Chapter 275: A New Era Begins
Snape's potion for curing the Longbottoms was extremely complicated. So complicated, in fact, that despite Lockhart's eager questions, Snape tried to explain it to him to ease the atmosphere, but no one could understand it.
Lockhart finally knew how the young wizards felt when he sometimes explained complicated magical theories to them. It was a miserable feeling. He could understand every single word, but he couldn't understand them when they were put together.
"What?"
"What, what, what?"
Forget it, Lockhart gave up. There were specialties in every field, and he didn't want to force himself.
On the side, Sirius and Lupin also looked bewildered, clearly not understanding either. Snape quickly realized their situation and felt a wave of boredom. It was truly painful to be so brilliant that no one could understand him.
"Will you publish this recipe?" Lockhart suggested to Snape. "Trust me, no one knows better than I do what a reputation can bring. It's not just the fame that ordinary clever people understand, but also the power of destiny it brings from a magical perspective of 'sociability.'"
This was a principle he had just grasped not long ago: reputation influences destiny. Snape seemed a little lost and sighed. "I'm worried that no one will be able to understand it. It's not a simple recipe. It also requires adjusting the dosage, ratio, brewing method, and even the way of taking the medicine based on the patient's condition."
Lockhart exclaimed and threw his hands up. "What does it matter? Write it down. Maybe in the future, even a hundred years from now, someone might be able to create a simpler potion based on your recipe."
"Just like the Wolfsbane Potion invented by Damocles Belby, there are now many improved recipes, and there's also the more in-depth potion you gave Lupin last time, isn't there?"
Snape's heart was moved. "Potions Master!" Lockhart laughed heartily and put an arm around his shoulder. "The Longbottoms are just the beginning. Your troubles are probably just beginning. No one knows how many people injured by the Cruciatus Curse are waiting to be cured. You're probably going to be very, very busy!"
Snape was silent for a while, then mumbled in a low voice, "If I can really save so many people, it will be my honor."
Yes, honor. This was his path to redemption.
Sirius was also on his path to redemption, because Kreacher the house-elf had arranged a blind date for him. He didn't want to do such a thing, but he had to. It was about the inheritance of the Black family. Kreacher cared about the family's inheritance, and he was now using this to threaten Sirius, saying that if he didn't cooperate, he would de-list him again and kick him out of the house.
This was something even Dumbledore couldn't object to. After all, Dumbledore was very particular about not being overbearing in this regard and could only relocate the Order of the Phoenix headquarters. Sirius didn't want this to happen. He had already caused everyone too much trouble. He was completely at Kreacher's mercy.
"A blind date?" Everyone was stunned when Kreacher ran over to remind Sirius to change into some clean clothes.
"Damn it!" Sirius cursed. "Do you have to do it now?"
Kreacher was a little helpless. "I, of course, know how important it is that the Longbottoms have been cured. I'm already preparing a grand dinner."
"But no one knew that Professor Snape would actually be able to completely cure them this time, and this blind date was arranged a month ago."
"Even out of politeness, you have to go and meet them."
What could Sirius do? He could only obediently let Kreacher push him to get dressed up.
That night, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Lockhart left first and returned to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall had too many things to do.
Snape stopped Lockhart and took him to his office. "I'm also a member of the Order of the Phoenix, but I almost never attend their meetings." Snape was rummaging through some potion ingredients in the office, preparing a pot of a very unique-tasting drink.
Lockhart took the cup and took a sip. His eyes lit up. He chugged it down and handed the cup back.
"This drink can't be refilled with the Refilling Charm," Snape muttered. He picked up the teapot and poured another cup for Lockhart.
"Stingy," Lockhart complained, and casually said, "Then in the future, will you go to the Order of the Phoenix meetings?"
Snape squinted and smiled. He took a sip of the drink and looked out the window at Hogwarts Castle. He said in a quiet tone, "You'll find that Professor McGonagall also doesn't participate in the Order of the Phoenix meetings."
"!!!" Lockhart keenly sensed that Snape was hinting at something. "What do you mean?"
"We're not on the same path as them," Snape explained. "In fact, many people don't know what kind of reform Dumbledore is pushing for after defeating Grindelwald."
Reform? Dumbledore? Lockhart, who was lounging lazily in his chair, sat up straight. He frowned and pondered, but he still couldn't figure it out. He had no choice but to look at Snape. "Obviously, I'm also one of the less intelligent ones. I can't see any reform either."
