"Yeah, but I guess not everyone will be pleased with the new policies," Harry turned around to find Ron looking in a different direction. Following his gaze, they saw four Hogwarts students huddled together playing Wizard Cards, each from a different house by coincidence.
"Eleanor Branstone," Ginny whispered, standing up to wave at someone across the room before sitting back down.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"The one wearing the bear hat, I think it might be a club meeting," Ginny said. "Her club is quite famous, you know. Somehow, they get their hands on all these unique recipes and secret sauces. I was thinking of checking it out next time they meet, especially since Luna shared her family's recipes—"
Ron choked, coughing repeatedly.
"After hearing what you said, I was actually looking forward to it," he said, looking dejected. "Not anymore."
"Don't say that," Ginny scolded, then added in what Harry thought was an unnecessarily guilty tone, "Remember, even Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans weren't taken seriously when they first came out. Think about their status now."
"Yeah, I can guess the role Luna's family recipes played in that," Ron said sharply.
Madam Rosmerta brought their drinks over, and Hermione tucked away a booklet, casually asking, "Hello, Madam Rosmerta, how's business these days?"
"Alright," she said nonchalantly, "Did you hear about the new wizarding town they built in Cornwall to settle foreign wizards? Called Rutherford?" Hermione nodded. "We got a few here too, but not many. Some from the Muggle community moved here temporarily as well."
She mentioned someone in particular.
"Do you know a witch named Carlotta Pinkstone? You must have heard of her?"
Hermione nodded again, "Yes, the one who advocates for the abolition of the Statute of Secrecy. I bet she's thrilled now."
"She's been locked up again," said Madam Rosmerta with a straight face.
"What?" Harry exclaimed incredulously. The others were also surprised, and Madam Rosmerta explained, "The day after wizards were fully exposed, she checked out of her room, thrilled about starting some big venture. The Ministry was asking everyone to keep a low profile then, but she was out flaunting her magic in front of Muggle landmarks. Got picked up by the Aurors within ten minutes... But with the peace treaty signed, she'll probably be released soon. Maybe she's already out." She added.
Then, Madam Rosmerta recommended a new dish, but as soon as Ron brought the snack box to the table, she turned to greet other guests. Harry and his friends began to sample the bizarre treats Fred and George had prepared meticulously.
"That woman brought it upon herself," Ron said with his mouth full. "Some people just have to go against the grain, you know? Dad had to work so much overtime during that period. I heard about a wizard family who, before moving, cast a rain spell on their Muggle neighbor's house, flooding it three feet deep..." He popped a pale yellow grape into his mouth, "Not bad, tastes like orange—what are you laughing at?" His face had unknowingly turned the color of a grape.
Harry struggled to keep a straight face, while Hermione and Ginny were shaking with laughter at the table. Ron kept asking what was wrong, and after a while, when he finally figured it out, he reluctantly forced Harry to eat a grey, unappetizing-looking grape, turning Harry's face bright red.
"Upgraded version, huh? Pretty fun," Ron huffed, pushing the rest of the grapes aside.
When everyone had regained their composure, at least enough not to burst into laughter unexpectedly, Hermione waved the booklet in her hand, "So, the Ministry suggests that wizards living in Muggle communities behave themselves. Now it's a joint enforcement, and every case will affect the future," she said, then laughed herself, "I'm sure Carlotta Pinkstone's name will definitely appear in the new regulations..."
"And that guy who turned his neighbor's house into a swimming pool, he'll be mentioned in the history books for sure," Ginny said.
"I'm not as confident as you are about getting Professor Binns to change his mind," Harry said. They laughed again.
The door opened from the outside, and Elphias Doge entered, looking weary and haggard, with deep-set eyes and an angry expression.
"Sorry, kids, I'm late," he apologized.
"What happened?" Harry asked, sensing his mood.
"Nothing," Doge said quickly, but the four of them stared at him intensely, and he sighed, "Alright... I had an argument with a madwoman on the way here." He said, frustrated.
"About what?" Ginny asked.
"Some rumors, conspiracy theories. I've been collecting details for Dumbledore's biography, and since Harry is tied up with school, I went to visit
names on the list..." He shook his head, a few strands of hair floating above his forehead.
The three stared at him blankly as he glanced at the other customers a few tables away and lowered his voice, "You know, the wizarding world has undergone quite a few changes recently. Taken individually, they might not seem significant, but together, they're quite unsettling... The discontent needed an outlet, and naturally, the big names became targets for venting, even Dumbledore..."
"But Professor Harp, Ms. Bones, and the Ministry staff, the Order of the Phoenix... they're all doing their best for all wizards—don't those dissatisfied people realize these measures might prevent hundreds, if not thousands, of conflicts in the future?" Harry said angrily.
"Clearly, they don't understand," Doge said calmly.
"They only know their lives have changed, and whether these changes are for better or worse will take time to prove. They're filled with fear for the future," he added understandingly.
Harry and his friends exchanged silent glances.
"But Mr. Doge, we rarely hear such views in school, and they're not in the newspapers," Hermione said, puzzled.
"Ah, I guess it's because your young minds are still forming. As for the older folks," Doge said slowly, "many wizards are technically alive but might as well be dead. They leave their homes once or twice a year, and their thoughts are outdated."
"That's easy to understand, just like our Auntie Muriel," Ron told Ginny.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"No need to remind me, she warned me after Bill and Fleur's wedding. If I wanted to borrow her tiara for my wedding, I had to follow ancient customs."
Harry gasped.
"How did you respond to her?" Ron asked.
Ginny waved her hand with a cheeky smile, "I told her not to worry, I'm planning to have the wedding in the sky, and I'll provide every guest with a flying broom..."
Ron looked at Harry with a strange expression, then gave a thumbs up, "That's brilliant! I can't wait to see it."
"If that's the case, make sure to invite me. I'd love to see that too," Doge chuckled. Then he noticed all four staring at him intently, looking somewhat confused, "…Did I say something wrong? I may be over a hundred years old, but I still take the broom out for a spin in the yard from time to time…"
"Mr. Doge?" Hermione said cautiously, "Did you just eat one of the grapes from the table?"
"Oh, yes, I picked one up... What about it?"
All four hurriedly shook their heads, trying to appear innocent. Hermione whispered a word, "Fifteen minutes." The others quickly realized she was referring to the duration it takes for the multi-flavored grapes to change one's skin color, "Mr. Doge, let's talk about the biography," Harry hastily said, "I've written two more chapters, but I feel some parts might be misunderstood..."
He signaled for Hermione to take the manuscript out of her beaded bag, trying not to look at the green, wrinkled face.
Doge took the thick parchment from Hermione, reading intently. As he read, he said, "That's why I admire Mr. Harp. He's a visionary, especially about writing Dumbledore's biography. What's that phrase: foreseeing the enemy's moves. At first, I had my doubts..."
The rest of October passed in continuous rain, with a cold front creeping in and enveloping the country for the next two weeks, bringing temperatures close to freezing. Just before Halloween, the air finally dried up.
Compared to the enthusiasm sparked by magic in the chilly weather, governments worldwide were more concerned about the actions of the international wizarding organization, reputed to be as influential as the United Nations but with stronger enforcement. The Statute of Secrecy alone had been in effect for three hundred years, longer than the existence of most countries in the world.
On October 27th, the headquarters of the federation finally showed signs of activity.
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