Chapter 194: Influence And Pressure
The magical effect of the Elixir of Life was not due to the potion itself, but to its main ingredient, the Philosopher’s Stone.
Compared to potions, it was more like an alchemy reagent.
During this time, Dumbledore mentioned Vaughn’s theory of “legendary influence on medicinal herbs,” where Vaughn believed that Muggle legends, under the interference of natural mystique, could affect the pharmacological properties of plants related to those legends.
He suggested Snape take time to study Muggle legends.
If possible, he should even enroll in a university in Muggle society to see if he could find medicinal herbs related to the soul.
Then, this suggestion was met with Snape’s icy glare, which pushed it back.
Compared to extending lifespan with potions, the consideration of restoring magical abilities with potions was relatively more feasible, as potions included enhancers, vitality tonics, and other potions related to strengthening and restoring magic power.
However, their effects were not ideal. In potion classification, these recovery potions were very basic, not due to a lack of development, but due to ingredient limitations.
Medicinal herbs that could influence magic power were rare, and their effects were very weak, making them basically impossible to use on a Legendary Wizard.
The two discussed until the moon was high in the sky, but still hadn’t determined a direction for their investigation.
Dumbledore had to regretfully set it aside for now: “Thank you for your help, Severus. That’s all for today. We’ll look through books and literature later to see if there are any obscure Ancient Prescriptions. It’s getting late, you should head back… oh!”
Suddenly remembering something, Dumbledore patted his head and walked to a corner of the office, picking up Fawkes, who was perched on a stand:
“Vaughn also wrote you a letter. I don’t know what he said to Fawkes, but this little guy won’t let me see it and wants to give it to you personally.”
Fawkes, who had been waiting for a long time, glared with its fiery red eyes and extended a claw.
Seeing the envelope clutched in the Phoenix’s claw, Snape, with a blank expression, extended two fingers, pinched the edge of the envelope, pulled it over, and unfolded it.
Fawkes looked at him expectantly: “Caw!”
“Hmm… Fawkes says it was young and ignorant before, and hopes you will honor your agreement with Vaughn. Next time it undergoes Nirvana, it will give you some feathers… What’s wrong, Severus?”
Dumbledore, who was translating Fawkes’s words, noticed Snape frowning.
He glanced up at him, and Snape’s expression grew colder: “There’s nothing on this letter paper… Albus, are you playing a prank?”
“How could it be me…”
Before Dumbledore could defend himself, Fawkes, hearing Snape’s words, became agitated and flapped its wings, squawking loudly: “Caw caw!”
“Uh, it’s asking if you’re trying to renege on the deal…”
Snape’s face contorted, and he shook the letter paper: “What reneging? There are no words on it, did you get the wrong letter?”
“Caw caw!”
“It says it saw Vaughn write the letter with its own eyes, seal it in the envelope, and no one else touched it… I can vouch for that; it wouldn’t even let me see it.”
“Caw!”
“It says you’re trying to welch on its Felix Felicis?”
“…”
This was getting more and more absurd.
Snape snorted and flung his robe around him, walking away: “Ridiculous, I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
Fawkes was left in Dumbledore’s arms, fuming.
The strange incident of Boston residents fleeing their homes in the middle of the night caused a sensation in the American news for several days. However, when similar incidents did not occur in the following days,
and the attitude of federal departments like the investigative bureau seemed very indifferent, with no investigation launched, the news’s heat plummeted.
Soon, Princess Diana’s scandal reappeared at the top, and the public’s attention shifted. Before long, the once clamorous bizarre event was tossed into the trash heap.
But unlike Muggle society, for the Wizarding World, the impact of this incident was just beginning.
“Look, look, the biggest magical exposure scandal in the United States of America since 1930!”
“The Magical Congress suffers a heavy blow, Auror Squad of the Department of Magical Security ambushed by unknown forces, heavy casualties!”
“Nuclear bomb detonated in Boston, Muggles? Wizards? The North American situation adds new variables!”
“Sir, would you like a copy of the 《Daily Prophet》?”
As soon as Harry walked into Diagon Alley, he noticed that it was different from usual today.
According to Ron, Diagon Alley was always the liveliest during holidays, with young wizards on break coming here to play together.
With the new school year about to begin, many Muggle families would also bring their children, who were about to start school, to purchase textbooks and school supplies.
Observing during this time, he found that it was indeed the case—
Ever since his birthday last month, when he escaped from the Dursleys with Hermione and Ron.
For the next half a month, having tasted the sweetness and discovering that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were truly helpless against him, Harry had completely let himself go.
He would sneak out of the Dursleys’ house from time to time to hang out in Diagon Alley with Ron.
