Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Magic Break Can't Be Seen
Harry Potter
October 7th, 2017
Harry was furious, exhausted, and suspicious. The past twenty-four hours had been hell for him, as the Statue of Secrecy collapsed overnight and revealed wizards to the world. On top of that, Mikael's werewolf army had ransacked Gringotts, decimating the Goblin population, stealing much of the gold within the vaults, and finally collapsing the tunnels as a final insult.
He was in his home, grasping a cup of Firewhisky, trying to relieve himself of the stress-induced headache that plagued him. He had been in and out of meetings all day, trying to organize search and rescue missions for the goblins, while calming down the panicking wizards who feared a Muggle invasion.
It wasn't unwarranted. The Muggle news gleefully reported the new status quo, ramping up fear as everyone panicked. The more rational Muggles went unheard, as people began to snatch up supplies, riot, and accuse one another of being witches. And when they found an actual witch...
Harry shuddered. Cleaning up her remains hadn't been pleasant, especially since they had to start stunning Muggles in order to get to her. The Muggle police got involved, and it nearly turned into a firefight, but cooler heads managed to prevail. But that was just one of the thousands of events occurring all over the globe.
But that was just the immediate threat. When Mikael disappeared with all of the gold in Gringotts, he set off something far more dangerous, namely an economic disaster. Many of the wizards in Britain panicked, moving their remaining wealth out of the country, and it would have spelled disaster if Nicolas hadn't caught wind of it.
First, Nicolas used his power as High Chancellor to spot the exodus of wealth, before ordering the creation of a national wizarding bank, funding it with his own vast fortune. It prevented the immediate recession, but Harry had been told bluntly that Wizarding Britain was looking at a few unpleasant years as it recovered.
Harry took a sip of his glass and contemplated his mentor as his throat burned. He had not forgotten his and Nicolas' conversation a week ago, had not forgotten how his mentor had considered Zhen's proposal. The timing of Mikael's attack, the collapse of the Statute of Secrecy, and Flamel's quick salvation of Wizarding Britain's economy was all too suspicious.
Which was why Harry was waiting, at midnight, for a guest. A soft knock on his front door alerted him of their arrival, and he used his wand to open it. Susan Bones, former Head Auror, now international Auror, entered his room. He poured her a glass.
Susan sat down, casting an eye on the dark room. Harry and Ginny had spent many wonderful years building memories, and the walls were covered in their pictures. Susan's eyes fell on a photo of Harry and Lily, him teaching his daughter to fly. It was a good memory.
"I remember that," Susan said as she took a sip. "Didn't she sweep your leg, causing you to hit your head on a rock?"
Harry nodded. "I can count the number of concussions I've gotten playing Quidditch on one hand. The number of concussions my children have given me though..." he trailed off meaningfully.
Susan chuckled. "Voldemort couldn't crack your head; I don't think a kid will be able to."
"Lily is a lot more threatening than a Dark Lord," Harry muttered. Susan laughed again but quieted down when Harry raised his wand, casting a Privacy Charm.
"What did you want to talk about?" Susan asked.
Harry was silent as he considered his half-full glass, admiring the way fire and bubbles moved within. He finally spoke, "yesterday should not have happened."
"Agreed," Susan nodded, "but I don't think anyone expected Mikael to be so competent."
Harry silenced her with a meaningful look. "You don't think yesterday was Mikael's doing?" Susan asked in surprise.
"I don't doubt he was part of the planning, but yesterday was too perfect. Too many things went wrong for us, in far too perfect of a manner. Yesterday was planned, meticulously, and I think I know why."
"Merlin, Potter, that's insane! It was just bad luck," Susan hissed. He shook his head.
"I have plenty of experience with seeing plots, plans, and traps. This was predetermined. The question is by whom."
"And you don't think it was Mikael?" she asked.
