In August, the International Confederation of Wizards convened without warning.
Initiated jointly by over a dozen countries, representatives from hundreds of nations were invited to Britain. The Ministry of Magic had specifically vacated the Auror training building to serve as the venue.
Keynes, presiding over the meeting, looked utterly bewildered, completely unaware of the purpose behind convening the session that day.
But the next moment, his heart sank.
Grindelwald entered the venue, surrounded by several Ministers for Magic from various countries. His eyes swept across the room before he calmly took a seat beside Dumbledore.
This gesture eased many people's tension. Even though Grindelwald had been behaving more reasonably lately, sharing a roof with him still made them apprehensive.
Having him sit beside Dumbledore was just fine—at least it would keep him in check.
By ten in the morning, all representatives had arrived, and the Great Hall was filled to capacity.
"Er..." Keynes looked helplessly at Dumbledore. "Albus, since you called for this meeting, perhaps you should speak first?"
"Let Mr Crouch make the presentation," Dumbledore said calmly.
As for Wayne's purpose, he had been informed but neither agreed nor opposed—that was his stance.
Crouch rose and walked composedly to Keynes' side, nodding to him.
As the former Head of International Magical Cooperation for Britain, many were familiar with him, including Keynes, who tactfully stepped aside to give him the floor.
Crouch pointed his wand at his throat to ensure everyone could hear him before beginning his address.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Britain has proposed this special session for one agenda item only: to change the age restriction for underage wizards performing magic outside school from seventeen to the end of their fifth year."
Whoosh!
His words sent ripples through the assembly. The previously silent Great Hall erupted into a cacophony, with many unable to suppress exclamations of surprise.
Though the proposal seemed to concern only minors, it actually struck at the very foundation of modern wizarding society.
Due to prolonged witch hunts and persecution by the Church, wizards' living conditions had grown increasingly difficult. In 1689, twenty-six countries and regions jointly signed the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, which officially came into effect in 1692.
Since then, ensuring the wizarding world remained hidden from Muggles and could exist covertly and orderly became the shared goal of all wizards.
It was also to guarantee the statute's enforcement that these countries and regions gradually established their Ministries of Magic.
Initially, the Ministry's sole function was to keep wizards firmly hidden in the shadows of the world. Only through years of development did it evolve into the absolute administrative authority it is today.
The Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery was among the restrictions imposed on young wizards. Underage wizards, with their immature minds and unstable control over magic, could easily cause large-scale breaches of secrecy if allowed to misuse magic.
"Mr Crouch, this is impossible," Keynes objected without hesitation. "Only wizards aged seventeen and above possess mature spell-casting abilities and vigilance. This has been universally acknowledged for centuries."
"And what about Mr Lawrence?" Crouch retorted.
Keynes inwardly cursed, why couldn't he give a normal example.
"Mr Lawrence received the Order of Merlin in his first year; he completely possesses the qualification to control magical power, moreover..."
Keynes didn't continue, instead looking at Crouch with contempt. The meaning was simple.
Even if he broke the law, would you dare to discipline him?
After the World Cup, some countries had actually filed complaints with the International Confederation of Wizards regarding Lawrence's age, but Crouch had immediately rebuffed them at the time.
"If anyone believes there was no life-threatening danger in that situation, then you need never raise your wands again for the rest of your lives."
That was what Crouch had said, leaving the Ministries of Magic from various countries fuming but helpless.
"In any case, this proposal cannot pass." Keynes directly vetoed it.
"I object..." A magnetic, deep voice reached their ears, and everyone turned to look, and their expressions changed.
Because they saw Grindelwald raising an arm, slowly standing up.
"I actually quite agree with Mr Crouch's view. The rule prohibiting underage magic outside school for students under seventeen is fundamentally unreasonable."
"These school years are when wizards truly build their foundations. Preventing students from touching their wands for at least two months every year - what magic can they learn? How can they develop rapport with their wands?"
Grindelwald scanned the room, and not a single person dared meet his gaze; all silently lowered their heads.
When Grindelwald had swept across continental Europe back then, his banner had been the abolition of the Statute of Secrecy and outright war with the Muggle world. Though he no longer had the desire for war, he still found the Statute of Secrecy utterly repulsive.
He even considered it a disgrace.
It was because of the Statute of Secrecy that wizards hid their identities, like rats in the sewers.
Yet not only was this not seen as shameful, but accepted as a matter of course, which he deeply detested.
"Moreover..." Grindelwald's voice grew increasingly cold. "Let's not play foolish here. Most of you present are of pure-blood background. Who dares say... You never secretly used magic, exploiting the advantages of your status?"
"It's easy to talk standing up without back pain, because you know your children will eventually be like you - able to use magic freely without causing trouble. The ones who suffer are merely those Muggle-born children."
Many faces showed awkward expressions.
