Chapter 708: Babajide Akingbade's Concerns
"We meet again, Mr. Harp," Babajide Akingbade said tiredly, extending his hand to Felix for a shake. "Can we find a place to talk? I had a brief chat with Amelia before coming. I told her you've done well."
Just as Felix was about to nod, a steady voice interjected, "Excuse me, may I join?"
"Let's go together, then, Horace," Babajide Akingbade said, seeing no objection from Felix. "Horace is the President of the American Wizarding Congress, barely a year into his tenure," he added, Felix hearing a note of commiseration in his voice.
Both were newcomers facing unprecedented historical crises, confronting the most challenging situations within those crises. Akingbade suddenly realized that rules that had been in place for hundreds of years were no longer effective, likening the situation to a box filled with Creavey's Wizarding Crackers dropping and shattering, each piece unique and seemingly impossible to piece back together. The piece represented by Horace was perhaps the most thoroughly crushed, possibly even trampled on.
"Hello, Mr. Harp," the President of the American Wizarding Congress introduced himself, "Horace Grinspan."
"Hello, Mr. Grinspan," Felix responded, recognizing a surname renowned in the American magical community, likely a descendant of one of the twelve original Aurors. "Both of you, follow me."
As he turned, Felix glanced at Amelia Bones, who was congratulating Mr. Weasley. Nearby stood two familiar yet unfamiliar faces—Felix couldn't immediately recall who they were—not Tonks, as she was with Lupin. Leading the way through a gap between golden chairs, he suddenly remembered: they were the Magic Ministers of France and Bulgaria.
Behind a large pillar, the trio found a spot near the front of the tent.
Felix observed the two men quietly, just as they did him.Akingbade's deep-set wrinkles and unkempt beard hinted at sleepless nights, likely poring over negotiation summaries delivered daily, analyzing their feasibility. In contrast, Horace Grinspan, clad in a gold-trimmed purple wizarding robe fitting for a wedding, appeared well-prepared. The American Wizarding Congress President, around his fifties or sixties—though likely older—had a stern and rigid demeanor, marked by fine lines around small, stiff eyes.
Felix quickly sketched their personalities in his mind. Facing Grinspan reminded him of Bartemius Crouch Sr.
Felix had no doubt that, despite Barty Crouch Jr.'s debacle, Crouch Sr. would have become a strong contender for Amelia Bones on the path to becoming the Minister of Magic, especially with Voldemort's overt return. During wartime, people yearn for a strong government, rendering Fudge's weakness useless—a reason he fervently denied Voldemort's survival.
However, the issues at hand were not solvable by sheer determination alone.
"Let's skip the pleasantries, Mr. Harp. The situation is dire, and the magical world needs your wisdom. You've planned for this, haven't you? You're an expert in this area, having anticipated the exposure of our world as inevitable. Recent actions by the British Ministry of Magic bear your influence."
"I've indeed considered this," Felix said directly to Akingbade. "I trust you've seen the report."
"More than once," Akingbade replied. "At the beginning of the month, it was the only proposal that seemed to predict the future situation. The latter half of the month was dominated by the British Ministry of Magic's dazzling actions, drawing global attention."
Everyone awaited a result.
Akingbade, burdened with immense pressure and sudden responsibility, hesitated to make decisions, ordering magical governments to hide in place and tentatively reach out to muggle governments for new agreements. Meanwhile, he had his assistants gather all of Felix's previous works, concluding that Felix indeed had substantial expertise.
"...Some conclusions have been verified. We underestimated the pace of muggle progress, making hiding our existence increasingly difficult. Compared to a hundred years ago, the global population has tripled, claiming vast lands and severely limiting wizards' activities."
"The change in population brings more than that," Felix added. "The number of wizards has also risen, exacerbating the issues mentioned and highlighting the dominant position wizards now hold in our world. From a higher perspective, this can be seen as a silent cooperation between wizards and non-wizards."
Horace Grinspan, momentarily taken aback, found logic in these thoughts after careful consideration.
Fairies, for example, did nothing wrong but their influence has waned.
Expanding the timeline to two hundred, five hundred, or a thousand years, this trend becomes glaringly apparent. He planned to review past statistics to see if the number of muggle-born wizards was indeed increasing
.
Akingbade, having reviewed numerous documents, intuitively agreed with this perspective. "So, as muggles develop and their population increases, claiming more land, the number of wizards also rises, leading to inevitable interaction between the two."
"It's just a matter of time," Felix agreed.
"Excellent insight," Akingbade complimented, then asked, "Do you plan to replicate and promote the practices of the British Ministry of Magic? The Pan-Magic Alliance, joint enforcement, exclusive wands, the Silencer groups, magical commerce, and other plans still on paper; I've noticed from recent negotiations that you've absorbed some of the enemy's ideas and refined them, making them less abrasive... bold and stunning. However, from my position, these nations are not isolated entities, and a terrifying chain reaction could occur, affecting everything."
This was Akingbade's greatest concern—if Bones and Felix failed, the worst impact would be on one country. If he failed, it would affect all wizards.
"That won't be necessary. The first step is always the hardest," Felix said.
"But other regions differ from Britain," Akingbade said, glancing at Grinspan but not citing the worst-case scenario of America as an example, "For instance—Africa. The issue there is the lack of a strong enforcement agency. With the Secrecy Act accidentally failing, long-term oppression has inclined the wizards there towards a contrary path, leading to an increase in magical anomalies."
