Kapitel 133: The Dust Settled
Later, during the evening meal, the Great Hall buzzed with conversations about the latest news from the Daily Prophet. The returning seniors from Hogsmeade shared the latest gossip, adding their own observations about the outside world.
The atmosphere was tense. Whispers floated through the hall, with many wizards equating Saruman with Voldemort, and some even finding Saruman to be more terrifying than the Dark Lord himself. After all, Voldemort had never brought such widespread destruction to London. The last time there was such large-scale devastation was Grindelwald's failed attempt to raze Paris with a fiery spell—a feat he was ultimately unable to achieve.
But Saruman had succeeded where Grindelwald had failed, causing catastrophic damage and fear.
The recent tragedy at the Magical Congress of the Beautiful Country added to the growing dread. Nearly a hundred lives were lost in Saruman's attack, which had nearly wiped out the elite wizards of that country. The Beautiful Country's magical standing was now considerably weakened compared to other nations.
In the wake of these events, dark wizards aligned with the Holy White Council became increasingly audacious. They were swiftly recruiting new members and, disturbingly, some were even planning to adopt Saruman's brutal methods to shock their own Ministry of Magic.
The young wizards at Hogwarts felt the weight of these developments. The fear and uncertainty were palpable, and everyone seemed to be bracing for the next wave of turmoil. As the meal continued, conversations turned to speculation about what might come next and how the magical world would respond to the growing threats.
Many folks predict that if the current situation isn't managed properly, our beloved country could face severe consequences. Rumor has it that their 590s might be gearing up for a showdown with wizards.
Apparently, the Muggle army is no slouch, armed with machinery capable of striking targets from hundreds of meters away. They've got a weapon so powerful it can obliterate entire cities, a fact the Sakura Kingdom's Ministry of Magic experienced firsthand.
With these developments, many wizards are contemplating fleeing to the woods for some peace and quiet, trying to avoid any potential Muggle backlash.
Panic is spreading rapidly among the magical community.
Listening to these experienced wizards chatter, Artel couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of it all.
Could the wizarding world really be exposed? And might there be a full-scale war between Muggles and wizards?
Artel knew that if Grindelwald failed to handle the situation, Dumbledore would be left to pick up the pieces. For him, it seemed almost inevitable that the wizarding world would come to light.
With Sauron's looming threat and the potential appearance of Mordor and its fiery volcano, it's hard to imagine how Muggles wouldn't notice. Even if they somehow missed it, satellites are constantly monitoring, ensuring that nothing goes unnoticed.
According to the system, the worlds of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are destined to merge eventually. The presence of Middle-earth's magical creatures—elves, hobbits, dwarves, and more—will make it nearly impossible for the wizarding world to remain a secret.
The exposure of the wizarding world seems like a certainty; the only question is when.
As for the aftermath, a third of New York was devastated—it's not too difficult to concoct a plausible explanation, like earthquakes, explosions, or terrorist attacks.
The real challenge lies in convincing Muggles to buy the narrative and ensuring that every witness and memory is meticulously scrubbed clean.
...
Three days later, the dust had settled.
With assistance from the International Wizarding Federation and various magical groups, the incident in New York had been effectively suppressed. Rumor had it that some wizards went to extreme lengths to convince the country's leaders that it was a terrorist attack. They even prepared extensive evidence to support this narrative, making use of their expertise in dealing with Muggles.
Heavy rain fell over New York and surrounding cities for three consecutive days, mixed with the venom of the Winged Demon, which ensured that most people's memories could be altered. This was done to make sure that even if some individuals remembered the true events, their accounts would be dismissed as delusions.
The wizards took control of major radio stations and various newspapers and magazines. With no real reports or records of the New York incident, they spread the news that it was a premeditated terrorist attack. As a result, the wizards' version of events prevailed, and the magical influence ensured that their desired outcome was achieved.
The country erupted in demonstrations, and Congress eventually announced an anti-terrorist military operation in the Middle East. The wizards, of course, were indifferent to the consequences of these actions.
"The dust has settled," Artel remarked as he put down the Daily Prophet. The impact on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds was over, and the rest was a matter for the wizards to handle.
Currently, the wizarding world was deeply polarized. Following Dumbledore's public statements, many had denounced Saruman. Some even labeled him as the third Dark Lord, after Grindelwald and Voldemort. Artel scoffed at this title, but his supporters were thrilled.
The Holy White Council organizations, founded in Saruman's name, had become highly active. They had recruited many dark wizards, some of whom styled themselves as Holy White Apostles, wandering the world in white robes like Saruman. This led to chaos in the wizarding world, with Aurors dispatched daily to arrest these troublemakers. After swift trials, many were sent to an overcrowded Azkaban.
"It's still a mess... Saruman..." Dumbledore sighed as he sat in his office. Rising, he moved to the Pensieve.
"If you were the betrayal Gandalf mentioned... why did you seek him out? Was it to kill him, or for some other purpose? If not... are the so-called Holy White Council and Maia all people like you? Saruman's name should not be tarnished... Even if we find Gandalf again, how will that help?"
Dumbledore placed his wand to his temple, drew out a thought, and placed it into the Pensieve.
"I always feel... something is wrong. What is it? Saruman, what is your purpose in searching for Gandalf? Is it truly to defeat Sauron? And if so, will you then replace him..."
The next day, Thursday, Artel attended Potions class.
Snape maintained his usual sullen and indifferent demeanor. After adding ten points to Artel and deducting ten from Harry, Snape concluded the lesson with his trademark severity.
"I hope some of you will take this more seriously. Potions are a profound skill. Without talent and diligence, success is unattainable..."
Snape's gaze remained fixed on Harry, who had failed to produce the correct potion. Harry's failure wasn't intentional; he was distracted by Malfoy's threat to inform Snape about Harry's supposed derogatory remarks.
As a result, Harry had used the wrong ingredients, causing his potion to explode.
"Then his end is... laughable, don't you think? Mr. Potter!" Snape's tone, especially when he said "Mr. Potter," was particularly harsh.
Harry, feeling humiliated and furious, replied quietly, "You're right, Professor Snape."
"It's good that you understand. Now, class is dismissed!"
Snape's satisfaction was evident as he announced the end of the class. The students breathed a sigh of relief, glad to escape the tension of the lesson.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein