Chapter 100 Buying Right
The origins of the Ministry of Magic arose from a negotiation among tribal clan-like wizarding factions.
The expanded application of this negotiation gave birth to the International Convention of Wizards in 1298.
The establishment of Hogwarts can be regarded as its shrinking application.
To put it simply, some wizards who are qualified to play and are willing to participate, through negotiation, raise funds to establish and continue to support a functional facility that benefits all wizards.
This is indeed a good intention, but it is not so pure.
After all, benefits are not just intuitive money.
Relying on the operation of such facilities, it attracts wizards who are scattered everywhere and live their own lives to gather, making the gathering more sticky.
After all, wizards with extraordinary abilities are more capable of surviving. Even in modern times, they are mixed in the huge group of Muggles to suck blood, and they are still good people, eating and drinking without worrying about it.
For a long period of time, the wizards have formed a loose circle with only a certain communication function in a very loose mode. There are only a few large gatherings a year, bartering and so on.
It was later, under external pressure, and under the operation of powerful and powerful people with courage and structure, they gathered people to form tribes and annexed Jianguo. This is martial arts, martial arts, and these public welfare facilities including Hogwarts.
The early Hogwarts was far from being as grand as it is now. At that time, it only had the main castle, and the interior was not perfect. Slytherin left in the later period because of disagreement.
When the four founders were still alive, they were already discussing the future of Hogwarts and decided that the Ministry of Magic would take over.
The Ministry of Magic at that time was also very simple, and even the operating expenses were apportioned.
Driven by half convening and half coercion, the school board of directors was established.
After thousands of years of ups and downs, the previous families who held financial power like tribal chiefs basically disappeared.
The subsequent school managers include the Black family.
This is a generation whose rights and responsibilities have been clarified.
In other words, if you want to dictate what the Ministry of Magic can do, you must participate in some public welfare affairs.
The family has rise and fall, what should I do if I can't afford it? Naturally, some people go down and some people push in.
Generally, matters of this kind are raised and resolved at the ten-year council meeting. Corresponding to this is a comprehensive inventory of school properties, as well as future outlook reports and other items.
This rigid management model has brought many problems, such as the arrears of school managers.
The Black family owed the dues for six years. In fact, before Walburga passed away, they could not pay the dues.
Moreover, not all school managers who owed fees were in arrears because they could not afford the money like the Black family. The reason for their arrears was due to capital operations.
Now the apportionment fee has increased to 20,000 a year, 200,000 in ten years, and 1 million pounds. This is not a small amount. If you default, you can use this money to make money.
This is also the reason why the Ministry of Magic has become more and more authoritative over the years and has been able to appoint and dismiss the headmaster of Hogwarts.
The annual expenses of Hogwarts are sent from the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry of Magic's own profit-making industry is gradually increasing. No matter whether the school trustees are in arrears or not, the money will and must be sent to the school in time.
It's not that no trustee has questioned the enormous cost of Hogwarts.
But after careful calculation, you will find that this organization is really a gold swallowing beast.
20,000 Galleons is enough for the salaries of two professors. Wizards do experiments, eat and drink, and consume energy stones for magic circle maintenance, all of which are money. Not to mention the basic maintenance and repair costs of the huge castle and a series of facilities.
In addition to general wear and tear expenses, there are also some ancillary expenses, such as the Hogwarts special train, and the Thestral carriages that take students to the castle every year. Which of these can operate normally without money?
So for the sake of money, the Ministry of Magic still very much welcomes the new entrant Shafik family to replace the Black family.
The Black family has gone bankrupt, and 1992 will be another new decade. By that time, they will not be able to get 160,000 Galleons if they dig up his family's grave. However, if there is such a bad debt, some people will have to bear the responsibility for dereliction of duty. Fudge, the Minister of Magic, has no good fruit either.
Therefore, the Shafik family is willing to take over the Black family and make up their debts, which is also part of the agreement behind the Peter Pettigrew case.
When Catherine Shafik arrived, Fudge went out to meet her personally and had a cordial conversation.
Originally instigated and assigned by those wizards and dignitaries, people from the Ministry of Magic, such as Fudge, did not deal with the Shafiq family's various cross noses and vertical eyes, but after all, they were not the opponent of Money's thick legs. The potential is still huge, and the upward momentum is still fierce.
How stupid do you have to be to fight against such a wealthy upstart?
Although many people say that the Ministry of Magic is a dog raised by wizards and dignitaries. But this dog is gaining its own strength little by little, just like the ruling party of the United States at the time.
When you have power, you want to get the status that matches it. Especially in recent years, wizards and dignitaries have become more and more dependent on the power of the Ministry of Magic.
You can negotiate conditions if you need them. The upstart Shafiq family has delicious meat and loose conditions. Why does the dog of the Ministry of Magic bite people? You must know that people also have whips, two.
An economic whip has already been seen, and the people who whip it are servile, and they are almost called Queen Catherine in person.
The other whip of force is mysterious and ferocious. It is usually kept well, and it can't be seen where it is. Occasionally it is exposed, and it is extremely ferocious.
In the recent terrorist attack at King's Cross Station, Remus John Lupine made a strong appearance.
Alpha Werewolves, Wind Shadow Spellbreakers, powerful combat power...Compared with these, caring people are more concerned about the system that makes them stronger.
A wizard who suffered from the bloodthirsty toxin of the werewolf frenzy, was forged into a first-class powerhouse in just a few months.
How many similar characters are hidden in the Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce? How many more are you going to train?
Moreover, Kane Shafik also made a striking appearance.
