Hogwarts, Hog's Head Pub
"Make wizards great again! That sounds pretty good, and I was a little excited when I first heard it."
"But is the meditation method really so magical? I heard that it seems to be only useful for Squibs, but it won't be of much help to us."
At a table on the right, a middle-aged wizard took a sip of wine, waved the Prophet newspaper in his hand, and said to his friend opposite.
"Who knows? What's said in the newspaper is quite impressive. However, my child is a wizard and does not need the so-called meditation method," the wizard opposite echoed loudly, and when he mentioned his child, his tone was mixed with a trace of pride.
"However, it is an opportunity for the Squibs," the middle-aged wizard said with some regret. "Unfortunately, 80% of the chores will still have to be done by wizards in the future."
"..."
Not far from these wizards, in the corner on the other side of the bar, an old man with white hair and a handsome blond man sat together.
It was Dumbledore and Lockhart.
"Lockhart, it seems that ordinary wizards don't have much reaction to your research." Dumbledore raised the butterbeer on the table and joked with Lockhart.
"Haha, that's normal, Headmaster," Lockhart replied with a smile. "No matter when or where, most people will only pay close attention to their own interests."
"My research is currently very helpful to Squibs. It's okay for young wizards, but for most ordinary wizards, the current meditation method can't help them much."
"But in the future, we will definitely study meditation methods that can also be effective for adult wizards."
Hearing this, Dumbledore nodded.
Lockhart, on the other hand, raised the butterbeer in front of him and took a curious sip.
He prefers to drink tea because tea can keep one's mind clear and their brain alert.
However, when he really needs to drink, he won't refuse.
After all, many times, alcohol plays the role of a catalyst.
However, after Lockhart finished drinking the butterbeer in front of him, he felt it was different from the beer he imagined. The alcoholic feeling was very light, not overpowering, and it felt more like a soft drink.
No wonder many students like to drink butterbeer.
Well, this is good. He can bring it to Vientiane Book Café as a specialty in the future.
While Lockhart was thinking, suddenly
"Lockhart, I heard Minerva mention that you wanted to provide a certain amount of donation to Hogwarts every year in the future."
"Are you aiming for the chance to become a member of Hogwarts' Honorary Board?"
Dumbledore's question came to his ears. Lockhart nodded and asked expectantly: "Headmaster, is that possible?"
"Of course." Dumbledore nodded slowly. "The future development of Hogwarts requires more funds."
"Especially if Squibs are recruited as students in the future, the amount of funding needed will be even greater."
"But..."
Hearing Dumbledore's 'but,' Lockhart, who was originally cheerful, felt his heart sink.
"I don't know if Minerva has mentioned to you that the members of the school board have been doing a lot against you recently."
"I know this." Lockhart nodded slightly. "This is why I want to be a member of the school board. In this case, they will not be able to find excuses to interfere with my research later."
At this point, Lockhart's tone was full of frustration, as if he was confiding in Dumbledore.
"What if this group of pure-blood families gets the meditation method that I have worked so hard to study? I can imagine that they will definitely try their best to hide the meditation method in the future and only spread it among their own families. It is absolutely impossible for ordinary Squibs to get the meditation method without signing a strict contract."
"Right, Headmaster?"
After hearing what Lockhart said, Dumbledore remained silent and made no clear reply.
He knew what pure-blood families were like.
It was precisely because of this understanding that he was worried about the conflict between Lockhart and the pure-blood families intensifying. What consequences could there be?
He felt a headache just thinking about it.
The pure-blood families have deep roots, and there are many old wizards behind them.
And Lockhart is not bad either. His talent can be said to be top-notch, coupled with his firm, even stubborn character, and idealistic goals.
What trouble will arise in the end?
He witnessed with his own eyes how two extremely talented wizards embarked on the path of the Dark Lord step by step.
If he saw his student becoming the third Dark Lord, his blood pressure would probably rise immediately.
Fortunately, the student in front of him showed no signs of being a dark wizard and still retained his enthusiasm for knowledge and research.
If he really became a dark wizard and embarked on the path of the Dark Lord, Dumbledore didn't know whether he should be the first to act—to completely eliminate hidden dangers for the British wizarding world.
After all, the current wizarding world cannot withstand repeated turmoil.
