From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 674 Faction Struggle
“Speaking of which, I don’t recall you being so…obsessed with Muggle society that you even know about war and the most powerful weapons.” Ivy snapped her fingers, and a Yordle dressed as a butler immediately appeared and helped set up a large table of tea and refreshments.

“Some things have indeed happened…” Hermione sighed, admitting somewhat reluctantly, “The wizarding world has always been unwilling to acknowledge Muggle-born wizards, as well as other intelligent beings, especially in the British wizarding community. And after your invention of the Full Moon ritual became more widespread, things started to become increasingly… complicated…”

"This is related to werewolves?" Ivy raised an eyebrow and took a sip of tea.

Former werewolves, or rather, patients with wolfsbane, could reconcile with the magical virus within their bodies through the Full Moon Ritual invented by Ivy. In exchange for stable bloodline inheritance, they gained shapeshifting under their own control and a cure for wolfsbane. In other words, they transformed from patients into normal people with distinctive physical characteristics.

Furthermore, in order to help these werewolves, who had spent years living on the fringes of society and suffering discrimination, start a new life, Ivy joined forces with Black and Potter to establish the Moonface Magic Unlimited Company to sell some of the gadgets he invented. The Weasley twins' magical tricks also received investment from this company.

In other words, under certain circumstances, the werewolves in Britain can be seen as people working for Ivy.

Given the current Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge's flexible nature, even if he doesn't actively promote the integration of werewolves into magical society, he shouldn't do anything that exacerbates social division and unrest in the magical world.

When Hermione was in her early years, she was only thinking about advocating for the rights of house-elves. How did she evolve into a progressive person who unites all discriminated groups in the wizarding world as she nears graduation?
If it were merely a house-elf rights council, adults in the wizarding world would surely consider it childish fantasies; if this council simultaneously began addressing the werewolf issue, then officials in the Ministry of Magic would definitely be sitting up straight reading the newspaper; and if, in addition to the aforementioned two, non-pure-blood wizards and other intelligent beings were added, then this would be tantamount to tearing the wizarding world apart.

Hermione's evolution wasn't just ordinary; it was a super evolution that leaped from her growth stage to her final form.

Sensing the undisguised surprise and admiration in Ivy's eyes, Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her cushioned bottom, a smug look on her face: "Fudge and Professor Lupin had a misunderstanding... Officials from the Ministry of Magic and werewolf employees of Moonface Magic Unlimited got into a fight in Diagon Alley. Ms. Olivia was imprisoned in Azkaban by Fudge, and then..."

“My dad, Sirius, Uncle Regulus, and Professor Lupin stormed into Azkaban and rescued Madam Olivia…” Harry continued, shrugging. “It’s a shame I couldn’t be there.”

“Hey! Harry! Even if… it’s still illegal! Breaking into Azkaban puts us at a disadvantage in terms of public opinion!” Hermione glared at Harry, who immediately shrank back and held up his glass of juice.

Ivy looked at Dumbledore with a blank expression: "Among those people they just mentioned, was one really a Slytherin? Is the Sorting Hat getting senile?"

"There are Regulus's brothers there, as well as colleagues and friends you spend every day with. Even a Slytherin can be filled with boundless courage," the old bee said with a smile, popping a candy into her mouth.

Ivy frowned: "Aren't you worried that another great war will break out in the magical world? Between werewolves and wizards?"

"What can I do, I'm just a blind, clumsy old man?" Dumbledore mumbled, popping another piece of candy into his mouth. "Besides, I'm willing to believe in the wisdom of those who come after me."

The wisdom of our descendants is truly astounding!
Ivy rolled her eyes discreetly: "What's gotten into Fudge? Is someone backing him up?"

No one spoke, but everyone tacitly turned their gaze to the other person sitting in the room, Draco Malfoy.

“I can explain, Ivy.” Malfoy straightened his back and adjusted his collar.

"You don't need to explain anymore, I pretty much understand what's going on," Ivy sighed.

No wonder Dumbledore wasn't in a hurry. Moonface Magic Unlimited, the company that hired werewolves, was owned by Ivy, who held a majority stake in the company. It was only because he was not present that the company was entrusted to other shareholders for safekeeping.

