A Child of Two Worlds, Part 2
I do not own Harry Potter. Or J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World for that matter.
Chapter 6: Election Victories
East Berlin, 1961
"'The world can stay as it is if enough people are found living lives worthy of human beings.' Good people, that is."
The Berliner Ensemble was full tonight as Bertolt Brecht's The Good Person of Szechwan was being performed. Felix Winterberg sat on the upper level. If everything went well, the operation could begin at the start of the break. Felix had already spotted the four Stasi agents keeping an eye on their target. The man beside him, Helmut Ottokar, looked at his pocket watch.
"It's about time," he said. The 38-year-old Auror from the Eastern Special Division, which had been founded just after the war, was had a confident look about him. Felix owed him so much. And now it was his first mission in the field.
"Let's get going," Ottokar said, "and stay together."
As the audience was getting to their feet, Felix and Ottokar led Egon Strauch and his parents into the foyer. Here, amongst the vast Muggle crowd, they decided to slit up.
"Come with me, Mr. Strauch," Ottokar whispered to Egon's father, Rudolf Strauch. The wizard let the intellectual to the right towards the restrooms. The intellectual! One reason alone for the Stasi to observe him.
Meanwhile, Felix took Luise Strauch by her arm, and, together with her son, they made their way to the exit. Felix strongly considered using the crowd to disapparate. But the rules for using magic in the Eastern Zone were clear. Especially in light of aiding someone who, among Stasi, was known to have western affiliations. The only logical conclusion in their eyes was that Felix and Ottokar were Western spies. Once they were outside, Felix and the two Muggles quickly made for the next train station. He had a plan.
"Right, let the show begin," Ottokar murmured as he and Rudolf went to the door on their right leading to the men's restrooms. A little further inside, Ottokar casually pulled out his wand. Hearing the door open he swiftly turned flipping his wand. Before they could even blink, the two Stasi agents sunk to the ground.
"Colloportus!"
The door shut and the lock turned. Ottokar kneeled down to the two agents and in rapid succession held his wand at their foreheads.
"What are you doing?" Rudolf wondered.
"Modifying their memories," Ottokar explained. He quickly got on his feet again and took Rudolf by the arm. Pointing his wand at the door, he waited until the lock clicked again, then, with one quiet woosh he disapparated with the Muggle beside him.
Felix kept his wand ready just in case. The next U-Bahn station was not far from here. As they reached the station, Felix discretely used his wand to place a Confundus Charm on the clerk. Behind him he could hear the Stasi agents hurrying to reach them. They barely got onto the train car before it moved on. Felix steered Luise and Egon through the passengers filling the car. The next station would be right at the border. As Felix looked behind him to spot the agents, he noticed something odd. This couldn't be! Within a second, he decided to take action. Quickly grabbing the hands of his Muggle companions, he disapparated onto the station that the train was passing without stopping! Breathing heavily, the three stood on the dark and empty platform.
"Lumos!" Felix said and the tip of his wand emitted a bright light. Staring incredulously at the two exits, they found them bricked up!
"What are the Muggles doing here?" Felix mumbled to himself. He looked to Egon and his mother who looked around nervously.
"Let's get out of here," Felix said taking their hands and disapparated.
The morning sun had just started to send its rays onto the street. In the midst of Muggles roaming about helping others fleeing what soon would be the biggest prison of all times stood two wizards watching all this. Bricks and wires being set up by East-German soldiers, houses which lay in the way being bricked up and people in these houses taking the last opportunity to leap, jump into freedom. Felix and Ottokar could only watch.
Making their way through the crowd of Muggles, they reached the entrance to the Ministry of Magic of Berlin and Brandenburg. Although Muggle-Repelling Charms had been set up around the area of the entrance, with things going on as they were, it might be too risky to have it stay here.
As they entered her office, Nadja Carlowitz, Minister for Magic of Berlin and Brandenburg, was already waiting for them with other department heads and, most interesting of all, Ferdinand Autenrieth, a man of 97 years old dressed in red robes and a short white beard and no hair on his head. Felix knew that he was from Bavaria and had attended the local wizarding school there and had been Federal Minister for Magic from 1891 to 1907. Maybe it was his age that had made Minister Carlowitz to advise her, or the fact that he was half-blood and had knowledge of both worlds.
"So," said Minister Carlowitz, "they have begun to shut down the Metro system as well…" She had folded her hands together thinking.
"Could we use it in the future?"
Ottokar stared at her for a moment before replying.
"If we're careful, Madam Minister."
She nodded and stood up.
"I think we should move the entrance to the western sector. Just to be sure. We keep the area under enchantment in case something changes."
"Oh, they appear to be quite resolved," Ottokar said, "Once they've erected that wall, I doubt they'd let it fall within a hundred years."
"Don't be too sure, Mr. Ottokar," Autenrieth replied calmly, "Emperor Wilhelm II also believed the German Empire to last a long time and so did Adolf Hitler. Change however seems to be the one constant of this century. I wouldn't be surprised if this Cold War of theirs ended within the next decade."
Madam Carlowitz nodded.
"Whatever the case, prepare for relocation tonight. Good day to you."
The department heads as well as Felix left the office except for Autenrieth.
"How are think going with newly accepted students?"
"If you're referring to Muggle-borns, Ma'am, most are dealt with swiftly. There is some resistance from some parents, particularly those who are deeply faithful or conservative."
"You went to St. Magnus, didn't you?"
"In the Wetterstein Mountains, yes," replied Autenrieth. "People even wanted me to return there as headmaster after 1907. I'm still in contact with them. They've just had a new professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts there, a gentleman by the name of Karl Oberhauser. He himself is Muggle-born and also serves in recruiting Muggle-born students."