"No. He's powerful, Susan, but he lacks the same charm Voldemort or Dumbledore had. He's terrifying because of his wandless magic and his ability to turn into a monstrously powerful werewolf, and seemingly passing on that mutation to others. But without those, I just don't see it," Harry explained.
"You don't see it? He just murdered the goblin race!" Susan protested.
"And Flamel swooped in, saving our economy once everyone figured out that the gold was missing," Harry quietly said. Susan stared at him in shock.
"Harry, he's trying to help us," she started to explain. Harry held up a hand to cut her off.
"A week ago, he and I had a conversation about the safety and power of the GWM after an Imperiused assassin attacked General Chang. Unbreakable Vows were brought up as a means of ensuring the loyalty of the witches and wizards of the Ministry, binding them on pain of death."
"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it?" Susan asked. "Especially with what's just happened, we need to be united."
Harry sighed. "Also part of this discussion was a foreign witch. She recommended waiting until a suitably significant event occurred to encourage the average witch or wizard to accept these oaths. She then said if a situation doesn't present itself, we could instigate it ourselves."
Susan sat there in stunned silence as she digested that. She swallowed the lump in her throat, paused, and then downed all of the Firewhisky in her glass before refilling it. "Merlin."
Harry gave her a tired nod. "As I said, too much went wrong yesterday, yet somehow it all improved Nicolas' control over the GWM and the Wizarding World."
But then Harry leaned forward, fixing Susan with an intense look. "But that's where he made a mistake; it went too well. Either event, massacring the goblins or destroying the Statue of Secrecy, would have been enough for him to move his plans ahead. But both happened. And that is far too convenient even for magic."
He leaned back. "Susan, you're fired for inappropriate conduct."
Susan blinked at that, before glaring at him. "What!"
Harry fixed her with a glare. "That's what you're going to tell anyone who asks why you've been fired. You came to my home, tried to seduce me with Firewhisky, and then I threw you out."
"Potter," Susan growled, her hand going for her wand. He held up a hand to calm her down.
"Peace, Susan, peace. I need you to investigate Flamel, and you can't do that if you're tied to his organization by an oath that can kill you. I received a memo, we all received a memo, stating that the new Ministerial Oaths will be finished by Halloween and that we'll swear them on November first," Harry explained. Susan slowly deflated.
"I need you to find out everything you can about Flamel, Susan. Where he goes, who he meets, what properties he owns, everything. I'll pass along what information I already have, but I want you to find proof of the link between Flamel and Mikael," Harry said to a visibly deflated Susan.
"And if there isn't one?" Susan asked.
"Then I'll eat crow and get you your old job back. Or a better one if you'd prefer," Harry offered.
"I'll do it, Potter," Susan said, rising to her feet. "But if I'm going to be fired for it..."
Harry was surprised to find Susan suddenly kissing him, her lips full and soft in a way Ginny's weren't. He sat there stunned while Susan finished, leaning back with a satisfied smile. "You know, it always made us Hufflepuffs sad that you didn't try to date one of us. Maybe in another life, we would be married," Susan said, already on her way out the door.
As it clicked shut, Harry sat there in silence. Slowly his hand reached toward his lips, and he chuckled softly. He raised his almost empty glass to the air. "To Susan Bones, the only Hufflepuff more daring than a Gryffindor."
Magic Break Can't Be Seen
M
October 7th, 2017
Chaos. Utter chaos.
M sat quietly in an office in a building that did not exist. His fingers moved at an almost inhuman speed as he typed and read reports, collecting data on the world's reaction to the revelation of magic. In short: Not well.
The usual suspects were up in arms; authoritarian governments, religious groups, run of the mill wackjobs. Their stances wildly fluctuated, often contradicting themselves, as they were torn between leaving the magicals be, conquering them, or exterminating them. Unfortunately, they weren't the worst in M's mind.
The various news agencies of the world had taken it upon themselves to paint the narrative, shoving fear down the throats of their viewers in order to gain more revenue. The entire situation spiraled out of the rational government's hands, and now there were panicking masses in the streets accusing one another of being witches. It was the witch hunts all over again.
