Chapter 43:

It was 2008, and we, in Section 31, had some clout to suggest what was to be done. The only problem being we weren't sure what should be done. The Statute of Secrecy was going to have to end, but we still worried that a general conflict between non-magicals and magicals could occur.

A little after New Years, Luna, myself, and Dumbledore met with Morozov in Kaskhstan, along with the Potters, the Weasley twins, and the Longbottoms. We were a group that could trust each other with expressing doubts and trying to come up with ideas.

I said, "There were some things we learned, reviewing the Star Trek canon that might be relevant about how to introduce the existence of magic to non-magicals. There is a type of weak magic that is called ESP. Some non-magicals believe it exists. Officially, scientifically, it is considered not to exist.

The abilities include limited seeing, limited legilimency, so limited as to be considered non-alarming, scrying, and perhaps a few other abilities.

What if magicals who have these abilities, deliberately passed tests given by non-magicals to identify these abilities? It opens the door for magic to be understood, but it would be an extremely non-threatening minor set of abilities."

George Weasley answered, "The non-magicals would want to take control over those with even those abilities."

Fred added, "They still would later learn about a secret society that has been influencing their society. I don't see how that would lessen the shock."

Albus Dumbledore said, "Instead of many having a minor ability, what if I, who may resemble the way non-magicals imagine Merlin, revealed myself as having magical abilities. I could truthfully say I have rare abilities, and ithey would draw the conclusion that a very small number of people have magical abilities."

Fred answered, "Still leaves the same problem. They'll eventually learn about the full magical society."

Vadim Morozov said, "In Kazakhstan and some other places we could handle full disclosure."

Luna said, "Remember my vision. It was limited areas that started the revolt against magicals, and the revolt spread."

I said, "Albus, what you believed in during your youth, perhaps should be a backup plan, to rule non-magicals if we cannot live peacefully together."

Hermione said, "I think the original plan of government to government relations would work and must work. The model of Kazakhstan also works, but due to being a part of the world that had different expectations of government. It would be difficult for that model to work world-wide. The plan must work world-wide."

Hannah Longbottom said, "The full secret will be known at some point. Revealing it in bits might not help any. However, what will be important would be the relationship of magicals to non-magicals that will be revealed.

Most non-magical people care about how things affect them. What if, before ending the Statute of Secrecy, the entire non-magical world is significantly helped by magic. I am talking about health care beyond what existed prior to our first interventions, basic income support, or at least basic needs support, food, clothing, shelter, minor luxuries. etc. That way societal changes causing unemployment is no longer threatening. There should also be publicity about the significant technology boost that magic has already provided."

Luna and I said in unison, "I like it."

Harry Potter said, "There still needs to be steel fist in the velvet glove. Some will want to lash out in fright against magicals. Some will worry that it is too good to be true, or too apparently good to be actually good. Some would be like my aunt and uncle who would want to beat the magic out of people. Some would feel inclined towards killing any magical they could find."

George Weasley said, "We could have magical devices to protect all magicals who go amongst the non-magicals, even healers."

Morozov said, "I not like basic income. I much prefer basic needs. Everyone get free apartment or dorm, free food in centralized cafeteria, simple clothes for free, computers free to use in public location, free gyms. Each adequate, but leaves room to want more to want to work for more.

Much publicity of all we give with magic. They be more afraid to lose benefits than actual gulag."

Albus Dumbledore said, "Quite right. I reminded the leader of China of that several years ago, to keep them from turning their complaints into them doing something unpleasant."

Neville Longbottom said, "We have to consider how someone like our dear friend Draco Malfoy would respond to a basic needs assistance plan. He is hoping that when the Statute ends, he can become the Lord of the land again, like his ancestors were."

Harry Potter said, "That moron has to realize that it isn't going to happen that way. We'll have to do some convincing that the peasants attacking the manor house would be a more likely outcome and that with our plan, magicals will be safe, and will not need non-magical labour."

I said, "I want to go over two contradictory thoughts I have.

There is a story of the capturing of wild pigs. They were considered too dangerous to capture even with using non-magical weapons. They were considered pests who ate farmer's crops, and dangerous. They would however be valuable if put on a truck and delivered to a slaughterer for meat.

The farmer put food the pigs like on a place on the ground. The pigs were suspicious and sniffed it, but some of them ate it. The next day the farmer put more of the same food in the same spot. This time, since the pigs that ate the food were doing well, most of them ate it. The pigs kept away from the farmer, since while they were dangerous to the farmer, they also knew the farmer with his weapons was dangerous to them. For two weeks the routine continued. The pigs arrived for their food and didn't run away from the farmer.