Munich
He had opted for one of the more expensive Muggle suits. As Karl Oberhauser walked along the street in the borough of Sendling, he took in his surroundings. The house he was looking for was halfway down the street. A splendid Muggle car stood there, brand-new. Oberhauser stepped in front of the door and rang the bell. Minutes later, a woman of about 35 years old answered the door.
"Good morning," he introduced himself, "my name is Karl Oberhauser. I believe I've written to you about your son, Holger. You must be Mrs. Wannemacher."
"Uh…yes, please, come in," the woman said a bit confused but politely. Oberhauser removed his coat and followed Mrs. Wannemacher into the living room where her husband was sitting reading the papers.
"Josef, this is Mr. Oberhauser," Mrs. Wannemacher introduced him.
"Good morning sir," Oberhauser said stretching out his hand. Mr. Wannemacher, who wasn't what you'd call thin but not fat either, took it.
"You want to talk about our son, you said. Are you from his school? I'm sure we could have talked about it over the phone."
"I'm afraid our school isn't connected to the landline," said Oberhauser. "It's a special school for children of great talent. But if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Holger himself."
"Of course," the mother said and called out.
"Holger? Come down, there's someone to see you."
"Is it because of his… abnormality?" Mr. Wannemacher asked.
Just then, a ten-year-old boy with black hair emerged at the entrance to the living room.
"Hello Holger," said Oberhauser and shook his hand. "I am Professor Oberhauser. I have come to offer you a place at our school."
He took out a letter and offered it to Holger. The boy quickly opened it as if it were a birthday card and read the contents out loud. He stopped after a certain word.
"…wizardry?" he asked looking upwards at Oberhauser. His parents shot a confused and worried glance at each other.
"Is that a joke?" Mr. Wannemacher asked outraged.
"Not at all," the adult wizard replied and turned back to Holger. "I take it you've discovered that you could do certain things, don't you?"
The boy nodded.
"But I thought I wasn't allowed to do those things," he said nervously looking at his parents. Professor Oberhauser nodded.
"I'm afraid while you're in non-magical places that will be true. But at St. Magnus you will learn to control magic and you'll be in an environment where you can use it safely."
The boy again looked at his parents. Then, taking a deep breath, as if he was freeing himself of something, he asked with determination:
"Can I come with you, Professor?"
Oberhauser smiled but the boy's father was having none of it.
"How DARE you? You're not running away from us again!"
He stood up.
"Whoever you are, I won't allow my son to continue this craziness. I've made it perfectly clear to him that I won't tolerate these outbursts in any way! Holger, go to your room, I'll have a word with you on that. And give me the letter!"
He stormed towards his son but the boy was holding the letter back.
"No," he burst out, "I won't let you! Do you know why I ran away? Because you beat me up for it! I won't let you anymore!"
"GET OUT, YOU!" Mr. Wannemacher roared trying to drag the wizard out of the house. But as he was trying to do so, he suddenly screamed as if he had been electrocuted and looked aghast at his son.
"Can we go now, Professor, please?" the boy asked. Oberhauser was looking towards the angry father.
"Come on," he quietly said leading the boy out and pulling out his wand. A moment later, Holger's parents were sitting on the sofa contently as Oberhauser and Holger exited the building.
"It is rare but in such cases where the intolerance of the parents becomes unbearable, young witches and wizards do have the right to stay somewhere else," the professor explained to the boy.
"But understand that this does not mean that you should harm them. Unless to defend yourself, if necessary."
Holger nodded.
"Where are we going? Where can I stay?"
"There is a wizarding street in the centre of the city where you can buy all the things you'll need for school. There is also an inn, the "Zum Astkrabbler" referring to the Bowtruckle, a magical creature. You can stay there for the time being. And the school is surrounded by a wizarding village; we could possibly find you a place to stay there."
"Can you help me buy that stuff?" Holger asked.
"Of course, if you wish."
They had reached the end of the street.
"There is a quick method of getting there. Please hold my arm."
Holger did so, excited for what would come next.
The two wizards vanished.
Helsingør, Denmark, 2016
Alex looked out of the window of the Trolddomgård mansion. She had only come to enjoy the company of her cousins, actually. Not to attend this ball that would be held later that evening. Members of Scandinavia's oldest Pure-blood families would attend, the Sacred Eleven, you could say, like the Taltrast family, Andersen family, Slange family, Växjö family or the Spillum family. They were the kind of Pure-blood families who believed that it was best to remain amongst themselves, that they were highborn, equivalent to royalty. They weren't the only Pure-blood families in Scandinavia but the fiercest. Why, Alex asked herself, why did she have to have such family members? For there was for sure a relation to each of the eleven as they had bred amongst themselves to remain "pure".
"Tea is ready," announced the House-elf who had been tasked with supplying the four witches while they were sitting together.
"Tak, Tjene," Ida said to her and Tjene left again. Ida had invited Alex to meet with her and her older sister Henriette and her younger sister Embla.
"I still cannot believe that we allied ourselves with the Muggles," Henriette said after they had helped themselves to their cups. "We had better stayed in the shadows."
Ida sipped her cup and gave her sister a disapproving look.
"They would have found out about us anyway. And besides, our parents support this move fully, don't you remember?"
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Henriette shot back.
"Why did they approve?" Alex asked.
"They say it's for the Greater Good," Embla said to her almost whispering.
"I see," Alex merely said.
"You grew up among Muggles, right?" Henriette asked. "What are they like?"
It sounded as if she was asking how Alex liked chimpanzees.
"Why don't you mingle with them so you can find out for yourself?" Alex suggested sharply.
"Look what the House-elf dragged in," came a Swedish speaking voice from the door, "another Muggle lover!"
