Chapter 536 Prelude to Christmas

On Christmas morning, the Hogwarts Express was filled with a joyful atmosphere. Roger boarded the train with his classmates, and every carriage was discussing the long-awaited holiday life.

Ariana chose to stay in school this year, and it seems that she will spend Christmas with Aberforth. Hermione also stayed. It is said that her parents received a Christmas invitation from Hogsmeade.

The voices of showing off new gifts were all around. Draco was particularly proud and kept showing the advanced broom maintenance tool set and transformation manual given by his father to the people around him.

"Look at this," he said proudly, "next school year, my Nimbus 2001 will definitely become the fastest broom in the school. By then, I must beat Gryffindor!"

"This Christmas, our family is going to the Caribbean." Goyle announced excitedly, with a yearning light in his eyes: "I heard that there are no Muggles there, so you don't have to worry about your wizard identity being discovered."

"Is it safe? I heard that it's very chaotic outside, and some war between Muggles has broken out again."

"It's not a war, it's a counterattack." Daphne corrected.

She took out an exquisite dragon crystal magic mirror from the traceless expansion pack and recited the spell skillfully. Ripples appeared on the mirror surface, showing the news footage being replayed by the Ministry of Magic.

"...The magic community around the world has joined hands with the Muggle government to launch a large-scale attack on the snake people and the remnants of the Death Eaters."

"Remnants?" Roger turned his head involuntarily and stared at the battlefield footage being played in the mirror.

On the vast plain, Muggle soldiers were dotted, and dozens of tanks attacked synchronously with them. In the direction of their advance, there was a dense army of snake people.

They were ferocious, roaring, and running, with hungry and bloodthirsty light in their eyes.

In the roar of the steel behemoth and the breath of the flamethrower, the once terrifying snake people fell to the ground one after another like cut wheat.

The sky was filled with thick black smoke, and the air was filled with the stench of burnt flesh. The hard tracks ruthlessly rolled over the resisting flesh, crushing life and heat together, leaving behind a cold silence.

"Flame is indeed the best tool to purify sin." Roger whispered to himself. This war was tantamount to making up for the wizards' one-sided understanding of Muggles.

The video in the mirror proved that all carbon-based creatures could not resist the attack of modern weapons.

As for the zombies in the movie, which were even more unbearable than the snake people, they were even more vulnerable in the face of the absolute advantages of modern technology and firearms. If it were not for the threat of the snake virus before, this massacre might have been staged long ago.

"Under the close cooperation of Aurors from various countries, the Death Eaters have been forced into a desperate situation and can only survive on the edge of the east coast of the United States." The picture in the mirror changed, and several arrows representing the attack pierced the last narrow territory of the Death Eaters.

"Are the Death Eaters going to fail?" There was a whisper at the door of the carriage, and the real-time broadcast of the Dragon Crystal Magic Mirror attracted the attention of many people.

"Of course, my father is an Auror." A proud voice sounded, "He participated in the battle last month and killed many snakemen with his own hands."

"Really? Your father is so awesome..." the student next to him exclaimed, his eyes flashing with longing for the battle.

Although the pictures in the news broadcast showed that the Death Eaters were in a precarious situation, as if they could be completely wiped out at any time, Roger knew that any victory would only be temporary before the Dark Lord was truly defeated.

He leaned on Daphne's shoulder, and heard the victory declaration from the news.

"What's wrong?" Daphne turned her head and stared at him curiously, "Is there something wrong with the news from the Ministry of Magic?"

"Not really, it's just not comprehensive." Roger shook his head gently, his voice low and cautious: "The Death Eaters are indeed shrinking their sphere of influence, but the Muggle army and the Aurors have not gained a real advantage."

"How is this possible!" Daphne couldn't help but raise her voice, "How can the battle line be deceiving? The Magical Congress of the United States has advanced from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic coast. As long as we work harder and drive them into the sea..."

"That is an illusion deliberately created by the Dark Lord." He shook his head slightly and explained softly: "Although the serpent people are much stronger than Muggles, they also need food to maintain their body functions. But the land has been abandoned for so long, and the Death Eaters can't provide enough food to maintain the consumption of the serpent army."

"These serpent people are just abandoned pawns thrown by the Dark Lord. Their only 's value is to delay time. "

"Delay time?" Daphne frowned, her eyes full of confusion: "But if there is no snake army, wouldn't he lose faster?"