Snape's mouth curled up slightly. "Because it doesn't seem obvious." He gently put down the teacup and walked to the window. Looking at the school outside the window, he gently stroked the window frame, his gaze distant. "It's subtle, changing little by little over a long period of time."
"Gilderoy..." He didn't turn his head. He just asked, "Who do you think was the most suitable person to be the Minister of Magic after Voldemort's defeat, and even after a certain term, to take over from Dumbledore as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards?"
Lockhart was a little baffled. "Is there such a person?" He carefully considered Dumbledore's subordinates and the people he could influence. He shook his head. "I've actually thought about this part of the conjecture because it helps me understand Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard of this century."
Snape turned his head and leaned against the window, watching with interest as he listened to Lockhart's analysis. Lockhart spread his hands. "Cornelius Fudge. His role should be to resolve the conflicts between the pro-Muggle faction and the pure-blood supremacist faction as much as possible and to achieve a gentle balance."
"And Arthur Weasley. His role should be to better promote Dumbledore's ideals and consolidate the victory of the Order of the Phoenix."
"But..." His expression became strange. "As for taking over as the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards..." He was sorry, but he didn't think that was a possibility at all.
Snape shook his head. He waved his hand, and the cup of drink on the table flew into his hand. He said with a smile, "You've overlooked one person."
"Who?" Lockhart couldn't guess.
"Minerva McGonagall!" Snape's expression became serious.
"Professor McGonagall?" Lockhart's voice rose. He thought for a moment and then realized. "Professor McGonagall?"
Oh, yeah. If anyone said that Professor McGonagall couldn't be a good Minister of Magic, Lockhart would disagree. She had experienced the wars of two generations of Dark Lords, Grindelwald and Voldemort. She had taught so many students who were now the backbone of society. She had also served in the Ministry of Magic and had a wide range of experience.
Moreover, Professor McGonagall's background was that of a half-blood wizard. On one hand, she had reasons to be close to Muggles, and on the other, she had a powerful pure-blood family as her backer. Not to mention Professor McGonagall's own powerful magical ability. Such a person serving as the Minister of Magic would be highly respected by both the pure-blood family leaders like Lucius, Cordan, and old Barty, and by magical masters like Madam Merope.
In fact, Professor McGonagall might really be able to take over the authority of the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards from Dumbledore and continue the reform that Dumbledore longed to push for. Well, assuming Dumbledore was pushing for some kind of reform.
"You often say that a new era is here..." Snape said with a smile. "But in my opinion, Dumbledore probably realized this even earlier than you did. Or rather, after defeating Grindelwald, he has been pushing for the arrival of a new era."
"The biggest issues of the new era are..."
"How to rethink the Statute of Secrecy, break through the Ministry of Magic system built on the Statute of Secrecy, and promote a new relationship between wizards and Muggles in the face of so much resistance from old interest groups..."
"The arrangement of magical creatures and various humanoid races..."
"How to define the use of magic when wizards face Muggle communities..."
There were too many aspects to consider. Every one of them was an extremely difficult problem in the current situation, turning everything into a tangled mess.
"So!" Snape held up a finger. "Where do we start the institutional reform?" As he spoke, he pointed to the window.
Lockhart suddenly stood up, feeling a bit of a chill down his spine. He exclaimed, "Hogwarts!"
Snape laughed, roaring with laughter. "Do you get it now?"
Lockhart smacked his lips and strode to the window. He looked at the Hogwarts Castle group in the dark night and the boundless Forbidden Forest in the distance, as well as the all-wizard village of Hogsmeade beyond the Forbidden Forest. It could be said that at least a third of the wizards in Europe had graduated from this school. Here, too many magical creatures and humanoid races were housed: Centaurs, Merpeople, Unicorns, and Acromantulas. Here, it also had a great influence on the entire world.
"What if..." Snape's expression looked particularly strange. "What if the wizarding world was centered around magical schools, instead of the Ministry of Magic established based on Muggle national borders..."
"There are only 11 magical schools in the world."
"There are three in Europe: Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons."
"There are two in the Americas: Ilvermorny in North America and Castelobruxo in South America."
"There's Uagadou in Africa, and Koldovstoretz in Russia..."
"Yeah!" Lockhart exclaimed. "Merlin's see-through underwear! Severus, your theory makes me understand this world in a new way!"