The women turned around to spot yet another cousin of Alex: Jytte Andersen, the youngest daughter of Bjørn Andersen and Alva Taltrast who lived in Småland in Sweden, at the Taltrast Slott. She was a very attractive girl with elegant features, a heart-shaped face, piercing blue eyes and golden hair, with a body that most certainly redirected most men's eyes straight to her curves. If one didn't know her, one would see her as a goddess! Unfortunately for Alex, she did know her, well, a little bit but that had been enough. But if Alex hadn't known her, she surely would have fallen in love with her right away. And if she hadn't been her cousin.
"Maybe I should leave," Alex suggested with a piercing gaze and a hostile voice.
Jytte looked at her with a supercilious smile.
"What do you want here, Jytte?" Ida asked her cousin as she didn't like her either. Alex smirked inside: sisters in arms, well, cousins in arms.
"I just thought I'd join you for a cup of tea," Jytte said pulling out her wand and conjured herself a cup. "So much has happened, thanks, in part, to you two." She eyed Ida and Alex. "You know, Ida, I'm proud of you, really. Even though you pretty much betrayed our entire kind, you nonetheless restrained yourself from mating with them."
"Says the woman from a family whose record of Muggle and Muggle-born rape is probably higher than any others, aside perhaps from Voldemort's followers," Ida shot back. "The only reason you and your family hasn't been tried is because of your bloody influence for the last century!"
She took a step forward.
"You know, I have tried to talk dad out of this but he insisted on having this ball. Perhaps I should call the Auror office and have you all arrested right here."
Jytte scoffed.
"You'd never dare. Plus, you'd never win!"
She hissed the last words sounding more like a snake than a human. Ida pulled out her wand. Alex closed her eyes in disappointment and shame. It had started so well! Why, why did she have such a family?
Henriette and Embla were looking from Jytte to Ida and back again as if they were following a tennis match.
"Just so you know: that scum isn't even worth a rape!" Jytta sneered.
She pointed to Alex. "I'm surprised that that monkey of hers even knows what he's doing. They multiply like rats. And don't get me started with those Mudbloods-"
BANG!
Jytte was sent backwards not by one but two stunning spells hitting her right in the chest. She hit the other wall so hard that a small crack appeared where she crashed. Alex and Ida both lowered their wands. Alex slowly advanced looking down at Jytte who lay on the floor barely conscious. Her eyes narrowed as she stared up at Alex.
"Is that all you're capable of?" Jytte whispered with all the strength she had left. "I've been at Durmstrang, you kn-"
"Silencio!"
Alex again lowered her wand.
"Wanna go for a walk, Ida?" she asked still looking at her cousin on the floor.
"Definitely," Ida said joining Alex.
The gardens of the Trolddomgård mansion were splendid, filled with magical plants of all varieties. Together they formed a maze where one could lose oneself. House-elves were working here cutting and watering the plants.
"What wouldn't give to just…I don't know," said Ida having locked arms with her cousin.
"Well, I definitely know what you mean," Alex groaned. "My parents felt the same way: at the first opportunity, they were out leaving their homes all together. They surely weren't letting me go to Durmstrang and spending time with these…nasty families!"
"Why did you come back to Germany then?" Ida wanted to know.
"Why did you stay in Denmark then?" Alex returned the question.
Ida chuckled.
"I guess we both know the answer to that question, Alex. We have the same reason: to make a difference! That's our way to cope, isn't it?"
"Yeah…it is."
The two women stood there for a while admiring the view.
"I'm grateful not to join the party," Ida mused. "I couldn't stand having to be in the presence of Uncle Bjørn."
"Well," said Alex, "I still have nine other Uncles left. Hopefully they are more likable."
"So," Ida said, "I hear elections are coming up in Germany…"
United States
There appeared everywhere! Overnight. Imposing and held in black and purple the banners and posters seemed to engulf the cities they appeared in. On one side was a moving photo of one of America's new most famous women: Julia Kennedy. Alluring; charming; and with a message attached:
The health of our country is at risk.
Let us rise from the ashes again!
At the bottom of the banner was an address: a stadium for the wizarding sport known as Quidditch. Along with the banners, pamphlets were also arriving in people's letter boxes.
Berlin
It was a rather cloudy morning today as Alex apparated next to the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Magic. After her brief holiday in Denmark it was time to return to work. As she walked through the magnificent foyer with its bronze walls and red carpet, Alex recognised one of the witches that had just arrived out of the Floo network.
"Morning, Miss Brandt," the witch said.
"Mrs. Atubo, good morning," Alex greeted the witch.
Evelyn Atubo was the Head of the Auror Office of the federal ministry. The forty-year-old witch was born in Kampala, Uganda but grew up in West-Germany but returned to Uganda in 1982 to start her education at Uagadou, the oldest wizarding school known to exist, its earliest use by wizards being dated to 20,000 BC.
"Yıldırım wants to see us right away, I believe," Mrs. Atubo said. The two women boarded one of the lifts and made their way to level 2 where the office of the Federal Minister for Magic was.
"This is it, ladies," Aylin was saying as Alex and Mrs. Atubo were sitting together in the Minister's office, "the MNP's first state elections, in three states no less! Now, so far, the campaign has attracted many Muggle's interest. What are the latest numbers, Alex?"
Alex summoned a sheet of paper into the middle of the room.
"Surveys show that our party might have a strong chance of winning. It seems our focus on actions rather than solely words and speeches pays off. Established Muggle politicians, both on state and federal level, become less popular according to various opinion polling companies and our own analysis. But there is also a rise in the far-right side, particular the AfD. Mainstream as a whole seems to be seen as mistrustful and the parties at the edges thus become stronger. Also, many voters from left parties such as the Left and the Greens have switched allegiances in favour of the MNP."
