"Hahaha... not at all!" Michael let out a dry laugh. "Muggles can't even find us, they don't even know wizards exist in this world."
Ryan watched him silently.
Michael's smile faded.
"My grandmother, your mother, Wade's parents, Harry's aunt and uncle, and Hermione's parents are all non-magical people," Ryan said calmly and pointedly. "Do Muggles truly not know about wizards?"
After a long pause, Hermione murmured, "Now I understand why the Statute of Secrecy exists..."
"And Dumbledore," Harry whispered.
No one responded this time.
They couldn't help but wonder, if it were Dumbledore, could he withstand those terrifying weapons?
Or would even Dumbledore have no choice but to flee and hide if Muggles launched an attack?
"Wade, do you think... if Hogwarts were discovered, could we withstand a Muggle attack?"
Somehow, Theo had even more faith in Wade than in many of the school's professors, perhaps second only to Dumbledore.
A few seconds later, Wade slowly said,
"There certainly are ways... but... it's difficult."
For example, using the Imperius Curse and Legilimency, combined with Transfiguration or Polyjuice Potion, to control high-ranking Muggles, or even replace them, to instigate wars between Muggle nations while protecting the Wizarding World from discovery.
However, interacting with Muggles isn't as simple as just saying "good morning." Even a raised eyebrow between acquaintances can reveal if someone is truly themselves.
Furthermore, high-ranking officials are under constant scrutiny, appearing in front of cameras almost daily, and even the slightest anomaly would be magnified infinitely.
Therefore, any wizard capable of carrying out such a mission would need an incredibly strong will and conviction, requiring a long period of infiltration and observation, and extreme resilience and patience to successfully assume another's identity.
Somehow, Wade suddenly recalled the popular "lizard people" conspiracy theories he'd seen online in his previous life.
If someone had the same idea as him, if someone truly spent decades, or even a lifetime, putting it into practice...
Would some high-ranking Muggles have been replaced?
Or... was he just overthinking it?
He thought about the original story: after everything ended, nineteen years passed, and Harry's children were all going to school.
At least until then, the world remained peaceful.
...
"Knock, knock, knock!"
An urgent knocking sounded at the door. Dumbledore put on his glasses, and with a flick of his finger, the oak door swung open.
"Albus!"
Professor McGonagall rushed in, only slowing her pace slightly upon seeing Dumbledore.
"Do you... do you know what Professor Abigail told the children today?"
"Of course," Dumbledore said calmly. "Professor Abigail consulted with me before preparing for class."
"Then, Muggle... Muggle weapons... have they really reached such a level?" Professor McGonagall asked incredulously.
"I'm afraid so," Dumbledore said. "You know, I have a few Muggle friends. Like dear Jacob, who once fought in the First World War, with the American Expeditionary Forces..."
"Albus!"
Professor McGonagall had also met the Muggle named Jacob, but that wasn't what she wanted to hear right now.
"Alright," Dumbledore said leniently. "I understand your concerns, Minerva. But don't worry, for now, the Statute of Secrecy is still doing its job."
"So you're saying..."
"Yes, don't worry about Muggle bombs raining down on us one day. Even if someone were to launch a missile at what they believe is 'Hogwarts,' it would only explode elsewhere."
Professor McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief.
"You've thought about this already? Oh—of course—you must have thought about these issues long ago! You always see the crisis before the rest of us."
"I'm no prophet, Minerva. I've merely... witnessed the power of those things firsthand."
Dumbledore said.
After seeing off his deputy headmistress, who was embarrassed by her "fuss," Dumbledore's relaxed expression also vanished. He prodded the Pensieve, and the silvery mist swirled.
A hazy image appeared in the air—
Explosions, death, war.
More human corpses than crows in the sky, the landscape transformed by bombing.
A figure slowly rotated, shouting at an unseen person, "Who does the Statute of Secrecy truly protect? Us, or them?"
"Who forced us to hide? Who are the executioners in this war?"
"Face the facts, Dumbledore! Escaping won't solve anything!"
"What we long for is freedom, truth—and most of all, love!"
The silver figure vanished.
Dumbledore sat in his chair, tiredly pinching the bridge of his nose.
…
For most teenagers, worries and anxieties about the future don't linger in their minds for too long.
Whether Muggles would attack Wizards existed only in their imaginations, perhaps far off in the distant future, but the final exams were less than a month away.
What's more, the highly anticipated Maze Challenge was just around the corner.
Or even more immediate concerns—being late for class, not finishing an essay, being pranked by Peeves on the way, or having a confession rejected…
These were all far more pressing than the development of Muggle weapons.
And so, discussions about that lesson quickly faded from popular topics. The most direct impact, in fact, was that many Muggle-born students held their chins a little higher.
They eagerly discussed the weapons Professor Abigail had shown, and some vague stories they'd heard from their parents.
Students from other years also successively attended this popular science class.
When Professor Abigail taught her second class, almost all the professors came to observe, even Professor Murray canceled a banquet.
Wade, who was helping to lead the way, accompanied him. He stood behind the first-year students who were in class, watching the naive-looking children experience several easy-to-operate weapons under Professor Abigail's guidance.
"It seems Dumbledore has found a good professor for you this time."
Amidst the intermittent gunfire, Professor Murray said, "I've long felt that current students should learn more about Muggle development. Many people's understanding of them is still stuck in the Middle Ages."
"Professor Abigail has indeed taught us a lot," Wade said. "Her knowledge in this area must exceed that of most Muggles."
Professor Murray glanced at him. "I heard you've chosen Muggle Studies as an elective?"
"Yes," Wade said. "In fact, I've chosen all courses."
"Professor Charity Burbage is a good person, but her Muggle Studies class, you can just listen to it for what it is," Professor Murray commented unceremoniously. "She knows less about Muggles than my radio!"
"I just think… studying Muggles from a wizard's perspective is quite interesting," Wade said.
"Oh really?" Professor Murray mumbled suspiciously. "I always feel like you heard some news… that's why you specifically chose all courses, even though you don't need them at all."
"What?"
Wade tilted his head to look at him, his eyes as innocent as a bird preening its feathers on a tree.
Professor Murray: "…"
He was speechless for a moment, then warned, "…Don't abuse it, and don't try to uncover its secrets. Time is the most terrifying and dangerous power in this world."
Wade was silent for a moment, no longer feigning ignorance, and said softly, "…I understand, Professor."
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