On the second day of Christmas.
The British Ministry of Magic was besieged by representatives from various countries.
Many high-ranking officials from those countries still refused to believe, even after receiving the news, that Britain possessed a complete Philosopher's Stone. Now they wanted to see this ultimate treasure of alchemy for themselves.
When Fudge, protected by a large contingent of black-clad soldiers from the Wizarding Army, displayed the Philosopher's Stone in the hall and publicly demonstrated its power to turn stone into gold.
A whole swath of the representatives immediately went wild.
If this news reached their home countries, the claims their Ministries of Magic had used to deceive and placate the public-that Britain was siphoning off wealth through cheap potions-would collapse on their own!
Sure enough, after an eloquent, highly inflammatory report was published in Britain.
On the third day of Christmas.
A massive wizarding march erupted on Lionheart Street, the commercial center of the French wizarding world.
Marches and strikes had practically become fashionable among the French. Even when nothing much was happening, some people would take to the streets with placards to voice nonsensical grievances.
And now, although France had not opened up trade in potions with Britain, the influence of other countries had still caused prices in the French wizarding world to rise slightly, along with unemployment.
A large-scale march breaking out was only to be expected.
"Keep prices stable! No wage cuts!"
"Lift the restrictions on leaving the country! I want to go to Britain!"
"Open up the potions trade! We want affordable potions!"
Ordinary witches and wizards held up all sorts of colorfully painted placards and shouted in the streets.
Even when a few clearheaded, politically astute people in the crowd explained that this was all a British plot, their words found little support.