M's phone vibrated in his pocket. A quick check later, and he was out of his seat, grabbing a car and on his way to Downing Street. The Prime Minister had finally summoned him.
He paid no mind to the soldiers stationed outside on the street, merely flashing his credentials. He was escorted inside by another pair, who quickly searched him for concealed weapons. His holstered gun was barely given a once over before it was put aside, as the soldiers searched for a wand.
Finding none, M was permitted further into the building where another pair of guards stopped him. They only held him for a few minutes, waiting for the PM to confirm he was expecting the spook, and finally, M entered her office.
"What the hell is going on, M?" Prime Minister Diana Lugsworth demanded. "Why haven't the magicals cleaned up their mess?"
M cleared his throat before speaking. "It's too far widespread, ma'am," he said. "Usually, we can catch wind of the incursions and cut off the internet and power before it spreads too far. Unfortunately, there was a poorly timed review of the nation's power grid that day, and by the time the order was followed, the footage had been leaked to the internet."
"Turning off the cell towers didn't help?" Lugsworth asked. M shook his head.
"They were reluctant to follow orders, even from us. They couldn't understand why they should risk their profit margins for the sake of national security."
"Bloody tossers, the lot of them," Lugsworth muttered. "What's the damage?"
M handed her the report he had been working on before she called. "Russia, China, and America have mobilized their reserves but haven't deployed them anywhere yet. They'll most likely focus on securing their own borders before looking elsewhere. On the homefront, we were fine due to Potter, but he let me know he's no longer my counterpart in their government. Apparently, the wizards have formed a global government, and he's been reassigned."
Lugsworth gave him a disbelieving look. "You're kidding?" she asked.
"Regrettably not. My counterparts in other governments have mentioned the same thing, but this new wizarding nation has made no contact," M explained calmly. "Judging by the magnitude of this breach, I would think it safe to assume they're having integration issues, as they should have been able to suppress this without us."
"Figures. They make a new government, and the entire thing goes tits up. Try to find a point of contact with them; I need somebody to scream at," Lugsworth ordered.
"Yes, ma'am."
Lugsworth stared out the window, contemplating the unrest they both knew to be gripping the world. "What are our options?" she asked.
"Military intervention might be needed to restore order, but as of right now, we're really just waiting to see what the public does. Despite our efforts, the global news agencies are fanning the flames for their own benefit. Best case scenario, nothing happens, and we all settle into the new world," M explained.
"And the worst-case scenario?" Lugsworth asked when it became clear M was unwilling to continue. He gave her a serious look that was completely indistinguishable from his normal one. She sighed. "I see. May God save us all."
Magic Break Can't Be Seen
Daphne Greengrass
October 7th, 2017
"Where is my wife, Greengrass!"
Daphne considered Draco, how his body was tense, his face was pink, and how his usually styled hair was askew. He had dark rings under his eyes, and she didn't doubt that he had spent the night sleepless, waiting for Astoria to return home.
In comparison, Daphne felt refreshed and relaxed, as if she hadn't just Portkeyed across the planet and back again. She finally answered Draco's angry demand. "She's being healed as we speak."
Confusion clouded Draco's face. "What?"
Daphne gently took his arm and firmly guided him to a nearby couch, not letting his feeble struggles stop her. Only once they were both seated, her hands demurely laid on her lap, did Daphne explain.
"Yesterday, Astoria solved the final riddle of the Riddle Coin. Granted, I didn't expect her to do it while we were in the middle of an attack, but the coin's Portkey activated, taking her to a safe haven. Once I was able to, I followed and ordered our Healers to remove the Blood Curse that lingers in her veins. It's complicated, but by this time tomorrow, she'll be in the clear."
What Daphne wasn't explaining was that the Healers back at Cape Horn were draining Astoria of her bone marrow using non-magical techniques and replacing it magically, as that was where the Blood Curse laid. It was a technique that was only possible thanks to a few new additions to their ranks, merging magic and technology to accomplish far more.