Aylin took a closer look at the numbers before turning to Mrs. Atubo.
"Evelyne, how are the security measures for the first major speeches?"
"We've focused on subtlety, Ma'am. No wizarding clothing amongst the Aurors. But we're not expecting any magical interference. Speaking of which, here is the latest report on criminal activities committed by the magical community."
She handed Aylin a folder.
"We've successfully managed to recruit several known suspects of Muggle baiting by luring them with a certain amount of Guldins as an alternative of punishment. They work for us now."
"Interesting," Aylin said. "What about attacks on wizards?"
"A few so far, most of them in the east. So far though, they didn't end up in any serious harm. Disapparition is the chosen solution in such events."
Aylin nodded.
"Very well. Keep me updated."
The next few hours went rather uneventful for Evelyne Atubo after her visit to the Federal Minister. Not much for the Aurors to do when so little dark wizards were about, actually next to no dark wizards ever since the GHW organisation had been put to an end. Even within the proud Pure-blood wizarding families there was no "playful" Muggle baiting anymore. Evelyne briefly wondered if they were up to something. Her sources had recently reported that Alex's extended family had made not only contact with her but were apparently hugely interested in her. She hadn't as of yet spoken to Alex about this as the young woman was the last who needed to be reminded of her family's past with her own parents being outcast from the House of Brandt.
Evelyne moved her hands to tidy up her desk when someone knocked.
"Come in," she said.
An Auror entered the room, one of her best. Coming from a Muggle family, he had been educated at the Bavarian wizarding school St. Magnus and had trained as an Auror. While in service, he had brought to justice a great number of dark wizards throughout the German speaking region which the Federal Ministry of Magic had administered, from Kiel to Trieste and from Bruges to Bytom. He was incredibly handsome and, as reputation had it, quite a womanizer. However, he had never once dared to woo Evelyne.
"What can I do for you, Wannemacher?" Evelyne asked.
The 65-year-old wizard whose black hair had grown greyer and greyer during the last couple of years, pursed his lips and paced around.
"I want to offer my resignation," he said. Evelyne gazed at him in surprise. She laid aside the paper she was holding and looked him in the eye.
"Look, Holger, I understand you are not happy with the current situation but you're still our best Auror. Frankly, we need you."
He scoffed.
"We went underground for a reason! And there are thousands of Muggle-borns out there who were relieved to find a world where they would be accepted. People who had fled their homes because it became unbearable or who were thrown out by their own parents! Pure-bloods and even Half-bloods have no idea how things are for us, even though you should, Evelyne! How welcomed are you really out there? Don't tell me you have never once been denied something or looked down upon just because you're black. Or Minister Yıldırım because she has Turkish ancestry and is homosexual. The only reason they are not all lashing out on us is because we fix their tiny little problems which they should have done themselves-"
"Enough!"
Evelyne sighed and shook her head in disappointment.
"We can't just reverse what we have done. I told you about the decision in Paris; in fact, you were the first person whom I told! And you didn't like it but you said you'd adjust. This is something new for all of us…"
"So you're saying that we shouldn't help the Muggle-borns who are still being harassed, which the Ministry has ignored by the way, and instead help those who are harassing them."
"You can only see one side in them, can't you?" Evelyne said. "I can fully understand you, I have had my fair share of Muggle violence. And I can…"
She stopped herself having felt something from him. His Occlumency was weakening as he was filled with anger. And there was much more than that.
"All right," Evelyne said. "You're no longer an Auror, effective immediately. You're not allowed to duel anymore and I require you to hand over your Ministry ID. You have no longer access to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
Wannemacher chuckled. He took out his ID and threw it on the desk before pulling out his wand, Fir wood, 9 ¾ inches.
"Incendio!" he said calmly and the card burned to ash. With a last furious stare at Evelyne, he marched out of her office. She watched him leave before snapping a finger causing a quill to stand ready to write.
"Put out a warning to all Auror forces: observe Wannemacher's actions, high probability of personal vendetta. Secure the building of his parents and warn the Muggle Police."
Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg
She was wearing simple Muggle clothing and cheap ones at that! Not only was this how Marie Schuster showed herself on election posters for the MNP-Baden-Württemberg but also in real life. And her poster reflected her real life as well: grown up to unemployed Muggle parents who lived off Hartz IV – the controversial welfare benefits and unemployment insurance with which the worker-party SPD had betrayed its voters. While claiming to help the poor, the Hartz-system was actually an inhumane, pro-capitalist instrument tailored for the interests of cooperations and was humiliating the unemployed and squeezing the poor. If Hartz IV recipients failed to show up at the job-centre no matter the reasons, often ridiculous compulsory measures would be invoked even if the recipient was against. And if recipients refused, benefits would be withheld. As a result of these unjust reforms, people even in the middle class were now afraid of social decline instead of hoping for a better future. And the media had "helped" by drawing a bad picture of Hartz IV recipients.
While still under the Statute of Secrecy, Marie was not allowed to help her parents. Now, after the Paris Wizarding Agreement, she had started right away in helping the poor and unemployed. Which was partly why the established parties, especially the SPD and the conservative CDU, had spoken out against her claiming that she would throw chaos into the system. Actually, Marie was only helping people to avoid the system entirely. She had found the help of Muggle and Muggle-born friends to establish ways of giving those unemployed work, in the State Ministry of Magic but also in local shops in the local wizarding shopping area. She had helped people who were in need of such things as washing machines, school material for their children – all things they couldn't get because the Hartz IV system wasn't providing enough money, barely the amount to survive actually. Marie had not thrown big speeches but got to work instead of talking and had now become the new star of the poor and unemployed. Marie had widened her help to other cities and communities in Baden-Württemberg. Polls said that the MNP was becoming the strongest party in the state. Even middle class people in urban areas supported her. And that had helped to change the image of wizards the people had – an image which was given fire by established parties in an attempt to either gain or keep power. Only the ruling Green party had stated that they supported the MNP. They were set to become the second strongest party now and it was likely that the two parties could form a coalition.
