Life in wizarding England was bustling with activity. Divorces were happening everywhere. For years, people believed that Voldemort was the polar opposite of Albus Dumbledore. But now, following the Ministry's defeat and a sudden policy shift, even the least observant realized the Dark Lord was influencing decisions. Initially, there was silence as people braced for wands to be confiscated and magic banned for non-purebloods, preparing to hide, flee, or resist. Logically, the repression should have targeted non-purebloods first, then half-bloods, and finally purebloods not aligned with Death Eaters. Instead, money was distributed, and everyone was encouraged to earn more by trading with Muggles. Apparently, the Dark Lord seemed benevolent! He could have kept the money for himself but chose to share it.
Magic, they said, could cure the most insurmountable Muggle diseases, yet the Statute of Secrecy prevented this. So, some wealthy Muggles were informed that this magical treatment could grant them an extra year of life despite cancer. Want another year? Visit our clinic, but the price will increase. Isn't extending a Muggle's life a blessing? And isn't it good for us too? Money... Living for money, outsmarting disease, is quite the proposal. Wizards previously considered incurably ill were also treated. Those lacking funds promised to work off their debt. No, not everyone was saved—but at least some were. Regaining limbs was a compelling reason to change allegiances, even for former Aurors.
The laws began to change: "Citizens can use Light and Common Magic of any level unless it infringes on rights and freedoms, causes material damage, or reveals the Statute of Secrecy. Dark Magic is allowed up to the second level; from the third to the fifth level, it's permitted only at home under the same conditions. Advanced Dark Magic requires Ministry of Magic approval. Enchanting and using enchanted Muggle items without a license is allowed only at home." Light and Common Magic were already permitted. Two more branches were added under our control—Dark Magic and work on Muggle items. Naturally, Cruciatus and human sacrifices remain prohibited (without Ministry approval).
The Death Eaters were pleased—while others focused on trivial matters, they delved into the digital economy, causing Muggles to lose a billion or two pounds. European countries with sufficiently developed economies wouldn't even notice, given their GDPs of over nineteen trillion dollars. The key is subtlety and leaving the "guilty" in the Muggle world, or blaming it on the economic crisis.
Azkaban, the wizarding prison, also transformed. It was once a terrifying place, akin to medieval imprisonment, with Dementors adding to the horror. But now we oppose torture, at least senseless torture. A new prison was built—a bad place by definition, but different. Located in an uninhabited part of England, the prison featured air conditioning, heating, solitary cells with hot water, toilets, and showers. A shop on the grounds sold food and clothing. A wizard radio and fridge analogues were in the hall. The library held extensive Muggle books. Guards treated prisoners with respect and humanity. Young people and interns from the "new Auror" were sent there. We merely isolated criminals from society temporarily.
Regarding personnel, many young idiots from decent families were eager to serve me. What to do with a sixteen-year-old novice? Go to the prison, monitor wandless prisoners, and consult a senior if needed. Congratulations, you're now an intern. If you can't handle a uniformed Muggle, then… improve your qualifications! Of course, there were two nuances. Every mage in prison was used as a battery to charge the prison's spells. The most gentle option for prisoners was selected—minimal efficiency but no health impact. The process itself involved Blood Magic... I've done it a hundred times, maybe more. It's much better than feeding Dementors and more profitable! At the same time, prisoners practiced their Blood Magic skills.
The second nuance: I only protect those who are not my enemies. Want to shout, "Albus is right!"? Go ahead. When you're free, you'll be like the city's madmen, an eternal free freak show. "Albus is good!" "People must not be killed under any circumstances!"—look, son, they're voicing all their hits today! But in prison, if you shout, try to escape, or break the rules—like refusing to donate blood—then... the punishment cell. A damp, cold place with Dementors. If you're so foolish or ideological, you'll stay in the punishment cell. Misbehave, and you'll serve your entire term there. For most, a day with the Dementors is enough to realize life is better without them. But my main achievement is that less than half of the prisoners remained in prison. I granted amnesty, though the papers didn't credit me, of course. The Death Eaters and sympathizers returned to freedom with a stern verbal warning—not to cause trouble in England.
Most remembered only the old Voldemort. For those with me, the changes were gradual, but these were in a slight stupor. I had to bring them out of it. After all, England is now Voldemort's home! What happens if someone enters the Dark Lord's house, first defiles the rug, then burns it? But a Muggle-born is more useful than a rug—even the most talentless wizard or Muggle can make many rugs in a lifetime!
Those who enjoy killing can participate in showdowns with criminals from other underdeveloped African countries. War? They've been at war since colonial administrations left. In my view, it's a war between those who managed to grab and those who didn't. Once a side wins, the war begins anew. We act cautiously—we have several departments minimizing collateral damage.
