Hogwarts: I graduated before the system came

The colors of the tapestry had mostly faded, and the lines on the map were blurred and looked unremarkable.

Yet, Isabella's movements were performed with a ceremonial solemnity.

She stretched out her finger and gently touched an inconspicuous corner of the tapestry, where there seemed to be a depiction of a landmark on the Capitoline Hill.

Her lips moved slightly and she murmured an ancient Latin passage.

As the last syllable of the spell fell, a faint golden ripple began to appear on the surface of the tapestry.

The ripples gradually expanded, and the edges of the tapestry began to blur, as if being pulled by an invisible force.

Then, the fabric in the center of the tapestry rippled like water, revealing a dark, spiraling downward passage.

A faint magical light flickered at the edge of the passage, forming a sharp contrast with the dim environment of the antique shop.

Isabella made an inviting gesture:

"Come in! Mr. Bianchi, goodbye!"

Only then did Lupin learn the last name of the old man in the corner.

Douglas patted Lupin on the shoulder and motioned him to move forward:

"Let's go, take it easy on this trip! Just treat it as a journey."

Old man Bianchi then looked up and said:

"Goodbye, little Rossi. Remember to bring me something good next time. And you, little Doug, don't be like last time."

Douglas rolled his eyes and said unhappily:

"I see, Mr. Bianchi."

He just didn't like talking to this retired Italian Auror. If it weren't for him last time, he wouldn't have been involved in that incident.

He, Douglas, doesn't hold grudges...well, not at all!

Chapter 373 The Struggle between Wizards and Divine Power

The three of them walked into the passage, and the entrance of the antique shop closed silently behind them, and the tapestry returned to its original state.

The air in the passage grew damp and cold, carrying a unique scent of earth and ancient magic.

Lupin felt an invisible pressure coming from all directions, oppressing his senses.

This pressure is not physical, but more like a mental burden, as if countless pairs of eyes are secretly watching and scrutinizing every intruder.

He subconsciously tightened his grip on his wand, and the familiar touch at his fingertips made him feel a little relieved.

The walls on both sides of the passage are not smooth bricks and stones, but rough rock walls carved with ancient Roman runes.

These runes appear faintly in the faint magical light, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

However, among these ancient runes, the light of modern magic barriers is interwoven. They flicker in complex geometric patterns, forming invisible barriers.

Isabella explained to Lupin:

"These are defensive barriers, designed to prevent uninvited guests, especially spies from the Vatican. I'm talking about the past..."

Her voice echoed in the passage, with a hint of echo,

Douglas glanced at the runes and barriers. He was no longer the same person he was four years ago.

Especially in the past two years, with the increase in his knowledge, these runes are no longer as obscure as before.

Douglas explained as he walked:

“Originally part of the ancient Roman sewer system, this place was transformed by magic into a hidden hub of power.

Capitoline Hill was a symbol of power in ancient Rome, and their headquarters was chosen here to continue tradition and to better deal with the infiltration of the Holy See.

Isabella chuckled:

"You remember it quite clearly. The passage you collapsed last time hasn't been repaired yet."

Douglas pretended not to hear her.

She paused, her tone tinged with sarcasm:

"Those clergymen in robes always feel they have the right to interfere in everything, including the affairs of wizards.

In 1879, the Vatican attempted to determine the exact location of our headquarters through the Holy Water Penetration Charm, a highly malevolent form of magic that allows holy water to penetrate any substance, leaving behind a divine mark.

But they failed. The complex enchantments of the underground labyrinth successfully resisted the attack, even causing their holy water to get lost in the maze, and was eventually recovered by us to clean wands."

Speaking of holy water, Douglas remembered that he had asked the Vatican for some holy water last time, intending to put it in the Hufflepuff Holy Grail when the opportunity arose.

As a result, the stingy Vatican gave him holy water to fool ordinary people and even played word games with him.

The passage wound downwards in the darkness, seemingly endless.

There were forks in the road every few miles, but Isabella knew every inch of the land here very well, and she always chose the right direction without hesitation.

It took about an hour to walk.

As the damp and cold feeling in the air became increasingly intense, a faint light appeared at the end of the passage. It was not from a torch or a magic lamp, but a soft, flowing light.

When they walked out of the passage, a magnificent and secret underground space appeared before their eyes.

This was once part of the ancient Roman sewer system, but it had long been transformed beyond recognition by magic. Huge arched stone columns supported a towering dome, which was inlaid with glowing magic crystals, illuminating the entire space.

The wide passages stretched in all directions, and wizards were walking around in them. They were wearing robes of various styles, some were in a hurry, and some were talking in low voices.

Lupin finally confirmed that Douglas must have referred to the Italian Ministry of Magic for the layout of the Chamber of Secrets game.

Isabella opened her arms, pointing to the scene before her, her voice tinged with pride:

"Welcome to the Italian Ministry of Magic. This is our core hub and our first line of defense against the Holy See."

Lupin's eyes widened. He had never seen such a large and secretive Ministry of Magic.

Although the British Ministry of Magic is also located underground, it is more like a huge office building, while here is a living underground world full of history.

