"Then when did the changes begin, and what caused us to lose the peaceful lives we once had?"
The sharp question rang out with force.
Inside the house, the people listening to the speech voiced their own opinions, though their voices remained low and indistinct.
John clenched his fists, fire flickering in his brown eyes.
There was no need to think hard about that question.
Ever since the new Minister had suddenly taken office, things had started to feel wrong.
"Ever since our friendly, benevolent Minister Cornelius Fudge was suddenly removed from office, and Amelia Bones and Amosta Breen took power, the British wizarding world has become a complete mess!"
Angris said with a livid expression.
"Diagon Alley, which had stood for centuries and was renowned across the world, was reduced to wasteland overnight. St Mungo's is packed with wizards wounded in the war, while you have lost the jobs you depended on because of the war rashly started by the Ministry of Magic!"
The wind drifting outside suddenly turned savage.
The old locust tree by the door bent beneath the gale. The rustling of leaves crashing against one another merged into something like someone's miserable weeping.
"But—"
The eldest son of the Shire family raised his hand at that moment. To John's surprise, he actually voiced an objection.
"The Ministry did it to capture Death Eaters and fight Voldemort—"
"Of course it did!"
Mr Angris showed no reproach. Instead, a mocking smile tugged at his lips.
"Fighting Voldemort is always right. But I think we can all agree that the Ministry's methods were not entirely appropriate, can't we?"
Another round of discussion broke out, and people nodded one after another.
"Minister Bones and Breen demanded that the Death Eaters return to Azkaban themselves, or else have their wealth in