Chapter 661: Persuasion
On the afternoon of March 10th, Felix Harp appeared holding a small piece of paper with an address written on it. In front of him stood a charming little house, and as he stood on the steps, he looked around, taking in the spacious surroundings. Felix caught a whiff of faint floral scent, guessing there must be a beautiful garden behind the house.
He knocked on the door.
A man with golden hair and a large belly opened it, casting a puzzled look at Felix.
"Hello, may I ask who you're looking for—" the man began, then paused in surprise, "Oh, you're Mr. Harp, Felix Harp?" Upon receiving confirmation, he ushered Felix inside, leading him to the living room.
"Sorry, I didn't recognize you! I must say—compared to your imnse reputation, you seem quite modest. I've only seen you in the newspaper a few tis... Yes, Dora ntioned you would co, but I didn't expect you two hours early. Dominique? We have a visitor."
The man called out down the hallway from the living room before turning back to Felix, extending his hand warmly.
"I'm Ted Tonks, Dora's father."
"Hello, Mr. Tonks. Felix Harp," Felix shook his hand, glancing around the living room at the cleaning tools with a hint of awkwardness. "I think I might have gotten the timing wrong..."
"Oh, it's fine," Mr. Tonks said, picking up a bottle of Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical ss Remover from beside his feet and placing it next to a potted plant on the table. "Dora and the others won't be here until seven in the evening. She's an Auror, you see, with important duties."
"Is this a Spiderwort?" Felix asked, eyeing the potted plant. It was a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant known for its berries resembling spider eggs and its underground rhizos, which resembled spiders.
"Yes, it—" Mr. Tonks was interrupted by footsteps. Felix and Mr. Tonks turned simultaneously to see a strange woman appear at the living room door. She bore a passing resemblance to Bellatrix Lestrange but with softer, light brown hair and larger, kinder eyes.
Without a doubt, this woman was Androda Tonks, born from the Black family and sister to Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy, but now the mother of the Tonks family.
Mrs. Tonks smiled at Felix before exchanging a glance with Mr. Tonks.
"This is Mr. Felix Harp," Mr. Tonks introduced.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Harp. Nymphadora has ntioned you several tis..." Mrs. Tonks said. "I was just in the kitchen making so food. But, you're quite early, aren't you?"
So Felix once again used the excuse of "mistaken timing."
Mrs. Tonks nodded slightly. "Please, have a seat," she said. "I'll go prepare so tea—Ted, Ted, could you lend
a hand?" "Oh, sure," Mr. Tonks turned to Felix, muttering, "I rember we had so tea leaves sowhere... Be right back! You can have a look at the newspaper on the table."
Felix nodded gently, watching them disappear into the hallway, then bending down to pick up the newspaper beside him, listening intently. As expected, from sowhere in the room—perhaps the kitchen or a bedroom—a faint argunt could be heard.
"...I know the reasons... Acting as a diator, don't ntion war to , it's over... I warn you, Ted Tonks, if you dare to agree blindly..."
Felix discreetly shook open the newspaper. The noteworthy news was about Minister of Magic, Madam Bones, returning from the International Confederation of Wizards headquarters, participating in several important etings with representatives from various countries.
The specifics of the etings were not disclosed.
The newspaper made so speculations, suggesting a possible connection to wand ownership laws, perhaps becoming a reality in a few years. There was also a photo attached, showing a dozen stiff figures standing together, with the new chairman, Babajide Akingbade, looking weary.
A few minutes later, Mr. Tonks returned with a dejected look, oddly resembling the expression of Babajide in the newspaper. He knocked into the table as he approached, letting out a pained grunt. The potted plant wobbled, and he hurried to steady it.
"Knocked off a few leaves," he murmured, sitting down. "So—uh—"
"Oh, Mr. Tonks," Felix set down the newspaper, "There's sothing I just rembered." As he spoke, he reached out, and two fallen leaves from the potted plant transford into two beautiful invitations.
"I'm planning a small press conference this weekend, more of a party really. If you're free, you're welco to co and take a look."
Mr. Tonks took the invitation, muttering softly, "A press conference? Shouldn't that be at Future World headquarters? I think... um, there might be a bit of a problem, not very convenient." His voice lowered as he focused on reading the introduction on the invitation.
After a mont, he looked up.
"Mr. Harp, I don't quite understand—'Witness the birth of a new treatnt thod, and discuss the causes of so of the ailnts troubling wizards'..." he read aloud, then asked, "It sounds like a serious academic presentation."
"More or less. I've invited quite a few renowned potion-makers and healers in their respective fields, even so alchemists," Felix said with a smile. "But fundantally, it's still a party because I don't expect these people to grasp what I'm talking about in the short term. The conference will last for a week, of course, but you'll be attending the first day's dinner, mainly for socializing."
"Oh, by the way, I accidentally heard Tonks ntioning that you're familiar with Muggle dicine?"
"Ah, you an that," Mr. Tonks said excitedly. "My uncle was a surgeon, and I used to visit his house often when I was a child," he said eagerly, "He had a study filled with various surgical models, and I was quite frightened at the ti..."
Felix listened with a smile. "That's interesting because the new treatnt thod I ntioned might introduce so surgical concepts from Muggles. What surprises
is that wizards seem quite averse to the idea of being cut open themselves."
Mr. Tonks slapped his thigh excitedly.
"Oh, I've thought about this too! I used to think during school that Madam Pomfrey could only handle minor injuries and illnesses. It wasn't until I visited St. Mungo's a few tis after graduating that I realized wizards have no concept of it. Of course, I think it's because magic is too convenient, not necessary to..."
The wizard from a Muggle background had the expression of finding a common topic.
"Anatomy," Felix said softly. "This subject hasn't been applied in the field of treatnt because, for wizards, problems that plague ordinary people can be solved with a simple spell... However, the field of magical herbology retains so applications. They conduct detailed drawings and potion tests when researching new magical ingredients."
"But would that really be
useful?" Mr. Tonks asked curiously. "I an, in treatnt? I've talked to so wizards about this, and they think Muggle doctors are a bunch of..."
"Crazy people who cut people open," Felix nodded. "I personally think it's a matter of perspective. Given the differences between the two societies, the surgical knowledge that is very important to ordinary people may only play a supplentary role in wizard healing techniques. But having it and not having it are different concepts."
"For example—"
"Dragonpox, a disease only transmitted among wizards, carries a deadly risk. The early symptoms are green and purple rashes between the toes and sparks when sneezing. If treated promptly, it can usually be cured, leaving only so unsightly scars or skin bruises."
Mr. Tonks nodded with a bit of confusion.
"I rember a Minister of Magic died of dragonpox?"
"Eldritch Diggory. He worked while sick and eventually died in his office. This disease is more common among the elderly, and when it occurs, it's more insidious, hence more dangerous. So therapists believe dragonpox is initially related to the Peruvian Vipertooth dragon."
Felix said, well-prepared.
"Peruvian Vipertooth dragon teeth are highly poisonous," Mr. Tonks reminded.
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