Marie had worked in the Ministry of Magic of the historic state of Baden in Stuttgart, one of three regions that now made up the muggle state of Baden-Württemberg. The other two were the Ministry of Magic of Württemberg in Karlsruhe and the Ministry of Magic of the principalities Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern-Hechingen in Sigmaringen. That was the thing with Germany: a patchwork quilt of territories which in most cases didn't even closely correspond with today's federal states of Germany and Austria.
Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein
The Brandt-Palais was situated outside of the city in the countryside. The flat country was covered in fog which, at least around the palace was deliberate as it had been enchanted magically. Additionally, a maze garden surrounded the building in which Anti-Muggle protection charms had been placed. Only for members of the Brandt family, the fog cleared showing a visible path leading to the building itself.
Alex waited after knocking on the door. It was cold outside, nearly freezing temperatures. After a few minutes, the double doors opened and an old House-elf appeared.
"Mistress Alexandra, welcome home! You've been missing for far too long from your family."
"Thanks," Alex replied striding through the doors.
"I am Brun," the House-elf introduced himself. He had a calm, calculating, pensive voice and a wise face with a straight big nose. He led Alex into a long corridor with moving paintings of past members of the Brandt family. As Alex passed them, she could hear them whispering to each other.
"How does the family treat you, Brun?" Alex asked the House-elf.
"I am a servant and a guardian of the House of Brandt," Brun spoke. His demeanour was so unlike any other House-elf Alex had met, free or in bondage.
"My masters only gave me one binding order in my life: loyalty to this house! I am in charge of all the House-elves to ever set foot in this House. I advise my master on important matters and, know this, Mistress Alexandra that I shall die protecting the members of this House…even you. This house must never fall!"
Alex felt an unpleasant feeling somewhere inside her at this last sentence. The way Brun said it somehow almost seemed like a warning. And given that the House of Brandt already was divided…
"How would you protect this family?" she asked.
Brun looked ahead.
"My kind has many powers stronger than those of wizards, oh yes, I know of this. Any House-elf does. The only thing I am bound to is this family. However, if there is one thing that wizards underestimate about us: it is not our nature that makes us obedient."
Alex thought that he was the most confident House-elf in the whole world. Had she not known what House-elves were made into, she would have wondered why Brun would bother to remain here for even a second. She realised that he was scaring her…perhaps not unjustified given what wizards had done to his kind.
They entered a grant hall part dining room, part drawing room. The walls were filled with books and an enormous fire place could be seen on the other end of the hall with a giant crest of the family above and a family tree.
"Ah, Alexandra!" Albert said who had been sitting in one of the armchairs by the fire. He stood up and put the Newspapers away he had been reading. He wore long dark purple robes which had golden patterns in them making him look like a regal person.
"Uncle Albert," Alex said formally. He looked slightly disappointed by her distance towards him.
"Brun, would you please tell the family that dinner will be ready soon?" Albert said in a calm and friendly tone to the House-elf who nodded and disapparated. Alex looked around. Apart from the books there were also glass cases filled with various instruments and artefacts Alex recognised easily as alchemical instruments. She approached one book which had a special spot in the room.
"Marvellous, isn't it?" said Albert. He had followed her and now stood behind her observing as she carefully took the book in her hand.
"It's an original," he continued, "written by Phillipus von Hohenheim himself nearly 500 years ago."
"Paracelsus," Alex murmured. Her gaze fell on a particular case filled with cinder which was disturbed by slithering movements.
"They're alive?" Alex said amazed at the Ashwinders. Four bright orange glowing eggs lay there in the cinders.
"This case is protected by a special charm I invented to keep the glass from melting," Albert said. "I believe you know by now that Ashwinders are one of the family emblems."
Footsteps led Alex to turn around to find four people standing there.
"Alex, may I introduce you to my family?" Albert said.
"This is my wife, Emma, of the Ganhart family in Konstanz. Her mother hails from the Swiss wizarding family Erlulf in Kreuzlingen." Alex shook hands with the 60-year-old woman and as she did so, for a moment, she thought that something about her eyes seemed odd. Her blond hair started to become white and she wore a long green dress.
"My oldest child, Alfred."
The man was in his mid-40s and wore glasses. His blond hair was long and tied into a braid. His blood-red robes reminded Alex of the Durmstrang uniform although they had golden lines in them which, as Alex soon saw, formed the shape of a phoenix.
"This is my older daughter Margarete."
Margarete was about 40 years old and tall. She highlighted her slim figure through a body-hugging ice-blue dress that seemed to glitter. She had black hair which she had tied into a bun. Her younger sister Paula, who was in her late 30s, looked more like her mother and was smaller, about the height of Alex herself. And like her mother, Paula had more pronounced curves which she covered in black robes which were rather plain compared to what her other family members wore. Her blond hair was long and fell over her shoulders and along her back.
They sat down as a couple of House-elves under supervision of Brun served them dinner.
"Did you know that Margarete also works at the Federal Ministry of Magic?" Albert asked Alex who shook her head.
"The Department of Experimental Magic," Margarete explained. Alex raised her eyebrows for a second. This department was roughly the German equivalent of the British Department of Mysteries as well as the Committee on Experimental Charms. As such, the content of the research done there was highly classified and only the Federal Minister for Magic had the authority to review it and only that and nothing more.
"Why did you want to work there?" Alex wanted to know.
"Oh, I always wanted to explore the boundaries of magic," Margarete explained.
