At 3 p.m., the meeting convened at the headquarters of the International Confederation of Wizards. The spacious room, comparable in size to a standard basketball court, became somewhat crowded with over four hundred chairs set up, not to mention the open space in the center with a purple, gold-trimmed carpet laid out for impromptu speeches. At the front of the room, a long table was elevated for the president of the Confederation, with several fixed seats nearby for the vice-president, the secretary, and anonymous members whose occupants varied depending on the meeting's theme, like Amelia Bones for this session.
Some followed Mrs. Bones's gaze to a young man above her, smiling and fiddling with a peculiar hat, engaging in quiet conversation with her. Felix Harp, a name many whispered with reverence, was almost solely responsible for assembling this gathering, a feat not even Babajide Akingbade's reputation could have achieved.
Felix sat beside Akingbade, seemingly at ease under the shifted pressure. Wearing a complex, intricately designed robe, he looked quite fitting seated on the main stage. The thought of the vacant vice-president's seat seemingly reserved for Felix stirred whispers among the delegates, reminiscent of past instances where the vice-president held significant power, a tactic once employed by the proactive Dumbledore.
"Did you dye your hair?" Felix asked, intrigued.
Checking her documents, Mrs. Bones shot him a glance and hummed an acknowledgment. "And you look better. Have you been using beauty potions?" she froze at his comment. Felix added quietly, "Take a closer look at your hair—"
"What about my hair?!" she snapped.
"After a second, he confidently said, "It's gotten longer."
Mrs. Bones seemed slightly embarrassed, whispering, "Felix, today's meeting is serious!" Despite her annoyance, her agitation showed as she shuffled her papers.
"When was it?"
"What are you—""A joyous occasion!" Felix declared seriously, reminiscing about a playful moment at Bill and Fleur's wedding that involved Sirius and a chicken leg, which he humorously confused for something else.
"Shut up," she retorted.
...
Babajide Akingbade, the current president of the Confederation, called the meeting to order, and the room fell silent.
"Three centuries ago, we established the Secrecy Act, which has served us well until the complete exposure of the magical world. I hope you approach today's task with the same sense of historical responsibility, to craft laws that are both visionary and guiding."
"I am honored to have Mrs. Amelia Bones with us, who has been integral in negotiations with the Muggle government, achieving a consensus detailed in the book 'Aiding the Publicization of Magic', available to you all... Felix Harp, who has been deeply involved in these negotiations, praised the meticulousness of the book, ensuring no careless word made it into the final draft, aligning with both parties' moral standards. He will maintain order and arbitrate any contentious issues during this conference."
After a pause and seeing no objections, Akingbade turned to Felix, "Felix?"
With a nod, Felix said, "Amelia, you may begin."
Mrs. Bones's calm voice echoed in the room, her familiar monocle partially shadowed.
"...The second part details the progress and outcomes of negotiations between the Ministry of Magic and various governments, including unresolved debates; the last section outlines plans already underway or soon to be implemented to foster cooperation, such as joint enforcement and magical shops. We opted for book sales paired with gifts, believing it opens doors more effectively..."
"As you can see," she surveyed the murmuring crowd, "I am committed to providing you with all necessary background and details." She then sat down.
"Thank you, Amelia, and thank you, Babajide," Felix spoke loudly, his gaze sweeping over the audience.
"We are here to draft a law as influential as the Secrecy Act, possibly even more so in some respects."
"This isn't about short-term enforcement but setting standards for centuries, like the Secrecy Act. Thus, we won't dwell on minutiae or mundane concerns like penalties for drunken wizards who explode bins—that's for the Ministry of Magic to handle locally, in accordance with local customs. Our focus is on emotional, conceptual, and principled matters, defining what's acceptable and what's not."
"These will become the consensus of the wizarding world, binding for all individuals and groups, any ancillary laws notwithstanding."
"Now, the floor is open for discussion. Feel free to share unique perspectives or inquire about Mrs. Bones's earlier presentation."
The delegates' initial silence gave way to active participation. A lively witch with thin, blond hair humorously asked Mrs. Bones if the choice of book sales was because Muggles desperately needed common sense, sparking a mix of laughter and silence.
"Two reasons," Mrs. Bones responded calmly, "
First, magic is mysterious to outsiders. Initially, anything we offer will attract immense attention. Compared to magical potions, food, and items with various functions, we prefer to share our culture and views, demonstrating that, aside from magic, there's no fundamental difference between wizards and non-magical people."
"Secondly, as 'Aiding the Publicization of Magic' suggests, our integration into the wider world should be gentle, minimizing impact on existing systems. It's inconsequential for a Muggle household to own an auto-flipping comic book, but an invisibility cloak could pose problems."
As questions became more pointed, Mrs. Bones struggled alone until Felix joined, addressing queries with ease and authority, silencing any dissent.
New departments like the International Magical Technical Cooperation Review Committee, the International Magic Trade Association, and the Emergency Issue Response Team took shape through discussions.
A redhead wizard brought up the Pan-Magical Alliance, noting its lack of a central office despite local preparations. When suggested it could be a subordinate to the Confederation, he argued against placing other species below wizards, advocating for a more inclusive approach in the new era.
The debate escalated until Felix cleared his throat, quieting the room.
"Let's note this issue for further discussion; perhaps an unexpected solution will emerge."
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