Wizarding Governments Through the Centuries:
A Student's Guide to Today's Society and Ways of Life
As a product of today's wizarding world, you are most likely familiar with the way out society works, and the theories that uphold and collaborate with it. But, it has not always been this way. In fact, there was once a whole different way of living before this new age. This informational pamphlet will walk you through the history and how this efficient and effective way of today's wizarding world came to be.
In the 9th century, four of the greatest wizard of their time came to together to change the future of wizards and witches forever. They were: Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gyffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, and, our founding Father, Salazar Slytherin. Together, they proposed the idea of creating a school for students of magic ability where they would learn how to master their capabilities and become the finest wizards the world had yet to see. Upon creating the revolutionary idea, a conflict has arisen between the four of them: which sort of wizards should be accepted into their school. Excluding Slytherin, the other three founders wanted all types of students; muggle-borns, half-bloods and purebloods alike, for the three did not see the threats muggle-borns and half-bloods posed on the purity in the wizarding community.
Fortunately, Slytherin did, and insisted on making the school for purebloods only. He knew it was right for the wizarding community. Although it took much persuading and action from the other founder, Slytherin finally did get his wish. So, it was decreed that the new school, Hogwarts, would be a place for purebloods to come and learn and also strengthen and purify their race. Now, muggle-borns and half-bloods were not forgotten or abandoned, they set up smaller schools on the outskirts of the wizarding town, Hogsmeade, that all young wizards live in and as they still do today.
This went on for centuries, until the year of the Great War. The Great War was a dark time around a century ago when muggle-born and half-bloods questioned their place in society. Because of this extremist and negative way of thinking, the purebloods did the heroic act of taming it, but the cost of thousands of lives. In addition, a new blood class of wizards erupted, the blood-traitors and a new social system and contract had formed, one that still used as of this day. As a result of all the chaos, rivalry, and backstabbing, Hogwarts was no more. The purebloods created a new school fro themselves: The Academy of Authentic Wizardry.
To ensure that this type of rebellion would never occur again, the descendants of the Slytherin family created a set of laws, The Purification Laws, that all wizards and witches were to abide by. Because of these consequences of the Great War, our world has never been a safer and more protected of purity and blood class. It is these laws that make our government, society, and daily lives peaceful and successful.
Here is some of the terminology that you may find useful when reading this information pamphlet.
Blood Classes
(in order of social rank)
Purebloods — Wizards and witches of a lineages where magic is prominent on both sides of the descendant. Many are descendants or distant relatives of the founders and are excellent examples of wizards that should be followed by other classes.
Blood-traitors – Purebloods who turned their backs against the right views and ideas of race superiority. They are a product of the Great War. Although it is rarely seen, blood-traitors may work their way up to the status of purebloods.
Half-Bloods – Wizards and witches who have one parent that is either a muggle-born or half-blood and the other either muggle-born, half-blood or pureblood. They pose a manageable threat to our society, therefore are associated with caution.
Muggle-borns – Wizards and witches with muggle parents. These pose the most dangerous threat in contamination of the pure race of wizards in out world. They are known to have little magic ability.
The Purification Laws
1. In order to be admitted to The Academy of Authentic Wizardry, the attendee must ne pureblood. No exceptions.
2. Intermarriage within the four blood classes of wizards is strictly prohibited.
3. Procreating, or the process of, within the four different blood classes in strictly prohibited.
4. Inter-housing within the four blood classes is strictly prohibited.
5. Each blood class is mandated to follow their own rules of conduct that their own rules of conduct that their blood class leaders are enforcing.
6. None of the previous laws stated above or any rules on any of the codes of conduct may be revised, dismissed, ignored, or exchanged without the consent of the lading pureblood family.
7. Any wizard or witch that fails to cooperate with any of the Purification Laws or Codes of Conduct rules, and is reported, will be in the hands of the security officials.
Hermione's eyes scanned the pamphlet fervently, taking in all the information she possible could. She tried to remember the last time she came across something new to read, it weeks perhaps. Hermione was so engrossed in the artificial words, that she forgot what she was supposed to be doing: scrubbing her boss's floor. Although she memorized the laws and codes by heart, it was the history that caught her attention. She was reading the last few lines when she suddenly heard the footsteps of her boss come into earshot. Hermione quickly slipped the folded paper into the waist of her skirt uniform, gathered the bucket and brush, and stood up. She barely had time to turn around before he grabbed her by the collar and pulled her into his chest.
"What were you doing there, mudblood?" he whispered down her neck. Hermione scrunched her nose at the smell of firewhiskey.
"Nothing. I was just finishing up," Hermione replied, she was used to this sort of treatment. She could feel his hand starting to creep up inside her shirt.
"What was that?" he demanded. Her skin burned at his touch, and yet his fingers still snaked up her side.
"I was just finishing up, Master Goyle," Hermione said through gritted teeth.
Goyle's hand soon found the seam of her bra, and eyed her hungrily. Hermione quickly pushed it out. Goyle snickered.
"We don't want last week's encounter to happen again, do we?" Hermione shut her eyes closed at the memory. Goyle had violated law #3 of the Purification Laws and that it was the second worst day of her life. That was all she chose to remember about it.
"Of course not, master Goyle," she said, her brain seething with fury.
"Good." He threw Hermione off him and reached in his pocket for a bag of money and thrusted it at her.
"Now get out of here, mudblood." Goyle growled.
Hermione didn't need to be told twice. She raced out the door and down the grand marble staircase, making sure no one was watching her. When no one was, she disapperated.
A few moments later, she reappeared in her room. Her three roommates were most likely eating the last of their dinners in the hall, so she usually used this time to get dressed and clear her mind. It was a small room, big enough for two bunk beds and one dresser in which the girls kept all their clothes and belongings in. There was also a small window in the corner, which barely let in any sunlight or fresh air. Hermione slept in the bottom left bunk, the one with the thin, dingy plaid sheet and a lump for a pillow. The top bunks had the nicer pillows and blankets seeing as the younger girls slept in them. The conditions in which they lived in were horrible, but their company made it tolerable.
Hermione suddenly remembered about the paper. She pulled it out of her waist and hid it under her sheet for further examination. She undressed into her nightgown and laid out her uniform for ironing in the morning. Hermione was on her way out to eat her meal, if there was any left, when she heard a sudden thudding on the window.
"Open up it's me," said an all-too familiar voice. She ran to the window and pulled back the drapes and slid up the glass.
"Harry!" Hermione said, enthralled that her friend had come to see her.
"Hey. Where is everyone?" Harry noticed her roommates were gone, for they usually were around.
Hermione jerked her chin up, "They're eating right now. What brings you here?"
Harry shrugged, "Dunno, just checking up on you. How've you been?"
Hermione tensed up a bit. No, she wasn't doing fine but she'd rather not admit it to Harry. It was her issue to tackle, not his.
"I've—been good," she said, faking a smile. "It's just—" she debated about telling him but decided against it. "How about yourself?" she hastily transitioned.
Harry took the time to study his friend's face. Her eyes lacked their usual confidence and she seemed distraught, something she rarely was. It could've only meant one thing; Hermione was far from angry, she was infuriated.
After a few silent moments, Harry said, "What happened at Goyle's?"
From the corner of Hermione's eye, she could see Harry's knuckles turn white from clutching the window pane. She forgot how well Harry knew her. I was almost impossible to hide anything.
She sighed, irritated. "Harry, I can take care of myself, thank you."
"Hermione…" Harry warned. His emerald eyes were starting ignite with fury.
"I'm fine," Hermione said curtly. She knew that he could see right through her, but there was nothing her could do about the situation.
Harry shook his head. "Quit the job." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I can't! No one else is hiring my blood class!" she said. "Besides, Goyle's so thick that he hasn't realized he's paying me more than he should." Hermione have a hallow laugh.
"It's not worth it, Hermione!" Harry urged.
"I am a muggle-born! I don't have a choice!" she breathed, which spurred another awkward silence.
"Well, if you still adamant about leaving, at least give him hell about it. Secretly. I've see you do things with a wand I never though possible."
Usually Hermione would blush under the praise, but the comment irritated her more.
"Honestly Harry, it's like you purposely forget that I'm not a half-blood," she said, trying her best to bite back the bitterness.
