(Dumbledore POV)
The range of problems raised by Antonio Olario did not end there. He had created two other nuisances for me as well.
On his hint, Lily, one of the brightest Muggle born witches in the last few years, has filed a formal complaint against a group of Slytherin boys and a couple of Gryffindors.
Had it only been the Slytherins, it might not have been an issue for me. I would have easily explained matters to her, persuaded her to forgive them and drop it, and even then, if she had not been satisfied, I would have given those boys a slap on the wrist. You know, the usual points deduction and perhaps a detention with Horace Slughorn.
It was the complaint against the two Gryffindors that had created a true nuisance for me. The complaint against James Potter and Sirius Black. It had ruined a number of my beautifully crafted plans.
As I said, I had been willing to change the customs, culture, and mindset of Wizarding Britain for quite some time. And if such change was to be implemented, a few of the pure blood families too would have to reject the old ways and shift toward a newer approach.
My position as Hogwarts Headmaster was extremely beneficial in this. I took many students under my wing, and a great number of them became loyal followers of my ideas.
James Potter and Sirius Black were two very important figures in this plan. Black, Potter, Longbottom, and Malfoy are the four most powerful houses in Wizarding Britain. For obvious reasons, the Malfoys despise me.
And it had been a golden opportunity, as if fate itself had granted me a chance. The three heirs of Potter, Black, and Longbottom were studying at Hogwarts at the same time.
Frank Longbottom, a year senior to James and Sirius, had already graduated from Hogwarts. His marriage is all but fixed with Alice. A fine witch indeed. Frank is one of those people who has been heavily influenced by my ideas. I had little reason to worry about him, as his father, Lord Longbottom, too was firmly under my influence.
The real problem lay in Charlus and Arcturus Potter. Both were extremely tough nuts to crack from their earliest days. But as I said, as though fate itself had blessed me, both James and Sirius idolised me greatly. Sirius hated his family name and the pure blood customs so deeply that he abandoned his home and lived with the Potters during the holidays. Well, some credit must be given to Walburga in this regard, her venomous words encouraged Sirius to make this decision.
And then James. He too idolised me heavily. Yet I am certain that Lord Potter does not appreciate this in the least. But it does not matter. I am doing all this for the greater good.
In the future, three of the four most powerful lords would be ardent followers of my ideas and beliefs. Laws and regulations that were difficult for me to pass through the Wizengamot would glide through effortlessly with their support. They would endorse my ideas, thoughts and new way life I want to put in.
And Lily had a very important role in all of this. In the first couple of years, I had identified Lily as the ideal wife for James Potter.
She was bright, intelligent, and a magical genius. But what had concerned me was that the two of them stood on opposite ends of the spectrum. Lily and James had nothing in common.
And this was where my brilliant plans began. Through subtle movements, carefully placed suggestions, and calculated commentaries to the professors, and even in the few interactions I allowed myself with the students, I ensured that every clash and confrontation between Lily and James began to be seen as nothing more than a lover's quarrel. I deliberately portrayed them as a couple in the making, wrapped in the age old tale of opposite attracts. James's insults toward Lily, which might otherwise have seemed cruel, I framed as his clumsy attempt to remain close to her.
Lily's disapproval of James's actions, his pranks, and his mischief, I carefully recast as evidence of her hidden concern for him. Every teacher and student was led to believe they were a couple in the making.
In time, not only his words but even his ultimate action of marrying a Muggle born witch would stand as a powerful endorsement of my vision. And if there were ever a chance of James reverting to his pure blood traditions, Lily would be my safeguard against it. As for Sirius, he was certain to follow wherever James led.
But Antonio's suggestion to Lily had brought everything crashing down. To instill that belief back in her, that James could truly be her ideal husband now seemed almost impossible. She had surely broken free of the illusion I had so carefully woven, and at this moment she must despise James.
With only a few months left before they graduated and leave Hogwarts, bringing them closer again seemed an almost impossible task.
And it was not only she who had been drawn out of the illusion. The professors too, upon learning of her complaint, had been pulled away from the ideas I had so subtly instilled.
They were now forced to think logically, and the differences between Lily and James would stand out plainly before them.
I can only attempt one last effort to bring them together. Yet this was not the end of the problems Antonio had created for me.
Minerva. She was the second obstacle he had set against me.
She was one of the finest witches in all of Wizarding Britain. The power she wielded, and what she could accomplish on a battlefield, needed no introduction. Her reputation preceded her. And over the years, she had been one of my closest allies.
To the outside world, it often seemed as though she and I were of one mind, our ideas inseparable.
And yet, Antonio's actions had driven her to act against my counsel. I knew she had been dissatisfied with my inaction to act on Lily's complaint. She wanted me to intervene. But as I mentioned earlier, I could not. I did not think in the way Lily or Minerva wanted me to think.
I had not realized, however, that her dissatisfaction had grown so deep. She had voted in favour of Antonio Olario, against my advice. And I am certain that she now intends to push me, perhaps even oppose me, into taking action on Lily's complaint.
A knock at the door of my office snapped me out of my thoughts. I had sensed the presence even before the sound, but I had been too lost in reflection to acknowledge it. It was Minerva. I had summoned her for a talk. And what a talk it was going to be.
"Come in," I bellowed and the door of the office was pushed open.
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