I was called evil—a blatant lie! What's happening now disproves it. If I lived in Ancient Rome, there'd be debates: recognize me as the second Romulus, or simply call me "Father of the Fatherland" and hand over the keys to the temple of the Vestals. But my lawyer is evil. His handled cases are impressive. For instance, an Auror became my informant, was identified, and imprisoned. Korhard Richter legally freed him. How? Alastor Moody illegally performed Legilimency on him and injected Veritaserum outside court. Data obtained illegally can't be evidence! He should have been warned, summoned for questioning, taken the antidote to Veritaserum, and erased his memories beforehand.
Another case: an Auror was imprisoned for desertion, but this is illegal! Martial law was declared by the Minister of Magic, meaning the Aurors' duty station is all of Wizarding England! The defendant never left England or his duty station, so he's not a deserter! That's the law! Another example: an old case of stealing forty carriages of aluminum from Muggles using a front man Muggle. The punishment was eight years for large-scale theft. But Richter proved the aluminum was stolen in small batches, moving quickly. So, it was a series of minor offenses, each punishable by a fine, about a third of the stolen amount at a time. Albus Dumbledore's vile regime imposed long sentences for trivial offenses—how unexpected!
I had to remind Richter a few times. He proposed posthumously stripping Moody of awards for "sleeping on duty many times." After all, if the wartime duty station is all of Wizarding England, Moody slept on duty for years? He couldn't not sleep, could he? And what about constant vigilance? Or the Auror Office's job description? He also proposed I confess to all crimes, then legally receive amnesty. This could be done simply—without worrying about Flamel, wizards set a four hundred-year statute of limitations. But it doesn't specify four hundred calendar years or biological! Everyone believes I'm immortal. I just need to say and show memories that since the last crime, I've wound myself up with a time-turner at least four hundred years—and that's it, I'm innocent because the statute of limitations passed. But I decided that was too much. The main thing is not to overdo it, and with my mental magic abilities, I can easily convince a hungry person they're full, but it won't save them from starvation.
Regarding Order members' and sympathizers' criminal cases... We imprisoned them, tried them, and immediately released them. Why stir up the past? The only thing is, we released them with "house arrest" wording. You can do anything, but if you commit a new criminal offense for political reasons, you'll go to prison, and unserved time will be added to your new term. We inundated Dumbledore with lawsuits and accusations. He retaliated—even from neighboring countries. He issued an ultimatum against Voldemort. What did he write in his appeal?
Dumbledore's open address in a US newspaper:
"I considered it necessary to address you because we are at a critical moment in history. Voldemort's actions are a cynical mockery of the legal system. A criminal and bandit seized a state, making it an instrument of his crimes. This speech is about loyalty and betrayal, courage and cowardice, honor and dishonor, indifference, which, as Polish Muggle humanist Bruno Jasieński said, leads to all the world's murders and betrayals. After all, captivating masses is easy if you know how... Bruno Jasieński, author of 'Conspiracy of the Indifferent,' was shot. Until recently, Wizarding England's inhabitants were free. They decided for themselves what to do and how to earn money. They moved forward, although not everyone knew. Now Voldemort decides for them. He's deprived an entire country's population of freedom, turning them into hostages. Voldemort makes no demands but continues making life unbearable. Wizarding England is inexorably regressing to the Middle Ages. Voldemort is rapidly rewriting laws to suit himself. Don't be misled. Nazism was legal. Slavery was legal. Legality is power's attribute, not justice. Justice is treating others as you'd treat yourself. Would you like being robbed or killed? That's why laws can't allow robbing others or disposing of lives. Some skeptics might say many states were built on violence. England, both Wizarding and Muggle, had the largest colony system for long. Slavery was allowed centuries ago. I won't deny it. I'll say: yes, our civilization once used slavery, long before you and I were born. Many civilizations used slavery. But few voluntarily abandoned it. We're among them. Only a free person can dream of freedom. An unfree person dreams of being a slave owner or a slave with a kind master. Free people can feed themselves by uniting without a slave owner. I have nothing against benefits, but they shouldn't be distributed with stolen money. I'll give one example. Contract 347/8AM discusses titanium supply from Muggles to wizards. Everything seems fine, but pitfalls are listed in an appendix to the contract in two copies... Kept in the Ministry of Magic. The wizard took his copy, but the Muggle didn't. I know why: a Muggle has no access to the Ministry. This isn't entrepreneurship, just robbery.
