"You dare...?" Malfoy glared fiercely at Dumbledore, then quickly turned to leave. When Dobby, his house-elf, blocked his way, Malfoy struck him hard with his cane before storming out of the room.
"Mr. Malfoy," Daniel Davis called out as he followed Malfoy out of the room, holding the diary. "I believe this is something you might have forgotten." He handed the diary to Malfoy.
"That's not mine," Malfoy retorted but took the diary regardless. He then handed it to Dobby, who was standing nearby, giving Daniel a venomous glare before striding away. Malfoy was particularly displeased with Daniel, the so-called Muggle Studies teacher. This position had traditionally been seen as a mere formality, but recent changes in the English magical community had given it newfound significance, largely thanks to Grindelwald.
Before Daniel had left Hogwarts, he had given Grindelwald several suggestions, one of which concerned the media landscape in the magical world. While The Daily Prophet was essentially the Ministry's mouthpiece and thus hard to influence directly, there were other publications, like The Quibbler, which often took a contrarian stance. Grindelwald could have easily started a new media outlet, but given The Quibbler's existing troubles due to its non-mainstream content, his support came at a crucial time. He helped to stabilize and expand the magazine, which then began to focus more on changes in the Muggle world, entertainment, and serialized novels. Although it couldn't yet compete with The Daily Prophet, it had gained a much larger following than before, as many in the magical community found these topics appealing.
Additionally, the current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, could also be a useful tool. Despite being a fraud who stole his stories from others, Lockhart had become a bestselling author in the magical world. Even the Weasley family and Hermione were fans of his books. His influence could be leveraged to spread certain ideas.
"Open it and see," Daniel suggested to Dobby, who looked at him curiously but did as he was told. Inside the diary was a thin sock. Dobby's expression turned to one of ecstatic surprise.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy, having taken a few steps away, turned back upon noticing that Dobby hadn't followed.
"Master has given Dobby clothes. Dobby is free!" Dobby exclaimed, holding up the thin sock found inside the diary.
Daniel's approach was more calculated than Harry's had been. Harry had shoved one of his thick socks into the diary, which Malfoy could have easily noticed and might have led to Dobby being punished rather than freed. Daniel's sock was much thinner and easier to miss, especially given the diary's current dirty state. Even in normal circumstances, it would be easy to overlook such a sock.
To Malfoy, even though the diary belonged to Voldemort, its filthy state made it unlikely he would handle it himself. Giving it to Dobby to carry was practically a certainty.
"You've cost me a servant!" Malfoy's face turned livid as he saw the sock in Dobby's hand. He immediately drew his wand from his cane. House-elves were expensive and highly valued in the magical world. Only the wealthiest pure-blood families could afford them; even the Weasleys didn't have one.
House-elves played crucial roles due to their inherent magical abilities. Most house-elves had significant magical power and could Apparate at will. If the Ministry of Magic didn't restrict them from owning wands, even ordinary wizards would struggle to defeat a house-elf in a duel.
Hogwarts employed hundreds of house-elves, primarily for kitchen work, tending to the school's gardens, and farming tasks. These elves were why Hogwarts could provide freshly cooked meals almost instantly after being ordered and why the school didn't have to worry about food supplies, as the elves cultivated everything they needed.
Because of their immense value, nearly every magical academy employed many house-elves.
To purchase a house-elf, one had to register with the Ministry of Magic, which also operated special facilities to train them. The wizarding world had fought long and hard to subjugate these powerful beings and turn them into servants.
However, not all elves were subjugated. The goblins of Gringotts, for example, were considered equals to wizards in many respects, save for the prohibition against owning wands.
Over time, there have been calls to improve the treatment of house-elves and perhaps even grant them equal rights to wizards. Hermione, for instance, was a strong advocate for elf rights. Yet, these voices were largely ignored. Freeing the house-elves could potentially lead to a return of the old conflicts, as those calling for their emancipation often overlooked the elves' true capabilities.
Today's house-elves were subdued only through generations of control.
The exact period during which wizards subjugated house-elves isn't well documented in magical history, likely because it happened so long ago. However, it's known that house-elves were already serving wizards by the time Hogwarts was founded.
"Expelliarmus!" As Malfoy advanced on Daniel with his wand drawn, Grindelwald suddenly appeared and disarmed him effortlessly.
Grindelwald's control over his magic was impeccable. His spell disarmed Malfoy without causing him any harm. Most wizards would have been knocked off their feet by such a powerful Disarming Charm, but Malfoy was left standing, albeit weaponless.
The Disarming Charm, "Expelliarmus," essentially worked by creating a magical shockwave similar to the Stupefy charm. In theory, if one could hold onto their weapon with enough strength, they could resist being disarmed. However, the spell also included a vibration component, making it nearly impossible to keep hold of the weapon.
"You..." Malfoy glared at Daniel and Grindelwald as he retrieved his wand, but he turned and left without another word. In the current situation, there was no way he could reclaim Dobby. Even taking the matter to the Ministry would change nothing.