Harry dropped his gaze to his knees. She was right, as she always was. He had forgotten that muggle-borns weren't allowed to bring their wands to work. It left Hermione defenseless.
"Sorry," Harry mumbled guiltily. Hermione nodded in acceptance. "Speaking of which, where exactly is your wand?" he asked, peering over her should. It almost always was lying in her bed.
"It was confiscated," she said acidly.
"What? How so?" he questioned.
"Evidently, I was performing 'too advanced magic' for my 'skill level'," It was never clear to Harry how Hermione knew so much about magic when her "classes" were barely teaching simple summoning spells. But the thought of Hermione defying the system made him smirk.
"So, what did you do?"
"I was trying—and succeeding—to heal Isabel's burn," she said. Harry raised his eyebrows, impressed.
"Well, when do you get it back?"
"On Friday," Hermione was counting the days, by the hour. She turned her attention to the clock on the wall, the hands read that it was almost 9 o'clock.
"Is that the time? Sorry Harry, it's nearly curfew," Hermione said sadly, "I've got to check in."
Harry nodded, "So do I, I'll see you around then," he then gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Take care of yourself." Harry left the window and started is half mile journey home.
Hermione waved goodbye and shut the window. Then, she went upstairs to join the others. The eating hall was scattered with late-night wizards who were finishing eating or simply did not want to go to sleep. Among them was Hermione's good friend Elizabeth who waved "hello" and continued to chat away with Colin Creevy. Hermione smiled and made her way to the attendance room, where she should've been 10 minutes ago. It was located at the end of a long hallway, one she didn't take time walking through. To her, it reminded her of the hallways seen in mental institutions, they were cold and weary. She picked up her pace, not wanting to linger longer than usual. She reachde the end and gently twisted the doorknob, and walked into the room. Seeing that she was late, once again, Mrs. Burbage was on her case.
"Late again, Ms. Granger?" said Mrs. Burbage, looking over her newspaper. Hermione dipped her head in apology.
"Sorry, Mrs. Burbage. I just was busy," Hermione replied, grabbing a quill from her desk politely.
The blood class leader made a disapproving noise. "Well, we are all busy here. That's the third time this month."
"I know, I promise I'll be better about it. I won't be late anymore," reasoned Hermione, desperately. She didn't want more privileges taken away. She hastily scribbled her signature on the name chart.
"We will see, Ms. Granger," remarked Mrs. Burbage. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Thank you," she said and smiled grateful, making her way out. As she did so she yawned and decide that it was time to turn in.
By the time she reached her sleeping quarters, the rest of her roommates were settling down and climbing up or into their blankets. Hermione's eyes flickered towards the window, just making sure that Harry hadn't come back. But as she did so, her heart sank a bit. She was so lucky to have a friend like him to talk to, even though they weren't supposed to associate with each other, and she regretted quarreling with him earlier. She promised herself that she would make it up to him the next time she saw him, whenever that would be. She let out a deep sigh and ducked into her bed
As she pulled on her measly sheet, she felt her hand press against something rough; the paper. Excitement built up inside her chest, she could finally examine the words at her leisure, and there was no disgusting Goyle to dictate her.
"Penelope," Hermione asked her roommate, who was braiding her hair, "may I borrow your wand? Just for the night?"
Penelope looked at Hermione skeptically. Penelope always had an issue with Hermione, whenever Hermione would learn something new or practice "illegal" spells, Penelope would always threaten to tell Mrs. Burbage. In fact, that was the very reason why Hermione's wand was somewhere hidden away in a drawer at the very moment.
"I just need it as a light, that's all." assured Hermione, giving a light laugh.
Penelope thought it over more a few minutes more before giving lending Hermione her wand.
"If it gets taken away, I going to tell Mrs. Burbage about that boy that keeps visiting at the window," Penelope threatened.
"Sure, as long as I get to tell her about your "meetings" with the ginger boy" Hermione shot back, 's eyes narrowed but she said nothing more.
Satisfied, Hermione slip out the pamphlet and began to read the lines over an over. She stopped at the line, 'they are known to have little magic ability'. What began as anger turned into determination.
"We'll see about that," she whispered to herself, as she tucked the paper under her pillow. The clock read midnight, and Hermione brain was wide awake.