In the past, some people were unwilling to believe that Kane was a super genius, and thought that the relevant information released by the Shafik family was the product of clumsy tricks. Join the Shafiq family in fooling the people.
But the King's Cross terrorist attack slapped these people in the face with facts.
The first-class Merlin Medal, as expected, not only has outstanding professional contributions, but also has considerable combat power. Nowadays, many wizards are studying Kane's wand 'hilt' and the magical lightsaber condensed during battle.
Some people naturally went to consult Ollivander about this, even though Ollivander's wand shop has been listed for renovation since the young wizards entered school.
Ollivander, who had established information exchanges with the Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce, responded calmly and lost no time in carrying sedan chairs for the Kane and Shafik families, and also advertised for his shop.
He said that the magic lightsaber is not difficult to say, but it is not easy to say.
With powerful magic power and superb control, with these two points, one can be as cool and handsome as Kane. Of course, you also need a strong wand produced by Ollivander, or an ancient wand.
Ollivander also accepted an exclusive interview with the Daily Prophet, where the concept of the Strong Wand was unveiled.
Some wizards categorically scolded Ollivander for opening his eyes and talking nonsense, because there is no such thing as a strong wand.
However, people speak lightly. The public opinion platform used by Ollivander has a mature system and a huge influence. In addition, he is well prepared and intentional. How can it be compared with cursing public opinion?
The newspaper industry can be regarded as specializing and refining the skills of deceiving people, and it is widely spread. The public opinion influence of ordinary people is not an opponent at all.
Ollivander also took the opportunity to launch a high-end wand customization business that is on the same level as the standard wands produced for the Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce. The starting point is 700 gold Galleons, so don't come if you think it's too expensive.
The wizarding world suddenly cried out. Some people said that the atmosphere was declining, people's hearts were not old, and the prestigious Ollivander's wand shop had also fallen.
Ollivander came forward to choke: "There has always been, but there was no market demand before, and the strong wand was dusty. Ollivander disdains to make a fuss about the carving and decoration of the wand. The appearance of Ollivander's wand has always been based on Simplicity is beauty, function is the priority, and now the high-end series is launched because there are real strong and wizards with enough spending power."
Well, these words not only flattered Kane Shafik, but also hurt many people's hearts.
Feelings, we used to be poor ghosts who are not qualified to buy high-end goods in your eyes?
So what about jealousy?
Ollivander has achieved a world-renowned reputation and a detached status, and now he is joining forces with the Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce.
Ollivander's wand shop reopened, Catherine came to the platform to cut the ribbon, bought a strong wand on the spot, and successfully activated the magic lightsaber.
Afterwards, wizards from the Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce bought one after another (in fact, they were all nurses, who came to pick up the standard wands they ordered), and they activated lightsabers on the spot, and some of them were magic cones.
The last dignity of a mage is the dagger.
The magic dagger and magic cone are also the forms often chosen by wizards.
The level of magical power of wizards in this world is generally not high, and there are few who recklessly develop their own magical power like Voldemort. The problem of magic radiation damage is relatively low, and most wizards' physiques are still good before aging.
Against this background, wizards are capable of hand-to-hand combat. Many wizards know how to fight with one or two hands, and a small group are even proficient in close-range combat.
A strong wand shopping show that was widely reported.
The wizards and dignitaries couldn't sit still anymore, as if if they didn't buy a powerful wand or activate the magic lightsaber on the spot, it would not be enough to prove their wealth and power.
The trend arose from this, and some wizards worriedly published an article in "The Quibbler" signed "Moving forward under persecution", which probably meant that the Shafiq family launched cultural erosion to the wizarding world, importing the concept of struggle, consumer culture, and advocacy. Exquisite life, which has formed a trend of comparison in the society, and the leisurely life mode is being disintegrated.
The Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce now also has its own newspaper, "Weekly Business Daily". In this newspaper, there is a column for tit-for-tat: Do you want to show your self-worth by being rich, or live a leisurely life in poverty? The difference between the two is not only hard work, but also concepts.
This article pointed out that more than half of the unsatisfactory things in life are caused by poverty. Life is tight and the situation is difficult, can you relax?
Forward and forge ahead.
This is Kane's defining tone for wizards.
The remarks of the Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce naturally use it as the core to expound their views and ideas.
The atmosphere needs to be slowly reversed. At the current stage, the Shafiq family is still in the stage of spending money to seize power and increase their influence.
Taking advantage of the focal effect of the King's Cross incident, the Magic Eye Merchant Guild frequently took actions.
Catherine Shafik came to the Ministry of Magic with a professional team, and won the qualification of school director in a swift and decisive manner.
The Shafiq family made up the debt owed by the Black family and paid in advance for another five years.
The Ministry of Magic also received a donation, of which five thousand gold Galleons were specifically pointed out to be used for the travel subsidy of the minister, which was a high-sounding way to send money to Cornelius Fudge.
Fudge, who is greedy for money and loves power, did some calculations and found that he only needed to operate with a small risk, and he could get three years' salary from this matter.
Fudge is very happy. He is going to go to the washing, cutting, blowing and clothing store under the Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce for one-stop shopping. He also wants to catch up with the trend, redesign his personal image, and order a few details and stitches. All of them are perfect. high-end suits. Oh, and the shoes. It is said that the shoes they sell have constant magic, and they are as comfortable as walking on clouds. Because they are expensive, he has never been willing to buy them...
Unknowingly, many products of the Magic Eye Chamber of Commerce have become synonymous with high-end and decent, and even those dignitaries who are jealous of the Shafiq family have to admit that they are really good in private. Taste. ’ It’s not all blowing…