Rogge sneered, "You underestimate him too much. The Dark Lord is mentally ill, he never cares about these things."

"The defeat of the snake army can only make wizards relax their vigilance."

"In the entire magical world, there are few things that can make the Dark Lord feel afraid. Once these threats disappear, everything he has lost will be at his fingertips."

Daphne suddenly realized, "You mean, the headmaster? !"

"Shh!" Rogge quickly pressed his index finger on her lips, signaling her not to make a sound: "Although the headmaster has lost many titles, his strength has never weakened by a bit."

"Hogwarts..." His tone became meaningful, "It is the safest place in the magical world, and it is also the most dangerous place in the magical world."

Daphne nodded thoughtfully. She finally understood that as long as Dumbledore was there, the Dark Lord would never be able to truly rule the entire magical world.

A chilling thought came to her mind: One day, the Dark Lord will come to Hogwarts and fight Dumbledore.

That will be a duel that will change the fate of the wizarding world. If the headmaster loses, Hogwarts will disappear...

Rogge gently shook the can of soda in his hand, and bubbles jumped in the glass. "In fact, the counterattack of the American Magic Association has stopped long ago."

Daphne opened her eyes wide and looked at Rogge in disbelief. He continued to explain: "Although the weapons of Muggles are advanced, they are difficult to deal with the thick skin and flesh of giants. And the night attacks of vampires make them exhausted."

"Even if there are wizards to stop them, the threat of Dementors cannot be resolved."

"In the entire magical world, there are only a few wizards who can master the Patronus."

Daphne nodded thoughtfully, and suddenly thought of something, and asked anxiously: "But the number of Dementors is very limited, and it is impossible to defend such a long front."

Her slender fingers passed over the magic mirror, outlining the long borders of the thirteen states.

"Because it's not worth it."

"Not worth it?" Daphne repeated doubtfully.

"That's right." Roger nodded, pointing to the large tracts of territory in other parts of America.

"Victory seems to be within reach. Who is willing to sacrifice themselves in exchange for victory to come faster? Why take advantage of others' achievements?"

The front of the car honked loudly, as if responding to Roger's words. He looked out the window at the snow-covered land.

Daphne closed the magic mirror somewhat dejectedly. She had not expected the outside world to be so complicated. Human weaknesses are often more terrible than black magic. Selfishness, cowardice, greed, these are the real enemies that hinder victory.

At this moment, in the meeting hall of the International Federation of Magic, the tense atmosphere almost condensed into substance. On the huge oval table, a world map was spread out, like a battlefield about to start a war.

Collins, the president of the American Magic Congress, stood up suddenly, and his fist slammed heavily on the table, causing a reverberation. His voice was like thunder, full of unquestionable toughness: "Ladies and gentlemen, this land carries the history and blood of our American wizarding world for two centuries!"

"I myself, as well as all the wizards in the American wizarding world and the American Muggle government that I represent, will never tolerate other wizarding worlds coveting and robbing our territory and sovereignty!"

His voice became more and more passionate: "This is an era of justice and civilization. We should not rob with barbaric behavior. I've finished speaking. Who's in favor and who's against?"

Collins' speech was like a heavy hammer, plundering the entire conference hall into silence. The participants were either thinking or whispering, obviously shocked by these words.

However, the silence was soon broken. Peter, the representative of the Russian magic community, stood up, his thick tongue echoing in the air: "Mr. Collins, we certainly respect your opinion, but our magic community has sacrificed countless Aurors for your victory."

"Moreover, this is not your own victory." Peter slowly pulled out his black wand, which was more like a sharp blade at this moment, ready to draw a new border on the North American continent.

"From Vancouver to Baffin Bay," Peter's voice was low and firm, and the wand drew a slash on the map, "The Russian magic community has the responsibility and ability to protect the Muggles in this area. This is not only the progress of civilization, but also the glory of magic."

As soon as the voice fell, Pierre, the representative of France, stood up suddenly, with sparks of anger flashing in his eyes.

"Greedy guy!" He shouted sternly, grabbing the map, "You haven't even crossed the Bering Strait, why do you covet the fruits of France's victory!"

Pierre waved his wand, instantly wiped out Peter's black line, and then drew a big circle in the entire Canadian area.

"If it weren't for the betrayal of the American Magic Congress, the Canadian magic world would not have suffered this disaster." He held his head high, like a proud rooster, "We suggest that the sphere of influence be divided according to the spheres of influence before the 20th century."