He was already old, and now he just wanted to resolve Tom's matter and keep the wizarding world in peace and order.
At this moment, Lockhart was a little disappointed to see Dumbledore's silence.
If Dumbledore had promised to stand by his side and resist the pure-blood families, then the pressure on his plan would have been reduced by at least half.
Immediately afterward,
"Lockhart, can you talk about your future goals? What do you want to do in the future?" Dumbledore's abrupt question stunned Lockhart for a moment.
He has a lot of plans for the future. If he really revealed them, Dumbledore might just end his life.
However, this was also an opportunity. With his thoughts turning, Lockhart said as if joking: "Headmaster, my goal… It's a bit idealistic."
"I like reading books. Whether they are books from the wizarding world or the Muggle world, I have read them all and learned a lot of knowledge from them."
"Headmaster, you may not know this, but the Muggle world is developing faster and faster. If you understand it deeply, you will be surprised by the advancements Muggles have made."
"In comparison, our wizarding world is still a bit rigid, and in some places, it is even more backward than the Muggles."
"Oh?" After Dumbledore heard this, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, as if what Lockhart said was somewhat beyond his expectation.
What does this have to do with Muggles?
However, he continued to listen patiently.
Lockhart, on the other hand, continued to explain: "Headmaster, I once experienced a Muggle war during an adventure."
"You may not imagine that in the Muggle world there are machines called machine guns and rocket launchers, which are very powerful."
"Only a Muggle with simple training, holding these weapons, can easily kill an adult wizard as long as they choose the appropriate method."
"At that time, I was thinking that the wizarding world should make progress. At the very least, it cannot lag behind the Muggles."
After hearing what Lockhart said, Dumbledore nodded slightly.
He agreed with this point. If you fall behind, you will be vulnerable. He understood this truth.
After Lockhart saw Dumbledore nodding, he said excitedly: "I think meditation is the key to progress in the wizarding world. Headmaster, you and I have studied it together before."
"You should know the potential of meditation. It can completely promote the further development of the magic system in the wizarding world. Let the entire wizarding world usher in new changes."
"Headmaster, let's join forces. I believe that we can definitely make wizarding civilization more prosperous."
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Lockhart's request made Dumbledore feel a little confused.
It reminded him of many years ago when Gellert wanted to join forces with him, also for the sake of wizards.
And now, hearing the same request again brought Dumbledore back to those past memories.
Thoughts were swirling in his mind, and Dumbledore fell silent while Lockhart waited patiently for Dumbledore's reply.
Whether Dumbledore agreed or refused, Lockhart could accept it.
He was even prepared for Dumbledore to refuse.
However, after a moment...
"Lockhart, since it is beneficial to the development of wizards, I think I have no reason to refuse." Dumbledore showed a gentle smile to Lockhart and nodded slowly to express his agreement.
"Really? Headmaster?" After Lockhart heard this, a trace of astonishment flashed across his face, and he asked subconsciously. He had been prepared for Dumbledore to refuse.
"Of course, Lockhart." Dumbledore stroked his beard and said kindly, "As the Daily Prophet said, meditation is an epoch-making miracle. I have no reason to let a miracle like this disappear."
Lockhart's words reminded Dumbledore of his good friend, Gellert Grindelwald.
They both had talents far superior to ordinary people, similar ideals, and they even made the same requests of him.
The only difference was that now he was old, but at the same time, this time, he was not bound by a blood oath and had no emotional grudges.
Because of the blood oath, he could not take action against Gellert. Because of his sister's accidental death, the relationship between the two became extremely complicated.
He could only watch as Gellert became the enemy of the entire world step by step, and finally...
But this time, he didn't have so many constraints.
Lockhart was his student, and meditation is the most promising research result he had seen in recent years that could change the world.
Although it is still immature, as the Daily Prophet said, it is an epoch-making miracle.
There was no way he could let such a miracle die.
But equally, it was impossible for him to watch his student's conflict with the pure-blood families become more and more intensified, leading him down a path Dumbledore did not want to see.
Since he couldn't stop the promotion of meditation, he decided to join it.
He just wished it could be done in a more peaceful way.
Dumbledore thought silently to himself.
At this moment, Lockhart felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky, and his heart filled with ecstasy. With Dumbledore joining him, he knew that many problems would be solved at once.
