Chapter 64: Look at This Promise — So Big and Round

Andrew had never analyzed the wizarding world so formally before. In the eyes of most people he knew, the wizarding world was simply a place hidden away from the Muggle world by the Statute of Secrecy.

But thanks to Berkeley — that sixth-year Ravenclaw — his understanding of it had become much more three-dimensional. It was a way of looking at things that felt familiar, but perfectly adapted to how wizards thought.

"If you've studied Herbology seriously, you'd know that we actually have excellent ways of harvesting crops. But 'crops' are not the same as the food wizards actually eat."

"For growing crops, pest control — we have better methods than Muggles. Even harvesting is better. But processing those crops — turning them into flour, rice, bread — that requires expensive alchemical equipment, because we can't yet replicate Muggle machinery properly. And wizards who can do all of that by magic alone are extremely rare."

"One Ravenclaw I knew once designed a productivity model for this — he based it on the average skill level of graduates ten years out of Hogwarts, found a median, and defined the reasonable output of a wizard working for a day as 'one wizard-hour.'"

"It's inspired by Muggle economic terms — but it solved a big problem. Using this idea, he estimated how many wizard-hours different kinds of production cost, then compared it to Muggle production. The result was a fascinating chart."

"That's impressive…"

"Naturally. Now he's head of the office in the Ministry's Logistics Department."

"Logistics?"

Andrew paused and thought for a moment — he'd heard of that department. It sounded unimpressive, but back in that weird club, he'd learned that Logistics actually shared a floor with the Minister's office…

"A perfect position."

"Exactly — because he didn't just produce that analysis. Do you know what else those welfare shops supply besides food?"

Berkeley shot him a look.

"It's not just those dirt-cheap Muggle clothes — it's fabric and yarn."

"Fabric and yarn?"

"Of course. It's a brilliant approach." Berkeley pulled out a piece of parchment."Producing wool and processing it with magical assistance isn't that costly. But turning it into clothes — that's a whole different matter. Even so, the Ministry only distributes raw materials, not finished cheap clothes."

"Because of style and job requirements?"

"Partly. The styles maintain independence, and jobs maintain stability." Berkeley nodded."But the real reason is that it eats up a lot of time."

"Even with magic, knitting a sweater or making clothes takes ages — and if a family has enough kids, that's even more time."

"It sounds harsh, but it's actually not — think about it: if you don't give wizards busywork to chew up their time, what happens… especially when the Ministry can't create enough jobs for everyone?"

…

I was just dealing with people desperate to break into the Ministry — and now the conversation's suddenly this high-level?

Andrew finally understood how Hogwarts was fundamentally different from the schools he'd known. Sure, it sounded like an integrated middle-and-high school. But when you considered that students had to go straight into the workforce after graduation — and that today he'd gotten a glimpse of how the Ministry and the school's research projects tied together — he realized that fifth-years onward were basically like undergrads. The course length was just shorter.

And the Ministry was more like the government in Egypt that he was familiar with — except its methods were more subtle and hidden. Its revenue streams were also completely unique thanks to the Muggle world and the Statute of Secrecy.

"You don't need to handle this stuff for now," Professor McGonagall told him after they'd left that strange pseudo-classroom. "But from now on, when you're helping me sort homework, read their reports carefully — and practice writing your own."

Low-year Ravenclaws really could be a bit small-minded sometimes; she hoped that after seeing this "not-so-critical" project, Andrew would learn to broaden his perspective.

"Of course, Professor. I'll study diligently."

"Also, remember to approve your stay-behind application for the Christmas holidays — you'll need that time to get properly familiar with all the paperwork from this term."

What?!

Wait, Professor — how are you this smooth?!

You're acting just like a heartless boss who shows a big, shiny dream, then immediately lines up extra overtime for the team!

Andrew, who didn't know she'd learned this from Dumbledore himself, saw straight through the trick — but he didn't hesitate for a second before agreeing. There was no avoiding it — sooner or later it'd be his job anyway.

'Think of it as lightening the load later on… And with Christmas break coming up, I need to get next month's articles ready too…'

"Staying at Hogwarts?"

"Yeah, staying. I really don't want to go back to Privet Drive."

Harry was practicing his wandwork as he spoke. He'd never imagined he'd be able to say something like that so easily.

"Oh, if you're staying… maybe we could… but I really want to see my mum."

Seamus spoke up, but halfway through he changed his mind.

"It's fine — you all go home. I'll use the break to study the spells Hermione recommended. Once I've got them down, I'll teach you guys."

With their encouragement, even Hermione had ended up joining this little gang of Gryffindors obsessed with practicing magic. She'd become the spell supplier for all the lower-year Gryffindors — her repertoire was practically equal to a fourth-year's already.

Best of all, the spells Hermione knew were ones first-years could actually master with enough practice — unlike the advanced stuff from older students that most kids couldn't even begin to handle.

"Should we… do something to those Slytherins before Christmas?"

Even though the last conflict had cooled things down, Slytherin was still miles ahead in House points — and they'd been getting cockier by the day.

"No. Didn't you hear what Dumbledore said? He told us: 'Knowledge has no limits. Don't get proud over a bit of progress.' We've learned a lot, but we're not dominating anyone yet. Slytherin knows plenty of dark curses too."

"And our opponents aren't just first-years. If you lose, fine — but if you get caught and end up in detention, you're finished."

Harry grinned.

"Besides," he added, "the twins told me they have a big plan. We definitely don't want to tip off the Slytherins right now."

T/N: For twenty chapters ahead on all my fics become a P@tron at P@treon.com/LordHipposApostle