dmims Chapter 113 Ministry of Magic
Chapter 113 Ministry of Magic
Saturday, February 4th, 9:30 AM.
Felix, dressed neatly, stood in the fireplace, his figure disappearing from the office amidst a bright green flame.
When Felix emerged from the communal fireplace, he had already reached Diagon Alley.
Diagon Alley is the most famous magical business district in the British magical world, home to many renowned shops, bars, offices and large corporations.
Gringotts, the Leaky Cauldron, the headquarters of the Daily Prophet, and Ollivanders, Madam Malkin's Robe, Flourish and Blotts, the apothecary, and many other places closely associated with young wizards are all located here.
But Felix was just passing by. He dusted himself off with his top hat, and the next second, he used Apparition to appear directly in a dark, narrow alley.
When Felix walked out of the alley, he was standing on a desolate-looking street with only a few dilapidated low office buildings, a small pub, and a dusty antique car.
He walked a distance and came to a red telephone booth against the wall—it looked quite bad, dilapidated, with large patches of red paint peeling off and several pieces of glass broken. No one with any sense would have the idea to go inside.
But Felix went inside, picked up the crookedly hanging receiver, dialed "62442," and waited quietly.
A few seconds later, the voice of an indifferent woman echoed in the phone booth.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."
Felix calmly stated, "Felix Heap has been invited to attend the awarding ceremony of Damocles Belby."
"Thank you," the woman said in a cold voice. "Guest, please take the badge and pin it to your clothing."
A square silver badge slid out of the coin slot, which read: Felix Heap, invited to a temporary visit.
"Guests from the Ministry of Magic, you will need to undergo security screening and register your wand at the security checkpoint. The security checkpoint is located at the far end of the main hall."
Felix pinned the badge to his robe, his mind now wondering if this woman was even real.
But suddenly the ground in the phone booth began to shake, and he slowly sank into the ground. After about a minute, the phone booth stopped.
"The Ministry of Magic hopes you have a pleasant day," the woman's voice said.
The door suddenly opened, and Felix stepped out into a magnificent, golden hall.
He walked on the gleaming dark floor, with rows of gilded fireplaces embedded in the walls on either side—this was the typical commute for official members of the Ministry of Magic.
It was probably the weekend, so there weren't many people, but a few wizards were still busy at work. A young man with acne on his face walked past him, carrying a rickety stack of parchment.
Felix watched his retreating figure. The person who had just seen him seemed to be someone he knew.
He shook his head, walked past the fountain in the center of the hall, and came to a table. Behind the table sat a wizard in a peacock blue robe with a very unkempt beard.
Above his head was a sign that read "Security Check".
Felix tapped the table with his fingernail. "Good morning, sir. I'm here to register my wand." The wizard looked up and put down the Daily Prophet.
"Come this way," the wizard said listlessly.
Felix approached him, and the wizard raised a long, thin golden rod, as thin as a car antenna, and swept it across Felix's chest and back from top to bottom.
"A wand," the security wizard muttered, extending his hand.
Felix flicked his wrist, and a wand popped out of his sleeve.
The wizard paused, then said, "I've seen quite a few Aurors hide their wands like this. Are you a new Auror?"
"I work at Hogwarts," Felix said briefly.
"Oh my, that's a great job..." The wizard's attitude became much warmer. "My name is Eric Munch. I usually do security checks, and occasionally I also work as a guard."
"Felix, you can call me that."
Eric tossed his wand onto a strange-looking brass machine that resembled a balance scale. The machine began to vibrate slightly.
The wizard, engrossed in conversation, asked, "What subjects do you teach? I heard Professor Kettleburn is retiring. Is he still teaching? His classes were terrible. When I was in school..."
“Mr. Munch,” Felix interrupted him, “Professor Kettleburn is still teaching young wizards, and I’m in charge of ancient runes.”
As far as he knew, Professor Kettleburn was indeed retiring, but his successor was already in place—Ruberhaig.
Dumbledore is actively working to exonerate him and restore his reputation. But things don't seem to be going very well, because the culprit who opened the Chamber of Secrets has not yet been caught, and Felix is already planning to throw the diary out at the opportune moment.
But this matter must be put after Dobby's. Otherwise, if something goes wrong in the middle, he might never see that reckless little elf again.
In fact, Dumbledore could handle the matter of restoring Hagrid's reputation and appointing him as a professor himself; he only needed to mention it at a holiday dinner. But for Hagrid to use his wand openly, he needed the Ministry of Magic's approval.
The Ministry of Magic has always been known for its stubbornness.
"Beep beep!" A narrow strip of parchment flew out of the opening at the bottom of the brass machine. Eric tore the parchment off and read the words on it.
"Thirteen inches, ebony, dragon heartstring core, used for ten years. Is that right?"
"Very accurate," Felix said gently.
"I'll keep this," the wizard said, sticking the parchment onto a small brass nail. "You take this back." He grabbed his wand.
"Thanks."
"Wait a minute," Eric stopped his outstretched hand and examined the badge on Felix's chest across the table.
He said slowly, "I remember you just mentioned that your name is Felix, Felix Heap? The one who facilitated the 87 Duel Agreement..."
Eric Munch's nose turned red, and his nostrils flared excitedly, as if he had seen something amazing.
"Can you tell me what you were thinking back then? I mean, that's one of the 28 purebloods! Although I don't like them either—I'm half-blood—they've existed for hundreds of years, so there must be some reason for it. But now one of them has left England forever, which is such a pity..." he rambled on.
Felix calmly extended his hand, and the black jade-like wand in the wizard's hand flew into his hand with a "whoosh." "I'm in a hurry, let's talk again when we have a chance." He nodded to Eric Munch and turned to leave.
Felix took the elevator to the second floor and followed the signs, passing the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Department of Prohibition of Misuse of Magic, the Department of Prohibition of Misuse of Muggle Items, and the Office for the Investigation and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defense Spells and Protective Equipment, until he finally found the Wizengamot Office.
To the left of the office were two large, heavy oak doors that opened inwards. A prominent sign hung on the doors: Meeting Room No. 3.
As Felix approached, a very familiar, drawn-out voice came from inside: "The taste of the potion doesn't matter. My personal habit is to increase the dosage of aconite..."