Why did Voldemort have to come back to teach at Hogwarts as a professor? Why did Fudge, who was propped up by Dumbledore, always work against him on many things? Why was his closest subordinate, Umbridge, so obsessed with pushing for policies that would bring magical schools under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Magic?
There were too many things. Of course, these past analyses were not that important anymore. The most important thing was...
"Grindelwald said he was going to be the headmaster of Durmstrang Institute!" Lockhart took a cold breath. "He also said he was going to restart the Triwizard Tournament!"
Snape nodded. "The Triwizard Tournament is enough to mobilize all the forces of the various wizarding groups in Europe and affect everything. The most important thing is that in this tournament, the Ministries of Magic of all countries have no way to interfere." He looked at Lockhart very seriously. "Next year will be the most crucial year. The Triwizard Tournament, with Grindelwald's participation, will have a huge impact on this world."
"If I'm not mistaken, Olympe Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, will surely have something happen to her then. She's not qualified to be at the table!"
"Gilderoy..."
"This is the horn of the new era. It's about to set sail!"
"And you and I must begin to think about how we should move forward in the future!"
Lockhart raised an eyebrow. "Beauxbatons Academy of Magic?"
Snape nodded. "Dumbledore doesn't have many people he can truly arrange to go to this school. He only has a few people he can choose from."
"Professor McGonagall, you, and me."
That was it. Yes, just the three of them. It could even be expected that Professor McGonagall would stay at Hogwarts as the undisputed successor to Dumbledore as headmistress.
"The Longbottom family, the Weasley family, the Kingsley family..." Lockhart muttered these names and suddenly had a realization. He realized why Snape had just said that these people were not on the same path as him and Professor McGonagall. These people were all on the side of the Ministry of Magic. That's where their interests lay. This world always talks about principles and justice, but in the end, interests are the most eternal.
Lockhart couldn't help but sigh. He looked at the vast, dark sky outside the window and suddenly felt a powerful force brewing, ready to sweep across the world at any time.
"You've released Grindelwald!" Snape's gaze was distant. "You've also released the demon in Dumbledore's heart!"
"He might have already given up on this approach."
"Gilderoy, you have already been swept into this new era, whether you are willing to enter it or not."
"In fact, the changes you have brought have already laid too many foundations."
Snape was like a wise man standing in a dark corner, silently observing the world. He clearly saw all the changes, patiently waiting for the right moment, and deciding when to pull out his wand and stir things up. He said, "You've trained too many budding magical masters. This is also one of the foundations for the 'magical school-centered' idea to be promoted. You have to find a place for them."
"I think Beauxbatons Academy of Magic is a good place."
Snape smiled slightly. "Of course, I guess Dumbledore won't feel too comfortable with just you, so I might also be arranged to go to that school."
A check and balance, Lockhart knew. But he had a different idea. He chuckled. "If it's really as you guessed, Dumbledore won't be too comfortable with just the two of us. I guess there will be two other people to check and balance us."
"Who?" Snape had the answer in an instant. "Lupin and Sirius?"
Why these two? The biggest difference between them and people like Arthur and Kingsley was that they didn't have as many pure-blood family interests, and this was very clear.
Lockhart clapped his hands and shrugged. "Exactly."
Snape fell silent. He finally sighed. "Maybe I should also think carefully about how to face this past and future."
"But..." Lockhart chugged the rest of the drink in his cup. He smacked his lips and squinted. "Severus, this is just your conjecture, right?"
Snape shrugged and just said, "Maybe we can see if the woman Sirius is going on a blind date with this time is related to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Then we'll know for sure."
"!!!"
Lockhart was surprised and then chuckled. He said, "Severus, your perspective is truly unique."
But would it really be? Lockhart couldn't help but have some conjectures. Maybe the next year would finally provide the answer.
He didn't mind this arrangement. Just as he had said, Dumbledore was the most powerful and influential wizard in the current era, and everyone had to give him the utmost respect. Then, they could think about what kind of breakthroughs they could make from such an arrangement. After all, Lockhart never doubted that he would be the most powerful wizard in the future. He saw this as the call of adventure, and Snape was the old village elder in the adventure story who explained everything.
The old village elder said, "Brave adventurer, are you ready to embark on this journey?"
This new era is so interesting! Bring it on! Bring it on! I long for the excitement! Lockhart put his hands on his hips and looked up at the sky outside the window, smiling brightly. As he smiled, a blazing fire seemed to burn in the clouds.
Full of vitality, a new world was unfolding.