A long-named but short, yet significant and far-reaching law began to spread, officially titled "The Charter of the International Wizards' Confederation and the International Pan-Magical Alliance."
This law, born under special circumstances, has its unique charm. Besides regulating the responsibilities, rights, and duties of all wizards, it also stipulates the handling of relations between the magical and non-magical worlds, short-, medium-, and long-term goals, and streamlines the management boundaries between the two, among other issues.
This was the first official appearance of the "International Pan-Magical Alliance" in legal texts—
Its impact is profound, indicating that the spontaneously formed Pan-Magical Alliance divisions in various countries are no longer loose regional organizations. It almost reveals to the public that the International Pan-Magical Alliance will play a pivotal role in the future.
Along with the Charter of the Confederation and Alliance, a decree was issued from the Confederation headquarters: a copy for every wizard. Even those wizards hidden in the most remote corners received their copies, either passed on by friends or delivered by local Ministry of Magic officials.
At the school, Harry organized a club activity before Halloween. They chatted while enjoying food and drinks, discussing the content of the charter.
"Quite a few dark wizards are in trouble," Ron said with a grin. "They've really been out of luck lately, sifted through like lice over and over."
"Mom said they have to read in prison too," Neville said, his eyes twinkling with excitement—a rare emotion for Neville, but Harry thought it seemed like schadenfreude.
"It's true, and the requirements are stricter," Susan Bones said, her lips curling up.
"Reminds me of the busy time preparing for the O.W.L.s exams, truly making life seem unbearable." Daphne Greengrass laughed much more brightly compared to Neville.
"Dad's considering adding illustrations to every law," Luna said.
"I'd buy it for the collection, Luna," Hermione said, holding the booklet and reading aloud, "Apart from the preface and conclusion, the 'Charter of the Confederation and Alliance' is divided into seven chapters, each corresponding to a major theme. These chapters are—
Magical World General Convention;
Principles of Interaction between Individuals (Families) of the Magical and Non-Magical Worlds;
Rights, Responsibilities, and Duties of the Ministry of Magic and Social Organizations;
Regulations on Magical Creatures, Ghosts, and Magical Phenomena;
Rights, Responsibilities, and Duties of Humanoid Races;
Suggestions for Cooperation with the Non-Magical World;
Dispute and Conflict Resolution Methods and Necessary Measures—
concise and comprehensive, covering almost every aspect. And I noticed the new law incorporates some provisions of the Secrecy Act..."
Naturally, the complete exposure of wizards doesn't mean that all existing laws no longer apply. For example, the dress code for wizards no longer needs to be as impeccable as before (although most wizards have never achieved this, as improper attire has been one of the most common legal violations since the Secrecy Act was enacted). This part of the content has been significantly reduced, retaining only two provisions: prohibiting the exposure of genitalia in public places; prohibiting the wearing of clothes or accessories that may cause misunderstandings.
Harry stared, wondering who proposed retaining the first provision, questioning if wizards had a habit of exposing themselves. But he couldn't help but remember the old wizard in a dress he encountered during the Quidditch World Cup...
"What constitutes clothes and accessories that may cause misunderstandings?" Justin asked, puzzled.
Hermione was about to speak when Ernie Macmillan interrupted, "Hold on—I think I remember something. My uncle mentioned in a letter... Last Monday, a wizard being interviewed on the street was asked by the reporter if his pumpkin hat was some kind of bizarre fetish. He said it was in preparation for Halloween—"
"That sounds pretty normal," Justin commented, confused.
"There's more—" Ernie said, holding back laughter, "The man demonstrated it for the reporter, and a bunch of live bats flew out of the ghostly pumpkin's mouth, scaring the reporter and the cameraman pretty badly." Several students laughed, while Hermione, with a stern face, said, "The aftermath was quite troublesome, with Muggle animal rights organizations accusing the wizard of animal abuse."
Hannah Abbott, looking at the booklet, asked, "But the second chapter, article thirteen, mentions that wizards can demonstrate magic to Muggles."
"—Under the condition of being invited, or in special locations, like the new Diagon Alley. Otherwise, wizards should try to cast spells in Muggle communities without attracting attention," Hermione added, then shrugged, "Actually, I've found that many wizarding laws aren't so strict but are based on the actual situation and severity of the problem. If I perform tricks at home for my parents, there
's definitely no problem."
But another word from her caught the students' attention, and Luna hummed a quirky tune, saying, "New Diagon Alley, I really want to see it."
...
Back in her office, Amelia Bones stared at the desk piled high with documents, her eyes wide—she couldn't even see a palm-sized space on the desk. She stood there frozen, and Felix felt she might suffocate. Fortunately, Mr. Weasley came to deliver documents, telling her only a small portion needed her immediate attention.
