Chapter 253: Wade Will Help Us Solve It
Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, was a small man, and to Harry, his attire was quite peculiar.
He wore a purple pinstriped suit and green pointed leather shoes, looking like a clown about to perform on stage.
Standing beside Dumbledore, he felt immense pressure.
He saw the gigantic maze and the students whose eyes gleamed with eagerness, seemingly longing for a fight.
The changes at Hogwarts made him feel utterly unfamiliar with the place.
Just two and a half years ago, when he first took office and visited Dumbledore at the school, he had remarked how everything was exactly as it had been when he was a student.
But this time, he almost suspected he had taken a wrong turn.
More than a third of the remarkably active yet orderly students weren't wearing school robes; instead, they wore soldier-like clothes suitable for intense activity.
Their arms showed clear muscles, and their wand holsters were strapped in positions that allowed for quick draws. Some young wizards even carried shield-like objects.
Each of them looked even more capable than the tall, slender Ministry of Magic official beside him.
But what made him feel even more alienated was Dumbledore.
This headmaster, who had once gently guided him, this elder who had repeatedly yielded, and at times even made Fudge feel like he was senile, now seemed much colder.
Although he merely smiled less and his words became more concise and direct, it was enough to make Fudge, who had been planning to free himself from Dumbledore's influence, begin to tremble with fear.
So, he couldn't utter the accusatory words he originally intended and instead started asking about the arrangements for the event.
On a lawn by the Black Lake, House-elves had placed many long benches, and a temporary tiered seating area had been built at the back.
Currently, Dumbledore was accompanying the Ministry of Magic officials, sitting in the front chairs, followed by the school's professors. The students not participating in the competition sat on the tiers behind them.
In the crowd, a blonde girl stood out.
She wore a bizarre and brightly colored flamingo hat, her expression somewhat dazed, and her tawny clothes made her resemble a giant Bowtruckle.
Because of her strange attire, other students preferred to squeeze together rather than sit with her.
In front of everyone stood the towering walls of the maze.
Sitting in his seat, Fudge asked with genuine curiosity:
"Sitting like this, what can we see besides the leaves on the walls?"
"Oh, that question. I believe Wade will help us solve it."
Dumbledore said easily, "I suppose you know Wade Grey too?"
"Yes, yes... I met that boy last time..."
Fudge looked at Wade, who was busy working in front, and replied somewhat distractedly, "When Peter Pettigrew was taken away from here, I remember he was there too..."
In truth, at that time, Fudge's mind was consumed with questions about Peter, Sirius, the decade-old miscarriage of justice, and who Voldemort's loyal servant truly was; he had no time to pay attention to an "ordinary student witness."
It was only later, when he heard his subordinates discussing it, that he realized that student was the inventor of various popular new products, and he couldn't even begin to describe how much he regretted it.
At this moment, Fudge's gaze followed Wade's movements, hoping that he would hear them discussing him and then approach to introduce himself.
—Just like the older students who watched them with eager eyes.
That way, Fudge could naturally offer a few compliments, showcasing the ministerial demeanor and friendly attitude he hadn't had the chance to display last time.
To Fudge, the Malfoy family's vault was like an inexhaustible well; though it held a lot of water beneath, dropping a bucket down would only bring up a tiny bit.
For that, he still had to plaster on a smile and pay some prices he'd rather not.
But a young and talented Alchemist like Wade, once unearthed, was a huge, immediately monetizable gold mine.
However, Wade never looked back.
He was like an ordinary maintenance worker; whether the person sitting there was the Minister for Magic or the greatest wizard of the century, he ignored them, focusing only on securing three mirrors with a few others.
With a flick of his Wand, the already man-sized mirrors immediately began to grow, quickly reaching 10 feet tall. Each mirror was almost like a wall.
"What is that?"
Fudge couldn't help but ask, hearing the Ministry of Magic officials and Aurors behind him also beginning to discuss it.
"Hmm..."
Dumbledore was watching the setup with an appreciative gaze. He thought for a moment before saying, "Magic television?"
Fudge: "...What?"
It wasn't that he didn't know what a television was; he just wondered if Dumbledore was senile and mistaken.
At that moment, he heard someone not far behind him say, "Allow me to introduce, Minister, this is the latest creation of Mr. Wade Grey and his two friends—Mr. Fred Weasley and Mr. George Weasley—the magical version of television—the Streaming Mirror!"
Fudge turned around and saw Marchioni, one hand on his chest, speaking politely.
He froze for a moment, feeling like he'd heard a familiar name—
"Weasley?"
He abruptly looked at the tall, disheveled Ministry of Magic employee standing not far from him.
Arthur Weasley was equally shocked:
"Fred and George? My… my two sons? They're only in fourth year!"
He really wanted to ask if the gentleman had misspoken, but under the gaze of his many colleagues, Mr. Weasley managed to hold back, though with difficulty.
Marchioni chuckled, "Wade Grey is only in second year, and he invented the Book of Friends a year ago."
Arthur Weasley quietly closed his mouth and sat down on the edge of his chair, still finding it unbelievable.
On one hand, he knew his twin sons were indeed very clever; on the other hand, he'd always suspected that any day now he'd receive a notice about them repeating a year, dropping out, or being expelled.
Meanwhile, facing the curious inquiries from the crowd, Marchioni calmly began his introduction:
"The Streaming Mirror is an adaptation of the Two-Way Mirror. It can transmit images and sounds in real time, and we'll see its effects in a moment. It's sure to amaze you all..."
"The first time I saw it, I couldn't believe my eyes..."
"Mr. Grey and the two Mr. Weasleys have commissioned our Aslan's Magic Workshop to produce and sell it. Soon, you'll be able to see it in your own homes..."
"Is the price a bit high? ...Sir, have you ever seen a Muggle television? If Muggles can enjoy the fun of television, why should we wizards only listen to the radio? Don't you want to watch Miss Celestina Warbeck's concerts from the comfort of your own home?"
"Think of the joy it can bring you; the price is actually well worth it... And a Streaming Mirror lasts forever. Averaged out daily, it costs less than 0.1 Knut..."
Hearing the familiar sales pitch, Wade, who had been busy, finally looked back.
He felt as though he could see the capitalist's sinister grin from behind Marchioni.
The magical Streaming Mirror indeed had a very long lifespan... but after technology advanced and updated, who would still watch a 9-inch black-and-white TV?
However, everyone, including Fudge, who had just been observing Wade, was so captivated by Marchioni that they didn't notice.
Then, the silver-white mirror surface suddenly flashed, displaying a scene from inside a labyrinth.
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