Draco looked lost and relieved, but slowly anger began to grow on his face. "I should be there with her!" he growled, rising to his feet to pace. "The whole world is going tits up, and I can't do anything to protect my wife!"
Daphne waited and watched as Draco paced, muttering angrily under his breath. After five minutes, with no sign of it stopping, she gently cleared her throat to get his attention, but he barely twitched. She rolled her eyes, but spoke anyway, "yes you can, you can solve your Riddle Coin."
He whirled on Daphne and fixed her with a glare. "You said yourself that your haven won't accept me because of this disgusting tattoo," he said, scrubbing his arm furiously. "So, why the hell would I waste my time trying to solve your blasted coin?"
"I stayed as long as I did to secure you a possible route to join Astoria. I've sent memories of your interactions with my sister, as well as our own conversations, to the person who is in charge. They've decided to give you a chance, that if you can solve the Riddle Coin, you will be permitted to join Astoria."
Draco was silent as he stared at her, jaw dropped, and in utter stupefaction. "What?"
"Don't make me repeat myself, Draco, it's unbecoming," Daphne mocked. He shook himself and stepped closer.
"You mean this, don't you?" he asked. Daphne nodded.
"There is a catch, of course," she said. Draco almost rolled his eyes at her.
"Of course. Very well, what do they want?" Draco drawled, almost sure the demand would be for gold or for the use of his connections.
"For you to give up everything."
The room was silent. Draco stared at Daphne with a blank face, that could have been carved out of marble for how white and motionless it was. He swallowed a lump in his throat and opened his mouth to speak, but Daphne cut him off.
"They do mean everything, Draco. You must abandon your wealth, your legacy, your family name. This home even. If you want to be allowed entry into this haven, if you want to be with my sister again, you must swear to abandon everything except Astoria and Scorpius," Daphne explained.
Draco grew paler if that were possible, but he drew in a deep stabilizing breath. "And Scorpius? Would he be allowed in as well?"
Daphne nodded. "By virtue of being Astoria's son, Scorpius will always have a place there, despite his connection to yourself. If you're concerned about leaving him behind here, you need not worry: Between myself and Hogwarts, nothing will be allowed to harm him."
Silence fell upon the room once more as the witch and wizard stared at one another. Daphne was unconcerned about which path Draco would choose, as she had already secured the safety and future of her sister and nephew. She was only here now to wait out the end.
"I," Draco's voice failed him, but he shook himself, cleared his throat, and stood firmer. "I accept. But know this, Daphne, if any harm falls to my son, no force in the world will stop me from killing you."
Daphne smiled as she snapped her fingers, summoning one of the House-elves. Turning to the small creature, she said, "we require your master's Riddle Coin."
A heartbeat later, the coin was in Daphne's hand, and she held it out to Draco. He glared at her and the coin, but she could see how the fight left him after only a moment. He accepted the coin and began to fiddle with it.
Daphne said nothing as she watched him. She briefly contemplated telling Draco that they could remove that wretched tattoo on his arm, and the stain it left on his soul but decided against it. If Draco wanted to reach the Acropolis, then he needed to remain focused on his wife and child, personal gain could not factor into it. If he succeeded, it would be a pleasant surprise for him.
So she settled back and asked the House-elf for a glass of wine. There was no reason for her to be miserable, after all.
Magic Break Can't Be Seen
Alexander Dantes
Twelve Years Ago
Progress on the Acropolis continued at a slow but steady pace, despite the increase in numbers. The reason why was simple, they had begun to build levels and platforms off of the dozens of pillars, creating large flat spaces that spiraled upward in a pleasing manner.
Despite many requests for it otherwise, Alexander refused to allow anyone to build any structures on those platforms yet, nor expand them with magic. He had to recreate his models dozens of times, showing the new arrivals what would happen if the guidelines he put down were disobeyed. Peer pressure worked in his favor, as those who had been with him for years pressured the newer ones into falling in line.
