Dumbledore reached out with his withered fingers and accepted the vial.
Candlelight shattered into tiny glints across his half-moon spectacles as he narrowed those wise blue eyes and slowly turned the glass tube in his hand.
Several dark purple crystals floated in the amber liquid, lightly tapping against one another as the vial moved, producing faint chime-like sounds.
Dumbledore uncorked it and took a careful sniff. He seemed to roughly guess what the potion did, and his eyes immediately lit up.
Even so, he still looked at Harry for confirmation.
"Harry, this potion is?"
"The Werewolf Potion." Harry looked more than a little pleased with himself. Even he felt proud for having invented this potion recipe in such a short time. "It allows werewolves to stay under control. It not only removes their infectiousness, it also lets them transform into werewolves at will while keeping enough of their reason intact."
He paused, then continued, "It's not without flaws, though. Once transformed, their intelligence drops to a certain extent, and they become more irritable. Still, all of that can be managed."
Dumbledore's long silver-white beard trembled slightly, and the blue eyes behind his lenses shone at once, like twin flames springing to life.
"Incredible..." he murmured, then looked up at Harry. "Harry, do you understand what this means? The wizarding world has been trying to solve the werewolf problem for six full centuries. And yet you..."
Much as he already knew Harry was an extraordinary young wizard, learning the exact effects of the Werewolf Potion still left Dumbledore unable to calm himself for quite some time.
The corners of Harry's mouth lifted. Being praised by the greatest light wizard of the age felt pretty good.
He flashed his trademark smile.
"Professor Lupin is a werewolf, isn't he?
"The moment I saw him, I noticed something unusual about his body. Then, after what happened with the Fat Lady's portrait a few days ago, I became even more certain about who he really was.
"Professor Lupin is a good man. He shouldn't have to spend his life wandering from place to place just because he's bound by a werewolf curse."
Dumbledore was not the least bit surprised that Harry had guessed Lupin's true identity.
He gave Harry a meaningful look and said warmly, "Harry, you are a good boy.
"With the appearance of this Werewolf Potion, the status of werewolves in the magical world is going to change dramatically.
"Eliminating the infectiousness alone is priceless, let alone giving them free control over the transformation."
At that, a sly smile appeared on Dumbledore's face.
"Given enough time, perhaps every Auror in the Ministry will volunteer to be infected. The enhanced physique and healing ability that come with becoming a werewolf would greatly improve their odds of survival."
After handing the Werewolf Potion over to Dumbledore, Harry did not leave.
He had come to see Dumbledore for something even more important.
The smile faded from his face, and his whole expression turned serious.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, our plan can officially begin."
"Have you finished setting up that array that can seal away time magic?" Dumbledore asked, visibly eager. Once time magic that allowed people to go into the past was no longer an option, he would have nothing left to fear.
"Of course. Unless I personally approve of a wizard, no one else will be able to use any magic or magical item related to time travel, including Time-Turners."
"How long will the array remain effective?"
"Several hundred years. More than enough for what we need."
Dumbledore's eyes grew brighter still. His expression remained calm, but the slight trembling of his thin hands revealed how excited he truly was inside.
He took a deep breath, memories rising to the surface as he said with quiet nostalgia, "When I was young, I dreamed of changing the wizarding world. Later I came to my senses and stopped my friend, because our ideas back then were utterly wrong. What we wanted would only have ended in brutal rule.
"And yet now, after all these decades, I find myself once again setting out to change the wizarding world. Only this time, what we are doing is for the sake of the entire wizarding world. This is a necessary step in its growth.
"Harry, let's begin. I will send the Ministry notification at once."
...
At lunch, the Great Hall buzzed with noise as every student eagerly discussed the same thing.
By now, the whole wizarding world knew that something major had happened.
Dumbledore, universally acknowledged as the greatest wizard of the age, had suddenly sent a proposal to the Ministry of Magic.
If that were all, it would not have mattered much. The Ministry received countless proposals every year.
But this proposal was nothing like the others.
Leaving aside the fact that its author held immense prestige and influence in the magical world, the contents alone were enough to leave people stunned.
It read as follows:
Proposal to the Members of the Ministry of Magic
To the Honorable Minister for Magic and esteemed members of the Ministry,
I hope this letter finds you well.
