There have been many idiots in the wizarding world who are obsessed with Muggles, but they have never succeeded. Because as long as they show their fatal flaws and overwhelmingly denounce them, there will be opposition.
Overwhelm them all in an instant, even the most powerful wizards, and the saviors can get the help of the New Order..."
"In the MACUSA, successive Ministers of Magic have always been elected under the approval and guidance of the oldest, longest-established, and most prestigious pure-blood wizarding families. I think it would be a pity for the British magical community to lose these traditions."
"Gringotts Wizarding Bank has completely fallen. Fortunately, there is still some fire left in America..."
Christopher Ryan raised his palms, and the two wizards standing behind him stepped forward, took out the same money bags as the number of people in the living room from their arms, and placed them on the wooden coffee table in the center of the living room.
"This is a small token of our friendship...three thousand gold galleons, as a meeting gift."
"Oh, Gringotts America? Your goblins over there, are they reliable?"
Hermetus Yaxley stretched out his hand, picked up a money bag, and asked thoughtfully.
"Suppose... I plan to save some pocket money there, do you have any channels to help us solve it?"
"Of course, I'm more than happy to."
Christopher Ryan nodded happily and answered with a smile on his face.
Before coming here to visit these wizards, he had already helped connect many British wizard families. He was quite proficient in this process of transferring assets, and as a handler, he had a small commission.
"Okay, then I have one last question."
At this moment, a deep and slow voice sounded from the corner of the sofa in the living room.
Everyone subconsciously followed the direction of the sound and saw a tall, bald, dark-skinned wizard sitting there, frowning tightly, looking at Christopher Ryan seriously, and asked in a deep voice.
"You just said that the mysterious person may have been used by the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore. Do you have any evidence? I heard that your Magical Congress of the United States briefly fought against those guys in Russia. Do you know the specific situation?"
"Well, may I ask who you are..."
Christopher Ryan glanced at Amycus Carrow with some confusion.
"Oh, this is Kingsley, Kingsley Shacklebolt, who is also a member of the Holy Twenty-Eight Clan. He is now working next to Cornelius Fudge, the British Minister of Magic. Don't worry, he is trustworthy.
...At least we can be sure that he is definitely not Albus Dumbledore's side - if you want to inquire about anything, Kingsley is very reliable."
"The Shacklebolt family? Of course, I have heard of it. This is a family with a long history and full of honor."
The expression on Christopher Ryan's face softened and he said with a smile.
"Yes, in fact, I am one of those wizards who have fought against them. Therefore, I can tell you with certainty that the mysterious man's power and influence are gradually recovering. Although they are masked, those 'Death Eaters'
There are many guys with European accents among them. Under normal circumstances, the Ministry of Magic would not allow such a huge and dangerous illegal force to develop like this..."
"So I suspect that there must be some deliberate connivance from some force behind them..."
"Of course such a dangerous dark wizard will not succumb to anyone, but there must be some kind of tacit understanding between them, otherwise he would not be able to avoid his former base camp and instead show up in so many places in Europe to cause chaos.
"
The American wizard said this with determination.
"That's it, I understand, thank you."
Kingsley Shacklebolt nodded and showed a simple smile.
…………
At the same time, Hogwarts Castle is far away.
Elena copied the homework assigned by Professor McGonagall into her diary and wrote at the bottom.
"Tom, show me the answer to your Transfiguration class assignment. If you make a mistake in a word, I will tear you off and put it under a sanitary napkin..."