I was injured fighting under Azkaban. I was unconscious for days. I woke in shock from the future, as if in the distant past with modern scenery. Human rights are trampled. Money is valued more than freedom, and Voldemort more than money. It's easy to see what you're a slave to—think about what you're not allowed to criticize. Voldemort hasn't won yet. Remember history. In the twentieth century, inhumane regimes were established in Germany, Italy, and Japan, where some had more rights and freedoms simply by birth. After these countries' defeat, inhabitants returned to world civilization. Evil and good are in everyone, and the question isn't which is more, but what you use. We must ensure these words' meaning isn't forgotten. Evil is always near, seeking its chance. It would be convenient if Voldemort declared himself world ruler and said, 'I want to open a concentration camp in every city, kill all who disagree. Tonight, a Quidditch game with Muggles' and Muggle-borns' heads.' Life is never so obvious! Evil can appear innocently. Our duty is to expose its essence and point out new forms daily, worldwide. Freedom and Liberation are our endless work. Let our motto be: so let us not forget. Perhaps some understand but fear. Less power means less responsibility? Not true. Every contribution matters. Even the Resistance's moral and psychological role. This gives me pride: knowing Wizarding England's population isn't waiting for the Order of the Phoenix, isn't waiting for liberation with folded hands, that someone is paying the same bill as us. We have one aim, one unwavering purpose: bring Voldemort to justice and destroy every trace of him. Nothing deters us. No negotiations, no terms with Voldemort or his gang. We'll fight until we've rid the land of his shadow, freeing England's wizards and the world's Muggles from his yoke. Anyone fighting Voldemort has my aid. Anyone marching with Voldemort is our enemy. This applies not only to Wizarding England but to all its citizens who by acquiescence have become tools or accomplices of the new regime. I speak to all. The danger now lurking in Wizarding England threatens us all. Fighting for ourselves and our freedom is all free people and nations' business globally. Let cruel experience's lessons teach us. Let us redouble efforts and strike with united forces while we're alive and able to fight."
Brilliant, Albus. You've talked your way into many criminal charges: extremism, aggressive war initiation, armed resistance calls, treason... The list goes on. Korhard Richter will add new charges, though I think a two hundred forty-foot-high document stack suffices. Your speech lacks just a little text: "I warn you. We can only hope my signals aren't ignored." Snape already gave me your Order speech text. You believe everything can be as before, people will forget easy money's taste, their own chosenness feeling, and admit guilt without losing to anyone, begin self-flagellation and repentance. Germany, Italy, and Japan rejected their ideas only after being bombed and occupied. Had they won, they'd laugh and continue smashing "inferior races'" heads with rifle butts. But no one defeated us, unlike Grindelwald.
In your Order speech, you indicated the point of no return—the generation born in old Wizarding England will die of old age, and the new generation will only know a life with Voldemort. Some would call you naive. But you've shown the impossible many times—that's why I believe in you. But only in you. I saw your work in Wizarding England's court. Korhard Richter didn't even come close. I watched many recordings of Albus's trials and read enough transcripts. Albus, speaking in court, is like a director. An unexpected plot interpretation helps him win cases. He knows how to convince and win. Naturally, he knows laws brilliantly. But he's also a subtle psychologist, approaching each case like a true artist. You're surprised when, in difficult situations, he gets to the truth and finds almost invisible event shades revealing the criminal in the imaginary victim and the victim in the alleged criminal. That's why his trials often resemble detective stories with unpredictable endings. Many magicians have experienced this man's rare gift as a lawyer or prosecutor. A universal genius isn't just Dumbledore's profession or his multi-million dollar luck's consequence. It's his calling, his life, his essence. Different people approached Albus in court. Naturally, he's not indifferent to this or that client's morality or immorality. But the main thing for him is the truth. Richter promised me Albus Dumbledore would sit in a big pile of shit the size of a country, tied hand and foot, without any magic. And he kept his word. The problem is Albus Dumbledore is a stickler for evidence… I asked my lawyer under truth serum if he could win a case against Albus Dumbledore. He said it was impossible. But for the money I pay him, it won't be Korhard Richter losing the case, but his grandson. And that's not bad!
In the international arena, we have neutrality armed to the teeth. We invited observers from neighboring countries and showed them much—an army of werewolves, for instance. "By the way, there are werewolves in your countries too, wanting the medicine. They won't appreciate attacking the only country with the medicine." New magical golems. "Due to design features, they can only be used in magical England." We showed the tightly closed border and explained: Magical England is a young, weak country that marries for convenience, but takes money out of love. We sit quietly within our borders, having signed neutrality agreements with all neighbors, and make money. But if someone attacks us... That someone will blow themselves up on the border, and then Voldemort will show up and destroy Nurmengard or Azkaban every few days. Threats? What are you talking about! We're ordinary kleptocrats. Want to rejuvenate yourself? As our new friends, you get half-price the first time.
As for someone in Africa... We don't share borders, and those countries are weak—they can't afford a war sending an expeditionary force halfway across the world, especially since we don't threaten the system there but successfully integrate into it. Besides, we don't fight there—we find a conflict party and trade with them. Conditions are the same as centuries ago: give us people, we give you something in return. The trade volume is lost against millions dying of hunger yearly.
I adapted the Resurrection Stone for human sacrifice rituals. Apparently, I'm doing it wrong. I feel like I put a condom on inside out (lubricant inside). I tried figuring out the Sorting Hat's device. No luck. I considered making my own sorting artifact but got stuck at the beginning. I could only divide people into two groups, not four. The criterion: a friend asks you to keep a secret, what do you do? Two possible answers: "I will keep it" or "I will keep it until the secret's value exceeds the friend's value." So, the new Sorting Hat idea died at the pre-design stage.
