Chapter 257: The Smoke of War Rises
Lockhart needed a piece of land to grow Dittany, and the next day, that piece of land appeared before him.
Lockhart had no classes this morning. The Deputy Minister of Magic, Umbridge, paid him a visit at Hogwarts.
She brought with her a list.
"You're letting me choose?" Lockhart blinked, looking at the densely packed contents of the list, which was the inventory of the Yaxley family's assets.
"Didn't the Ministry of Magic say they were just helping me get the oak grove that Corban Yaxley promised me?"
The Yaxley family was not like the Black family, where only one was left. There were other members in the family, and several successful branch families in various parts of Europe.
Lockhart wasn't particularly greedy for wealth. He didn't think that because Corban Yaxley had offended him, he should take all of the family's assets. Doing so would only make all the pure-blood families and even other wizards genuinely fear and resist him.
Yes, the powerful have no fear of anything. But Lockhart didn't care about those things. If he had, he would have just taken them, but what was on the list wasn't enough to make his heart flutter.
With power, everything would come naturally. His magical life had just begun; there was no need to rush.
"The Dark Lord!" Umbridge looked around warily, even when saying the Dark Lord's name. She lowered her voice. "He has been branded a wizard traitor and wizard spy by Dumbledore. There's evidence that Corban was the one who helped him escape from prison. The Yaxley family must give up something to distance themselves from this!"
She gestured to the list in Lockhart's hand, a fawning smile on her face. "By the rules, I should let Dumbledore choose first, but I believe you should see it first."
Lockhart's expression became strange. He wouldn't push away a friendly gesture. It wouldn't be good to hurt someone's feelings. He shook the list and looked at it carefully.
There was a lot on the list. So much that Lockhart felt the Yaxley family hadn't just given up a little something; they had put up their entire family fortune. A pure-blood family that had been around for ages and was still thriving was incredibly wealthy. He wondered how much each generation had sacrificed for it.
Lockhart even saw an item on the list that should have belonged to the Black family: Phineas Nigellus Black's Pensieve. Phineas was Sirius's great-great-grandfather and a former Headmaster of Hogwarts. Who knew what valuable memories a Pensieve used by such a prominent figure would hold?
Pensieves are so personal that they are usually buried with the user after death. They are typically protected with various terrifying curses and dark magic. It's rare to hear of anyone in the wizarding world robbing a grave to steal one. Powerful dark magic curses are not a joke. Just like the dark magic curse Voldemort had placed on his ancestral Gaunt ring, not even Dumbledore could resist it.
And the fact that this Pensieve was brazenly owned by the Yaxley family meant it definitely wasn't acquired through grave robbing.
Such a Pensieve must contain very valuable information, specifically preserved as a family treasure.
"You can choose two items," Umbridge whispered, explaining. "Everyone gets a little something. This has been a long-standing rule among pure-blood families. It's to protect those who benefit and to ensure that the promise made to the family who is giving up the assets is kept."
If everyone takes something, everyone must acknowledge the complete separation between the Yaxley family and Corban. After this, no one can trouble the Yaxley family again because of Corban. Unless everyone discovers that the Yaxley family is still helping Corban, that would be a different story.
This was an unspoken agreement between pure-blood families, a solution that had been accepted by everyone for hundreds of years.
Umbridge whispered that in addition to Lockhart, Dumbledore and Grindelwald could each choose two items, and Fudge could also choose two but had to share a portion of the profits with others, who would then divide the rest.
She also specifically instructed Lockhart not to choose the Galleons, Sickles, and some of the jewels he first laid eyes on, saying they were for the remaining people to split.
Sigh...
Lockhart really wanted that large pile of currency. He quickly scanned the contents and his eyes finally settled on one option: a farm in the Great Plains of North America that was surrounded by magic. Newt's son also had a farm like this. The climate there was perfect for growing magical herbs.
When Umbridge saw Lockhart's choice, she immediately became anxious, even more so than he was. "I asked in advance. This farm has not been developed by the Yaxley family. Besides the Disillusionment Charm, there's nothing there!"
Isn't that great? Lockhart was even more satisfied with this place.
Umbridge opened her mouth and then closed it, quietly waiting for Lockhart's choice. There were so many things on the list. There was even a den of swamp-dwellers.