As someone who has spent many years in the magical world, I write this letter out of deep concern for its future, as well as enduring hope.
At present, the wizarding world appears calm and peaceful on the surface, yet beneath that appearance lie dangerous undercurrents. If the many problems before us are not addressed in time, they may lead to a crisis beyond measure.
I ask all of you to set aside prejudice, examine the present situation with open minds, and seriously consider the recommendations below.
First, the belief in pure-blood supremacy has for far too long remained like a stubborn tumor rooted deep in the wizarding world, leading to severe social stagnation and entrenched class divisions.
Muggle-born witches and wizards suffer discrimination and suppression, making it difficult for them to receive fair opportunities to grow and contribute.
This system of blood-based discrimination and class monopoly not only violates the principle of fairness and justice, it also severely limits the development of talent and the progress of wizarding society as a whole.
A healthy and prosperous society should grant every individual equal opportunity, regardless of origin.
Only by breaking class monopolies and erasing blood prejudice can the full potential of the wizarding world be realized, allowing true talent to flourish.
Second, the Ministry of Magic, as the governing institution of the wizarding world, has become mired in bureaucracy, and repeated failures in decision-making have seriously undermined its ability to manage magical affairs effectively.
When faced with a crisis as grave as Voldemort's return, the Ministry allowed internal power struggles to blind it to the real threat, resulting in a loss of control and immense disaster for the wizarding world.
The Ministry must reflect deeply on its own failings, simplify cumbersome bureaucratic procedures, improve the soundness and efficiency of its decisions, and address real problems with a more practical spirit, thereby truly taking responsibility for preserving the peace and development of the wizarding world.
Third, and most importantly, our attitude toward Muggles must also change.
For far too long, the wizarding world and the Muggle world have remained isolated from one another. Wizards have treated Muggles with arrogance and prejudice, and this has only deepened misunderstanding and division while causing the wizarding world to miss countless opportunities for growth.
The Muggle world has made tremendous progress in fields such as technology. Many of their inventions, convenient transportation and efficient communication tools among them, are worthy of our study and adoption.
Revealing the existence of the wizarding world, establishing equal dialogue and cooperation with the Muggle world, and introducing Muggle inventions would help us move with the times and promote the technological and cultural development of magical society.
At the same time, this would dispel Muggle fear and misunderstanding of magic, creating trust and friendship between our two worlds.
I fully understand that carrying out these recommendations will not be easy, and that it will inevitably be met with considerable resistance and difficulty.
But I firmly believe that, for the future of the wizarding world, and for the sake of our children and grandchildren who deserve to live in a fairer, more prosperous, and more open world, we must have the courage to take this step.
I sincerely hope the Ministry will consider these recommendations carefully, take meaningful action, and guide the wizarding world toward reform and progress.
I await your reply.
Albus Dumbledore
...
There was no question that this letter had sent shockwaves through the entire wizarding world. Not only were Hogwarts students discussing it nonstop, nearly every witch and wizard outside the castle was doing the same.
At the Ministry of Magic, inside a luxurious office that looked nothing like the usual wizarding style, Minister Fudge stared fixedly at the proposal in his hands.
He had held that pose for several dozen minutes already, and still had no intention of looking away.
Damn it, what is this?
What in the world is Dumbledore trying to do?
Even though Fudge was the Minister for Magic, he still feared Dumbledore. The old man was not only powerful, but frighteningly wise and perceptive.
Whenever Fudge found himself under those eyes, it felt as though all the darkness and filth buried in his heart had been dragged into the sunlight with nowhere left to hide.
Because of that fear, Fudge usually found himself in a weaker position whenever he dealt with Dumbledore.
But this time was different.
Suddenly, Fudge shot to his feet.
His plump face turned dark red, and his round belly heaved with his hurried breathing.
He slammed the letter down onto his carved desk so hard that the ink inside the crystal inkwell quivered.
"Absurd! Utter lunacy! Reveal the wizarding world? Let those Muggles who use broomsticks as laundry poles know that magic exists?
"Dumbledore's gone senile! The moment this Pandora's box is opened, how is the Ministry supposed to maintain order? A rebuttal must be sent immediately. Tell him that Ministry decisions are not to be questioned!"
