Days wandering around Hogwarts

Chapter 395 It’s up to you

A 1900-year-old Roman Colosseum may appear to Muggles to be a weathered historical monument, but wizards will find it as good as new when they enter.

It is a comprehensive venue that hosts conventions and a wizard's flea market on weekends, where wizards from northern Italy and western Austria come to sell their wares.

Charles said to Dumbledore: "What I like most about Italy is the protection and utilization of cultural relics and historical sites by wizards, which allows us to see the historical treasures left over from two thousand years ago."

Now Dumbledore was wearing a light golden robe and a tall pointed wizard hat, looking much more majestic than he did in Hogwarts.

Today is the day of the International Confederation of Wizards' general meeting. He is attending as the president, and his whole temperament has changed.

Along the way, wizards greeted Dumbledore when they saw him, and he also greeted them politely. When he saw old friends, he chatted for a while and introduced the two young men behind him.

Arriving at the president's lounge, Dumbledore asked Charles, "Aren't you nervous?"

Charles shrugged and said, "I'm just here to eat and drink at the company's expense. There's nothing to be nervous about."

Percy on the side was not so relaxed. Although there were only four people in the lounge, including them and a staff member, he still sat upright with an expression on his face that he thought was calm and composed, as if he was wearing a mask.

The staff brought the schedule for today's meeting, and Dumbledore looked through it and thought there was no problem.

Soon Fudge came over with several officials from the British Ministry of Magic. As soon as he saw Percy, he began to praise and compliment him non-stop, making Percy so excited that his face and hair turned as red.

Especially after Charles said that the British representative who would be speaking later would not be Percy but himself, Fudge's enthusiasm for him increased to a higher level. He even booked a private room with Charles and went back to treat Percy to a meal.

Fudge chatted with Dumbledore for a few words and then left, taking Percy and Charles to the venue.

Halfway through, Charles found an excuse and went to the public rest area.

Dumbledore passed by on his way to a meeting and saw Charles holding an affogato coffee in one hand and Sicilian cheese rolls, almond cookies, meringues, Mandova shortbread, cheese crepe and other pastries in the other.

After the meeting, Fudge and the officials from the Ministry of Magic passed by and saw Charles drinking a cup of cappuccino. Several Italian witch aunts kept feeding him snacks such as Naples cream shells, soft Tuscan cookies, lemon icing cookies, honey ball cookies, chocolate pistachio shortbread, etc.

Fudge was a little surprised, and continued to lead his people away thoughtfully.

After a while, Dumbledore passed by and shook his head with a somewhat amused look. It seemed that Charles really had come here to eat and drink at public expense.

After a long while, Charles finally came to Dumbledore's common room burping, just as Fudge and the others were about to leave.

Fudge smiled and asked Charles, "Why didn't you go to the meeting?"

Charles also smiled and replied, "The Italian witches were so enthusiastic that I didn't realize how much time had passed while chatting. Suddenly I realized that today's meeting was over."

Fudge said as if he was reminiscing about the past: "Yes, there is plenty of sunshine around the Mediterranean Sea, and the witches here are very enthusiastic."

He exchanged a few meaningless words with Dumbledore and then left.

Percy sat on the couch, looking nervous.

As soon as Charles sat down, he began to mutter: "I messed up just now. I didn't pronounce a few words correctly, and my tie was crooked..."

Charles just smiled and ignored him. He just had to get used to such big occasions.

Dumbledore asked as he looked through the documents, "Charles, why didn't you attend the meeting just now?"

He knew Charles better than Fudge did, so he wouldn't believe nonsense like he forgot about the chat.

Charles glanced at Percy, who was still recalling his mistakes, and said seriously, "Professor, some things don't need to be explained so clearly, right?"

Dumbledore just smiled and said nothing, continuing to look at the documents.

Percy was also listening to the conversation and immediately asked, "What's the matter? Did you know I would be embarrassed?"

Dumbledore said to him, "Percy, you did very well today. Fudge didn't do so well when he first spoke at the assembly." "Charles was talking about something else."

"Charles, tell Percy what you think."

Percy felt relieved that nothing was wrong with him.

Charles said to Percy, "It seems that our minister intends to bring you into his camp."

Fudge's enthusiasm towards Percy just now was a little too much, and Charles and Dumbledore saw through his intention at a glance.

Percy asked in surprise, "What faction?"

Charles replied: "It is the camp headed by the minister."

Percy didn't react for a moment and asked, "What's the problem?"

He knew a lot about the Ministry of Magic and naturally knew that there were some small groups among the officials. He was not interested in things like Mr. Weasley's free parties.

Percy was very happy that Fudge thought highly of him, and was even more excited about his solicitation. He did not think there was anything wrong with it.

"It's just a small problem." Charles shook his head slightly, "It's just that the Minister is a little worried about Professor Dumbledore. He is afraid that the Minister's position will be replaced when he wakes up in the morning, so he wants to gather people."

Percy understood and asked in surprise, "Professor Dumbledore, you want to be the Minister of Magic?"

Dumbledore shrugged and said, "I don't have that much time. I still have two saves to play, but the Minister doesn't believe me and always thinks I'm going to gather a group of people to overthrow the Ministry of Magic."

Percy has always respected Dumbledore and regarded him as a role model. Fudge also regarded him as a role model. Now that he learned that the two actually had a hostile relationship, his mind was suddenly confused.

"But..." Percy remembered something, "I heard that you once formed a secret society?"

Dumbledore nodded and said, "Yes, at that time I established the Order of the Phoenix to fight Voldemort. There were many outstanding wizards, including your uncle Fabian and the brothers Gideon Prewett."

Percy shuddered when he heard Voldemort's name, and finally an expression of disbelief appeared on his face when he heard the names of his two deceased uncles.

Dumbledore recounted what happened that year in detail, and Percy listened carefully.

Percy heard from his parents that his two uncles were killed by Voldemort and his gang, but he didn't know the details.

The battle between wizards did not last long, so it was difficult to judge the details. Dumbledore only learned the details when he later interrogated the Death Eaters.

Percy sighed deeply after hearing this and thought that he should have a good talk with his parents after the holiday.

Dumbledore said frankly: "Now that Voldemort is back and all the Death Eaters in Azkaban have escaped, I plan to reassemble the Order of the Phoenix."

Percy's eyes widened and his mouth drooped before he said, "That's impossible."

Dumbledore said helplessly: "Our minister said the same thing. He thought the Death Eaters' escape was done by other Death Eaters on the run. He didn't believe that Voldemort had returned."

Percy's hands were shaking a little, and he turned to Charles and asked, "Do you believe it?"

Charles replied: "It doesn't matter to you whether I believe it or not. What matters is whether you are willing to believe it."

Percy was silent for a moment, and finally decided not to delve into the matter further, and asked very seriously: "Charles, have you also joined the Order of the Phoenix? Do you want to persuade me to join too?"

Charles shook his head and said, "I have no interest in the Order of the Phoenix. I don't have that much time to spend on it. It's up to you which side you want to join."

Dumbledore nodded.

(End of this chapter)