[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wizard-war-at-hogwarts":3,"chapter-wizard-war-at-hogwarts-wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-481":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Wizard War at Hogwarts",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2358454,4612,"Chapter 481","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-481",481,"\u003Cp>Harry once again solidified his resolve to focus deeply on the magical world and avoid direct involvement in Muggle conflicts. Moreover, current wizards still linger under the long shadow of the Statute of Secrecy and would never boldly enter the Muggle world. Even someone as audacious as Yanayev, who leads the charge in challenging the Statute, always drapes a thin veil of “cutting-edge technology” over his actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another piece of news that surfaced in mid-September strongly corroborated this: Yanayev claimed his scientists had achieved major breakthroughs in “plasma” and “field generators,” developing a “Iron Curtain System.” During a public military exercise, he demonstrated a tank enduring massive artillery bombardment while completely unharmed under the Iron Curtain’s protection, using this to prove its practicality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subsequently, he naturally claimed that Iron Curtain emitters had already been installed at the vast majority of critical facilities—especially ICBM silos—ensuring absolutely reliable second-strike nuclear capability. And although many speculated that the cost and energy consumption of Iron Curtain devices would be astronomical, speculation remained speculation; they dared not swear Yanayev wouldn’t use the Iron Curtain to shield his armored divisions during a full-scale assault on Western Europe—after all, the very tank he first used to demonstrate its protective function was a T-80, one likely to appear on any conventional battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry was among the second group to receive this news, and his source was the highest-ranking Muggle officials who had received it first. Now, he sat beside Snape at the Minister’s conference table, while the Prime Minister occupied the central seat—the very chair he had favored during his tenure as Minister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you certain it isn’t Muggle technology? After all, Muggles often produce things we simply can’t understand.” Arthur asked, his tone tinged with confusion, his blind trust in Muggles evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Before I came here, I consulted the Muggles’ advisors. They said it’s impossible to build the Iron Curtain with current materials and energy technology—even its basic principles contradict its observed effects. They believe Yanayev is bluffing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe, from the perspective of spellcraft, this isn’t inexplicable,” Snape said slowly. “It resembles an enlarged Shield Charm, augmented by additional auxiliary spells. I suspect they’ve performed a complex ritual: the primary caster amplifies the Shield Charm, while assistants add color for identification and block elements the Shield Charm cannot repel—heat, light, and so on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you all think the Iron Curtain is feasible?” the Prime Minister said uneasily. “If they can perform large-scale ritual magic, can we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m afraid not, Prime Minister,” Snape replied. “Domestic research into ritual magic remains far too crude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, true.” The Prime Minister sighed, but quickly shifted gears. “Then perhaps we can approach it from an energy standpoint—can we estimate how many wizards would be needed to activate the Iron Curtain once?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur’s expression was strained. He hesitated, stammering: “Does the Ministry even have wizards capable of this? Which department should handle it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry thought the Department of Mysteries could spare someone to assess and analyze it—but clearly, the Department of Mysteries was beyond the Minister’s control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If not, then create a department,” the Prime Minister said, dissatisfied. “We’ll face many more such situations. Yanayev won’t wait around while you all catch up. I need a Muggle Technology Office—no, I need a new department: the Magical Technology Oversight Department. It must include a Pseudoscience Assessment Office, a Reverse Engineering Office, a Strategic Countermeasures Office, and a Special Enforcement Unit for the Statute of Secrecy. When something like the Iron Curtain appears again, I need the Ministry to immediately assess whether magic was used, what kind, whether we can replicate it, and deliver a countermeasure plan as soon as possible. This department must also actively help us develop similar technologies and deploy agents to erase all magical traces from our own technological advancements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t speak these words on a whim. Harry was certain the Prime Minister had prepared them in advance. A heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by the scratching of quick-writing quills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And,” the Prime Minister added again, “I believe it’s necessary to include some Muggle scientific experts in this department—both to assist analysis and to conduct our own experiments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Absolutely not!” Lucius, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke with fierce intensity. “We have wizards who understand Muggle science better than most Muggles themselves—I recommend Donna Noble as head of this new department.