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Dobby stood there, still clutching the sock, tears of joy streaming down his face. "Dobby is free... Dobby is free!"
"Indeed, you are," Daniel smiled at the elf. "And you're welcome to stay at Hogwarts if you need a place."
Dobby nodded gratefully, still too overwhelmed to speak. This act of kindness had given him the freedom he had longed for but never dared hope for.
Malfoy stormed away, fuming, but deep down he knew that the real battle was just beginning. The changes within the magical community, spurred by figures like Grindelwald and Daniel, were reshaping everything he had known. The traditional power structures were being challenged, and he would have to adapt or risk being left behind.
As he exited the castle, Malfoy couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a personal defeat—it was a sign of things to come, a new era where even the old pure-blood families would have to find their place in a world that was changing faster than ever before.
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"Dobby is free. Dobby thanks you," the house-elf said, gazing at Daniel Davis with immense gratitude. After Malfoy had left, Dobby, unlike most house-elves who were conditioned by the International Magical Ministry to be completely subservient to their masters, stood out. He cherished heroic tales and longed for freedom, which is why he had previously warned Harry Potter about Malfoy's schemes and even tried to prevent Harry from returning to Hogwarts.
Harry Potter, despite growing up in his aunt and uncle's household, was a legend in the magical world—a boy with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, hailed as the savior of the magical realm, the one who had defeated Voldemort. The idea that the mighty Voldemort had been vanquished by an infant seemed implausible, but in the world of magic, it was entirely possible.
Harry's mother played a crucial role in this. Her profound act of self-sacrifice, employing an ancient protective spell, caused Voldemort's Killing Curse to rebound and destroy him. This protective spell was something Daniel had naturally taken an interest in, but unfortunately, it was something Harry's parents had discovered during their explorations of ancient ruins, and with their death, its secrets were lost.
"It's truly a pity that such a powerful spell is no longer known," Daniel mused.
"You're free now. You can leave. If you have nowhere to go, find Harry Potter. Let him hire you," Daniel suggested, taking the diary from Dobby's hands, which Malfoy had left behind in his haste.
"Harry Potter. Dobby understands," the elf said, expressing his gratitude once more before disappearing.
Watching Dobby leave, Daniel's face lit up with a smile. Although house-elves gaining freedom wasn't unheard of, most quickly found new masters, as being free in the magical world was often more of a curse than a blessing. House-elves were viewed as unpaid servants, and no one was willing to hire a house-elf that demanded a salary.
Dobby's quest for a job would be challenging because he insisted on being paid, which was considered absurd in the magical community. Eventually, Dumbledore took pity on him and offered him a paid position at Hogwarts. In many ways, Dobby was an outlier, both among house-elves and within the magical world. To most house-elves, the desire for freedom was laughable.
To Daniel, Dobby was a pioneer of sorts. Yet, Daniel's loyalty lay with humanity; he could empathize with and aid the house-elves, but he was not their liberator.
"Dobby's future search for employment will be tough, so I don't mind helping him a bit," Daniel thought. "After all, Dobby ultimately sacrificed his life to save Harry. Having Harry hire him isn't too much to ask. Given Harry's inheritance, it's a minor expense."
Dobby's ideals would keep him from willingly becoming another household's servant. He wanted his freedom, and even if he earned just a Knut, as long as he got food and shelter, it would be enough. He dreamt of personal liberty and hoped to inspire his fellow elves.
"One day, when technology and culture flourish, the issue of house-elf rights might become a significant one," Daniel mused, imagining future protests in magical society advocating for house-elf liberation. He shook his head at the thought.
This wasn't just idle speculation; it was a likely scenario. There were already sympathizers for house-elves within the magical world, and if the magical and non-magical worlds ever integrated, the call for house-elf rights would surely grow louder.
Having lived in a stable and prosperous country in a previous life, Daniel had never witnessed a protest. But in this world, particularly in the USA, he had seen many, including those by animal rights activists who often broke into farms and research labs to release animals. Even poultry farms were sued for inhumane treatment of chickens.
Conversely, serial killers and murderers often received sympathy instead of condemnation for their heinous acts. This was a mindset Daniel struggled to comprehend.
The Chamber of Secrets and the basilisk problem were quickly resolved once the Ministry of Magic got involved. At Daniel's suggestion, the Chamber wasn't sealed off but instead, a staircase was built leading down to it from the now removed bathroom sink.
The Chamber itself underwent significant renovations. The skeletons, snake statues, and the giant face of Salazar Slytherin were all removed, despite Snape's objections, who valued the relics of Slytherin's legacy. However, outvoted, Snape had to concede, and the Chamber was transformed into a recreation room, equipped with pool tables, board games, and other activities suited for indoor fun. The highlight was a range of specially designed tabletop games.
Daniel's company in England had produced these games, which quickly became popular, much like in the Eastern magical cities. Hogwarts' tabletop games, however, were tailored to the wizarding world.