As for Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, he had long ago joined Ivy's Death Eaters. After Ivy won over Voldemort's loyalists with a single Death Grasp, Malfoy led his followers to conquer territory within the Ministry of Magic and seized considerable power.

It can be said that the two factions that made the werewolf problem in the magical world seem like a powder keg are actually the left and right hands that extended from Ivy's own power. It's just that neither of these two hands is willing to submit to the other and both want to suppress the other.

It's no wonder that Lupin led his brothers to break into Azkaban. Perhaps they were confident that Fudge's allies wouldn't react too strongly.
"...Lucius really threw him into Azkaban?" Although Ivy had figured out what was going on, she still felt that sending someone into Azkaban was a bit reckless.

“Of course not!” Draco denied, his eyes wide. “It was just diplomatic rhetoric to scare them! Who would have thought they would actually attempt a prison break? Besides, my father only gave the minister some advice!”

Someone like Lucius, who is used to changing his stance depending on the situation, wouldn't do something as blatant as tearing off the mask... No wonder Hermione initially used the ambiguous term "misunderstanding."

"Nonsense! It was clearly old Malfoy who personally threatened Professor Lupin!" Ron stood up, seemingly trying to use his height to gain an extra advantage, but unfortunately his stick-like figure didn't work very well. Who knows how he manages to eat so much without gaining weight?

“That’s not a threat! My father just hopes that Professor Lupin will seriously consider his proposal and not make a big deal out of it!” Malfoy retorted, his neck stiff. Judging from their expressions, similar conflicts had probably occurred more than once.

"So, Regulus was just a decorative figurehead?" Ivy asked Dumbledore for confirmation. "I thought he could at least act as a lubricant..."

The old bee still looked completely innocent, but his long white beard couldn't hide the corners of his mouth, which betrayed his thoughts.

"Sit down, everyone..." Ivy paused, "So what's the situation now? A war of words?"

“That’s right. Dad said we’ve had the upper hand since Hermione joined.” Ron picked up a handful of small cakes from the table and handed a few to his friends. “Although I don’t understand how we did it.”

Because a united front of the oppressed has been formed. The Ministry of Magic can naturally hold the upper hand against any one of the werewolves, house-elves, and Muggle-borns, but if these factions unite, the Ministry of Magic certainly won't stand a chance.

“But the problem remains unresolved.” Hermione wasn’t boastful; instead, she looked worried. “The Ministry of Magic is just fixated on the werewolf raid on Azkaban, and we have no way to refute it… So far, no bill that benefits us has been passed. And the longer it drags on, the greater the internal divisions become… Professor Lupin even considered taking the werewolves away from Moonface Corporation.”

“Ivy, Professor Doom…you have to help us, for fairness and justice.” Hermione’s strained voice always reminded Ivy of how she got a signed copy of the restricted section from Lockhart. “Your demands are completely unreasonable! Granger is openly overturning the Act of Secrecy! She wants Muggles to know about the wizarding world!” Draco jumped in to complain.

Just then, Cassandra finished confiding in her parents, who had come back from the dead, and walked in.

So Draco naturally sent a distress signal to the other Slytherin in the room: "Say something, Cassandra."

Unexpectedly, Cassandra, whose eyes were slightly red, didn't even glance at him. She simply stood behind Ivy and said, "Right and wrong, the truth and the ins and outs, are for Lord Doom to judge. It's not my place to comment."

Ivy sighed and gestured for the graceful young woman behind her to sit down: "You can relax a little, Cassandra. You are not only my sorcerer, but you have also completed my task admirably... Your parents... are they planning to live in this world, or go to my territory in another world?"

“This world is wonderful. The Volley family didn’t have many friends, and even if they did, they were all killed by Voldemort in that world.” Cassandra bit her lip and continued, “I am your sorcerer, and I want to stay by your side, wherever we go, whatever mission we undertake…”

Ivy didn't refuse, but said, "That kind of life might not be what you imagine. And it wouldn't be particularly safe."

“You won’t watch me die, will you?” Cassandra smiled slightly, bringing her aloof and beautiful face to life.