With the sword of Gryffindor, it was easier and harder. In magical vision, it appeared as a solid sparkle—a piece of light. It felt like all spells were cast successively on it. Perhaps it's pathetic to kill Albus with the sword of Gryffindor, but I don't need pathos. So, I made a deal with goblins and gave them the sword as a "gesture of goodwill." I warned them fairly—the sword may appear at a Gryffindor's call from the Sorting Hat, but if it does, we'll return it again. The goblins fussed unhealthily. Why worry? I checked—the sword isn't a Horcrux.
There were long negotiations with goblins: expanding the Ministry of Magic. Deeper, of course. Land belongs to wizards, but the law is silent on how deep. The negotiations were terrible. Goblins asked for twenty million Galleons for building rights "on an uninhabited underground strata" (from my view) and a little excavation help for "the most valuable and necessary territory." They ate too many mushrooms. I did what Tom Riddle never did—set my lawyers on them. Richter isn't my only employee! I also sent Lucius Malfoy, saying he could keep ten percent of any price reduction. The negotiations promised to drag on.
Out of boredom, I entered a high-ranking goblin's thoughts. I regretted it. I saw his current thoughts. He bargained, but thought nonsense: "These humans are strange. I can't understand customs taught for working with them. Why give a woman flowers? Birds do it for nest material. Goblins give money or building materials. But flowers! They're plant sexual organs! A hint at sex? Hold a plant's sexual organ, then mine? Maybe. But why give several flowers? Lots of sex? Sex with me or me and friends, so I give many plant sexual organs? No, at the Academy, they said humans just do it without sense, because most don't analyze actions or see patterns. But humans can't be that stupid! On 'Valentine's Day,' they give a 'heart' symbol. A human heart isn't like that! Upside-down, a valentine is a back and two buttocks. Coincidence? I don't think so…" Either goblins' brains work on different wavelengths, or this one noticed I read his thoughts and teased me. The negotiations lasted eleven hours and ended in nothing. Nothing. We'll agree eventually. But next time, without me.
Incredible things happened at home too. No, Delphi could only eat and sleep, only in Bellatrix's arms, but Neville grew up and amazed me. Not with magic. Honestly, I no longer doubted this boy was the Chosen One. His power to stop the Dark Lord: pathological clumsiness and forgetfulness. Bellatrix taught him languages and magic. Average, especially with potions. The potions idea was simple: Neville, supervised by Bellatrix, boiled water in a cauldron, threw in chopped parsley, and enjoyed soup. Everything went wrong. The first time, Neville cut his finger, and everything stopped. The second time, he overturned the secured cauldron. The third time, he blew up the cauldron. Bellatrix covered for him. I didn't understand how water and parsley exploded, but I chalked it up to a child's natural disaster. I forbade Neville from brewing potions in my house and presence.
Neville continued to amaze. Bellatrix bought him an owl. He named it "Google-Eyes." It was the laziest creature. When he said "work" or "deliver a letter," it fell over and pretended to be dead. Bellatrix bought two parrots and told Neville to name them. He asked if they were boys or girls. Bella said one was a boy, one a girl. Neville pointed at the girl parrot and named her "Bella." My wife was touched. Then he pointed at the boy parrot and named him "Master." My wife reacted like Albus when Barty sent him memories of love's power. I eased tension by saying I didn't mind. Neville started feeding the parrots magical herbs... I wonder if the parrots will die or mutate into unknown creatures first?
I can see how it could have been on October 31, 1981: the Dark Lord killed himself on Longbottom. I don't know how, probably used Legilimency on him. Ten years later, the Dark Lord returned, taking Longbottom's blood for a ritual. To prove it was an accident, he began a show duel. But it's shameful to protect yourself for half an hour before a duel with a first-year. You need something quick. This protection doesn't protect against ordinary liquids. The Dark Lord cast Hellfire. Longbottom cast Lumos. But... This boy cast Lumirios. An oil-like liquid flew from his wand. The Dark Lord slipped on the oiled floor, fell, and caught fire as the Hellfire spread to his oil-stained robe. Better not touch Longbottom—let his wife babysit him.
Meanwhile, it's time for dress-up again... I'm tired of this circus! Dolokhov calls Elena for a private conversation. I have something to discuss too. I sat in a woman's body and listened to Dolokhov. He was drinking his second bottle but didn't get to the point. We spoke in Russian.
"Albus Dumbledore is in deep trouble, that's for sure! Now he deals with the Dark Lord, Death Eaters, Ministry of Magic, society, werewolves, neutral foreign countries silently not interfering, and his own supporters unwilling to fight. We can write a new fairy tale: Albus Dumbledore and the Seven Little Goats! Here, they looked at me, expecting laughter. Didn't get it? 'Little goats' is a verb!" they enlightened me. Smiling, I answered, "Antonin, I visited your thoughts... The Death Eaters sent you to accuse me of dumping Muggle medical services?"
