Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Azeroth

Chapter 232, Section 231: A Chaotic World and Grindelwald's Prophecy
"We're busy studying, busy calming the elements in the castle, spending our days either playing with fun things or on our way to find fun things... But look at Harry, he's busy with the future of the wizarding world, and the decisions he makes can affect countless ordinary wizards... Ha..."

Suddenly becoming depressed, Hermione stared blankly at the ceiling above her head, then packed her things into her bag and left alone without saying another word, leaving behind only a dejected figure.

"...Aren't you going to follow her?" George turned his gaze to Ron and Neville, "I thought she needed some comforting right now."

“Oh, Hermione might need some comfort right now, but definitely not from us,” Ron said with a casual shrug. “Don’t worry about it, Neville and I are used to it. She’s been like this for a while now.”

“Hermione, Hermione, she didn’t mean any harm, Fred, George,” Neville stammered as he helped explain, “she just really wanted to help Harry.”

"Don't worry, you little brats," George ruffled his brother's hair nonchalantly. "Who do you think we are? We're the broad-minded Weasley brothers, of course we wouldn't care about your little things—seriously, why don't you write to Harry?"

"Write a letter?" Ron scratched his head. "It's not impossible... but isn't Harry busy?"

“George means that Harry can write a letter to comfort Hermione. Ronnie, you idiot,” Fred said with a laugh. “Given Hermione’s current state, I think only Harry can comfort her.”

"good idea!"

Ron's eyes lit up.

Meanwhile, unaware of what was happening at the school, Harry continued his busy journeys around the world, constantly traveling to areas similar to Hogwarts where elements were more active.

The situation collapsed much faster than he and Dumbledore had anticipated. Muggles had become clearly aware of the existence of these new things called elements, to the point that even when Harry was having a meal at a roadside restaurant, he would see news about Muggles constantly broadcasting these strange new things on television.

Well, it can't really be called a new thing, but just like the troubles that plague wizards, Muggles are also troubled by the situation where some familiar things around them suddenly start moving on their own and even try to communicate with them in an unknown language.

Even though wizards around the world have temporarily united during this period to try their best to keep the existence of elemental spirits from being discovered by Muggles, the number of wizards is still too small.

Compared to the sheer number of Muggles, wizards simply cannot hide the elements from so many Muggles. Some have even proposed extreme methods, such as referencing the incident in the American magical community in 1962, where rain formed from the venom of a winged demon was used to make an entire city of Muggles forget about magic.

However, this extreme approach was ultimately rejected. One reason was that even if the Muggles temporarily forgot about the elements under the influence of the Winged Demon Venom, they would eventually notice these new life forms constantly emerging from their lives as elemental spirits continued to appear. It's not feasible to rain down memory-forgetting rain on the Muggles every day, is it?

Another reason is that times have changed. Muggles now have more ways to spread information, and a single rain shower can't erase everything like it did decades ago.

The only good news for wizards right now is that ordinary Muggles have not yet discovered the existence of wizarding society. In their eyes, the world has just suddenly changed; the things they pile up in the storeroom will suddenly come to life, or many little creatures that can run and jump will appear in their homes.

This is indeed surprising and has caused panic and anxiety among many Muggles. Many Muggles are worried that their homes might suddenly move and crush them, or that some other accident might occur... In short, Muggle society is in a mess right now.

If this trend continues, Muggles will eventually discover the existence of wizarding society. After all, it has already been confirmed that pure Muggles have become shamans, and Harry's prediction has come true.

Even without using other methods, these Muggle shamans will eventually become aware of the existence of the magical world simply through their interaction with the elements, and the national ministries of magic will not allow these Muggle 'magicians' who possess real power to act freely and uncontrollably.

When ordinary people suddenly acquire great power, trouble is bound to happen. The Muggle government has sent numerous emergency contact signals to the Ministry of Magic, and the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic have responded to the call and imprisoned many Muggle shamans who believe they are the future kings of the world.

As for other things... there are all sorts of theories about Muggle shamans who suddenly gained elemental power, such as superpowers, qigong, and magic.

Yes, many people still think they are the legendary chosen one, the reincarnation of Jesus, the divinely ordained creator, the one destined to guide the new world—in short, the whole world is in great chaos right now!
The Muggle government has even informed the Ministry of Magic that, in order to maintain stability, they probably can no longer continue to help conceal the existence of wizarding society. They will have to classify these mysterious elements into magic, whether by having scientists conduct relevant research or by having wizards handle them. In any case, they will have to come up with an official explanation so that those Muggle shamans who have suddenly gained power know that they are not unique and that there are people who can control them.

As for the Ministry of Magic—it's hard to say whether the current Muggle government or the Ministry of Magic is busier.

Because just as chaos had unknowingly engulfed the entire world, a man silently stepped forward once again.

He once had many disciples, possessed extremely powerful magical abilities and influence, and had a grand ideal. He was cruel and was known as the Dark Lord, and was proficient in dark magic. He was ostracized by most ordinary wizards and was eventually defeated. Yes, he was Voldemort.

Grindelwald has been released from prison.

