A tent had been pitched in Hogwarts' vast gardens, with a small sign planted by its entrance.
Zhang Xiao walked over. It read, "Emergency Ministry of Magic for Exceptional Circumstances, Temporary Headquarters of the International Confederation of Wizards."
Ministry employees with heavy dark circles under their eyes came and went from the tent, hurrying along with armfuls of assorted documents.
Some had barely stepped outside before tugging down their hats, turning, and Disapparating.
A string of explosive pops rang out.
Zhang Xiao nodded. He had not expected the Ministry to have become so much more efficient.
The space inside the tent was enormous, resembling a circular hall, with a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Rooms lined the circular corridor, rather like a Hakka earthen building.
The entrance was fairly spacious, and there was none of the staff who had been responsible for inspecting wands at the old Ministry.
There was only a small desk, where an exhausted employee sat with his head nodding and his eyelids already closed.
A sign leaned against the desk: "Visitors' desk-please register here if you need directions."
Zhang Xiao walked over, but the stubble-covered middle-aged man remained asleep. Shaking his head, he left him undisturbed and simply tapped the layout diagram on the desk to make a copy.
Unexpectedly, the Minister for Magic's office was very close: just one floor down the stairs.
People hurried past on every side, all frowning. Some looked up and saw Zhang Xiao without seeming to register who he was, only to walk a little farther before turning back in astonishment to stare at his retreating figure.
Before he reached the office, heated arguments and discussions were already spilling through the half-open wooden door.
"No, I object!"
"But this is the best solution we have!"
"Enough-order! This is a