Unfortunately, not everyone was willing to do so. There were a number of older witches and wizards who believed themselves to more well-learned on the subject of magic and building. They often sought Alexander out, trying to explain the shortcomings of his process and design. At first, Alexander listened to their complaints patiently, taking notes to determine if there were mistakes.
When he realized there wasn't a single one, he began to grow frustrated with their superior tones and attitudes.
These witches and wizards believed that magic alone could sustain the structure for a hundred years easily, that it would not need the reinforcement and planning he was putting in. They claimed he could have the project finished within a year, that everyone could move in, and they could start working on running the new society that had sprung up around them. They even offered to assist him in that endeavor.
As tempting as it was to simply kill the fools, Alexander resisted. Their population was small enough that these vocal naysayers would quickly be noted as missing, and an alarm would be raised. He knew that if he wanted to solve this problem, he needed to be crafty and borrow some of Daphne's Slytherin cunning, which was why he built a shrine.
It wasn't a real shrine, as he wasn't religious, or even particularly spiritual. But it was a moderately sized structure, lacking walls but using many carved pillars to hold up a sturdy stone roof. It only had one purpose, and it did it well: It was a shrine to the Founders of Hogwarts.
Despite the witches and wizards from being all over the globe, everyone acknowledged the magical skill and might that was needed to build Hogwarts. For centuries the world had been without their portraits, and many historians reasoned that they had never been created in the first place. Alexander proved them wrong.
Alexander's plan was simple. Rather than answering the questions people had on construction, he'd instead direct them to the ones who taught him everything he was using to build the Acropolis. It did not matter how prideful or arrogant a modern wizard was, even he could not help but bow his head in shame when Rowena Ravenclaw called him a bleeding moron. Overnight, the complaints stopped.
However, Alexander did have to step in when the British magicals began to lord over everyone else, using the Founder's fame for themselves. A few carefully matched up duels and debates were created to remind everyone that this was not a British project, but a global effort. They all had to band together to succeed.
While Alexander was busy with controlling and directing the wizards, Daphne was working on her own project. The number of children at Cape Horn had increased significantly, to the point where it was necessary to create a school to educate them officially, and unofficially give the exhausted adults a break.
So Daphne took charge of the project, finding willing teachers and tutors among the population to teach their youth. On Alexander's request, a formal classroom setting was discarded, and the students were directed to learn by understanding real-world applications of magic. But then Alexander and Daphne had a fight.
Alexander wanted the children to learn non-magical subjects such as physics, chemistry, and math. Daphne couldn't see why it was necessary, with the advancements and breakthroughs Alexander had made over the years in magic, they were the most advanced magical community in the world. Which was why he dragged her to a movie.
Specifically, Alexander took Daphne to watch a documentary on the Second World War, with a focus on how it ended. The Pureblood witch was in shock at the destruction wrought by the atomic bomb and was understandably horrified to learn that the non-magicals had only refined their explosives, making them more dangerous over the years. Horror and fear warred within her as Alexander explained the extent of the damage, and of the lives lost.
He then explained that understanding these forces was vital to figuring out how to stop them and that as dangerous as the atomic bombs were, they were still not the most dangerous weapons non-magicals had at their disposal. Daphne conceded the argument, but she turned the responsibility of finding non-magical tutors over to him in revenge.
Alexander bore it with good humor and even solved it by displaying his understanding of non-magical technology. He went online, created a website for the Cape Horn Academy, and begun hiring teachers.
He conducted interviews all over the world, gleefully using his magic-based flight to reach the candidates. Many of the prospective teachers fell short, a few targeted questions revealed that they wouldn't be willing to accept the concept of magic, but here and there, Alexander found those who were open to the idea. He brought them to Cape Horn.