Swamp-dwellers have no relation to werewolves. They are dog-headed humanoid monsters with powerful attacking abilities, mainly living in Louisiana in the United States. They have two main features: an extremely powerful sense of perception, and their hair can be used as a wand core to enhance the spell-casting effect of magic related to perception.
There was even a 5X danger rating magical creature, the Horned Serpent. The Horned Serpent also comes from North America. A portion of the long horn on its forehead can be used as a wand core. The most crucial part is a gem on its forehead that is said to have the ability to give a wizard invisibility and flight. One of the four houses of the American wizarding school, Ilvermorny, is named after the Horned Serpent.
"Unfortunately, there is no gem on its forehead anymore," Umbridge whispered, observing where Lockhart's eyes rested.
Lockhart raised an eyebrow and looked at Umbridge. "The list doesn't say that."
Umbridge smiled ingratiatingly. "I used some connections to find out this information from a knowledgeable person in the Yaxley family." Her purpose was clear: to take the opportunity to earn his favor.
But... Lockhart scrutinized the list and finally noticed something. "A large part of this is related to North America?"
This was very interesting. Could it be that they were scared by Dumbledore and were now hastily abandoning their interests in this region?
Umbridge had a knowing expression as she explained, "Because the Wizarding Council's interests are there."
Oh... Now it was Lockhart's turn to be surprised. "The Wizarding Council?"
Umbridge looked warily at the tallest spire of the Hogwarts castle, then whispered, "Have you ever wondered why most of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families are in the British wizarding world?"
Lockhart had never really thought about this. He frowned in thought and murmured, "I know the influence of the Sacred Twenty-Eight extends throughout Europe and now deeply affects the International Confederation of Wizards. They and the Wizarding Council—"
"They are the members of the Wizarding Council, and they were called the Sacred Families back then!" Umbridge narrated. "Specifically, in the era before the International Confederation of Wizards, the 'Anglo-Alliance Wizarding Council' era, this powerful Wizarding Council almost ruled half the world. The wizarding families within the council also extended their influence to Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Oceania, and even a wizarding tribe in the Arctic."
"In the era of the International Confederation of Wizards, power was forcibly redistributed. Ministries of Magic were established based on Muggle power divisions, completely severing this vast network."
"For hundreds of years, there were only twenty-eight families left who could maintain their family influence."
A smug, cold smile appeared on Umbridge's face. "Now, it seems there aren't many left."
Lockhart found her expression amusing. "You don't seem to like these pure-blood families?"
"How could I like them!" Umbridge looked like she hated them so much it itched. "They have never treated us as humans. The better ones treat us like slaves, like house-elves, and the worse ones treat us worse than dogs. You've never seen it, but even Fudge, as the Minister of Magic, has to go and fawn over people like Arthur Weasley. Not to mention others."
Lockhart raised an eyebrow, carefully recalling the bigwigs at the Ministry of Magic. He was surprised. "So, you mean Fudge doesn't have much power at the Ministry?"
If he had to bend to a mere Arthur who held an idle position, he wondered how embarrassed Fudge must be in private when facing Barty Crouch Sr. Luckily, Fudge wasn't like Peter Pettigrew and didn't feel as desperate as he did when facing Voldemort. In addition to Dumbledore as his backer, he also had his own methods.
Umbridge sighed and nodded. "It's so difficult for those of us who aren't from pure-blood families."
"So you mean... the global network of ancient pure-blood families was dismantled by the International Confederation of Wizards through the Statute of Secrecy, so they turned their attention to the New World, which was practically a blank slate back then?"
Lockhart stroked his chin in thought. He suddenly raised an eyebrow. "But I heard that the wizards who first came to the Americas were the source of the Scourers organization?"
Umbridge didn't dare to answer that question, but she did add, "The wizards who first came to the Americas were also the source of the Magical Congress. In order to fight against the so-called Scourers, they began to establish the Auror organization. The first people to volunteer to become Aurors were actually them."
Well, I'll be.
Lockhart clicked his tongue, now having a general understanding of the situation in North America. He narrowed his eyes, a slight smile on his lips as he thought of something. He looked down at the list in his hand again and slowly stood up.
Umbridge looked at him, confused. "You can still choose another one!"
Lockhart chuckled. "I'll choose the magical books and the Galleons. Send them to my mansion in London!"
Galleons? Umbridge hesitated, wondering if she should say something, but in the end, she chose to keep her mouth shut. If she had to, she would just have to find a way to exchange some of the other options with other factions to fill this gap.
But—she was a little confused. "Didn't you want that farm in North America?"
Lockhart laughed. "Of course. I'm taking that farm!"
"Professor Lockhart!" Umbridge exclaimed. "I don't recommend that you break the rules like this. Choosing two items is already a big share. If you take more, everyone will have a problem with it."
"No!" Lockhart looked back at her. "They won't have a problem with it."
"Huh?"
Umbridge was bewildered. She felt that Lockhart was being overly greedy in this matter, but he didn't usually seem like a greedy person.
She soon understood.
Lockhart took the list and found Dumbledore. Grindelwald was also in the Headmaster's office.
"What do you mean?" Dumbledore took the list and looked at it.
"Corban Yaxley!" Lockhart said excitedly. "If I were him, I would definitely offer these lands to Voldemort. Of course, I'm guessing he's smarter than I am in this regard. That old bureaucrat knows too much. What do you think? If he and Voldemort are both in North America, or rather, if they need some manpower in North America, where would these people hide?"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, his eyes becoming sharp. He quickly scanned the list and handed it to Grindelwald.
"Corban is the head of the Yaxley family. Of course, he would know about his family's land in the jurisdiction of the Magical Congress of the United States. He certainly wouldn't think he'd be disowned by his family. He probably still thinks these family lands are his." Lockhart rubbed his hands together excitedly.
Old Voldy, old Voldy, I think we've got you this time.
Dumbledore looked at Grindelwald in thought.
Grindelwald nodded. "There are reports that they are currently active in North America."
Umbridge was frozen in the corner, terrified. She felt that she shouldn't be in Dumbledore's office at this moment. She should be outside. Was this information she was allowed to hear?
It involved the four most powerful magical masters in the world, the Order of the Phoenix, and the Death Eaters. For a person like her, this was undoubtedly a terrifying vortex. She didn't know if she would be able to leave this office after hearing about the major action Dumbledore was about to take.
She wouldn't be killed, would she? Her mind was a mess, and she secretly prayed that the best treatment for her would be a "Memory Charm."
Until—
"Dolores?"
"Huh?" Umbridge trembled, raising her head in horror, only to find that Dumbledore and Grindelwald were no longer in the office.
Lockhart waved the list in his hand. "The North American part of this list will all be reviewed by the International Confederation of Wizards. Go to the Ministry of Magic and coordinate the handling of this matter. Remember to bring me the two items I've chosen first, understand?"
Umbridge was still a little panicked. She took the list absentmindedly and responded habitually, "Okay. The magical books and Galleons."
Lockhart looked at her expression and shook his head. "Here. Now go find Percy, the seventh-year Gryffindor student, Percy Weasley. He's Arthur Weasley's son."
Umbridge looked at him blankly. "I've heard of that boy. Why should I find him?"
"He's helping me establish a dueling club. He's bought a castle and the surrounding land in the Scottish Highlands from the Muggle nobleman Sir Humphrey Applebaum. You help him get that done."
Umbridge finally came back to her senses, her eyes lighting up. As long as she was needed, as long as she had value to be used, she wouldn't be discarded. She understood this principle!
She had told herself that Lockhart, this new magical master with no foundation, would definitely need her someday.
"Professor Lockhart, you can rest assured. I'll get it done!"
In fact, no one was better than her at knowing how to handle this matter in a way that was completely in line with the current political landscape.
You see, Minister Fudge was busy every day balancing the various factions at the Ministry of Magic: the pure-blood families, the school, the Order of the Phoenix, the International Confederation of Wizards—he had too many things to deal with. It was her, the Deputy Minister, who handled the actual work of the Ministry.
She knew very well how to do a good job.
Lockhart nodded, not saying anything more, and led her out of the Headmaster's office.
Not long after, Lockhart, with a few students, found Professor McGonagall and used the Floo Network to quickly get to a Ministry of Magic-controlled Portkey public point in the Scottish Highlands.
In North America, the smoke of war was about to rise.
How could he be absent from such an interesting event!
Let's go!