He could even hear the sound of flowing water in the distance, the gurgling sound of the ancient Roman sewers, intertwined with the hustle and bustle of the magical world, forming a strange harmony.

Lupin exclaimed sincerely:

"This place is even more... spectacular than I imagined."

Douglas looked around, his eyes on places he hadn't noticed last time, and sighed:

"Yes, it's always new. I always have different feelings every time I watch it."

Isabella raised her eyebrows:

"Of course. The security measures here are much more complicated than those in your British Ministry of Magic."

"In addition to the passage wards you just saw, we have also set up multiple layers of oblivion spells surrounding the entire headquarters to ensure that no Muggles or unauthorized wizards can remember the existence of this place.

We even used a mirror spell to project the spire of St. Peter's Basilica onto the entrance of the Ministry of Magic, creating visual confusion so that even if the Vatican's stigmata investigation team approached, they would only see the familiar church and would not discover our secret.

She pointed to a huge magic light screen in the distance, which displayed real-time images of the Holy See, as well as some dense magic runes and data streams.

Douglas introduced Lupin with great admiration:

"In 1904, this device successfully misled the Vatican's Stigmata Inquiry into the Ministry of Magic's location.

They thought the wizards were hiding in a church basement, but they ended up wandering around in Rome's underground labyrinth for three days and three nights before they had to give up.

Lupin recalled the information he had heard in the past about the Italian Ministry of Magic and the Holy See.

"So, the conflict between you and the Holy See is far more intense than what is rumored outside?"

Isabella snorted coldly, a hint of subtle disgust flashing in her eyes:

"Intense? That's just the tip of the iceberg.

They always want to place their divine authority above our magic, and think we are heretics and tools of Satan.

But we wizards have our own rules and our own dignity.

We are here to tell them that the magical world is not under their jurisdiction."

Her words were powerful and spoke with an unquestionable firmness.

Lupin looked at Isabella, the young female Auror who exuded not only vitality but also a fierce defense of wizarding autonomy.

He began to understand why Douglas had said that Italian Ministry officials were more keen on communicating through gestures than their British counterparts.

It is not just body language, but also an emotional release and a firm expression of beliefs and positions.

Douglas asked, having come back from observing the environment and turned his attention to the purpose of his trip.

"So, who are we going to see now?"

He had become accustomed to Isabella's condition, or rather, for Italian wizards, even when they were in an ambiguous relationship with the Holy See, it did not prevent their mutual disgust and hatred.

The last cardinal incident caused the Holy See to suffer a great loss, and it had to swallow the bitter fruit itself.

Douglas has been listed as one of the most unwelcome wizards in the Holy See.

Chapter 374 Lupin's Problem

Isabella retracted her gaze and tilted her head to signal to follow me:

"Lorenzo Dino, whom you've been thinking about so much, should be waiting for you in the office of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

I hope he hasn't stayed up all night groggily today because of all that Vatican shit."

The three continued to go deeper, through the bustling crowd of wizards.

Lupin noticed that the wizards here, both in their dress and temperament, seemed more unrestrained and enthusiastic than the British wizards.

When they spoke, their gestures were rich and their expressions were lively, which made them full of Italian style even in the serious Ministry of Magic.

Some people even greeted Douglas enthusiastically when they saw him.

It wasn't long before they arrived at the area of ​​the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

Isabella lowered her voice and said:

"Lorenzo's office is right up front, the Department of International Magical Cooperation. It sounds impressive, but it's actually a volcanic crater.

Half the trouble comes from the Ministries of Magic in other countries, and the other half, well, naturally, comes from our dear neighbours."

Douglas chuckled:

"It seems that you have spent all your energy on confronting the Holy See."

Isabella made an exaggerated expression and gestured with her hands in the air:

"It's like dancing flamenco with your head tied to your belt. You never know what ancient doctrine they'll bring out to accuse you, or what magical item they'll want to borrow from us for purification.

The fact that Lorenzo has been able to stay in this position for so long without going crazy is entirely due to his ability."

Douglas's mouth curled up in an imperceptible arc.

He remembered the last time he dealt with Lorenzo, and the other party really left a deep impression on him. The quality of being able to maintain a bit of clarity and a bit of helpless humor under heavy pressure was quite rare in the bureaucratic system.

Isabella shrugged.

“He’s a good guy, he’s just so tired.

The last time I saw him, the bags under his eyes were almost down to his chin. He said he was dealing with a batch of blessed olive branches smuggled in from Sicily.

It turned out to be a curse cast by a dark wizard, specifically to disrupt the Muggle faith. The Church is trying to put the blame on us, saying we failed to supervise properly.

They came to a nondescript wooden door with a brass plaque above it that read "Lorenzo Dino, Deputy Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation" in elegant Italian.

Isabella didn't knock but opened the door.

In the office, a man was leaning over a pile of documents, his head almost buried in the paper.

Hearing the noise, he suddenly raised his head, revealing a young but tired face.

Under those deep blue eyes were two dark circles that were so thick that they could not be removed.

His hair was a mess, with a few strands sticking up unruly.

"Isabella."

His voice was a little hoarse, with obvious lack of sleep.

"And... Douglas, Mr. Lupin. Welcome, welcome."