It had been unpopular, but Alexander once more put his foot down, explaining to everyone that he wanted the children of Acropolis to have the best education possible. There were more grumblings, but the magicals reluctantly accepted the non-magicals into their midst. But it wasn't until one of the non-magicals looked at their construction methods that opinions changed for the better.
The golems were a remarkable feat of magical engineering, but in comparison to non-magical construction machines, they were lackluster. They could do the work of three men, without ever tiring, but their ability to react to new situations was lackluster at best. Which was why a non-magical man, who was a programmer, introduced the magicals to if/then statements.
It took a few weeks of effort, but the enchantments on the golems changed, building a hierarchy of tasks for the golems to do. It operated on a loop, allowing the golem to complete their list and start over. The magicals were stunned, but the non-magicals weren't done yet.
A few more had gotten together, examining how the materials were mined, molded, and moved. They began offering improvements, showing methods that allowed more golems to take over tasks, freeing the magicals to focus on directing the automatons, instead of having to work alongside them.
The magicals rejoiced, and everyone came together to throw a party to welcome the new arrivals fully as members of the community. Even the diehard magical builders that had confronted Alexander were in awe of the speed with which the golems worked now. With the upswell of public support, Alexander allowed the non-magicals to invite members of their families to join them.
Not all of them accepted, of course. Part of Alexander's interview process was to find those with few connections to the rest of the world. But the ones who did accepted his offer, bringing their families to a place where money, nationality, and greed no longer mattered, that everyone worked together toward a common purpose.
And one of them was a soldier.
Alexander had been helping a young couple add a second story to their house when he was made aware the last group of non-magicals had arrived via Portkey. He nodded to the pair, bidding them farewell, and turned his attention to the group that was approaching, led by Devin.
"Last batch of muggles!" Devin chirped, standing beside Alexander. Alexander gave him a stern look.
"We don't use insults, Devin," Alexander warned. The young man rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, old habits die hard," Devin said with a grin. The non-magicals circled them, but one man caught Alexander's eye. They both reacted at the same time.
The man reached for a knife hidden behind his back, pulling it out in one smooth motion while he pushed his wife, a physics professor, behind him. Alexander held a hand out in front of him, a Protego cast instantly, and the two men eyed one another warily.
The woman, Professor Sandra Brik, smacked her husband on the arm. "Amir! Calm down!" The man did not.
Alexander grinned and allowed his hand, and shield, to fall. "It's quite alright, Professor Brik; I actually take it as a compliment. It isn't often I'm recognized as dangerous."
Devin snorted beside him, but Alexander ignored him. Sandra still looked embarrassed and forced her husband's hand down.
"He's a wizard, Amir, he could turn you inside out before you got close," she said. The man reluctantly sheathed the knife. "I apologize for my husband. He only recently left the service."
"Again, it's alright," Alexander said, holding his hand out to Amir. The man took it and shook it firmly, making Alexander grin. "My name is Alexander Dantes. I take it was the scars that set you off?"
Amir grunted. "I've seen eyes, or rather an eye, like yours before. You're a killer."
This wasn't news to Devin, but Sandra's eyes widened in shock. Alexander didn't try to deny it. "A few years ago, a Dark Lord conquered my country. Rather than accept that, I and a handful of others became a thorn in their side. We were captured, tortured, and my associates were killed. I am the only one left, and it was not because I am a pacifist," Alexander explained. He could see how Amir's eyes, still carefully watching him, acknowledged him as a fellow soldier. "You're former military?"
"Yes. I was medically discharged after a bullet pierced my lung, I lost half of it. I can still run and fight, but the military didn't want to risk my lungs causing complications during a mission. I had the choice of becoming a pencil pusher or leaving, so I left. Sandra found your job offer soon after," Amir explained, his voice quiet and low.
Alexander found himself liking Amir. "What would you do if we could get you back up to peak form?"
"That's possible?" Amir asked intently. He then rolled his eyes. "Figures, magic."