"Yes. They thought, as compatriots, you'd listen. The Lord's servants treat Muggles for money, you do it free. Want to ruin them? How much to close your practice?"
"Antonin... I haven't taken a client from you! Think—if only the rich survive incurable diseases, it's suspicious. So, others were cured, not from our clinic. I know you—nothing's free. But someone must think of the organization's good..."
Soon, it was time for act two. Difficult: pass a thin flesh strand under the floor to the next room without Dolokhov noticing, grow your official body there, maintain contact through the strand. Then, conjure the "second body," protect yourself. Two bodies? One, of course! Connected by a jumper. Controlling two bodies at once... Okay, Elena feigns respectful delight, and Voldemort comes to visit. Soon, Voldemort joined the conversation.
"Master! Such an unexpected honor..." Antonin began.
"I have no complaints against you," I answered. "But I have a proposal. Albus is missing. We need to lure him out. How about pretending to be a traitor? Pass disinformation to Albus. Not personally, of course."
"As you command," Dolokhov answered. Excellent. If Albus doesn't show up in a month, I'll hint where to find Horcruxes—I'm afraid he's planning epic mischief.
Rodolphus Lestrange's POV:
Rodolphus became a father, having thought about it long. Little Tom was ordinary. His father was happy. The relationship with his wife was specific. Only connected by sex, nothing more. He had closer relationships with mistresses before. He didn't mind, but it was unexpected. Now he talked to his father.
"Perhaps I was wrong," Edward began. "You were sad about Bellatrix... I logically decided to find you the same woman. And I did. But judging by your behavior, you need a different one—like Diana Crouch, for romance and stargazing, holding hands..."
He was silent. He wanted a child—got one. But no happiness.
"We're expecting another," Edward began.
"Congratulations. I guessed Diana was pregnant."
"That too. I talked to your wife..."
Rodolphus tensed.
"She said she's modern, not spending life birthing like a cow."
Finally! Something logical. A girl gave birth at fourteen, checked the boy's health, gave him to servants, and went to classes.
"She's not wasting time birthing thrice or more. Congratulations, Rodolphus. Your wife is pregnant again."
"What? Again? She just gave birth! Doesn't the body need recovery time?"
"Son... are we wizards or not? You'll have four at once!"
"Four?"
"Potions. Congratulations. Since joining the Dark Lord, our family grows stronger and richer. Now find a place for Rabastan… But he's stubborn: won't marry, no matter how much my children ask," Edward talked, and Rodolphus wasn't listening. The damned power of love was out of control…
End of Rodolphus Lestrange's POV.
Max Fry's POV:
Max was released from prison after killing Mundungus Fletcher, serving under two years. He was amnestied as Albus Dumbledore's victim. Rewarded as a regime fighter and offered a Ministry position. But the investigator's brain tried comprehending the changed world. He read "The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore." It felt like Albus and Grindelwald agreed, rapidly building all wizards' common good. Right now. He refused Ministry work. Then people brought monetary compensation for unjust imprisonment years. They offered a private sector job: "Magic Incorporated." He promised to think. His brain said agree. His gut said run. Packing, he left England for Brazil, with fake documents. It was difficult. A month later, he found a job—promised forty Galleons for an interview.
"We deforest, disguising as existing Muggle firms. These savages free space by burning forests. We don't interfere. We just collect rare magical wood, and the rest we cut down, letting Muggles burn it, covering tracks." His interlocutor continued about Magical England. "Are you English? Magic Incorporated?" Max Fry asked in English. "And you are English?" his prospective employer asked in Portuguese.
End of Max Fry's POV.
Albus Dumbledore's POV:
Albus Dumbledore sat in the bunker, sorting papers. Too many criminal cases—all about him. He tried all legal options. He exposed several dozen Death Eaters now in government. It didn't work: they have legal immunity. He provided evidence of involvement in serious crimes; before, this sufficed. But now, high-level government officials' activities are state secrets, disclosing them punishable by imprisonment. Evidence against officials was collected illegally (violating legal immunity), so cannot be used in court. Evidence obtained illegally lacks legal force—the constitution and criminal procedure legislation's most important postulate. Under normal justice, destroying Voldemort's system wouldn't be difficult. Regarding "secret" classification, the law provides liability for disclosing not the secret document itself, but information constituting a state secret. Suppose a lawyer defends a murderer, and a secret document shows someone else committed the murder. What should the lawyer do? Considering the constitution's proclaimed priority of individual interests over state interests, the lawyer can and must use the document to defend the client. Everything used to be humane: if a secret document had to be declassified to justify someone, it could be done. Not now. State secrets take precedence over individual rights. If someone killed someone, you show evidence—you're imprisoned for disclosing a state secret, and your evidence is illegal. Naturally, high-ranking officials' immunity concerns their correspondence, communication means, transport means, and so on...