Alex nodded and turned to Paula and Alfred.
"And what do you do?"
"I have an interest in Herbology," said Alfred. "In fact, the Greenhouse in the garden is mine."
"Really?" Alex gasped, "I love Herbology! I spent a year at Castelobruxo in Brazil to learn more about it. Can I see your Greenhouse later?"
"Of course," Alfred replied. "I have collected magical plants from all of Europe, especially the rare ones that people often overlook."
"And you, Paula?"
"I like magical creatures. There are so many beings with interesting properties."
"How are things going at the ministry?" Albert asked and Alex had the weird feeling that her uncle wanted to stay away from the subject of animals.
"Well…it looks like we have a good chance of winning the state election."
"Hm…" Albert made studying her.
"And then what? Hm? Do you think you can just climb up the ladder and change the country? They won't let you! They cling to their power like a tick. Anyone who has power does, they're all afraid to lose it, even the witches and wizards. I mean, look what it took for the wizarding governments to change their view and even dare to think about revealing themselves? …Muggle improvements! If you want to make true lasting change, the only way you can accomplish that is through a revolution."
"Oh, right, like Grindelwald, you mean?" Alex retorted.
"There are many types of revolutions, Alex. Some are performed as we speak, there are several Muggle leaders out there controlled by the Imperius Curse, you know that and amongst yourselves, you admit that even. It could have been so easy. But instead you provoke them by challenging them to an open election; they won't take that very well! Sooner or later once the lovely Federal Minister for Magic has made it to chancellor, they will vote her out. You can't trust them!"
Alex stared at him for a moment and then looked down at her plate. Was she seriously considering his suggestion? She gulped and took her fork back into her hand continuing to eat.
She tiptoed to the library, her wand aloft. It was dark outside but a few candles were still burning. What secrets did this house hold? Alex simply had to find out what it was that divided her family so much. She noted that there was an entrance leading to a smaller room, almost inviting Alex to check…
On a large table, Alex found a variety of notes as well as books and drawings: books about the soul as well as the Laws of Fundamental Magic; sketches of small perfectly shaped people in alembics as well as anatomies of humans, bats, bears and badgers.
No! This couldn't… Alex wished she hadn't found this!
A faint noise urged her to turn around and as she pointed her wand to the ceiling, Alex saw a bat flapping its wings and diving downwards. Seconds later, the bat had transformed into an elderly woman: Emma Brandt.
"I see you discovered my husband's attempts to find a solution for our blood curse."
"Your what? A blood-" Alex stared at her aunt who stepped closer to her.
"I've inherited it from my mother and passed it on to my daughters. The first time I found out I had it, I didn't even know what it was. There's still so much fear and superstition surrounding Maledicti. When I learned what it meant it was already too late! It already gets more difficult to transform back."
She held out a hand which still looked like that of a bat with its long thing fingers and the wing skin between them.
"You know that creating a homunculus would be illegal," Alex whispered.
"At this point, it's only theoretical, Alex," her aunt said. "He's studying all things that he things might work with a few tweaks. They say that there is no cure, but Albert believes there is."
Alex said nothing and looked down at the drawings again without really seeing them…
Back in Berlin, Alex stood in front of a large wall depicting the history of the Federal Ministry of Magic. On one side were the different cities the ministry had been located in:
Regensburg (1695 – 1713)
Augsburg (1713 – 1740)
Vienna (1740 – 1815)
Frankfurt (1815 – 1848)
Berlin (1848 – 1945)
Cologne (1945 – 1990)
Regensburg (1990 – 2015)
On the other side the various Federal Ministers for Magic who had held the office. Each term would last 8 years:
Catharina Acoluthus (1695 – 1711)
Anshelmus Brandt (1711 – 1713)
Adelbrand Leitfried (1713 – 1729)
Engelbert Rein (1729 – 1731)
Ferlinda Feuchtmayer (1731 – 1736)
Hildegard von Glockenspieler (1736 – 1752)
Anna Dorothea Aulhorn (1752 – 1760)
Rebekka Trebitsch (1760 – 1768)
Vojtěch Kalousek (1768 – 1771)
Audolekus Degenhard (1771 – 1787)
Johann Stadlmayr (1787 – 1819)
Tadeusz Wroński (1819 – 1827)
Amalie Hüttenbrenner (1827 – 1851)
Władysław Czarodziejski (1851 – 1875)
Dietlinde Winterberg (1875 – 1891)
Ferdinand Autenrieth (1891 – 1907)
Diethelm Brandt (1907 – 1911)
Franz Watzl (1911 – 1917)
Thorsten Erlulf (1917 – 1925)
Hartleib Hugenbert (1925 – 1929)
Friederike Bienert (1929 – 1937)
Anton Harald (1937 – 1941)
Audiganus Hüttenbrenner (1941 – 1957)
Tjark Wilken (1957 – 1965)
Helmut Ottokar (1965 – 1973)
Lena Stäudlin (1973 – 1981)
Nadja Carlowitz (1981 – 1987)
Herbert Acoluthus (1987 – 2000)
Franziska Pietsch (2000 – 2010)
Thomas Reischer (2010 – 2015)
Two times, a member of Alex's family had held the role. They hadn't been received well by the wizarding public except for certain Pure-blood families. Anshelmus Brandt had even suggested that wizarding schools should no longer admit Muggle-borns which had let to him being ousted out of office. Alex stared at the names with the intention of finding out more of her family history!
Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate
He was the son of a wizard father and a Muggle mother. Kurt Töpfer's mother Juliana grew up in Idar-Oberstein in the Hunsrück region, a low mountain range. The city, once a rural village, had been known throughout its history as a gemstone town. Not only Muggles, but also wizards and goblins were fond of all those various gems such as agate, jasper or amethyst which wizards used in special potions.