The farmer put some posts in the ground, in a straight line, near where the food was always put. The pigs could find nothing dangerous about the posts, so returned for their food. Now the farmer built one side of a fence, just a straight wall. The pigs were suspicious, but seeing no danger, continued to eat the food. Then the farmer added a second fence segment. Same response. Then he added a third. The pigs were suspicious, but since they could easily get in and out of the area, they still went there to get their food.

One day it was raining. The farmer put a raised tarp over part of the fenced in area. The pigs were suspicious, but liked the shelter and got used to it.

Finally, the full fence was completed, with only an open gate left. The pigs still went there. Then, one day, when the pigs were in the pen, trained dogs appeared outside the fence and made threatening sounds. The farmer closed the gate. The pigs were happy that they were safe from the dogs.

One day, the farmer put food on a truck and stopped putting it in the pen. The pigs climbed aboard the truck which was going to the slaughter house.

Do you identify with the pigs or the farmer in this story? I identify with both.

What we are describing with this plan is taming the non-magicals. I recoil against the notion of taming humanity, even if they present a potential threat to us.

My other thought, was said in the Star Trek canon by a distant descendant of Jean-Laurent Picard, speaking to someone from around this era who was recovered from stasis.

He said; a lot has changed in the past three hundred years. People are no longer obsessed with the accumulation of things. We've eliminated hunger, want, the need for possessions. We have grown out of our infancy. Material needs no longer exist. Then what is the challenge? The challenge, is to improve yourself. To enrich yourself.

So, the question for us now, is how to get to that society, without having a population of trained pigs, too trusting in their apparently benign masters."

Harry Potter said, "If Draco Malfoy would enthusiastically agree with a plan, maybe that isn't the plan that we should be doing."

Luna said, "We want a planet that reaches its full potential. That includes magicals, non-magicals, magical creatures, all working together. Adult sentients do not get treated like children, to be led around for their own good. They get offered informed choices.

What about instead of giving the truth one piece at a time, lying by omission on the rest, we tell them what we decide to tell them, and tell them there are parts being withheld for now.

The basic needs plan is good. We can add what we do for energy supplies, and technology advancement. It is who is we,, and how we do what we do, that would be withheld for a while."

Vadim Morozov said, "Exactly what we did in Kazakhstan years ago. Said, Soviet Science, top secret."

Luna continued, "What we say is the following

Full disclosure about extra-terrestrials in 1947 and in 2002.

Description of how that knowledge led to an international cooperation to develop technologies to defend Earth and explore space. That this program is called Starfleet and is designed to prepare Earth to join extra-terrestrials as peers not as a target.

That Starfleet capabilities have been used to provide assistance to the governments of Earth to provide their people with food and energy and to increase their technology level. Note the word capabilities, not technologies.

That the nature of some of the Starfleet capabilities cannot be revealed at this time, nor can some aspects of the origin of Starfleet. The announcement will include that these will be revealed at a later time.

That governments can continue to decide whether or not they want a partnership with Starfleet.

That to have a partnership, each government must agree to certain requirements, including to distribute certain Starfleet assistance to its residents. Note the term residents.

That Starfleet is ready now to increase that assistance to include basic needs, as specified in further detail.

That each government in partnership with Starfleet must agree to freedom of religion, including the practice of witchcraft. This statement will be a hint, so that later revealing of magic will not be a surprise.

Starfleet will not allow war between nations, or within nations, whether or not those nations are in partnership with Starfleet.

"

I said, "We have a plan. We just have to officially get Starfleet Command and the ICW to approve it."

Everyone in the room concurred to go with this plan.

The next few months had huge amounts of debate within the magical communities. The objections were handled. The main point was the Statute of Secrecy was not tenable in the long term and that this was the best way to get to that point, ensuring a peaceful, prosperous and united Earth.

Some objections were that basic needs would destroy the economies of the non-magicals. It was agreed to keep the level fairly basic, to give an incentive for people to work, to invest, to invent, as well as to do the jobs that are not glamorous. Someone said, "Maybe I want to be a chef, but who is going to want to be a waiter or sweep the floors?" The answer was that a combination of technology and magic will sweep the floors, and that waiters would either be higher paid or would be automated.

The basic level was agreed to be constantly adjusting, based on a committee of experts. To start, it would be dormitories, with rooms for different numbers of people, and common lounge rooms and cafeterias. There would be free public transit, health care, education. All public facilities would be well protected against crime using technology and magic. Clothing allowances would be basic in style, as would interior fittings in the dormitories. People could use a portion of the facilities, such as eating at the cafeterias without living in the dormitories.

In June 2008, the ICW ratified the plan. Now it was time to reveal the plan to the non-magical population. The non-magical governments were given an advanced notice of a month.