Hermione was supposed to be there too, but ever since Vaughn left, she hadn’t been in good spirits and was taken to France by her parents a few days ago to relax.
Just now at the Leaky Cauldron, Ron was still complaining about Hermione being “disloyal.”
“Vaughn is only going to North America, not to the moon, and he’s moping around all day. I really don’t understand what these young girls are thinking. And school is starting soon, yet she goes on vacation. Merlin’s beard, doesn’t she need to do her summer homework?”
Up three, right two, tap three times.
Remembering the sequence, Harry poked the wall of the small back courtyard behind the pub with his wand, and the wall parted like a curtain before their eyes.
While listening to Ron’s complaints, Harry’s attention was completely drawn to the “paperboys” shouting.
There were more people in Diagon Alley today than usual, and they were no longer mostly parents with children. There were also many wizards who appeared to be alone or in groups, each holding a newspaper, reading, and gathered in twos and threes, discussing something.
The entire Diagon Alley was filled with a boisterous din.
“Hey, Harry, want a newspaper?”
As Harry observed in surprise, a paperboy, who looked about 14 or 15, approached him and enthusiastically tried to sell him one.
Harry felt a bit awkward; the other person recognized him, but he didn’t recognize the other person.
As if sensing his embarrassment, the boy smiled at him: “Andy Fletcher, two years ahead of you. We’re not in the same house, and we haven’t had classes together, so you might not know me, but it’s okay, we know each other now, right?”
“Uh, yes, nice to meet you…”
“Then how about a newspaper? I haven’t sold much today!”
Harry, who thought he had made a new friend, cooled down instantly, but facing Andy’s enthusiastic smile, he could only smile awkwardly and take out money to buy one.
Then, Andy, who had been trying to get close to him moments before, turned and asked Ron: “Ronald, aren’t you going to get one? There’s news about Vaughn Weasley, it’s incredible. I knew it at the entrance ceremony last year, all you Weasleys are people who do great things…”
Harry watched as Ron, who had initially seemed reluctant upon hearing Vaughn’s name, visibly blushed under Andy’s flattery and walked away as if floating, buying a newspaper in a daze.
It wasn’t until Andy left and two minutes passed that he let out a cry:
“Merlin’s beard! I spent a whole five Copper Nuts. Damn it, why did I spend five Knuts on a stupid newspaper?”
“Didn’t you look quite happy when you were paying?” Harry quipped while looking at the newspaper.
Ron ignored his teasing and said angrily: “That despicable guy must have cast a Confundus Charm on me!”
Harry chuckled a few times, no longer paying attention to his mumbling, and continued reading the newspaper:
【… According to an informed source, the Boston incident may have originated from a conspiracy by the Magical Congress targeting the WAC and the Federation. Donald Graves, the Deputy Minister of the Department of Magical Security of the United States of America, personally led 8 Auror Squads to Boston on the night of the 18th. The informed source believes they were there to raid WAC and Federation staff… 】
【… The conflict between the two sides became apparent as soon as the WAC announced its visit to North America. It is understood that to counter the hostility from various North American powers, WAC President Mr. Vaughn Weasley formed a temporary alliance with the Vice President of the Federation, but it is clear that such an alliance could not reduce the hostility from the Magical Congress. 】
【 An anonymous informed source stated that over the past two weeks, the Magical Congress has been discussing how to deal with Vaughn Weasley and his WAC, but as of the night of the 18th, there was still no consensus within the Magical Congress on whether their approach should be friendly or hostile… Some analysts believe that the lack of consensus is the greatest consensus, and the malice towards WAC within the Magical Congress is obvious! 】
【 Donald Graves and his Auror Squad were likely sent by the opposition to Boston to apprehend Vaughn Weasley. However, surprisingly, upon their arrival in Boston, they suffered a severe blow. An informed source stated that an Auror Captain named Jack Graves, leading nearly half of the Aurors, defected from the Graves family mid-battle. The fighting that night was very fierce, and at one point, both sides resorted to the Muggles’ most powerful weapon: a nuclear bomb! 】
【 No one knows why a group of wizards would use a nuclear bomb. Analysts believe that the situation in North America is likely far more complex than we previously understood, and the factions divided by the 《Secrecy Law》 and the 《Rappaport Law》 may not be as clear-cut as we thought. 】
【 Most notably, in the Boston incident, it was the WAC and the Federation who ultimately formed a joint team and stepped in to save Donald Graves and the surviving Aurors. For this, Vice President Babajide Ajinbad was severely injured and is on the verge of death… 】
【 Due to the North American blockade, many details are still unknown. As of the printing deadline, the Magical Congress of the United States of America has still not released further information on the Boston incident that meets public expectations. The WAC and the Federation are suspected of being under house arrest and are unreachable. This reporter will continue to follow the story! 】
On the verge of death?
