The Future of the Wizarding World

The following day, in the Hogwarts Headmaster's office, a balding, thin wizard was hysterically shouting at Headmaster Dippet.

"Armando Dippet! This concerns a Demon God that could potentially overturn the world—who gave you the authority to reinforce the seal yourselves?!" His face flushed crimson, and the small, flat mustache under his nose twitched with the opening and closing of his lips, making him look extremely comical.

"What gives you the right to bypass the Ministry of Magic and make decisions on your own regarding such matters? If something goes wrong in this world, who will take responsibility?!"

Headmaster Dippet glanced at him with some annoyance, but still patiently said, "Minister Fawley, we are indeed sorry for not consulting with the Ministry of Magic beforehand. However, this opportunity to reinforce the seal is crucial, and we truly do not have time to wait for the Ministry of Magic to make a decision."

"What do you mean by that? I now seriously doubt whether you're questioning the Ministry of Magic's decision-making efficiency and accuracy. Or rather, do you think the Ministry of Magic would cause you trouble?" Minister Fawley shouted. "Remember your place, Headmaster Dippet. You're just a school headmaster!"

Minister Fawley emphasized the word "principal".

"Excuse me, Minister Fawley," Headmaster Dippet said expressionlessly, "But we really don't want to take such an unnecessary risk."

Ghost Xiwen floated beside the bookshelf in the Headmaster's Office, watching the pointless conversation between the two with utter boredom.

"Didn't we successfully reinforce the seal on Death? Why is the Minister for Magic still so angry?" Xiwen asked Dumbledore beside him, somewhat puzzled.

"You probably don't understand politicians; their views are quite different from ours," Dumbledore said to Xiwen with a slightly sarcastic smile. "These politicians aren't concerned with the consequences of doing something; they're concerned with the benefits it brings them."

"Take this time, for example. We reinforced the seal on Death ourselves, averting a major catastrophe in the world. This was a major event that would have brought Minister Fawley a lot of prestige and political achievements, but because we didn't inform the Ministry of Magic, they were unable to participate in this operation."

"That's precisely why Fawley couldn't gain anything from this incident, so how could he not be angry?"

"It seems that even if we do notify the Ministry of Magic, they won't be able to help us; we'll be lucky if they don't disrupt our operations," Xiwen shook his head and sighed.

"Can even the risk of world destruction change their profit-seeking nature?"

"Yes, even the destruction of the world cannot change the instincts of politicians," Dumbledore said with certainty.

"Of course, the Wizarding World isn't without politicians of high moral character. For example, the current president of the International Confederation of Wizards, Visencia Santos, and Liu Tao, the Minister of Chinese Ministry of Magic. However, our Minister Fawley is clearly not included in the category of those of high moral character."

Xiwen glanced again at Headmaster Dippet and Minister Fawley, and frowned when he saw Fawley's flushed face and bulging veins on his neck.

"If this is the kind of person leading the Ministry of Magic in England, I have doubts about whether they can successfully resolve the problem of world war, or resist the calamity of the invasion of Death," Xiwen said coldly.

He then turned his gaze to Dumbledore. "Dumbledore, are you really not considering becoming Minister for Magic or even the President of the International Confederation of Wizards? Our world needs a leader, not a politician!"

Dumbledore fell silent and gently shook his head.

"No, I can't. I don't deserve power," he said softly.

"Dumbledore, if you were to lead the Wizarding World, the scheming and corruption within those departments and organizations would be greatly reduced, and the casualties in this war would be significantly lower." Xiwen stared intently into Dumbledore's wise eyes, asking with puzzlement, "So why can't you suppress that urge and truly step in to save the Wizarding World?"

Dumbledore silently shifted his gaze to his wrist. There, a silver chain still clung to his cuff, a Blood Pact stripped of its magic.

"The moment Ariana left, I knew I couldn't afford the price. I couldn't afford to try, and I couldn't afford to make a mistake." He spoke softly, as if talking to himself. "I can confront and even end the mistakes Grindelwald made, so if I make a mistake, who can stop me?"

He suddenly raised his head, his sharp blue eyes looking at Xiwen, "If that day really comes, will you be the one to stop me, Strange?"

Xiwen's almost-spoken rebuttal caught in his throat.

"Perhaps you really can stop me, Strange," Dumbledore looked at Xiwen, his voice softening as he asked softly, "But how many wizards and Muggle will lose their lives in the process?"

As Minister Fawley and Headmaster Dippet's argument subsided, the Ministry of Magic officials disappeared into the fireplace of the Headmaster's Office amidst a series of crackling sounds of rising flames.

The space fell silent, leaving only Xiwen and Dumbledore gazing at each other.

"I see."

After a long silence, Xiwen finally spoke.

Then, he sighed deeply, passed through the wall of the Headmaster's Office, and entered the space inside the Main Tower.

Inside the Main Tower of Hogwarts Castle, the movable staircase still moves back and forth in the U-shaped space, carrying young wizards between the various rooms.

Each floor is illuminated by numerous bright candles, making the entire circular space containing the staircase brightly lit. The portraits hanging on the walls throughout the Main Tower are all enjoying themselves, each portrait having its own things to do.

Looking down from the top eight floors of the Main Tower, the entire castle exudes a cheerful and lively atmosphere.

Xiwen floated at the highest point inside the Main Tower, looking at this carefree ivory tower and then thinking of the war-torn outside world, his expression became somewhat bewildered.

The turmoil in Grindelwald, the global war, and the onslaught of Death —each of these disasters, taken individually, was a massive catastrophe. Yet, in this era, they appeared simultaneously and surged madly towards the weak human race, as if to swallow everything up!

Can they truly save the world under the leadership of this incompetent Minister for Magic?

"Strange!"

Just then, Dumbledore's voice suddenly came from behind Xiwen.

Xiwen turned around and looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"If you still feel lost, why not do something yourself?" Dumbledore walked to Xiwen's side, leaned against the railing on the Seventh Floor, and smiled as he spoke to him. "Actually, you don't need to place all your hopes for leading the Wizarding World on me. I don't deserve your deep trust."

"Strange, remember who you are, you are a Slytherin. I believe you also harbor a hidden ambition within you!"

Xiwen nodded thoughtfully.

Then, he looked up at Dumbledore with a startled expression and asked:

"I'm not a Slytherin, Dumbledore! Are you mistaken?"