His father was Pure-blood although he did not belong to one of the ancient 35 Pure-blood families of the German-speaking region. As an adult, he worked for the Ministry of Magic of the city of Mainz, one of several local ministries in what now was Rhineland-Palatinate. It was in Idar-Oberstein where Kurt's parents met each other. Juliana left the Muggle-world behind when she discovered that there was such a thing a magic.
Kurt, like his father, grew up in the countryside near the Muggle town of Simmern, also in the Hunsrück region, surrounded by farmland and several small forests. Because this region was one of the sparsely populated places in Germany, there were a few wizarding families living here, most had distant Muggle-born origins. Kurt's early childhood was shaped by living in between fields where he played with his wizarding friends. He came to know the Muggle-world however as his parents wanted to show him his mother's origins. So they regularly made visits to nearby Muggle villages and towns. Yet Kurt always had the feeling that these two worlds were separated by an invisible boundary and viewed the Muggles like perhaps an explorer would view a remote indigenous village in a rainforest: something he was not part of, which he only came to know recently and from the perspective of an outsider.
It was only when the Statute of Secrecy was banned that Kurt began to immerse himself in the non-magical world. He eventually ran for office in the state election of Rhineland-Palatinate for the regional branch of the MNP. As such, he spoke with people from both the countryside and the city making tours through the federal state which thanks to his ability to apparate could cover a lot more ground much quicker than his Muggle competitors which gave him more time to gather followers. But, like in the other two states facing elections (Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt), the far-right AfD tried everything to discredit him and wizardkind in general. Yet, the MNP quickly gained followers among the Muggles and together with its wizarding population, where he had nearly 100% of the votes, he had a good chance of winning.
New York City
Julia Kennedy stood in her office deep in the MACUSA part of the Woolworth Building surrounded by her most trusted advisors: there was her partner Andrew Abbot with whom she had had so many adventures together exploring this vast country. He and his men and women from the Janus group had not only helped gaining support but were also an immense help in stopping harassment and assaults by the police and conservative and right-wing groups.
Next to him stood Daphne Graves, a 36-year-old woman with a black pixie cut who was the grandniece of Percival Graves who had been Director of Magical Security in the 1920s. It was actually hard to find a member of the Graves family who was not somehow involved in politics.
Also amongst her advisors was Cynthia Mae Taylor, the current Director of Magical Security and successor to Julia herself before she had taken on the role of Secretary of Magic, the new name for the position of President of MACSA. Interestingly, many people, mainly from minorities, had started to trust Aurors much more than Muggle Police.
The remaining members of advisors consisted of the Auror Alejandro Rafael Sánchez, Julia's sister Lucy, whose position as CEO of Kennedy Enterprises was vital not only in this race but as a final back door should things go completely south, and Jen Goh, a Chinese-American girl whom Julia had first met in San Francisco and who had left quite an impression. She had a talent for gathering information involving Julia's competitors in the race for presidency. She had even managed to break into Henry Shaw's tower and successfully got hand of sensitive info which could incriminate Shaw, a trump card so to speak.
It wasn't long before she would give her speech before dozens of No-Majes but first there were other matters to discuss.
"There are several reports of conflicts that have arisen since we revealed ourselves," Andrew told her. "In Nigeria, Minister Yabuku Osinbajo has trouble convincing the local Muggle population that witches and wizards want peace with them. Although the president has sided with him publicly and parliament has enacted laws protecting wizards, there are still certain organisations which could cause major trouble.
Minister Huda Al-Amal meanwhile has to deal with an actual civil war in Saudi-Arabia which had started after 47 Muggles had been executed following the charge of being witches and wizards. In retaliation, Arabian Aurors have murdered various military officials. Minister Al-Amal therefor has placed the king under the Imperius Curse letting him end the hostilities. However, some of the religious and military leaders apparently don't believe the king and have formed their own organisation threating further hostilities.
New Minister for Magic Phot Panchangkaysitwanit faces a conflict with Thai military while having the support of the king. The Ministry is considering to also using the Imperius Curse."
"It seems like this is the best solution in countries like those," Julia murmured.
"Why didn't we all do that before revealing ourselves?" Daphne pressed.
"Because this is still a free country and we don't want to make the chance to vote superfluous," Cynthia replied.
"Urgh, the system already makes it superfluous by having an Electoral College," Julia said. "Even if the Democrats of our party get more votes, Shaw may still win. Plus, there is gerrymandering and all that. We need to fight this with every tool available if we want true change. Let's see what we can achieve today."
The stadium was not only full, it was bursting! People had come not only from New York but from all over the country sometimes having travelled for a very long time just to get here. It was already a sign of how much influence they had gained via their campaigning methods. The country was split as two new outsiders were competing for the White House. Apart from the stands of the Quidditch stadium which could have easily fit ten cathedrals and had been used to one of the World Cups, there were also dozens of people standing or sitting on the field where, at one end a podium had been erected.
Then applause filled the stadium as Julia calmly appeared smiling and extending her arms to welcome her followers. As the applause ended, Julia raised her wand to her throat to speak:
"Thank you my friends, for coming here today, for joining us! I stand before you today because of an invitation. We have offered our help and you invited us. You have invited us because you strive for an alternative, an alternative from that swamp that has become the establishment. You voted for them for they made you promises. Oh, how empty their words were! For they made promises to someone else: the big companies and associations that sought to make their profit from the laws of those in power. Guns, the absence of healthcare, oil and coal and the poisoning of the water we drink that destroy the very ground which we are living on! But that doesn't concern them as long as they can further fill their pockets. And the people you voted can profit from the rich by making laws suitable for them, not for you!