He tried clearing some charges by citing the statute of limitations—no, it's suspended while a suspect hides from justice. Albus is wanted. This doesn't apply to Voldemort: he was wanted, but Tom Riddle's birth certificate wasn't wanted. Courts aren't solely to blame: he can't win in foreign courts either. The judge decides based on examination. But if the court receives qualitatively altered evidence... No, he'd know Voldemort's evidence is fake. As would about twenty others worldwide. But the rest of the wizards—hardly. The court can be discounted.
Elections? Politicians are useless within the system Voldemort created. Multi-level protection—from bribery, intimidation, Imperius to identity forgery. But usually simpler: politicians argue about how exactly to take Muggle funds, under the approving population's roar. Allowing "not taking Muggle resources" is instant political suicide.
The population… Until recently, he believed he lived in a civil society. It turned out—Middle Ages. Although, of course, the long civil war and understanding the alternative is confrontation with Voldemort played a role. Freedom of speech... Ghouls fear light; publicity is a solution. No one wants to be robbed and used for their purposes; show people this. But now Muggles are being robbed! He can't tell Muggles—everyone opposes lifting the Statute of Secrecy! Inventing alien games... Counterproductive, and where's freedom of speech? Freedom of speech in the magical world? Voldemort is an expert. He raised freedom of speech to unprecedented levels! Now media write "editors aren't responsible for material or opinions." This isn't media—it's a fairy tale gathering, and they even warned about it. There's no media, only a noise screen. His article is on the same page as Xeno Lovegood's about the Minister of Magic boiling goblins alive in a cauldron, and the Minister himself is a gnome under the back. I wouldn't be surprised if his enemy has thirty memories of who killed Alastor Moody, and publishes them all—because now words are free from meaning. A similar effect could be achieved by casting the Blinding Glitter Curse. The simplest analogy: Muggles post-WWII saying, "You know, some say Germans burned Jews in camps, some say Jews drank Christian babies' blood. Where's the truth, who's to blame, who started it—we don't know. Both events could've occurred, or just one, or neither, or both in combinations. Let's discuss this; we have freedom of opinion, conscience, democracy, pluralism!" There's no media, only a noise screen. His article is on the same page as Xeno Lovegood's about the Minister of Magic boiling goblins alive, and the Minister himself is a gnome under the back. I wouldn't be surprised if his enemy has thirty memories of who killed Alastor Moody, and publishes them all—because now words are free of meaning. A similar effect could be achieved by casting the Blinding Glare Charm. The simplest analogy: Muggles post-WWII saying, "You know, some say Germans burned Jews in camps, some say Jews drank Christian babies' blood. Where's the truth, who's to blame, who started it—we don't know. Both events could've occurred, or just one, or neither, or both in combinations. Let's discuss this; we have freedom of opinion, conscience, democracy, pluralism!"
Albus believed in people, but knew now, when communicating, he was dialoguing with a party, at best, unenthusiastic about his proposals and evidence. He didn't want to use his power to harm Wizarding England's people. But a solution stubbornly didn't come. He opened the newspaper to reread Skeeter's article on his last speech: "You-Know-Who didn't start the First Wizarding War, nor the Second. He was never Grindelwald's friend! England's civil war is a wizarding world contradiction consequence! Albus shouldn't scream about You-Know-Who's aggression! Besides, You-Know-Who won England's civil war. If Albus won, could he be proud? But he lost! Weaker, stupider! Can his enemy be blamed for victory? Should You-Know-Who want the Order of the Phoenix to win, and himself to lose? Peculiar: blame war loss not on himself, the idiot, but the opposed enemy, 'mean and bad.' Losers are weak, mistaken, incompetent, undeveloped. I wonder how Cornelius doesn't notice such articles? Probably, they give him special newspapers, just for him. As for Skeeter's words... Burning doesn't refute. Albus didn't like some things. Voldemort's regime was too strange. In political science, dictatorship is power exercised by ruler/s or group/s, regardless of form/power, attitude/power, in a direct, directive way. The independence of this form of exercising power from the form of power and the form of attitude towards power is clearly demonstrated by the example of the political system that emerged as a result of Voldemort's seizure of power: the form of power is a republic, that is, elected representatives in the government (even if now there are enough loyal to the Death Eaters among them), the form of attitude towards power is democracy (because everyone wants money and the majority voted for it), the form of exercising power is dictatorship (Voldemort himself with his servants). The functioning of a dictatorial regime is often accompanied by radical or repressive measures against political opponents and harsh suppression or elimination of those rights and freedoms of citizens that in one way or another contradict the position of this regime. Now it is he and the Order of the Phoenix. The effectiveness and optimality of this form of exercising power in general depends on many factors, including the objective situation, society's perception of the need for this particular form of exercising power, the form of the relationship between society and the government, the form of ideological justification of power. The main thing in any dictatorship is the architecture of the vertical of power. Despite the fact that under the dictatorship of Voldemort, some democratic institutions were preserved, their real influence on politics is reduced to a minimum: they only determine the optimal means to achieve the goal - the unnoticeable extraction of resources from Muggles. And they determine the volume of extraction. Any dictatorial system already carries the seeds of its own destruction, except for the one built by Voldemort. He is forced to admit that his enemy intrigues better than he fights.