"Oppose!"

"Oppose!"

"Oppose..."

Several powerful magic representatives from Germany, Russia and other countries shouted in unison. They knew very well that if they followed the old European magic world's division method, they would not be able to get much territory at all.

Suddenly, an American wizard timidly said: "Why not ask Mr. Dumbledore..."

Before he finished speaking, the entire conference hall fell into silence. Everyone's eyes, like sharp daggers, stabbed at this American wizard who was ignorant of the world. There was a dangerous atmosphere in the air.

"A wizard who brought war to the world should not enter this sacred place."

"He is a sinner. He trained the Dark Lord twice!"

"And the Death Eaters from Britain also have an unshirkable responsibility. If the Wizengamot had not abolished the death penalty..."

The representatives of various countries spoke one after another, and the accusations against Dumbledore flew out like sharp arrows.

"Yes, his Order of the Phoenix is ​​also a destabilizing factor in the magic world. Minister Amelia, why don't you ban it in the Ministry of Magic?"

"Why, Mr. Pierre wants to help?" Amelia looked around calmly, with a sarcastic smile on her lips, "The British magic world has always been open-minded and welcomes you to enforce justice and punish the strong and help the weak."

"This..." Everyone's face froze. After an awkward silence, someone whispered, "Dumbledore is too strong."

"Heh." Amelia snorted coldly, pulled the map and said, "If the Dark Lord is not completely eliminated, it will be useless even if you draw more."

Her words were like a basin of cold water, extinguishing everyone's enthusiasm. The room was silent for a while, and then slowly became noisy.

"This has nothing to do with the Southern Hemisphere. It's the business of the American magic world."

Collins glared at Peter and roared at him, "Peter, you cowardly ghoul! If you can clean up the thirteen states, I can support your request."

Peter's face was gloomy, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. He stood up slowly, his voice low and dangerous: "Collins, you are provoking the dignity of the Russian magic world."

"Dignity, then why did you stop the front line?"

"I want everyone to have Christmas." Peter responded coldly, his tone like the cold wind of Siberia.

"Hahaha, you Tartar wizards hiding under white skin, also celebrate Christmas in December?"

Suddenly, a voice broke the quarrel: "Why can't we reach a new agreement with the Dark Lord?"

The man continued, "Since we were able to hand over the east of the Rocky Mountains to him before, we can also give him the Thirteen States now."

"Dark wizards, giants, werewolves, vampires, Dementors... are all tough guys, there is no need to attack them by force."

"And you also know that their food has long been insufficient, and the snake people have begun to kill each other." He showed a treacherous smile, "As long as we block them and don't give them supplies, the power of the Death Eaters will soon weaken. Transfiguration can't turn mud into food."

"After ten or twenty years, we will organize a coalition to clean up."

This suggestion was instantly agreed by many people, but some people also raised objections: "But there are still Muggles and wizard captives in their territory."

"Hey, for the peace and stability of the whole world, let's make our heroes suffer." Someone responded lightly.

Amelia sighed deeply as she watched the insects start fighting for the fruits of victory again. These people were like hungry vultures, only concerned with dividing up the territory, but ignoring the real crisis.

She recalled the shocking information provided by Dawlish: the Death Eaters were secretly researching the second-generation snake-man virus, and once successful, its power might be more terrible than dragon pox.

Although she had informed the meeting of this situation, the participants did not seem to take it seriously, and only cared about how to cut the cake made of the map.

She looked at her watch and thought that Dawlish and the others should be ready to leave.

Rogge got off the train and handed the luggage to Bubble who came to greet him. Outside King's Cross Station, Dawlish and the Aurors were doing the final inspection.

Dawlish was still a little worried and confirmed again: "Are you sure the Dark Lord is not on the East Coast tonight?"

Rogge nodded firmly and said confidently: "He is looking for something more important. Moreover, the Dark Lord did not know about the laboratory we are going to destroy."

"What?" Dawlish was shocked and asked quickly, "You mean, the research on the Snakeman virus was done behind the Dark Lord's back."

"To be precise, it is the second-generation Snakeman virus." Rogge explained in a low voice, "After all, Tom Riddle himself is not a pure-blood wizard."

"Once the second-generation Snakeman virus is successful, he himself will be a victim. No one knows what Bella, the madman, is going to do."

Dawlish took a breath and realized the seriousness of the situation. The division within the Death Eaters may be more serious than they thought.