Alexander grinned but turned to Devin and Sandra. "Do you mind if I borrow your husband, Sandra? Devin can show you where we put your lodgings, as well as the school."
Sandra rolled her eyes but nodded. She moved close to Amir and kissed him softly. "Have fun, my love." She turned her gaze toward Alexander. "I'll be ready to start classes tomorrow. Thank you for these tablets; learning English in a timely manner would have been a bother."
Alexander smiled. The stone tablets that had been gifted to everyone had received an upgrade, allowing them to translate foreign languages. It wasn't perfect, there were still many mistranslations and problems, but it did help remove a significant hurdle in communication. It was updated and refined with every person who used it, using the same runes that made the Riddle Coins.
The crowd left, leaving Alexander and Amir alone, and he beckoned the soldier to follow him. The two men walked along dirt paths, moving out of the way of the men, women, and children who populated Cape Horn.
Amir eyed everything with a critical eye. "You have excellent natural defenses, but you have no walls or fortifications," he observed.
"Not visible ones, in any case. Wizards tend to rely more on their wards," Alexander explained. They were nearing the edge of the settlement.
"You shouldn't trust something you can't see," Amir muttered.
"I agree," Alexander said as they walked around a bakery. Amir skidded to a stop next to him when he witnessed the size of the Acropolis, only partially built. "Which is why I'm focusing on something a little more sturdy."
Amir eyed how impossible arches and platforms were rising from the very ocean, defying logic and physics. "Magic holds it all up?"
"For now. Once it's finished, there will be no force on Earth that can destroy it, not even its own weight."
"Never say never," Amir said. "There will always be a threat."
Alexander nodded in agreement. "Which is why I'm hoping you'll help me make sure those threats never reach us. For the past few years, I've been trying to train witches and wizards into a competent security force. The results have been mixed."
"Too soft?" Amir asked with a grin.
"In a way. Due to magic, wizards are noticeably sturdier than non-magicals, allowing them to achieve a level of physical fitness that is comparable to highly trained athletes. The issue is that magic makes most wizards lazy, they're not going to run to the store for food, when they can just Summon it to them," Alexander explained.
Amir considered it for only a moment. "Sounds like wizards have a motivation issue, although it would seem you don't have the same fault," he said, eyeing to Alexander's fit if scarred, form.
"I've been climbing mountains since I was a teenager. Prior to that, I grew up in the non-magical world, and my parents understood the importance of physical fitness and made sure to impart it on me. But the other issue is that wizards don't like resorting to lethal force. Magic gives us many options to take prisoners, so permanently ending our foes doesn't compute with most of them."
"So you need to make them more ruthless as well," Amir said. Alexander nodded. "There are a few different ways to motivate people. Fear of pain, hatred against a mutual enemy, or overcoming odds together is what the military usually uses. You could start there."
Alexander hummed. "Have you had any thoughts of what you'd like to do here, Amir?"
"Not really. Maybe offer some self-defense classes to anyone who wants them."
"How would you like to help train our security forces?"
Amir snorted. "Would a bunch of magicals listen to a Muggle?"
"They will once you put them on the ground without using magic. I recognize the stance you used, and I'm familiar with the capabilities of the IDF. I'll have some people on standby to make sure nothing gets out of hand, and to patch up injuries, so you don't need to be gentle with them. What do you say?"
"I could do it. But you're going to need more people, drill sergeants and staff to run logistics. You'll need an army to protect this many people, to protect that structure," Amir said, pointing unnecessarily. He gained a contemplative look on his face. "How easy is it for magic to heal battlefield injuries? Amputated limbs and such?"
"Fairly easy. What we can't heal we can replace with enchanted prosthetics that usually work as good as the real thing, if not better," Alexander claimed. "Why?"
"There are a lot of soldiers who are like me, discharged because of medical reasons. You'd need to vet them because not all of them are willing to work with or for foreigners, but you should be able to find a decent amount that aren't attached to any flag. With them on board, you can slap your lazy wizards into shape," Amir explained.