"The rest are just thought necessary for you to know," Mr. Weasley explained.
Ms. Bones rolled up her sleeves, pulling out a monocle from her pocket, seemingly ready for a big job.
"No rush, Amelia. Nothing earth-shattering, right?" Felix looked at Mr. Weasley, who immediately understood and said, "No, and the Minister even came back for a bit. If there's anything particularly urgent, we'll report it."
"Let's have a drink," Felix conjured a bottle of wine from thin air. They sat on the guest sofa, drinking and chatting. Mr. Weasley took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead, which was beginning to shine. Felix noticed his hair was noticeably thinner.
Ms. Bones sipped her wine and swirled her glass, asking, "Arthur, how's your new department running?"
"All good," Mr. Weasley perked up, "Apart from Scrimgeour's side, we've had several collaborations with the Muggle government. The Muggle Prime Minister even allocated a small piece of land in the city for us. I spent three days with the new colleagues transforming it into a small Diagon Alley street, bustling with visitors. Some events—like the release of magic books, free gifts, are held there. A few companies responded to the Ministry of Magic's call, like The Daily Prophet and The Quibbler, distributing thousands of newspapers and magazines to tourists for free—"
Felix guessed from Mr. Weasley's relieved expression that he had probably interacted with more people recently than in his entire life before.
"You mean giving them away for free? Without charging?" Ms. Bones asked curiously, "I don't know much about The Quibbler's editor, Lovegood, but The Daily Prophet..."
"They were unsold past issues of newspapers or magazines, not a big impact for them," Mr. Weasley explained.
"Any merchants moving into the new Diagon Alley yet?" Felix asked.
"Not yet, but we've made some preparations," Mr. Weasley said, "We contacted the parents of little wizards from Muggle families, asking if they were interested in opening shops in New Diagon Alley. Actually, many of them are Squibs—or similar, as Mr. Ollivander told me—at least capable of using a dedicated wand, and with a bit of training, they can start working."
"Has the Squib Rights Association contacted you?" Ms. Bones asked, "They might be interested."
Mr. Weasley nodded, then shook his head, "They did, but their enthusiasm wasn't strong." Seeing Felix and Ms. Bones' slightly surprised looks, he smiled for the first time, "Most people who know they are Squibs have relatives alive, and many families are happy to reunite with their children who are away."
"Any other news?"
"After signing the contract, there were a dozen or so anti-wizard protests, but none gained much momentum. Our protective spells ensure that those with ill intent can't get in, and Muggle firearms are rendered useless as well," Amelia Bones said with a hint of excitement in her voice.
"There have been some mishaps, though," Mr. Weasley admitted, looking slightly embarrassed as he wiped his brow with a handkerchief. "During the event, two wands specifically designed for use were accidentally lost."
"What happened?" Ms. Bones asked, sitting up straight on the sofa with a serious look on her face.
"The plan was to roughly estimate the number of Squibs by holding an event for Muggles to experience using a wand. Mr. Ollivander further refined the wands by incorporating materials from magical creatures to enhance their sensitivity... Essentially, we ended up with a rough ratio of one magical response in every two hundred attempts," Mr. Weasley explained.
Felix nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin. "So, there could be about three hundred thousand Squibs in Britain alone? No, that term might not be entirely accurate. Most of them likely have an even lower sensitivity to magic, unable to see even common magical phenomena, such as ghosts and Dementors."
"Exactly," Mr. Weasley agreed. "Mr. Ollivander believes that even with these specially designed wands, only a minority will be able to cast spells successfully. A member of the Department of Mysteries suggested that magical ability might fluctuate like the tides—starting with the first generation of Squibs, magical ability gradually declines until it reaches a turning point in a certain generation, becoming more pronounced..."
"That's an interesting hypothesis," Felix commented, intrigued.
If the theory held, then the parents and direct relatives of Muggle-born witches and wizards might be able to use these specialized wands. However, given their age, the scant amount of magic in their bodies (or souls) would be almost impossible to mobilize, only capable of releasing preset magical tricks with the aid of a wand.
"However, during the event, a Muggle suddenly rushed out and stole two of the specialized wands from our staff. Muggle law enforcement couldn't catch up, and our people were reluctant to use more forceful spells. In the end, the thief escaped into a residential area," Mr. Weasley explained. "Scrimgeour and officials from the Muggle government are working together to track down the culprit."
"Weren't the test wands enchanted with tracking spells?" Ms. Bones asked.
"We hadn't gotten around to that yet."
Unlike Ms. Bones' serious demeanor, Felix seemed unfazed. "Let them search. Incidents like this will only become more common. We just need to plug the leaks as they appear, whether through tracking or location spells to prevent such problems."