To this, Ivy could only give a brief reply: "That's right."

“Draco, write to Lucius and ask him to come to Hogwarts with Fudge.” Ivy then looked at Harry. “Professor Lupin and Sirius are in your hands, Harry. I’ll get them to sit down and talk about it.”

The two sworn enemies looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

“And there’s the issue of equality for Muggle-borns, house-elves, and other intelligent beings!” Hermione quickly reminded them.

Ivy stared at her without saying a word.

Hermione stuck out her tongue a little guiltily: "I knew you'd have a way, right?"

“I can get the Ministry of Magic to put this on the agenda, but I can’t guarantee the final outcome.” Ivy himself scoffed at the so-called equality movement, but if he could profit from it, he wouldn’t mind getting involved.

“A good start is more important than anything else! That’s enough!” Hermione nodded excitedly.

"See? I told you we could trust the wisdom of future generations, didn't I?" Dumbledore finally swallowed all the candy in his mouth.

"Do I need to remind you, was I born before you, Dumbledore?" Ivy was starting to dislike this old rascal.

“But you don’t even have a single white beard on your face!” Dumbledore began to feign madness again, something he usually only did when he was in a particularly good mood, such as at the opening ceremony.

“I just hope it won’t take me too long.” Ivy sighed again. He came to buy magical creatures, and now he hadn’t even seen a single Pegasus, and he was already going to have to mediate conflicts in the magical world again.

"By the way, how many people passed the White Tower's test?" Ivy suddenly remembered the Wizard Tower he had set up when he left Hogwarts. It was something he used to test students and select apprentices for himself. After all, his ultimate goal was to pursue the ultimate in magic, and he couldn't do without suitable apprentices to assist him.

“Apart from Mr. Cedric Diggory, who has already graduated, and Miss Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw, the rest are all here.” Dumbledore spread his palms, gesturing for Ivy to look at her friends. “They put in a lot of effort!”

“Ah, I’m not surprised.” Ivy nodded. “You all know what passing through that white tower means, right? I will take you as apprentices, broaden your horizons, and teach you knowledge that has never been written in textbooks. But that also means that you will follow my path—to pursue the end of magic.”

Cassandra, needless to say, was originally Ivy's sorcerer, and her participation in the White Tower Trial was more like a way to prove that she was worthy of it.

The first to respond in the principal's office was Draco, the eldest son of the Malfoy family: "Of course! You have no idea how long I've been preparing for this, Ivy, no... Professor Doom."

“I’m sorry, Ivy.” The first to refuse was Ron, who seemed to have thought about the issue seriously. “Thank you for your help over the years, but my family needs me, and I can’t let them worry about me going off on adventures again.”

“Me too, Ivy.” Harry looked at his best friend. “You know how much my mom loves me, I can’t let her worry anymore.”

“I understand.” Ivy found Hermione, who was looking thoughtful. “And you, Miss Granger?”

"I wouldn't mind becoming your apprentice; in fact, I'm quite looking forward to it. But I'd like to know how you plan to train us, or what kind of knowledge you intend to teach us?"

“I’ll send you to university first, a magic university,” Ivy said, pointing to the little elephant beside her. “Stridhaven, a magic university in another world, that selects students from the multiverse. Of course, tuition is all-inclusive, and I’ll also teach there myself. In addition to academic classes, I’ll give you private tutoring until you graduate. As for the knowledge I’ll teach you… it’s not limited to any particular field; it’s all stuff you’d never get to experience at Hogwarts… For example, how to become a god?”

“Gods.” Dumbledore’s face showed a thoughtful expression. “You’ve mentioned them many times in your adventures. Do they really exist?”

“It’s a very common existence. All the worlds I’ve been to have gods, or similar beings.” Ivy pointed to herself. “Even I can be considered a kind of divine being now. The power of gods is extremely strong, far beyond the imagination of mortals. To die and be resurrected, or to violate the laws of transfiguration, are things that can be done easily by them. However, this knowledge itself means danger, and only those who have undergone many trials and proven themselves worthy can know it.”

(End of this chapter)