And it's not only the rich. No, it is those who claim to love their country while understanding nothing of the principles on which this country was founded! And there is one man who uses this very group and those who don't have the means or the knowledge to see how wrong they are. And that man's name is Henry Shaw! He who uses that which is meant to be wisdom in the face of danger, which is supposed to protect us against this danger by letting us avoiding it: it is called fear. But there is no need for that, no need to flirt with that pathway, no! We are the same! We are humans! We all have the same needs and same worries. We worry for our children's safety and education and ability to thrive, we worry for the planet's wellbeing now and in the future, we worry for how we will pay the bills and put food on the table.
If we help each other we can still create a future that is not only worth living but is a future for all! So I ask for us all to be brave. The only way we can succeed is if we're unafraid to speak the truth, even if it is not popular, especially when it's not popular! And if we stand and advocate for our values we can make them popular! That everyone is welcomed. That no one will be left out. Let's be there for one another. Knock on your neighbour's door, check in on each other. Talk to people that you've never talked to before. That's when we can make community, true community. Work alongside with us, have a relationship with us! The only way that we can work for you and advocate for you is when you tell us how you feel, don't hold back! I am here to listen and to act! Invite us! And if you have another opinion: that is brilliant, that is golden! For we are all unique and each of us have a different perspective but we gain nothing by shutting out that perspective and dominate it but by listening to it and see if it can be helpful to all of us. I thank you for inviting us and I can assure you that change is coming…that this…is the beginning!"
Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Felix Winterberg was fighting; fighting for votes. In all three states where there were state elections, the far-right AfD was something like the direct opponent for the MNP but here in the east of Germany, they were particularly strong and support for them was growing. The media was constantly predicting a head-to-head race for both parties with minimal differences in votes. Felix was sure though that they would win. He was 72 now and in his life he had come around the Eastern Block and the east of Germany after the fall of the wall in Berlin. Though he came from a wealthy Pure-blood family, he didn't live out that wealth. Having lived in Leipzig during his childhood, Felix chose to live with his younger brother after Durmstrang. Elvidon was born a Squib which made him unwanted within his family. They kept him hidden and maltreated him. One day, Felix decided to help his brother escape and managed to do so without his family noticing his help in the act. They didn't even care however, relieved that the "vermin" was off their shoulders. Felix himself left his family's home as soon as he could. Together, Felix and Elvidon could afford a small Muggle flat in Magdeburg and protect each other from the Stasi who was suspicious of Elvidon as he had no explainable background. Thanks to Felix's magic however, they were never able to even get close to them. After Felix had started working for the Ministry of Magic of Berlin and Brandenburg, Felix and his brother moved to a hidden wizarding settlement in the city.
Now, he tried to gain votes for the election. It was scary how easy it seemed for the AfD to gain support for the people, especially those who feared social decline or who were already busy with saving money to live. The resentments against the refugees did their part forming a distorted picture of Germans being left aside in favour of foreigners. The AfD also smear-campaigned against witches and wizards trying to present them as wanting to claim power to bleed them out of money and property throwing all kinds of conspiracy theories into the mix easily found in the internet which was almost exploding with hate comments and memes.
Berlin
With excitement and nervousness, Alex joined her other party members at the MNP party central office in the capital. The foyer was full: so large was the crowd that the room actually had to be magically enlarged to accommodate them all! Wizards, goblins and Muggles had come together s well as members of the press. As Alex squeezed between Aylin and Evelyn, everyone went quiet as the Tagesschau News aired:
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to the Tagesschau," said the female news anchor.
"Germany has witnessed a grand election Sunday as in three states, namely in Saxony-Anhalt, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg people voted for their new State Parliament. In all three states, the turnout was immensely higher than in previous election and voters have caused a major shift in all cases. The conservative CDU has lost voters everywhere; the SPD has lost in two states. The far-right AfD enters all three parliaments two-digit; the clear winner is the new MNP, the Magical-Non-magical Party. For the latest numbers we turn now to the ARD Election Studio."
Another anchor took over.
"In Baden-Württemberg, the winner has to be named MNP: the party enters parliament with a stunning 35.9% of the votes. This clearly represents a frustration of the people with the old established parties except for the Greens who are second-best remaining in parliament with 29.2%, that's 5% more than in 2011; CDU and SPD both had stunning loses with the former now down to 17.6% and the latter 12.7%. The AfD enters Parliament with 15.1%..."
Alex didn't need to listen any further: it was clear that all the established parties had lost to the two new kids on the block: MNP and AfD. In Rhineland-Palatinate, the MNP had won 40.4%. And in Saxony-Anhalt where the AfD, with 24.3%, had become the second-strongest party after their own party, the MNP had won 40.9%, the strongest vote so far! Along with news that the Phoenix Party in the US had gained a huge popularity, things looked good. The people clearly thought that witches and wizards could – would – change things. They were something radically new and they could do more. The only question was: could this be enough to secure a peaceful future? Or would they eventually have to make drastic measures like other countries in the world?
Munich
They still had that splendid car that, at the time, had been so brand new. Just for good measure, he cut a nasty deep scar into it before apparating into the house. He went up the stairs and approached the bedroom which he opened with his wand. Through the curtains a bit of moonlight shone through highlighting his shadow. Finally they moved, opened their eyes and blinked realising that there was someone in the house. As he raised his wand, Mr. and Mrs. Wannemacher stared at their son with fear written all over their faces.
His father stuttered. Holger sneered. It had been so long ago since he last saw them, 55 years, when a wizard had offered him freedom. But now, with this deed, there would be true freedom at last. Oh, he had waited for this moment. His cold eyes gazing down at his parents, Holger spoke the two words that, as an Auror, we hadn't been allowed to even think about:
"Avada Kedavra!"