It was another discussion about werewolf equality.
Only this time, the debate that had once refused to yield seemed to have changed.
Barty Crouch Sr. proposed werewolf equality. In the past, someone would immediately jump out to refute him the moment he opened his mouth.
But this time, the situation was different.
"Regarding the werewolf equality bill, the emergence of Wolfsbane Potion means that werewolves are no longer uncontrollable. On the contrary, because of the discrimination suffered by werewolves themselves, they, as victims, have not received the sympathy and treatment they deserve."
As Barty Crouch Sr. spoke, he glanced at the silent senior officials.
"I propose restoring werewolves to the status of wizards and removing them from the category of humanoid beings."
"I have said my piece. Who is in favour, and who is opposed?"
After saying this, he sat down and swept his gaze over everyone.
One official had just been about to speak when the person beside him stopped him.
Sophie and Chudai were somewhat excited.
Time passed second by second, yet no voice of opposition appeared.
Barty Crouch Sr. said, "We will now vote on the werewolf equality bill. If no one opposes it, this bill shall pass."
As his words fell, Barty Crouch Sr. raised his hand.
Immediately afterward, one after another, they raised their hands.
Sometimes, when something was difficult to pass, it was often because there was not enough benefit.
What had choked the progress of werewolf equality was not genuine objection to the policy itself, but insufficient interests.
Just last night, Lucius Malfoy had sent invitations to every pure-blood family.
The content was very simple. Anyone who wanted to join the Sacred Twenty-Eight had to first show their sincerity.
The Crouches were also members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Were they going to show them respect or not?
This was not merely an invitation, but also a warning.
With the Sacred Twenty-Eight behind him, the power contained within Barty Crouch Sr. was not something petty nobodies could target.
Either join, or be destroyed.
Lucius Malfoy was not as gentle as Barty Crouch Sr. He was a Malfoy.
He had hundreds of ways to make those blind families leave the magical world.
Even those who had no interest in the Sacred Twenty-Eight could not help weighing whether they had the qualifications to face such a threat.
Arthur Weasley was present at this meeting.
Watching how different this vote was, he could not help sighing inwardly that the times had changed.
Percy raised his hand, agreeing to the passage of the bill.
Werewolves would be removed from the category of magical creatures and have their status as wizards restored.
As Barty Crouch Sr.'s gavel fell, the bill passed.
When the meeting was dismissed, Mr Weasley saw Lucius speaking with Barty Crouch Sr. inside the Ministry of Magic.
He had never got along with Lucius. The other man regarded him as a disgrace to pure-bloods, while he regarded Lucius as pure-blood scum.
As if noticing someone looking at him, Lucius looked over.
He revealed a smug expression and swept his eyes over Mr Weasley with an extremely arrogant and malicious gaze.
Percy walked out of the meeting room. When he saw his father, he rarely took the initiative to walk over.
"We need to talk," Percy said, his tone still very stiff.
Mr Weasley said, "Then let's go to my office."
He saw Lucius, who had been so arrogant toward him just now, smile and nod at Percy.
This made Mr Weasley feel very strange.
Father and son went to the office.
After sitting down, Percy frowned.
Mr Weasley said, "My office isn't as spacious as yours."
"You can apply for an expansion." Percy saw the photograph on the desk. It was the Weasley family.
Looking at himself in the photograph, Percy uncomfortably shifted his gaze away.
Mr Weasley also noticed this and asked, "You didn't come home this Christmas. Molly was very upset."
"I sent the presents back," Percy said, not looking at the photograph. "Ginny's as well."
"Why do we have to be like this?" Mr Weasley said with a sigh.
"Because we serve different people," Percy said calmly. "You were the first one to get angry back then, Dad."
"I just..." Mr Weasley fell silent.
"You just didn't want to see your son working at the Ministry of Magic?"
Percy was already a mature man. He said, "Why? Because I chose John instead of Dumbledore?"
"I don't want to talk about this right now." Mr Weasley chose to avoid the question.
Back then, he really had wanted Percy to help Dumbledore.
Because at that time, no one would have believed that a group of children could come up with a plan to kill Voldemort.
But time had proven that he, as a father, had been wrong.
"That isn't what I want to discuss with you," Percy said, changing the subject. "It's about the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
Mr Weasley paused and looked at Percy.
Percy said, "You should know that the Sacred Twenty-Eight needs to change. New families will fill the vacant positions, and extinct families will be removed."
"The Weasleys will be among them."
"That alliance of prejudiced pure-bloods?" Mr Weasley said noncommittally. "The Weasleys have never wanted to join them."
"That will change," Percy said.
"Change? Because of Malfoy, or because of John Wick?" Mr Weasley interrupted him and said, "The Weasleys have never cared about those empty titles. We have our own way of doing things."
Hearing his father's words, Percy could not help taking a deep breath.
"You're still just as stubborn. Can't you think from my perspective for once? From Ginny's?"
He grew angry. "You always think about yourself. Yes, you like Muggles, but so what?"
"George and Fred were both sponsored by John. Charlie's burns were treated with money donated by the Silver Hand. Before Ron met John, he was still using an old wand."
He roared, "You're always tinkering with those useless Muggle things, never thinking about your children, and you let them join the Order of the Phoenix, doing all those dangerous things!"
For the first time, Mr Weasley was harshly criticised by his own son, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes, you don't want to. You never want to!" Percy poured out the feelings he had kept buried for years.
"When our family was at its poorest, we couldn't even produce a single Galleon. You cannot make your children suffer for the sake of your own lofty principles."
"Have you ever thought about George and the others? Have you ever listened to their opinions?"
"Does being a Gryffindor mean they have to be reckless and throw everything away? Can't they live good lives?"
"Can't they sit in offices and decide matters at the Ministry of Magic?"
"In your eyes, my choice is mercenary. I am the odd one out among the Weasleys." Percy thumped his chest and roared, "But without me, the Weasleys would already be a thorn in the side of the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
"The fact that this name can still remain is because of me! Because he thinks I am his friend!"
"Not because of the ancient Weasley family. Damn it, he has already destroyed five pure-blood families. He wouldn't mind adding one more!"
Percy panted heavily, his eyes fixed fiercely on Mr Weasley.
Yes, if the Weasleys did not choose, nothing would happen to them. They could even continue to retain their place among the Sacred Twenty-Eight.
But why should they do that?
Why refuse enormous benefits and squander the kindness granted by his friend?
Why?
"When will you finally take your eyes off Dumbledore and look at me? Look at us?"
Percy lowered his posture and pleaded as a son. "You like Harry, Mum likes Harry, and even they like Harry, but you still have to consider other things."
"The Saviour is gone, Dad. Percy Ignatius Weasley, the third son of the Weasley family, is asking you..."
He walked up to Mr Weasley and lowered his head. "For once, think about your own family."
Mr Weasley looked at this son he had always been proud of and fell into confusion.
Was he truly selfish?
Should he join the new Sacred Twenty-Eight?
This question lingered constantly in Mr Weasley's mind, and Percy's words kept echoing in his thoughts.
He looked at the strange house that had been rebuilt after the Burrow was destroyed.
He had always disdained associating with that group of pure-bloods, and what had that brought them? The embarrassment of being an ancient pure-blood family that could not produce even a single Galleon.
It had meant his son going to school with an old wand.
It had meant his daughter going to school and having to buy second-hand books.
He entered the new Burrow. Mrs Weasley was cooking.
The children were not at home. Occasionally, the twins would return. Christmas was when the Burrow was at its liveliest.
A world with only the two of them as husband and wife was sometimes not that wonderful.
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