For example, Dumbledore could directly resist the pressure from the school board.
Also, given Dumbledore's status, as long as he was willing to speak, Lockhart believed that the top magical journals in Europe would treat him objectively.
While he was thinking about how to solve a series of difficult problems through Dumbledore,
suddenly,
"Lockhart, I will discuss your status as an honorary school board member when I get back to Hogwarts."
"However, you mentioned before that you had experienced a Muggle war. Can you tell me more about your experience in the Muggle world?" Dumbledore's question surprised Lockhart.
The surprise was that the honorary school board membership seemed secure.
However, what was surprising was why Dumbledore was so curious about the Muggle world?
At this moment, Lockhart's mind was racing.
Could it be that Dumbledore agreed to join because of the potential threat from the Muggle world?
It was also possible that, given the rapid development of the Muggle world, in a few years, the wizarding world would no longer be able to remain hidden.
As the most powerful wizard in the world, it was normal for Dumbledore to be wary of danger in times of peace.
In this case, it's time to put a little more pressure on him.
Looking at Dumbledore's gaze, Lockhart organized his thoughts and began to speak in a somewhat deceitful (but not entirely untruthful) manner: "Headmaster, when I was on an expedition, I stayed at a Muggle's house for a while."
"It just so happened that the person was a technology expert in the Muggle world, much like a master of potions or alchemy in our wizarding world."
"When I was chatting with him, he talked freely about his research and the advancements in his field. After listening, I was actually shocked inside, as if a new world had opened up. I have to say that the Muggles we have often ignored have mastered a power that is no less than magic, and this power is called technology."
"For example, he mentioned developing something called the Internet. Information can be spread thousands of miles away with just a few keystrokes. It is said that in the future, pictures and videos can be transmitted, and even face-to-face real-time communication can be achieved, much like our two-way mirrors."
"I was thinking at that time, if this technology is truly implemented in the future, will our Statute of Secrecy still be effective?"
"Also, it is said that those large Muggle countries have launched satellites into outer space. They are reaching distant stars, an area we have never touched, and Muggles have already begun to explore it."
"Furthermore, according to my friend's chat, they are researching some space-based weapons that can be launched directly from the starry sky. With just one strike, an island could be destroyed in a very short period of time."
"And..."
"..."
Dumbledore's face grew more serious as he listened to what Lockhart said.
Originally, he just wanted to know if Lockhart had changed because of his experiences with Muggles.
But he hadn't expected that after so many years of not paying attention to the Muggle world, there would be so many changes.
It seemed that he should pay more attention to the Muggle world in the future.
Afterward, Dumbledore silently memorized what Lockhart had said, preparing to verify them one by one later.
He preferred to trust what he witnessed with his own eyes.
Nurmengard, Austria
Nurmengard is located on a high mountain in Austria. It is a huge castle, or rather, a small city would be more appropriate.
When it was founded, Nurmengard was famous throughout the wizarding world.
It was the stronghold of the Saints.
As for the Saints, this was the organization of followers of Gellert Grindelwald, the previous Dark Lord of the wizarding world.
At its peak, thousands of wizards lived here, and it was extremely prosperous.
But as Grindelwald admitted defeat and imprisoned himself, Nurmengard became more like a prison, becoming desolate and lonely in a short period of time, with its streets and alleys deserted.
In all of Nurmengard, it seemed that only the self-imprisoned Gellert Grindelwald and some Squibs with custodial duties remained.
There were no other wizards, as they seemed to be wary of Grindelwald's influence.
Despite this, the Squibs with custodial duties were reduced to servants delivering food in Nurmengard.
At this time, Grindelwald was in his study, sitting at his desk, motionless, as if deep in thought.
He had white hair and a somewhat aged face, but what was strange was that his left eye's pupil was platinum-gold, and paired with his serious face, it revealed a hint of majesty.
In front of his desk, an open newspaper was placed on the table.
It was the Daily Prophet from the British wizarding world.
On the front of the newspaper, there was a picture of Lockhart giving a public lecture. At the same time, the headline read:
Meditation, an Epoch-Making Miracle - Make Wizards Great Again!
After a moment, Grindelwald's platinum-gold left eye pupil returned to its normal black color.
At the same time, he muttered to himself.
"It's interesting. He won't be easy to handle in the future."
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