They had indeed thought this way.
The flaws in the Trace meant there were too many loopholes to exploit - just having an adult wizard nearby was enough. The Ministry would never investigate thoroughly.
Half-bloods could manage, but where would Muggle-born students find such conditions?
If Harry knew about Grindelwald's speech today, he would surely be moved to tears.
Truly his teacher, every word hitting right where it hurt.
"Mr Grindelwald, I can assure you the situation you describe doesn't occur in North American wizarding society." A tall, blond, blue-eyed man stood up, his eyes flashing with an unreadable light.
"According to MACUSA law, all students must leave their wands at school during summer holidays. Therefore, naturally, there's no possibility of breaking the law."
"That's precisely why you're so weak."
Grindelwald's mockery stiffened the tall man's expression momentarily before it returned to normal.
"You shouldn't judge us with old perspectives. Decades have passed, and everything has become different."
"Hmm?" Grindelwald's eyebrows rose as he detected something unusual.
He studied the tall man and suddenly asked, "What's your name?"
The tall man straightened his shoulders, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Corian Graves."
"Graves..." Grindelwald repeated slowly, gradually showing a look of realisation. "No wonder you look familiar. What was Percival to you?"
"I didn't expect you to remember that name. He was my great-grandfather." Corian unconsciously clenched his fists, his tone carrying a distinct sense of gritted teeth.
Dumbledore's expression also turned peculiar.
Percival Graves - this name represented an alternative kind of taboo in North American wizarding society. Back when Grindelwald crossed the ocean to North America, he had used his identity to become the North American Minister for Magic. If Newt hadn't exposed his flaws, he might have even become the designated next Minister for Magic.
"Gellert..." Dumbledore called softly, signalling him not to go too far.
Grindelwald snorted lightly. "Boy, Ilvermorny does require students to leave their wands at school, but didn't your family have any old wands passed down from ancestors?"
"If you dare swear you never used magic at home back then, I'll leave immediately and never mention changing the age restriction again. Don't think about lying to me - you can't hide from my Legilimency Spell."
Grindelwald stared intently at Corian, his coloured pupils flashing with dazzling brilliance.
Sweating under his gaze, Corian slumped back into his seat. He had ultimately become afraid—Grindelwald was right. Every summer holiday, he would practise magic using his family's old wands.
Having dealt with one troublemaker, the others didn't dare oppose him openly, only expressing their stance through silence.
Crouch spoke again, "After a year of tracking research at Hogwarts, Mr Lawrence and all the professors are certain that granting magic usage rights to students above fifth year won't affect the Statute of Secrecy, while also helping them adapt more quickly and proficiently to a life with magic."
"Chairman Keynes, I call for a vote on this proposal."
Keynes glanced at Dumbledore and Grindelwald, then looked at the calm yet forceful Crouch, sighing helplessly. "Then let's have a show of hands."
Having said this, he surprisingly became the first to slowly raise his hand.
Based on Grindelwald and Dumbledore's earlier attitudes, he was certain these three must have reached a private understanding. Continuing to oppose would be somewhat impolite.
As the saying goes, when three Lords agree on something, there's no possibility of it being rejected.
Among the major nations, only Corian remained, his head lowered, without reaction. The other representatives raised their hands one after another, quickly exceeding eighty percent and reaching the minimum threshold for proposal approval.
...
[Host has altered fundamental wizarding law, causing a significant impact. Reward: 30,000 points, one critical hit package.]
[Note: This event can continue to completely abolish the Statute of Secrecy and change the wizarding society's ecology. Reward: 100,000 points, one pseudo-Divine level reward draw.]
Inside Lawrence Manor, when the system prompt appeared in his mind, Wayne knew Crouch had succeeded.
This was the method he had devised to quickly earn points, and the richness far exceeded his expectations.
Especially the subsequent prompt - the reward for completely abolishing the Statute of Secrecy was so substantial that he felt somewhat tempted.
But for now, he definitely couldn't act too radically. He couldn't jeopardise the bigger picture for that bit of reward.
Wayne wasn't in a hurry to open the reward package. Instead, he closed the system interface and instructed Gardevoir to prepare lunch, as guests would be arriving soon.
Indeed.
At half past eleven, Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Crouch arrived together.
"The legislation you requested has been passed," Crouch said.
"Well done, this is for you." Wayne never stinted on rewards, tossing over half a bottle of Sunwell water. "Use it with your wife when you return home. It can enhance your strength somewhat and prolong your lives."
Crouch accepted it delightedly, thanked Wayne, and tactfully took his leave.
The topics these three would discuss were beyond his participation anyway, so rather than sitting here idly, he might as well go home to accompany his wife.
Just as Dumbledore was about to speak, he was interrupted by Grindelwald, who had grown restless since entering.
"Wayne, just what is Lady Grace's background?"