Or rather, Grindelwald was imprisoning himself. He had given up on his ideals in despair and confined himself to Neumungade in Austria, the former stronghold of the fascist party and his old lair.

But now he's no longer imprisoned.

He came out.

Not only did he emerge, Grindelwald even gave a public speech before easily defeating the German Ministry of Magic Aurors who had rushed to the scene, and then Apparating away.

"...My poor, fellow citizens trapped in the shadows, look this way...If your loved ones have been punished for displaying magic in front of Muggles, if your loved ones have been forced to suppress themselves and become Obscures because of the humiliation they suffered at the hands of Muggles, if you have been forced to separate from your loved ones, or even have to erase their memories with your own hands, then look this way..."

"The world has been changed."

"Since the International Law of Secrecy came into effect in 1689, we have disappeared from the world, like some kind of pest, unable to appear openly anywhere in the world. We have to be careful to hide ourselves no matter what we do, and violators can even be punished fatally." "Yes, some countries' ministries of magic even enact some laws that sound ridiculous—like the Muggle Protection Act, haha."

"Then let me ask you, what exactly do these so-called Muggle protection laws and international secrecy laws protect—Muggles or wizards?"

"There has never been a case in this world where the strong need to hide while the weak can freely roam in the sunlight. So the answer is simpler than you think, and you yourselves may even realize this answer, but you have just been unwilling to accept it."

"They consider themselves superior, think they are above Muggles, and believe that Muggles need protection—but now look at the world outside, do Muggles really need protection?"

An elderly man with white hair stood atop the most important statue in the square. The square was filled with wizards, and even some inexplicable Muggles had infiltrated. They were all panicked and dared not speak loudly or reveal their abnormality.

"So, this is Grindelwald?" Harry turned to Dumbledore beside him and asked, "Your old flame?"

“Ahem, Harry, you may have some misunderstandings about us,” Dumbledore coughed a few times. “Let’s continue listening. Although I don’t like his remarks, I have to admit that Gellert does have a certain… seductive charm at times.”

"Did he bewitch you?" Harry said, speechless. "Besides, he didn't say anything wrong, did he? He just told the truth. How can that bewitch people?"

“I’m not surprised you think that way, Harry, after all, you two are quite similar in many ways,” Dumbledore sighed deeply. “Let’s continue, Harry, this memory isn’t over yet.”

The place where Harry and his companion were at this moment was not the real world, but a memory placed in the Pensieve.

It comes from the memory of a wizard who witnessed Grindelwald's resurrection.

“…Shaman priest, I must admit that this is indeed a completely different lineage from that of wizards, a brand new kind of magic. Many people may not have noticed its true significance yet—that is, it has opened up a new path, a path that allows ordinary Muggles to master magic.”

"...What does this mean? It means that wizards are no longer special, I am no longer special, and you are no longer special—it also means an unprecedented war."

"This is not alarmist talk, but a harbinger, a future that is bound to happen."

“Muggles have their own technology, and wizards have their own magic, but now, Muggles possess both the bombs capable of destroying the world and powerful magic. So, how are wizards supposed to bridge this gap?”

"What attitude would those fierce, brutal Muggles, who are capable of slaughtering thousands of their own kind, have towards wizards?"

"..."

"...So let's get moving, while we still have the upper hand, while the secrecy laws are no longer effective, while the Muggles haven't yet adapted to this new world..."

"...The truly noble will rule all. If wizards no longer want to be slaves to Muggles, no longer want to be captured as outcasts like in the Middle Ages, burned alive, or destroyed by guns or bombs, then get moving—you still have wands, don't you?"

"Let everything return to its rightful place, let magic no longer be secret, let wizards no longer need to hide, and let our children be able to stand openly in the sunlight in the future, without being seen as monsters or outcasts!"

"I saw a prophecy—"

The white-haired Grindelwald spoke calmly, taking a deep breath, pressing his wand to his throat, and then slowly exhaling—a bluish-white smoke was exhaled from his breath.

The smoke was very active, billowing like clouds, and soon it churned up and covered the sky above the entire square, then transformed into various scenes.

The opening scene was an explosion that seemed to destroy the entire city. Screaming fire and wind elements roared past in the flames, and even wizards unfamiliar with elemental bodies could see the joy or panic emanating from them.

But even more numerous were the countless elements. A giant rose from the seashore and marched forward, even though before him lay a brightly lit city, like a moving tsunami, blotting out the sky.

Then the scene shifted again, with countless orbs of magical light being launched one after another, followed by fire dragons and magma balls roaring past. Undoubtedly, this was another war, and the oppressive force even caused many timid wizards in the square to scream in panic.

Grindelwald continued to show everything he saw.

The pulsating scene quickly leaped to another level: knights riding warhorses adorned with steel armor from head to toe, with only a few exposed areas of flesh that were actually stark white skeletons, were even charging in formation.

There were also those moving boulders wreathed in bright green flames, monsters covered in spikes, with horns and claws, which perfectly fit the word "demon" in both wizarding and Muggle mythology.

They appeared in groups, fighting one battle after another.

Grindelwald was revealing the future, a future that made Harry pale just looking at it.

No one knew these things better than him.

(End of this chapter)