His eyes swept over the portraits of past ministers on the wall. His expression was rigid, almost twisted, as though he were trying to gather courage from their presence.
"Look! Since the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was formally established in 1692, what Minister has ever dared shake the foundations of our world?
"Today it's bringing in Muggle inventions. What comes next, abolishing the Ministry itself? No, this won't do. The Wizengamot must be convened at once! Dangerous rhetoric like this cannot be allowed to spread!"
...
At Malfoy Manor, one of the estates of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families, Lucius Malfoy held the edge of the letter between two slender fingers as though it were something filthy.
Beneath his pale blond hair, his eyes instantly hardened into cold silver frost, and a deeply contemptuous smile curled his lips.
"Dumbledore has finally become a complete madman."
He let out a cold laugh and casually tossed the letter into the fire. The flames greedily devoured the words, casting a sinister glow over his already pale face.
He paced slowly through the lavish study, velvet robes dragging across the Persian carpet while the silver serpent cufflinks at his sleeves gleamed in the candlelight.
"Reveal the wizarding world? Put us on equal footing with those filthy Muggles?" He suddenly turned and brought his wand down sharply against the glass cabinet displaying the Malfoy bloodline records. "This is an insult to a thousand years of Malfoy family glory!"
At the thought of Muggle-borns gaining status because of this, the muscles in his jaw tightened.
"The moment those inferiors are allowed to flood in, the nobility of magical bloodlines will be completely defiled.
"Fudge must stop this nonsense immediately. Perhaps certain people need to be reminded that some rules are never meant to be broken, not even by the great white wizard Dumbledore himself!"
...
Inside the Leaky Cauldron, the steam rising from butterbeer seemed to freeze the instant the news spread, and harsh metallic clattering erupted around the wooden tables.
An old wizard missing half an ear slammed his pewter mug onto the tabletop, splashing ale across his faded Gryffindor scarf.
"Dumbledore's trying to march us all straight to the stake! The moment Muggles find out magic is real, they'll start another witch hunt just like in the seventeenth century!"
"But Muggle trains and electric lights really are convenient..."
Before the young witch could finish, a pure-blood wizard at the next table, wearing a family-crest ring, slammed his hand down so hard the ring struck the wood with a dull crack.
"Convenient? That junk is decadence! What, am I supposed to let my son ride around in some Muggle tin box instead of flying a broomstick?"
His roar startled the owl in the corner that had been pecking at crumbs.
As the argument grew more heated, people even began drawing their wands, dangerous glimmers starting to flicker along the wood.
Then, all at once, an elderly woman wrapped in a faded cloak raised a hand covered in age spots and said in a trembling voice, "When I was young, I saw Grindelwald's atrocities with my own eyes... If magic is exposed, all it will bring is war."
That sentence plunged the entire pub into silence. Only the crackling of the fire remained, burying everyone's unease in the hiss of glowing ash.
...
In short, aside from some younger witches and wizards, the overwhelming majority of the magical world did not support Dumbledore's ideas.
Inside the Great Hall at Hogwarts Castle, the students were discussing it too.
"Can Muggle cars fly through the sky?" Neville asked, eyes bright as he dipped bread into his soup.
"No," Hermione answered, "that's not the point. The point is that this could break the outdated framework of the Statute of Secrecy and promote understanding between the two worlds."
As someone born in the Muggle world, Hermione naturally hoped the two worlds could be brought together.
The moment she finished speaking, Fred shouted from nearby, "I bet Hogwarts will be offering a 'Muggle Technology Experience' class by next month. George, what if we invent a Muggle toaster that breathes fire?"
"Fred, you're a genius. That's brilliant!" George looked delighted.
At that moment, Seamus cut in from the side.
"Aren't you lot forgetting something else? Besides Headmaster Dumbledore's bombshell statement, Harry pulled off something huge too!"
Even though he had nothing to do with it himself, Ron looked proud enough to burst.
"That's right. Harry invented the Werewolf Potion. It can solve the werewolf curse problem and finally let the wizarding world deal with the whole werewolf issue for good!"
At once, every student in sight turned to look at Harry.
By now, Harry was immune to that kind of attention. He had long since grown used to being the center of the crowd.
Still, he could not help thinking that these students probably had no idea Dumbledore's proposal was his handiwork too.
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