The first thing that caught the eye was that Voldemort did not have his own philosophy. Previously, he at least had his own rhetoric (let's kill the Muggle-borns), but now he does not have that. You close your eyes - and in front of you is not the Dark Lord, but someone complaining about a bad harvest. How to fight if the enemy cannot be identified from the gray mass? Voldemort's regime is certainly dictatorial, but it was not completely totalitarian, and not due to some special softness, and not because of the insufficiency of the philosophical base. Even his most primitive achievements - the Dark Mark, the Black Robes - the Dark Lord was in no hurry to make them widespread or simply fashionable. Voldemort does not have a monolithic ideology. His system is a kaleidoscope of disparate political and philosophical ideas, a termite mound of contradictions. Well, is it possible to imagine a totalitarian regime in which absolute monarchy (the Dark Lord) and revolution (the forcible overthrow of the old regime), the Royal Guard (the Death Eaters) and the Secret Police (Fudge is trying to create his own security forces) coexist, in which the church exists, but no one needs it (it is not suppressed, as in atheistic dictatorships, and no one seeks to enlist its support in order to more easily "milk" the population; they are simply forced to pay taxes, like everyone else), the school prepares the Dogs of the Regime, but there is no propaganda of violence there. And in general - how do absolute state control coexist with the free market? How does a state of robbers exist on the international arena - and does everyone like it? How do the robbed Muggles themselves actively and voluntarily cooperate and even rejoice?
He imagined how wizard cooperation with Muggles didn't cause problems for the Muggles themselves. How could a system emerge that allowed the enchantment and use of Muggle items (even if a license was required, it was freely given to anyone who demonstrated the necessary skills), rooted in the ideas of upholding the old order, funded by the most conservative people in the magical world who hoped for stagnation and increasing isolation from Muggles? It seemed like Voldemort was merely a collection of various genes, a complex DNA spiral. He evaluated what would bring the greatest benefit and integrated precisely that. There wasn't even external totalitarianism! There was no monopoly on architecture, prose, or music. This doesn't mean Voldemort was characterized by tolerance. The multi-layered picture Dumbledore saw didn't indicate tolerance or great laxity, either politically or ideologically. Voldemort's seemingly altruistic behavior was explained by his excessive egoism. He simply didn't want to remain on ruins and had foreseen many things.
The Dark Lord turned out to be much more secretive than expected. He used Legilimency on a captured Department of Mysteries employee, who is now part of the "Department of Many Mysteries." Voldemort needed bodies not only from abroad. What did he do? His servants monitored the terminally ill in hospitals. When resuscitators gave up but patients weren't yet cold, they could be taken. And the relatives... With slight influence, they agreed to cremation—here's your urn of ashes.
Need the living? Depressed people could be found using an area spell to search for emotions. Identify the emotions that usually precede suicide, send a spell to observe each potential suicide, and if confirmed, send a house-elf. If there's no doubt about the preparation for suicide, then... Why would a Muggle allow himself to be uselessly killed? The Muggle disappears for a couple of minutes. Death on the altar from a blow with a ritual knife with runes on the blade—and the ritual is complete. The body is taken away, the wound healed, traces of real death removed, and suicide is imitated: a shot to the head, a fall from a height, a deliberate overdose of drugs.
Once upon a time, wizards solved the issue of collecting magical petrel eggs for ingredients. This bird always lays two eggs. When chicks hatch, a deadly fight begins, leaving only one survivor. Wizards quickly realized they could take one egg without harming the population. Voldemort did something similar. Even if every tenth suicide in England is caught, that's several people a day. Not enough? There's China—120,000 suicides a year. The only thing left is to agree with their magical government. In poorer Muggle countries—in Africa—Voldemort doesn't hide much. He isn't a racist; his people offer rejuvenation and life extension services to all solvent Muggles and don't meddle in more or less developed African countries' affairs. For Muggles, everything is simple: evil is unprofitable.
What can be done with prisoners? The smartest and most profitable thing is to exchange them for your own kind. In the magical world, things differ. However, any dictatorship—Muggle or magical—has fundamental contradictions that destroy it. The main problem of any dictatorship is the cult of tradition, a certain revelation, an original dogma ("purebloods are superior"). If reality contradicts dogma, reality must be denied. From the existence of a "revelation," it follows that there's no place for knowledge development. The truth has already been proclaimed once and for all; all that remains is correct interpretation. Here, compatibility is based on disdain for contradictions. According to such logic, all "original revelations" contain a "germ of truth." If the "revelations" are contradictory or incompatible, it doesn't matter, because allegorically they all return to some original truth. How can a civilization succeed that rejects facts? That constantly sits on a "painted" bench, surprised because it believes there's no paint?
