Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

Chapter 1006 Stars
"Everyone has two sides, Professor."

Wade began, “I’ve also spent a few hours with Mr. Fontana, though only briefly, but I could tell that he is a truly dedicated and beloved principal to the students and colleagues he respects, and that’s the side of him you’ve come to know.”

"But he classified all those who were Muggle-born, who in his eyes were unworthy of magic, or who would even taint the purity of magic, as enemies, regardless of their age, character, or ability."

"He showed extreme coldness and rejection towards enemies, as if dealing with enemies was always the right thing to do."

Wade paused, seemingly thinking about how to express himself more accurately.

"This fragmented understanding is not entirely Fontana's personal flaw."

"The American wizarding community has experienced the tragedy of the Salem witch trials. They used harsh laws to separate the two societies. In the minds of American wizards, they have engraved distrust and even hostility towards Muggles into the system and culture."

“Fontana grew up and came to power in such an environment, and his ideas are a product of this historical shadow. Even if the Rappaport Law were repealed, people’s ideas could not change instantly.”

At this point, Wade's voice grew softer and softer, eventually fading into silence.

One unmentioned but undeniable question is that the Rappaport Law was repealed in 1965. So what happened to Muggle-born wizards in America before that?
In a country where forming close friendships with ordinary people is severely punished, Muggle wizards would naturally not be accepted by magic schools. So how would they understand their powers? When their magic suddenly erupts, would they be "dealt with" by the Magical Congress?

Given the environment of the American magical community, it is indeed easier than any other country to breed monsters like the Purifiers, who deny even their own existence.

"The weight of history does indeed shape our choices today."

Dumbledore spoke slowly, picking up a toffee but not putting it in his mouth, instead playing with it thoughtfully.

“You saw the underlying logic behind the behavior, Wade, that’s very valuable.”

"But we must also be soberly aware that history may be part of the shaping of human nature, but it should not excuse crimes."

"Regardless of the past, for an educator or a leader to choose to categorize people and inflict injustice and harm in the name of 'protection' is itself a betrayal of their position and humanity."

Wade sighed softly: "So I'm so glad... glad I was born here and grew up here. If I had been in America..."

He shook his head and didn't continue.

Even with the wisdom of a reincarnated human, given his near-complete ignorance of the American magical world, Vader, driven by his yearning for magic, would likely unknowingly step into a trap.

Because in his previous life he knew nothing about Rappaport law or Salem witch trials, his understanding of the American wizarding world mainly came from Scamander's perspective in the movies.

The film's plot blurs the underlying social atmosphere of systemic oppression and racial segregation, and downplays the irreconcilable relationship between wizards and Muggles.

What he saw then were two endearing sisters—the upright and resilient Tina Goldstein, and her passionate and romantic younger sister Queenie. Queenie even fell in love with a chubby Muggle veteran.

Dumbledore's eyes flickered slightly behind his crescent-shaped spectacles, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

He didn't respond immediately, but simply put his fingertips together lightly, as if deep in thought.

After a long pause, Dumbledore said, “Imagining another possibility of life is indeed an enlightenment for us now. It breaks the framework we are used to and allows us to see that some of the things we have and cherish are not necessarily so.”

Wade looked at him and saw the principal say earnestly and forcefully:

"But sometimes, besides being thankful that 'thank goodness it wasn't me,' perhaps we should also think about... 'what can we do?'"

"The relatively inclusive and peaceful environment we have is neither created out of thin air nor is it indestructible."

"It needs maintenance, understanding, broader acceptance, and more capable people like you to think about it..."

"Can this kind of inclusiveness not only be a blessing for the British Isles, but also resonate in the wider world, and even gradually heal the wounds of history?"

Wade raised an eyebrow, quite surprised. He noticed the subtle shift in Dumbledore's words—

Previously, the principal had always taught him, both openly and subtly, to understand the necessity of the rules; to see clearly the existence of boundaries and not be tempted by darkness; to learn to exert power and wisdom within the established framework, and to learn to restrain his power and certain destructive thoughts.

However, at this moment, Dumbledore's words... while not encouraging Wade to paint the world however he pleased, gently opened a crack, suggesting that he could cross a certain line and take the initiative to do more.

Although Wade had already started doing this a long time ago.

But at this moment, he clearly felt—

Dumbledore's mind has changed!

The thought flashed through Wade's mind like a bolt of lightning.

Perhaps it's Grindelwald's resurgence, perhaps it's the pressure from Voldemort's resurrection, or perhaps it's the cracks and crises exposed within the American wizarding world...

The accumulation of various events caused a subtle shift in Dumbledore's inner balance, as if some of his more flexible and adventurous ideas from his youth, suppressed for many years, were quietly growing.

Wade let out a soft breath, stroking his own picture in his hand, and said with a clarity beyond his years, "This is not easy."

“Sir, people like you who are willing to shoulder broader responsibilities and even make huge concessions and sacrifices for them are ultimately a minority.”

"Most people, whether wizards or Muggles, whether pure-bloods or Muggles, are primarily concerned with their own situation, the interests of their family, and immediate gains and losses... 'What I can get' is often more important than 'What I can do'... much more important."

He paused for a moment, then slowly began to recount his experiences in the United States.

He spoke of Leila Picqueli's ambitions and methods, Fontana's extreme conservatism, the conspiracies of the wizarding interest groups within Congress, and the collusion between the high command and the Purgers.

There's also the tragedy of Hawthorne, manipulated public opinion, the involvement of the Malay Party in these events, and the Muggle organization Prometheus's relentless pursuit of wizarding power, among other things.

Only a very small portion of these have ever appeared in newspapers;

Kingsley and Moody's reports to Dumbledore were always just a corner of a huge curtain, because Vader hardly used their power.

Even in the past, although Vader and Dumbledore communicated, Vader was limited by the communication methods of the Book of Friends and didn't write down anything too specific. There were some things that even Dumbledore couldn't know the whole story about.

But no one understood the intricate web of events better than Wade, who had personally experienced them all.

As he recounts and analyzes those thrilling experiences one by one, it is not only a review and reproduction of a series of astonishing changes in the American magical world, but also a silent demonstration of the boy's rapid growth and the weight he has quietly accumulated.

That student, who spent most of his time engrossed in alchemy in the laboratory, was able to subtly influence the direction of the Magical Congress of the United States with a calmness and sharpness beyond his years when he first stepped into the unfathomable vortex of the international magical world.

Countless people's fates were completely changed because of him, but on Wade's face, the old principal could not even see pride or complacency, only solemn and prudent contemplation.

It's as if he does all this by default, without any need for surprise or special emphasis. What he focuses on is always the grander picture and the complex driving forces behind various events.

Dumbledore listened quietly.

In a daze, he seemed to see a brand new star, rapidly shedding the last layer of hazy nebula around it, its light piercing the darkness and stirring up a wider universe.

The sky outside the window gradually changed from inky black to iron gray, then slowly revealed a pale, fish-belly-like light, illuminating the world covered by thick snow.

The flames in the fireplace had died down, leaving only glowing embers that still radiated warmth, casting long shadows of the two people onto the thick carpet, swaying gently with the occasional flicker of the embers.

(End of this chapter)