The wizarding world is a dangerous one, my friends. The forests and hidden vales of wizarding kind hide monstrous creatures, well fit to rip you to shreds or even steal your very soul. Even the skies hold dangers for those who can see them, proud dragons and scavenging wyverns, as do the deep seas. The dangers of the wild, however, even the wizarding wild, are nothing to those in the centers of wizarding power, in the hidden towns and villages, in the government of the wizarding world, and in those sprawling estates of the richest wizards. There the dangers are more subtle, yet far worse in many ways. The hidden pitfalls and traps of the corridors of wizarding power have caught many unwary fools to their sore regret.
However, sometimes, my dear reader, sometimes the humblest of men can send the world a reeling, set the subtle traps and sly plans of the powerful to naught, and make changes that will withstand the ravages of both time and enemies. Remember, only the soul matters in the end. The vaunted pure blood and rarified manners of the high classes did not save their power, and nor did the cruelty, ruthlessness and riches of the goblins grant them eventual victory. No, in the end the only thing you can truly rely upon is the wand in your hand, the man at your side and at your back, and your family.
This story is both promise and warning. It is a promise to the downtrodden and broken. Your time will always come. It may not come in your own lifetime, nor that of your children, or your children's children, but it will come in the end. Trust in the great leveler, time, and in the strength of your arms and your wand. You will triumph someday.
It is also a warning to the powerful, the greedy, the oppressor, that one day a reckoning will come. You will pay for your greed and tyranny, your cruelty and ruthlessness. Rest assured, you will pay. Schemes and plans cannot overcome the power of the oppressed and the anger of the righteous.
Now, my dear beloved readers, I am sure you will wish to know what story it is that I speak of that is so riveting and so important that I wish you to read my own poor retelling of it. To answer that most pertinent question, I must delay your gratification but a moment and explain some history, knowledge that is essential to your understanding of the tale to follow.
As I'm sure my erudite reader must know, in 1215, King John, to protect the wizarding world of which his nephew was a part, forced the Statute of Secrecy through Parliament. In return for their compliance in the act, he agreed to sign the Magna Carta.
At that time, most muggleborn witches and wizards either concealed their talents or worked as the bog witches and petty healers in the countryside and moors of the British Isles. Very few muggleborns started families, or even survived persecution very long, although some few families such as the Weasleys were exceptions. These bog witches and wizards, however, only existed on the very outskirts of the wizarding world, and few paid them much attention.
The real powers in the wizarding world, from then until the time of this story, were the pureblooded aristocratic families, especially the Black family, descended directly from the King's nephew Leo. Besides the Black family, historically Slytherin, there were three other High Houses, each associated with one of the Hogwarts Houses. The house associated with Hufflepuff was the Bones family, though it had been reduced to dire straits long before the other three, and before the time of this story in the mid-15th century. With Ravenclaw was High House Ravencroft, said to be descended from Rowena Ravenclaw herself. The Porpington family, of whom Gryffindor's own Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, otherwise known as Nearly Headless Nick, was a member, was historically associated with the house of Godric Gryffindor.
The real hero of this story, however, did not arise from any of the High Houses, nor yet from the many smaller noble families flocking around them. No, the true hero of this story, though of course there were others, was a muggleborn wizard, born to simple potters in a small village in England and bearing the name of his profession. This, then is the foundation of the famous Potter family, which so often played heroic roles in wizarding history, and whose fortunes were inextricably linked to that of Wizarding Britain.
Therefore, the reason I have chosen to recount this story is that it shows the power of the simplest of people, and the power that love has to end tyranny and right injustice. In these dark times, with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named exerting power over innocents and the powerless, I believe we can all use a reminder of the light that always burns through the darkness.
Now, enough of the history lesson, and on with the story. I hope you enjoy.
Albus Dumbledore, 1979