Under house arrest?
After a quick scan of the report, Harry gasped, his mind filled with worry for Vaughn’s safety, but also a surge of anger towards the Magical Congress!
He was not alone in his anger.
“Ungrateful Yankees!”
“The WAC shouldn’t have helped those damned Graves. They saved them, and this is the result?”
“Uh, I think we should look at this rationally, objectively, and neutrally. The newspaper is one-sided, and nobody knows what really happened at the time. Maybe things aren’t as the report says…”
“Are you still English? Didn’t you see the newspaper saying that the WAC, the Federation, Mr. Vaughn Weasley, and the severely injured Mr. Ajinbad are all under house arrest in Boston? Even the reporter from the 《Daily Prophet》 can’t contact them, so how can they speak? Where can they speak?”
“Exactly! They’re in Yankee territory, and the Yankees are muzzling them, so how can we be rational? Rational about your head, traitor!”
“How can you curse people? Is this the upbringing of you Progressives?”
“Curse? I want to hit you too!”
On the bustling street, amidst the clamor of discussions, the sudden curse sounds were both abrupt and natural.
Harry stared, wide-eyed, as a young wizard not far from him and Ron suddenly lunged and punched a middle-aged wizard opposite him.
The middle-aged wizard let out a cry, and blood gushed from his nose.
“You, how could you hit someone?”
The middle-aged wizard’s companion berated him.
Another young wizard walked up to the one who had punched and waved his fist: “That’s right, we’re hitting you, you decadent conservatives, pure-blood lackeys!”
It turned out that in a commercial street like Diagon Alley, where Aurors paid close attention, one could not casually wave a wand and cast spells to attack others in a public area.
Wizards also used their most primitive power—fists!
Seemingly intimidated by the young wizard’s fists and muscular build,
the middle-aged wizard’s companion screamed: “Help! The Progressive lackeys are attacking!”
Following his shouts, more and more middle-aged and older wizards, all impeccably dressed and appearing to be of high status, began to gather from the usually busy but harmonious Diagon Alley.
The young people on the other side were not to be outdone.
Many young wizards, seemingly under 35, many with youthful faces, perhaps having graduated only a couple of years ago, also stepped out from the crowd.
The noisy street was immediately divided into two by the opposing groups.
The two groups glared at each other, locked in a standoff!
“Sigh, here we go again.”
As Harry, who had retreated to the entrance of Flourish and Blotts with the onlookers, heard a man grumble beside him, another person, seemingly his companion, also sighed: “Yeah, ever since the WAC was founded, these two factions have been making England a mess.”
Harry knew what they were talking about.
The Conservatives and the Progressives!
Two groups that gradually formed during the period when the WAC was founded, due to the continuous media war.
Even young wizards like Harry and Ron, who didn’t pay much attention to politics, had heard of their fame; they were indeed causing increasingly serious trouble.
In fact, before, the conflict between the Conservatives and the Progressives wasn’t too intense. On one hand, the WAC’s model was unprecedented, making it difficult for the Conservatives to find actual points to attack.
On the other hand, the Progressives were also unsure if the WAC could operate healthily, feeling a bit apprehensive.
It wasn’t until Vaughn led a delegation to visit North America that the situation began to change. As the “Wolfsbane Potion International Trade System” he formulated was officially implemented in conjunction with the WAC Executive Committee and the Department of International Magical Cooperation.
Then, two weeks ago, the WAC Executive Committee announced the first batch of cooperation intention list for the “Wolfsbane Potion International Trade System.”
Although only 3 countries had signed, and they were almost insignificant nations like Fiji, Nauru, and Ecuador, it was enough to change the situation.
Public opinion was completely ignited.
The Progressives confirmed that Vaughn was fulfilling his promises and that a new model was becoming a reality.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives feared that a new political black hole was growing—the Conservatives’ positions were different, but their minds were not broken. They keenly realized that if Vaughn’s “trade system” were allowed to continue advancing,
today there were 3 countries signing the intention list, but tomorrow there might be 30!
As the number of names on the list grew, the WAC would expand at an astonishing rate!
Worse still, their own faction had almost no influence over this new political entity.
Damn Vaughn Weasley, traitor to the pure-blood families! From the very beginning of founding the WAC, he blocked their channels of intervention by refusing funding from the Ministry of Magic and social donations!
Faced with such an unfavorable situation, the Conservatives’ writers would naturally spare no effort in verbally denouncing, suppressing, and smearing it.
However, the Progressives, who had found their confidence, were not to be outdone and resolutely counterattacked.