Hearing this, Ms. Bones' expression softened. Then, there was a knock at the door. Scrimgeour entered, his thick tea-brown hair streaked with gray, and deeper wrinkles on his face making him look significantly older. Ms. Bones invited him to sit, and sure enough, he was there to report on the stolen wands.
"We've found the person, and it's been preliminarily ruled as an accident. The court hearing is in two weeks, and I'll be attending in person," Scrimgeour said. This was his one hundred thirty-second case involving both wizards and Muggles—from minor complaints about prank spells to more serious offenses like flooding a house or setting a tree on fire with unauthorized fireworks. The outcomes were mostly fines, but as these were joint operations, the initial sentencing could set precedents for future hearings, so he always made it a point to be present and diligent.
"Rufus, you could delegate some of this work," Ms. Bones suggested, trying to offer some comfort.
"It'll ease up after this," Scrimgeour replied hastily. "Amelia, I've copied every verdict for you, along with comments from other Wizengamot members. You should review them. According to our agreement, if there are no objections, the new laws will be approved and come into effect next year, with annual adjustments."
"So, the paperwork on your desk—"
"Ah, two stacks are mine."
"Rufus, you need rest, or help. Otherwise, you'll wear yourself out," Ms. Bones said softly.
"Someone has to do the work. I don't trust anyone else to handle it," Scrimgeour replied coldly.
Ms. Bones wanted to say more, but Felix mentioned a name: "Barty Crouch."
All three turned to look at him.
"As far as I know, Barty Crouch is very skilled in legal matters. He's been out of the public eye for nearly three years. If he's willing—" Felix said slowly. "Well, I suppose he might be disheartened by past events, but
he's a resilient man. If someone tells him the Ministry needs him, I think he would agree without hesitation... The best person to persuade him would have to have a good relationship with him, possibly a former subordinate or a close friend, but they must be strict, stubborn, and a bit more eccentric..."
Ms. Bones' mouth twitched. She and Mr. Weasley turned to look at Scrimgeour, who seemed like the perfect candidate.
"Barty Crouch is still in prison," Scrimgeour said sharply, locking eyes with Felix.
Their gazes met in mid-air. For them, past conflicts were long gone, and no one was looking to reopen old wounds—Felix had personally killed the younger Crouch, yet he still recommended Barty Crouch. But ideological differences remained, with Scrimgeour being a battle-hardened veteran, somewhat inheriting the elder Crouch's ideology.
"It's just two months," Felix said. "Changing the location of his imprisonment or arranging a solitary cell would have a similar effect. Oh, and I can recommend someone to serve him... a house-elf named Dobby, if you recall..."
The others stared, pondering the feasibility of such a plan.
"On what grounds?" Mr. Weasley finally asked softly.
"As a consultant," Felix replied without hesitation. Ms. Bones rolled her eyes.
In the end, Scrimgeour said dryly, "I'll try to convince Barty—"
"Actually, I had Mad-Eye Moody in mind," Felix said with a strange tone.
Scrimgeour's hair and beard bristled, his knuckles cracking as if restraining himself from shaking Felix by the neck. After a long pause, he coldly agreed, "Then it's settled," and stormed out.
"Rufus is actually pleased, I can tell," Ms. Bones said. After Mr. Weasley left, she asked Felix, curious, "Do you really not mind Crouch getting out early— I mean, okay," she sighed, "working from a cell?"
"It's just a month or two early. Besides, does his release affect me? Obviously not."
...
The introduction of the "Charter of the Confederation and Alliance" wasn't the end, but the beginning of a new round of negotiations. This time, it wasn't on a small scale. With the charter and the success story of the British Ministry of Magic as references, negotiations would unfold in dozens of countries simultaneously.
As for the United States, half a month passed, and the Magical Congress of the United States hadn't found anything. They even risked accessing top-secret government documents, all for naught. MACUSA President Seraphina Picquery vaguely mentioned a solution during a meeting, but it would have to wait until she returned to implement. Felix hoped it wouldn't cause any trouble.
For the rest of the wizarding world, the hottest topic was the "Charter of the Confederation and Alliance." Newspapers, radio, and even Muggle TV programs constantly broadcasted, with experts analyzing its content.
This foundational document, akin to a wizarding constitution, outlined a rich array of extensions and clearly stated its bottom lines. The ambitious long-term plans mentioned in the penultimate chapter—such as magical technology, joint hospitals, rapid planting, space travel, extraterrestrial colonization, limb regeneration—suggested a term: full of sincerity.
Although Felix could achieve these plans now, he preferred to extend the realization over thirty, fifty, or more years.
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