Alexander gave him a grin. "Where do I find them?"
Magic Break Can't Be Seen
AN: Guys, the Utah joke was because Mormons are soul sucking. There isn't a deeper meaning than that. XD
As demonstrated by the current pandemic (stay safe everyone), people can be counted on to react in a few different ways. Sometimes they riot, sometimes they protest, and sometimes they do nothing and stay at home. The next chapter will show more of how the Muggles have reacted, as well as the creation of two OC's who I hate with a burning passion.
Harry: He's not cheating on Ginny with Susan, nor does he really want to. He's focused on keeping his family, and the world, safe and he's spent enough time being Dumbledore's pawn to realize when an elaborate plot is happening around him. He needed an excuse to fire Susan so she wouldn't be bound by the oaths like he will be on November First.
Susan: Kind of disappointed J.K. Rowling didn't take the opportunity to have Harry date a girl from each house at different points in time, just to showcase how the dynamic would work and flesh out the world. Still, Fanfiction does a decent job of this, sometimes, so there's always that. I also wanted to draw attention to the fact that people are not just defined by their Houses, a Hufflepuff can be brave, a Gryffindor can be cunning, etc.
M: I had a lot of fun writing this, and I really wish I made the security checkpoints longer (Get Smart style), but I found writing and reading about going through an endless hall of doors exhausting. I might rewrite it and upload it as an omake though.
Lugsworth: Based off of nobody, as far as I know. I wanted to flesh out my world a little bit more, showing how other people are reacting to what's going on.
Draco: He's not really shown in a good light in the books or movies. Still, I've been trying to humanize him, to make it obvious that he is actually in love with Astoria. Daphne's ultimatum was to really push him into gear, he'll either succeed or he won't, and it all depends on if he actually does love Astoria and Scorpius.
Daphne: If it wasn't obvious, she Portkeyed after her sister to make sure Astoria received the care she needed. She came back because there are a few loose ends to wrap up in England for her, and staying at Malfoy Manor is convenient for the time being. A lot is going to be happening for the rest of the story, so be sure to read carefully.
Cape Horn: Alexander understands the value of a non-magical education, and how it interacts with magic. Chemistry and Alchemy are prime examples, but he also recognizes the sheer power and ability of technology and he wants it for himself and his people. So of course he's going to fight Daphne on whether or not they need Muggle education, and Muggles to teach it, and he's going to win. As a reminder, Daphne has been taught Muggle subjects offscreen by Alexander, but she doesn't fully appreciate how interconnected it is with magic like he does. So there are muggles living on Cape Horn with the magicals right now. Don't worry about it too much, it's all a part of the plan.
Amir Brik: Another OC. The IDF is one of the more impressive militaries in the world. Please do not fill the reviews or my inbox with complaints about how "X is better" or "Y is stronger". It doesn't matter. It really doesn't. Alexander isn't looking to copy another military, he's looking to make his own, and since they have magic they WILL fight far differently than any other force in the world. But Alexander does need soldiers to train his, and Amir is merely the first.
Tablet translation: They're not good right now, but they're being improved as more people use them. Still enough to allow people to talk to one another, which helps remove the barriers of communication between the new arrivals. Using magic, there are temporary ways for people to speak to one another, this is just an example of how the runes that make of the Riddle Coins can be used for something else, other than tests.
Alexander: He's not going to kill the magicals who challenged him. I already said why in the story, and on top of that, he's too damn busy to plot murders for people who are only complaining. If they were actually competent at usurping his power, then he'd kill them, but he's as threatened by them as a mountain is threatened by a piece of sand. I mainly wanted to show how even with the coins and the interviews, there are some people who are making it through who are just dicks.
I hope you're all enjoying the story! The NEXT UPDATE will be in THREE DAYS.
EDIT: Yes, each flashback section is advancing one year per chapter, until it catches up with the "present" 2017.