Pathological traditionalism inevitably leads to modernism rejection. It doesn't matter how much they verbally love progress or its fruits. In fact, dictatorship enjoys only progress's external aspect. Any progress is incompatible with dictatorship because science is based on tolerance for dissenters—dictatorship will either collapse or stop developing. Voldemort loves magic and money, not as ends, but as means to success. For him, profit is the goal. Who brings him money—pureblood or not—is unimportant. In Voldemort's actions, he doesn't see the main problem of dictators—irrationalism, action for action's sake. No dogma withstands criticism. In modern culture, the scientific community respects disagreement as the basis for science development. In a dictatorship's eyes, disagreement is betrayal. But Voldemort's dogma is wanting money and strength, more immortality, more Horcruxes. Disagreement signals otherness. The dictatorship grows and seeks supporters by exploiting the innate fear of the alien. But Voldemort focused not on persecuting enemies, but on creating supporters! He decriminalizes what was considered a crime (Dark Magic: no longer a life sentence for murder with Avada; stealing from Muggles: register and share). Usually, a dictatorship is born from individual or social frustration, and the dictator's goal is to make others suffer, rejoicing in their suffering.
Tom Riddle lived in an orphanage as a child. As an adult, he enjoyed bringing wizarding aristocracy to their knees. Now Voldemort doesn't require this. Snape said that in private with the Dark Lord, you don't even have to stand. The Dark Lord seems like someone trying to rise above himself with magic, not over others. To the socially offended, dictatorship says privilege is guaranteed by birth location, forging nationalism. Besides, a nation unites through enemies. "Ours" must feel besieged. Conspiracy theories use xenophobia or internal conspiracy; Muggle-borns fit both. Yet Muggle-born persecution is absent—only those against the Dark Lord face persecution.
Dictators struggle to assess enemy fighting ability. Voldemort objectively assessed Muggles, avoiding war. He developed a strategy where neither the Elder Wand nor Flamel's potions help. A classic dictator lives for struggle, not life—pacifism means fraternizing with the enemy. Pacifism is reprehensible, as life is eternal struggle. There's also a Last Judgement complex. The enemy will be destroyed, leading to a final battle granting world control. An era of universal peace, a Golden Age, is supposed to follow. However, this counteracts the permanent war thesis, and no dictator has resolved this contradiction. Voldemort approached solving this problem. He's interested in profit—war or peace, it doesn't matter. Those bringing money peacefully, those who can't, fight elsewhere, and the contradiction resolves through Muggle resource extraction—eternal war, eternal victory.
There are standard dictatorial elements. Dictatorship is populist elitism. The common people are the best. The Party (Death Eaters) is the best common citizens. An ordinary citizen can (or must) join the Party. But no patricians without plebeians. A leader who seizes power by force understands strength lies in mass weakness, deserving a Driver. Hierarchically organized societies lead to despising superiors and subordinates. Voldemort turns this on its head. Those serving best become servants, not by birth. Serving the Dark Lord best requires money and connections—his supporters are the richest, most influential pure-blood families. A Muggle-born can't be rich post-Hogwarts; even with wealthy parents, pounds aren't freely exchanged for galleons. A pure-blood can; parental money provides a foundation—a starting capital for Muggle resource extraction. Thus, pure-bloods serve the Dark Lord in high positions, not due to superiority or Voldemort's decision, but better starting conditions. This strengthens mass elitism, and Death Eaters have no motive to oppose the Master. Muggle-borns lack motive—nothing forbids them, work better.
A dictatorial regime creates heroes to die for its glory or sadists to kill for it. Heroism cults connect to death cults. Normal people are told death is sad, met with dignity. Believers hear death achieves supernatural bliss. Dictatorship victims crave death, promised as heroic life compensation. Or they kill others more often. Voldemort doesn't propagate this! Everyone's useful; he creates a beneficial system for any screw. Dictatorships build on populism. In democracy, citizens enjoy individual rights; the collective exercises political rights with a quantitative basis: majority decisions. In dictatorship, the individual lacks individual rights, and "people" appear as a quality, monolithic unity expressing collective will. Since no human number truly has collective will, the Leader claims representation. Without delegation, citizens don't act, only called up—to join armies, chip in—a theatrical People. Voldemort simplifies: I'm dictator because I'm best. Kill me, become dictator. Remember—Albus Dumbledore failed. Neither the Elder Wand nor Flamel's potions worked. I'm a Dark Wizard of unprecedented power, no conscience, creating any body, not limited to Dark Magic. An army of servants, a familiar, a wrong Phoenix are trifles. Here, the ruler seizes power! Non-violent departure methods aren't provided! Nor are mechanisms for ruler death—the ruler is eternal. Voldemort's people-flirting—he's just kind! But this changes nothing.
Albus believes progress is possible without killing political opponents or robbing Muggles. We don't need a Dark Empire. He'll solve this problem eventually. How? He's identified two targets. Lucius Malfoy's house and the Lestrange safe in Gringotts—both places rapidly increasing security, hiding something. After visiting, he'll be accused of theft... But he doesn't go for wealth, but for Voldemort's Horcruxes.