"Our problem is quite the opposite," Grinspan said seriously.
Africa, America, and Britain (or Europe) provide valuable comparisons. The British Ministry of Magic has relatively comprehensively implemented the Secrecy Act, with America being even stricter, avoiding any contact with local governments, likely due to historical severe breaches. This has led to tense relations and public opinion not favoring them, watching the situation worsen. Africa's environment is the most lenient, with many wizards covertly pursuing 'side jobs' like fortune-telling or mediumship. Felix thought of a girl disguised as a Gypsy witch named Refilwe.
But African wizards are not necessarily happier.
As a group with individual strength and diverse methods, wizards, when choosing to stay hidden, leave behind ambiguous colorful bubbles. But when they surface, they stir up storms, creating waves. They will face not the tolerant common folk but rulers attempting to control this power. The drama of alliances and divisions, accusations, and unions will play out, becoming even more chaotic.
"The authority of the International Confederation of Wizards must be reestablished," Felix stated.
Akingbade shook his head sorrowfully.
"The authority of the International Confederation of Wizards was built gradually with the consensus to hide the magical world. But now, the foundation of this organization has vanished."
"Then we must find new significance," Felix repeated what he had told Madam Bones.
Akingbade was somewhat moved. The International Confederation of Wizards was on the verge of collapse under his watch, and he wished for nothing more than to restore everything, regardless of the cost. But he knew everything had changed. He remained in his position because he and Grindelwald had made an unbreakable vow, which to some extent prevented the already chaotic magical world from plummeting into an unfathomable abyss.
"By the way," Akingbade seemed to remember something, "Africa has another huge hidden danger."
"What is it?"
"Grindelwald!" Akingbade said solemnly.
Felix looked surprised and asked, "What's going on? He's been quiet these last two weeks, hasn't he?"
"That's exactly the problem," Akingbade stated. "I've seen through his cunning. He won't just wait for failure. I was worried he would interfere with the negotiations in Britain, but that would mean standing against the vast majority of wizards. After much thought, if he's not in Britain or America, the most likely place is Africa."
"Any evidence?"
"His appearances in America are few and far between, at least publicly. In contrast, his appearances in Africa are astonishingly numerous. His excuse is providing shelter for wizards in crisis, and he has indeed saved many, including a group of Uagadou students, gaining tremendous reputation there—not to mention, he first proposed the Wizard's Ten Commandments in Africa."
Felix blinked, probing, "Maybe because Africa was indeed more chaotic at the time?"
Akingbade firmly disagreed.
"He is a true demon, drawing power from chaos," he said with a heavy expression, looking at Felix. "Some speculate he aims to make Africa a new source of Saints."
Felix, somewhat bewildered, looked at the two men and murmured, "Yes, it makes too much sense. If anyone can unify the magical governments there in a short time, it's Grindelwald. With other places too busy with their own issues, it indeed makes a good stronghold—assuming he intends to resume his old business."
Grinspan interjected, "I've heard similar arguments, even in muggle newspapers"—the other two stared at him in surprise, and he looked back, puzzled, "With such events, we can't keep turning a blind eye."
"What do they say?" Felix asked.
He was missing information in this area. Bones had sent some Aurors abroad to gather information, but the results were limited, only providing a general understanding; Felix relied on Vita Rosier for intelligence.
"Those muggle politicians believe," Grinspan said with disgust, "that the exposure of the magical world has left wizards disunited, presenting an excellent opportunity for wizards to obey them. There are even more radical statements..."
"I mean, their judgment on Grindelwald," Felix clarified.
"Grindelwald destroyed an underground factory, causing a huge stir at the time. Many called for the restoration of the death penalty or burning at the stake—though we know how unlikely that is. More reputable media aligned with Mr. Akingbade's analysis, except they also mentioned you."
"Me?"
"Yes," Grinspan said with an odd look, "They believe a showdown between you two is inevitable, and they might seek your help if necessary."
"Will I...?" Felix was unsure.
"You will," Akingbade stated. "If Grindelwald plans to assassinate a few politicians, no one cares, as the crimes will be attributed to him. But if he aims to destroy a city, we must stop him at all costs. He would be killing the future of wizards. Especially since we're still negotiating."
Felix pondered quietly. Two wizards in bright golden robes approached the tent from afar, Luna and her father Xenophilius, with Luna wearing a huge sunflower headpiece.
"Hmm, perhaps the current peaceful environment has given you illusions—what if, just if, one side insists on conflict?"
Babajide Akingbade and Horace Grinspan looked at each other, a question they had desperately avoided. They had come hoping the British Ministry of Magic would continue creating miracles—meaning no country in the world would declare war on wizards, and no wizards would engage in irreconcilable armed conflicts with non-wizards.
"If necessary, we can abandon some countries," Akingbade said with difficulty.
"And the wizards living there?"
"Arrange for evacuation," Akingbade said.
"What about those unwilling to leave, left to fend for themselves?"
Akingbade had no answer.
"And the new-born wizards?"
Another insoluble problem.
...
"Akingbade looked troubled. What did you say?" Madam Bones whispered, leaning in.
"Just some truths," Felix replied.
Bones glared at him.
"The wedding has started," Sirius coughed twice to announce.
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