Felix patted the dragon's back. "Your presence is somewhat sensitive. Well, not really, but to avoid any trouble, I'll cast a Disillusionment Charm on you before we send you to Charlie."
The dragon roared in understanding.
I'll follow your lead.
Then its size began to shrink rapidly. Valen hurried back, climbing onto Felix's shoulder to look down as the dragon, once as large as a small square, shrank from sixty to seventy feet long to half its size, soon making it difficult even to find a place to stand.
The dragon whimpered, struggling to open its cloudy eyes.
"Don't worry," Felix reassured it casually, floating beside it. "Tuck in your wings."
The dragon, now hardly a dragon and only twice the size of Valen, obediently folded its wings and then dropped straight down, caught deftly by Felix. After tucking in its wings, it looked even smaller, almost pitiable.
Felix descended towards the ground, performing several hand gestures at a certain height. Hogwarts' defenses did not stop him, and he continued to fall.
Inside the castle, Professor McGonagall was reviewing documents. She had just been in contact with Madam Maxime, exchanging defensive measures and term start dates for their schools. The British Ministry of Magic had been very active recently, serving as a reference for France and other European ministries, which have started to make contact with Muggle governments independently of the International Confederation of Wizards.
She heard a knock on the window and looked up to see Felix waving at her from outside.
"You're the Deputy Headmaster now, Felix," Professor McGonagall scolded as she opened the window, glaring at him as he climbed in, with Valen already having jumped down to keep a safe distance, not wanting to get scolded too.
Professor McGonagall led Felix away, huffing as she walked. "...What if someone saw you? And, what are you holding?"
"A lizard," Felix said calmly, as two sparks shot out from the dragon's nostrils.
Professor McGonagall ignored his nonsense, bending down to scrutinize the creature sprawled on a small table, flapping its wings in confusion, then her eyebrows knotted tightly together.
"Is this... a dragon? A Ukrainian Ironbelly?"
"Cough, if anyone asks, I'll say it's a mutated lizard with a complicated origin," Felix confessed honestly. Professor McGonagall glared at him, demanding an answer. "Alright, it came from Gringotts," he explained briefly.
Professor McGonagall frowned at first, then relaxed.
"The Goblin Brotherhood, another secret goblin insurrection group?" Insurrection, naturally, against wizards.
"Not exactly," Felix shook his head. "They operate openly and advocate non-violent ideals, at least on the surface." He told Professor McGonagall, "This is quite rare among goblins."
Broderick Bode did not wish the negotiations to proceed smoothly and intended to make the dragon guarding the vaults cause some commotion. Of course, he didn't care if a few wizards died in the process; it would all be an accident. Felix didn't care either.
Professor McGonagall had not been involved in the Ministry's affairs. Once she knew it wouldn't affect the negotiations with goblins, she changed the subject.
"Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are in a similar situation. Their ministries are secretly contacting Muggle governments. The news hasn't been made public," she glanced at Felix, a smile appearing. "Your actions not only influenced decisions in Britain but also affected other countries."
Felix nodded, expecting this outcome.
As the first Ministry to openly liaise with a Muggle government, Hogwarts and the British Ministry of Magic attracted global attention. Everyone, including the International Confederation of Wizards, was watching their every move, waiting for the outcome of the first official negotiation.
"If acceptable, the upcoming negotiations might set a benchmark for communication between the magical and non-magical worlds." Felix had seen many observers from other countries at the Ministry these past few days.
"Besides, Uagadou has taken Hogwarts' approach, establishing shelters around the school for wizards who have revealed their identities."
"Are those the semi-public mediums, fortune-tellers, and members of mystical sects?"
"I heard even Muggle magicians have received a lot of harassment," Professor McGonagall said oddly. "Some wizards are staying in tribes, which are relatively exclusive and outsiders can't enter. Castelobruxo in Brazil is hidden in the rainforest; the harsh conditions there mean there's no immediate concern."
"What about Ilvermorny? You've left out that school."
"Ilvermorny is different from the other schools," Professor McGonagall's face shadowed with concern. "The living conditions for wizards there are not optimistic—you know, young wizards always show some differences, and the local Muggles
—'No-Majs'—have even started a movement to identify wizards among them..." She shook her head. "Some companies openly advertise in newspapers recruiting wizards; of course, there's opposition too, with all sorts of organizations, religious groups sprouting up, some registered, some operating in secret."
"So, the American Wizarding Congress had no choice but to recall all students to prevent accidents."
Felix pondered for a moment. "The problem with American wizards is difficult to solve and now is not the time. After Amelia initially reaches an agreement with the Muggle government, it can be promoted under the name of the International Confederation of Wizards—the Confederation's reason for existence has largely disappeared with the complete failure of the Statute of Secrecy, it must find a new purpose."
"What role do you hope it will play?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Transition from concealing wizards to mediating between wizards and Non-Wizards, establishing globally applicable regulations," Felix said.
Professor McGonagall's eyes flickered with uncertainty, feeling alienated from that future. She glanced at the dragon trying to adjust to its new size, her uncertainty fading, replaced by determination.
Felix's gaze moved to the portraits of former headmasters on the office wall, stopping in front of a golden-framed portrait. Dumbledore in the painting winked at him.
"Can you come up with a new quip I haven't heard before?" Felix asked.
"That test won't work," Dumbledore smiled in the portrait. "There are too many ways to cheat."
Felix considered. "Should I add a candy shop to your painting?"
Dumbledore laughed again. "Oh, no need. Hogwarts' little ones—the Magic Painting Club students have created a giant Hogsmeade scroll. It has not only Honeydukes but also Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop and The Three Broomsticks. That painting is hung in the Trophy Room."
Felix nodded, then mentioned, "The Resurrection Stone was destroyed after you left, Snape still has what you gave him, and he's got a new job that might keep him busy for a decade or so."
Dumbledore looked slightly troubled. "So Severus's retirement plans have to be postponed?" But his expression lacked sincerity, almost seeming delighted.
"I suppose so," Felix said.
"One more thing," he added, "Aberforth is planning to sell the Hog's Head Inn. When school starts, Classroom Seven and the Slytherin Chamber will be reopened; both places need supervision."
"I hope he gets a good price for the inn," Dumbledore said.
Felix smiled. "Unless he cleans the place up properly. Every time I pass by, I can smell the goat and the floor seems like it hasn't been washed in centuries—so don't get your hopes up too high."
"For those enduring hardship, hope is a precious thing," Dumbledore said calmly, his gaze returning to Professor McGonagall.
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