The bustling main street of Hogsmeade was packed with people, the crowds even thicker than when the International Confederation of Wizards had convened there.
Wizards from all sorts of regions had gathered here, dressed in distinctive styles.
Meanwhile, outside the Ministry of Magic's Administration Building...
Tens of thousands of people held up placards bearing slogans or waved one hand vigorously. Their expressions ranged from fervent to furious to excited as they shouted.
"We demand that the Ministry of Magic pressure other countries to lift their restrictions on leaving!"
"We demand military action against countries that slander Britain's benevolent reputation!"
These people, who now counted as British wizards, had fairly straightforward demands. This was not a demonstration, merely a collective petition.
Some even wept as they loudly described the miserable lives their relatives were enduring abroad.
The Ministry of Magic sent no one out to explain, allowing these radical sentiments and bleeding-heart liberal ideas to ferment and spread.
It merely ordered the Wizarding Police to maintain order and the Wizarding Army to watch for potential troublemakers.
In the conference room atop the building, Fudge, Lucius, Bones, and a group of senior administrative officials watched the petitioners gathered below through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Amelia was not part of Shawn's inner circle, yet she still held a high-ranking position. Naturally, her fairness and integrity had earned recognition.
Yet this highest-ranking official in the legislative department remained in the dark, puzzled by how suddenly this petition had materialized.
"Minister, shouldn't we issue a statement immediately to give the public an answer? If this continues, I'm afraid there could be serious trouble."
Fudge turned to look at his former political rival, Amelia Bones, and spoke with an inscrutable expression.
"A statement? What statement?
"The public has no intention of causing trouble. What do you suggest