Chapter 693: The Great Deception - Part 1
Finally, Felix Harp understood. Dumbledore's contingency plan had emerged once again.
Three Deathly Hallows, aside from Harry's Invisibility Cloak, Dumbledore held the other two in his final years. Felix had initially thought that with the disappearance of the Resurrection Stone, the Deathly Hallows could never be reunited, and the Elder Wand had lost its significance with Dumbledore's demise.
"Dumbledore instructed you to pass it on to me?" Felix asked softly, eager to delve into Dumbledore's true intentions.
"He left it to my discretion," Snape's gaze showed some struggle, "He said he'd rather see the ownership of the Elder Wand remain a permanent mystery, but he was concerned about significant changes in the wizarding world in the future... it seems now is the time."
Felix scrutinized Snape's face carefully. "I don't think it's the right time yet," he said. Snape's expression stiffened.
"The situation isn't as dire— the window for dialogue is open, and we can maintain a limited sense of optimism. Compared to the sporadic unrest in some foreign places, things here are relatively stable— oh, by the way, Future World has opened two new branches."
Snape looked bewildered.
"Dumbledore couldn't foresee what would happen after him, so he needs someone to keep an eye out— I believe he trusted you a lot," Felix remarked, feeling sentimental. "You can surely observe for a few more years; I'm sure you have more than one candidate in mind."
Snape stared at him for a moment, then slowly said, "You're the first on the list, followed by... Potter," he paused, "I've also considered McGonagall and Amelia Bones."Felix was intrigued to help him analyze. "Dumbledore knew I wasn't lacking in wands, remember that blackthorn wand? I found I could integrate the Book of Runes into the wand, and I recently acquired a good one. As for Harry— well, he still has potential, with the Elder Wand, he could advance further, but you two don't get along, and you'd be reluctant to give it to him. McGonagall... well, she's not young anymore; Amelia might have been strong once, but now as Minister of Magic, she hardly has time or inclination for magical research; she might be the unluckiest Minister of Magic in history."
"So don't make hasty decisions. The next generation, or the one after that, should have good candidates. The key is to find someone who perfectly fits your intentions," he concluded.
Snape took a deep breath, anger showing on his gaunt cheeks.
"What do you think this is? This is the biggest crisis the wizarding world has ever faced. Grindelwald is inciting trouble everywhere—"
"Do you know what Grindelwald has done?"
"I watch the news, Felix Harp!" Snape panted, "There are reports of him appearing in places of turmoil. He proposed the Wizarding Decalogue. One of which is about reciprocal retaliation, wizards are not weak creatures to be bullied; and another calls for wizard unity, not allowing any theft of wizarding power to occur; then there's the return of magic... these theories are marketable."
"What do you think of these decrees?" Felix asked calmly.
Snape furrowed his brows.
"They're too radical."
"But they sound like something Grindelwald would say, don't they? Anyway, they can be changed; relevant laws are currently a blank slate—" Felix said lightly, Snape looked startled.
"Oh, I mean, Grindelwald can only shout slogans; we are the ones qualified to negotiate." Felix said, "By the way, I actually have something more important to discuss."
"What is it?" Snape's expression was serious.
"If negotiations go smoothly, there will inevitably be trade between the two sides, and potions are an important part of it, but you should know, some potions only work on wizards—"
"Lupin told me about it," Snape interrupted.
"Yes, in the future, there will need to be someone to work on the formulas, laws, and standards surrounding potions for ordinary people."
"So you thought of me?"
"Exactly."
"Slughorn is more suitable than I am."
"He's better at dealing with government departments, he's good at politicking... I need someone who can focus on research." Felix said, "And it's obvious, I trust you more."
...
The next day, at the Ministry of Magic.
"Grindelwald has indeed made a move," Ms. Bones said solemnly, laying a newspaper on the table. Felix, Ministry officials, and several members of the Order of the Phoenix stared intently at the magical photograph showing Grindelwald under attack from flames and explosions, the woman beside him ignored by everyone.
"What's going on?" Arthur Weasley gasped, breathless with shock. "Has war broken out?" Though not yet a senior official, Arthur had been allowed to attend the meeting due to his former position as head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.
"Not yet, he's still bound by his oath," Ms. Bones said thankfully. "He's doing it to save someone."
"Save someone?" Ludovic Bagman's round eyes widened, pointing to the ruins in the photograph. "He's doing it to save someone? Then who's responsible for this?"
"Of course, it's someone else in the photo," Ms. Bones said grimly. "Unfortunately, what I'm saying is true. He hasn't attacked anyone. The Muggle television captured some footage, more complete than the photo—Percy fetched the equipment."
The office door swung open, and Percy walked in, followed by a set of projection equipment.
Percy inserted a cassette and skillfully pressed the buttons. Moments later, moving images were projected onto the wall. Everyone watched intently. The footage shook, but still captured the surroundings.
The place looked like a chemical factory, desolate with tall walls topped with barbed wire, gates tightly shut, helicopter blades creating a deafening noise. A hand appeared in the footage, then disappeared, accompanied by urgent and excited voices: "Over there!"
The camera then panned to a corner of the factory.
Black flames shot into the air, pouring out from the windows and crevices of what seemed like a large workshop. These black fires seemed to come from hell, twisting like giant hands. Now the hands clenched, engulfing anything combustible within sight.
"This is—Fiendfyre?" Mr. Weasley said weakly.
Suddenly, a window broke, and a figure tumbled out, a woman covered in soot, scratches on her face and hands, her hair a mess. But she was laughing manically. Those present recognized her as the woman standing with Grindelwald in the newspaper.
Everyone watched in shock as the woman desperately waved her wand, flames soaring higher with her gestures, with a tendency to spread around. From above, it looked like smashing an ink bottle onto the ground. Gasps came from the reporters in the footage.
"Edith Pandora," Ms. Bones began, "news from the American Magical Congress. Her daughter mysteriously disappeared not long ago, and she sought help from the Congress, but they made a decision to completely conceal it, naturally not willing to help her. She disappeared for a few days, during which no one knew what happened, only that at five o'clock this morning, she suddenly appeared here and unleashed terrifying Fiendfyre."
"Her daughter... is she dead?" Sirius Black asked, wide-eyed.
"Not clear yet—"
"Don't fob me off!"
"I really don't know," Ms. Bones sighed. "But there—" She pointed to the massive factory building, "is a secret laboratory, presumably designed for wizards, so her daughter is unlikely to have survived, otherwise she wouldn't have..."
The room fell silent, the atmosphere seemed icy. Everyone silently watched the footage.
Edith Pandora swung her wand widely, conveying her emotions, though she occupied a small proportion of the frame. The Fiendfyre seemed lifelike, gradually distorting, flames being thrown about, burning the ground to a crisp, some perilously close to hitting her, but she showed no intention of avoiding them, instead constantly manipulating the flames to make them even larger.
"She wants to destroy this place," a senior Ministry official caught on. "She can't! Her magic isn't proficient," someone said.
"Unless she doesn't care about her life," another shouted.
"Where did she learn this magic from?"
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