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Donna needs more time for technical research, especially on pyroxene magic—this is a highly valuable project we cannot afford to halt. Without doubt, powerful pyroxene magic can pierce the Iron Curtain,” Snape immediately cut in. “I need the Department of Mysteries to allocate her more resources—increased funding and expanded research staff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Deputy Minister, if that’s the case, assigning Donna to the Magical Technology Oversight Department would be the better choice. After all, the Department of Mysteries has limited space—her project is already overflowing every office.” Lucius spoke smoothly, though his real aim was clearly to rid himself of this unmanageable force within the Department of Mysteries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his words reminded Arthur: the Ministry had never been designed for expansion. This was the perfect opportunity to oppose the Prime Minister’s attempt to insert his own people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Prime Minister,” Arthur said, feigning difficulty but inwardly exhaling in relief. “Space is a serious issue. You propose creating a new department, but we have no room for additional offices or laboratories. Given your expectations for this—ah—Magical Technology Oversight Department, it may require far more space than any existing department, since it might eventually need to study large Muggle artifacts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prime Minister was persuaded by this reasoning. He frowned, deep in thought, then raised his head again. “If, as previously mentioned, pyroxene magic is currently the most promising countermeasure against the Iron Curtain system, then regardless of whether Ms. Noble leads the new department, we must significantly increase resources allocated to her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then there’s one solution that satisfies both sides,” the Prime Minister mused, stroking his chin. “We could establish a… ah… Pyroxene Magic Research Institute? No, that’s too narrow. My Magical Technology Oversight Department still needs to enable the Cabinet to respond swiftly to foreign technological breakthroughs—and limiting ourselves to pyroxene magic alone won’t suffice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if we establish a Magical Technology Research Institute?” Lucius suggested, his voice betraying barely concealed delight at the prospect of removing another thorn. “We could transfer the Doctor Project there too—run multiple projects in parallel. The Department of Mysteries could then focus solely on Soul Magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I still want researchers to exchange ideas with Muggle professors and develop our own superweapons,” the Prime Minister said regretfully. “We can’t just react to others—we must achieve breakthroughs of our own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry felt a flicker of inspiration, just out of reach. He quietly murmured an Inspiration Charm. Immediately, he raised his hand enthusiastically and declared loudly: “Prime Minister, why not establish a university?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the stunned gazes of all present, Harry quickly delivered his first powerful, irrefutable point: “As is well known, the Magical Congress has already established Miskatonic University—and it appears to be working well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naturally, a magical university can routinely conduct research into cutting-edge magical technologies. And when you need to respond to foreign pseudoscientific concepts, you can rapidly summon experts from both Muggle and magical universities to form academic panels and evaluate their technologies. Of course, only professors aware of the wizarding world—or those who, after brief exposure, become aware—would be selected. They could then use institutional collaboration as a pretext to launch joint magical and technological research projects. This entire operation could remain confined to a small circle. For the vast majority who remain unaware of the wizarding world, we can maintain secrecy and disguise by framing it all as cutting-edge science.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry finished explaining the profound significance of a magical university to both the Ministry and the Cabinet. What he didn’t say was that such a university could also resolve pressing issues within the magical world and around him—most urgently, Hermione’s desire to attend university and his own reluctance to assume bureaucratic office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, both Arthur and Doge expressed strong aversion to Muggle bureaucratic roles; even Harry himself felt some resistance toward bureaucratic positions within the magical world. The reason? Taking office in the Muggle world inevitably leads to excessive wizarding interference in Muggle affairs—and even shifts in allegiance, as Jim Hacker did after becoming Prime Minister, gradually distancing himself from the Ministry. Given that most wizards refuse to involve themselves in Muggle affairs, Harry believed the wizarding world’s best path forward was to maintain its current stance and concentrate on advancing deeper magical theory. Muggle technology could serve as inspiration and reference—but never as foundation or dominant force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry approved of Donald’s inspiration from WiFi to develop remote energy-casting rituals, or the use of optical principles to create the Focusing Rainbow. But he strongly disapproved of Yanayev’s use of massive Shield Charms to protect nuclear missile silos. The former represented technological advancement; the latter merely deployed wizarding power directly onto the Muggle battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>",1500,"2026-06-21T04:54:29.438Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","38189f12363ddcd59714112feebe09dc3205d61b912d3a9e7e1d939f88697bbe","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-482","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-480",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwizard-war-at-hogwarts-cover.jpg"]