Thus, over the past two weeks, the verbal sparring between the Conservatives and the Progressives in the newspapers intensified, even shifting from “online” to “offline.”
Initially, it was still offline debates, but debates always had winners and losers. The losing side might not be convinced, and the winning side might not be magnanimous.
A few taunts and ridicules, and the verbal battles inevitably escalated to physical ones.
Just like now!
More and more people from both sides faced off, exchanging insults, curses, and pointing fingers, as if wanting to stab their fingers into each other’s faces.
Ron, a bit timidly, tugged Harry’s sleeve: “Let’s go, Harry.”
A major fight was bound to ensue. Although regulations prohibited the use of offensive magic in Diagon Alley, who could guarantee that there wouldn’t be any accidents?
Those wizards’ wands weren’t confiscated; whether they used magic or not depended entirely on their rationality. If they really got worked up, it was hard to say if someone would take the risk!
The two, using their small stature to get out of the crowd, Harry still felt indignant, both at the despicable and shameless actions of the United States of America and at the so-called “rational and neutral” attitude of those Conservatives:
“Those Progressive wizards aren’t saying anything wrong. Vaughn and Mr. Ajinbad saved the Aurors of the Department of Magical Security, yet they were placed under house arrest, and even reporters couldn’t contact them. Why should the Conservatives speak for America? They’re even covertly trying to twist the facts.”
Last year, Harry had been heavily criticized by the media for not exhibiting “The Boy Who Lived” traits after his first year. He was all too familiar with how people could twist the truth.
Hearing his words, Ron scratched his face: “Uh, actually, I think they might be right…”
“Ron!”
Harry glared at him: “I know you don’t like your brother, but what time is it? You should trust and support Vaughn, not the Conservatives whom you don’t understand at all, or the Yankees!”
Ron puffed out his cheeks and closed his mouth, saying nothing further.
Hmph…
That’s right, he didn’t understand the Yankees, but he understood his inherently malicious older brother very well. He didn’t believe for a moment that Vaughn would passively allow himself to be “under house arrest”!
That guy was definitely plotting something!
…
Bang!
The door to the Headmaster’s Office opened. Fawkes, looking listless, looked up to see Snape, clad in a large robe and walking with purpose, stride in.
It widened its crimson eyes and was about to screech when its vision went black as a dark dome covered it.
Putting away his wand, Snape, with a long face, said unhappily to Dumbledore: “You should have someone check this turkey’s brain. I told you, I don’t owe it anything, and there’s no question of reneging.”
Dumbledore, behind his desk, looking up from a book he was consulting, glanced at Fawkes, who was covered by a dark mist: “Fawkes has a stubborn personality; even a Graphorn couldn’t change its mind once it’s set on something. I suggest you’d better satisfy it.”
“Dream on!”
Dumbledore shrugged, “Then you’ll have to be prepared to be scolded every time you meet.”
A hint of a smile appeared on Snape’s cold face: “I don’t understand what it’s saying anyway.”
“…”
Dumbledore was speechless. The Old Wizard took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, changing the subject to avoid feeling uncomfortable: “Did you come to see me about something?”
“Look at this.”
A newspaper was thrown onto the desk.
Dumbledore put on his glasses again and, while unfolding the newspaper, teased: “My dear Severus, when did you start subscribing to the 《Daily Prophet》? I recall you always disliked its entertaining, exaggerated style… Oh, I think I understand now.”
The large headline on the front page, 【Vaughn Weasley】, dispelled Old Dumbledore’s confusion.
After a quick scan, the Old Wizard smilingly put down the newspaper and looked gently at Snape: “Severus, you rushed here because you’re worried about Vaughn’s situation?”
“…Your smiling face is truly disgusting.”
Snape turned his head away; he absolutely refused to admit it.
Dumbledore chuckled, completely unfazed: “That’s how one expresses joy. I’m glad to see you so worried about your student. You know, for a long time—well, since Tom’s death, it’s been 11 years—you’ve isolated yourself alone in the basement, in Spider’s Tail Alley. I was always worried that your psyche would gradually warp in isolation.”
Snape spun around abruptly, staring intently at Old Dumbledore, his gaze practically threatening to devour him!
But he had clearly underestimated the White Lord’s thick skin and psychological resilience.
“…Since Vaughn officially started setting up the WAC, you’ve become more human day by day. I heard that on Harry’s birthday last time, you even agreed to Vaughn’s suggestion and gave Harry a cherished photograph from back then? Oh—”
Dumbledore tearfully wiped the corners of his eyes: “I am deeply gratified to see that the once oily-headed, foolish, and naive child is gradually rediscovering his true self…”