Designing these games was easy for Daniel. He fed magical world information into his AI, which then integrated ideas from Marvel universe games to create the final products.
With Grindelwald's approval, he and Voldemort were both featured as characters in these games. However, due to Voldemort's infamous reputation, his game saw less play compared to Grindelwald's, whose name was once feared but had since faded from collective memory.
The most successful game, however, was one based on "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." It allowed players to learn about magical creatures and how to handle them, earning widespread acclaim and even coverage in the Daily Prophet. This was partly thanks to Newt Scamander, the book's author, who despite his age, was still vibrant and passionate about magical creatures.
Due to Newt's endorsement, the game became popular not just at Hogwarts but also in other magical schools. "The Quibbler," a magazine that often opposed mainstream views, also heavily promoted it. With Grindelwald's backing, "The Quibbler" had risen to become the second most popular publication after the "Daily Prophet."
"This stuff is surprisingly good!" Students flocked to the newly renovated recreation room every weekend. The allure of games and snacks from the non-magical world significantly reduced the number of students visiting Hogsmeade.
Despite Hogsmeade trying to incorporate similar entertainment concepts, it couldn't compete with the recreation room, especially because Daniel brought in snacks and drinks from the non-magical world. Hogwarts had never seen such delectable treats before his arrival, and now even Slytherin students were hooked, including Draco Malfoy.
Initially, many Slytherin students complained to their parents about this new influence, but most received howlers in response, scolding them for fussing over trivialities. The new snacks and games even solved some major employment issues for the Ministry of Magic. Though the magical population was small, job opportunities were scarce, leading to fierce competition for positions, akin to a Muggle government job hunt.
While wizards wouldn't starve, there was a significant difference between merely surviving and enjoying a prosperous life. Some pure-blood families outwardly dismissed the importance of these new industries, but secretly, many were keen to get involved, except for those like the Malfoys, who clung to their pride.
"Ron won again! This guy is really good," Daniel noted. He occasionally hosted tabletop game tournaments in the recreation room, offering significant prizes like Galleons, potions, and flying brooms. Ron was frequently one of the top players, winning numerous rewards and surpassing Harry in popularity among the students.
Ron's main competitor was Hermione, the brilliant young witch, while Harry didn't particularly excel in these games. This created some tension between Harry and Ron, as Harry, due to Daniel's influence, no longer held the same spotlight.
The magical world differed vastly from the non-magical one. In the latter, tabletop games were just that—games. But in the magical realm, they came to life, much like wizard chess, with characters moving and interacting.
Daniel pondered that with time, they might even achieve holographic-like projections using magic.
To manage the recreation room, Daniel hired Ron's brothers, the Weasley twins, along with some financially struggling students. The twins, who would later sacrifice much in the coming battles, had a knack for managing the place.
With Daniel's help, he was determined to prevent their tragic fate. He envisioned partnering with them to open stores, knowing they had a natural talent for entertainment and business.
"Dumbledore is still no match for Grindelwald," Daniel reflected. While the magical world in England was slowly changing, this was mostly limited to the region. Dumbledore, despite his many titles, wielded his primary influence in England, with some impact across Europe, but nowhere near the reach of Grindelwald.
In terms of strategic vision and decisive action, Dumbledore lagged behind Grindelwald. While Dumbledore had decided to take action, he hesitated to confront the Ministry of Magic head-on, unlike Grindelwald, who had already mobilized his followers.
In Germany, Grindelwald's stronghold, the changes were more profound and rapid. His followers, though puzzled by his commands, executed them without hesitation.
"Good thing I didn't rely entirely on Dumbledore," Daniel thought. Beyond the magical world, the non-magical world was also undergoing a quiet transformation. Changes in England and Germany were gradual compared to the rapid developments in the Eastern magical city, where technological innovations like electric scooters and color televisions, long suppressed by the magical world's influence, were emerging.
New fashion trends and innovative products, including the revolutionary mobile phone, were starting to appear. Daniel had chosen this Eastern city as the starting point for these changes, not only because it was his homeland but also because its infrastructure
, even in an alternate world, was unmatched.
Introducing mobile phones to the Western world would have been challenging due to the capitalist restrictions, whereas the Eastern city's rapid development and infrastructure allowed for quick adoption. In the West, capitalist forces would resist such changes, prioritizing profit over progress.
Daniel delegated these projects to his team while he focused on Hogwarts, serving as a guest professor for Muggle Studies alongside Grindelwald. However, he spent most of his time learning flying car technology from Hagrid. Despite his outward simplicity, Hagrid possessed a remarkable talent for mechanics. In a non-magical world, he might have been a genius in vehicle modification.
Hagrid's flying motorcycle was his creation, and Daniel was eager to learn from him, hoping to one day introduce flying cars to the world. In the Marvel universe, many companies aspired to create flying cars, but only Coulson's Lola was a true success. Anti-gravity technology was tightly controlled by Tony Stark, and while S.H.I.E.L.D. had access, it was for internal use only, not for commercial exploitation.
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