Author's Note: I have been working on this concept on and off for the better part of two years now. Originally inspired by one of my older stories (The Lightsaber), the concept is relatively simple when you think about it. I would've LOVED to have been able to start writing it. But given my now unquestioned long-term writer's block and the rut I've been stuck in, I just don't see that ever happening.
So, I decided to do something special for today. After all, it's my 20th anniversary for posting on this site and I wanted to commemorate it somehow. Thus, I decided to post this concept as a story challenge. For any who would be GENUINELY interested to writing this, I ask that you contact me. I'd be more than happy to offer my services as a brainstormer and proofreader for you!
Harry Potter and the Republic of Magic
Widespread MagiTech
1978-2011
Following the blockbuster hit that was 'Star Wars,' several Muggleborn witches and wizards pool their knowledge together. Using heretofore untested methods, they managed to successfully create working lightsabers using a combination of magical runes, alchemically created materials and gems, and basic muggle technologies. These new magical weapons quickly draw attention from the wizarding world, most notably in the UK where they are given a trial by fire thanks to the Dark War (Grindelwald and his Acolyte Alliance) that was ongoing there. With the lightsaber's ability to deflect any type of curse, jinx, or hex thrown at it, namely the Killing Curse, as well as being able to easily hack off limbs and cut through nearly anything, combat rapidly changes there. It was thanks to these unusual weapons and the new tactics they used that the ICW's Hitwizards were able to finally win several decisive victories in short order, quickly turning the tide of the war in their favor. Sadly, upon learning that these incredible new weapons are made of a combination of magic and technology, Purebloods are horrified and disgusted. Many begin calling them abominations to magic and seek to destroy them and even willing to kill anyone who uses or knows how to build them. But given the changing tides of war, they are forced to accept the lightsabers and continue to use the changing tactics. The ICW and the Alliance start creating their own enchanted swords and other melee weapon just to be able to counter the growing number of 'magic knights' among the Aurors and Muggleborns. However, despite most of the Purebloods' disgust, Houses Greengrass and Potter are two of the strongest supporters of the new creations and continuously lobby the Wizengamot and ICW to embrace them.
Upon Grindelwald's defeat, the International Confederation of Wizards is finally able to formally review the lightsaber's capabilities, dangers, and uses. It is quickly decided to utterly and completely ban the creation and/or distribution of the lightsaber as they were deemed 'too dangerous' to be wielded by the general public. Officially, this is done to both ensure that there are minimal lightsaber related accidents and deaths. In truth, it was because the various Purebloods controlling the many ministries in the ICW were already prejudiced against them. Sadly, for the Confederation, these laws came far too late. Many thousands of lightsabers had already made their way into the hands of filthy mudbloods of just England and France alone. To say nothing of the fact that MACUSA was the homeland of the lightsabers, where many tens of thousands more existed and were considered prized possessions. As well as the concept of being able to combine magic with technology to create things that are otherwise impossible.
Numerous enterprising Muggleborns have already begun to create business empires that focus upon experimenting, creating, and mass-producing various works of magical technology that are blatantly illegal yet skirt along the lines of the Statute of Secrecy. They use the 'newly discovered' science of thaumaturgy (magic) to explain the magical nature of their creations in a manner the Muggles can understand. It was unfortunate that the ICW failed to realize just how blatant these various companies had become with using their magical technologies. By the time they had, the companies had already become not only well-established but widespread and widely known about. Thus making the immediate liquidation and destruction of them, their products, and their employees/owners impossible to cover up. This revelation of the Muggleborns' 'treachery' would hit the wizarding societies hard, causing them to panic and overreact even harsher than before.
Because of the skyrocketing bigotry of the Purebloods (which the magitech only compounded), nearly all Muggleborns left the Wizarding World as soon as they graduated from their magic schools to get jobs within the budding new magitech companies that were springing up. The most well-known of these companies are Westwood Motors (airship & vehicles) in California, Ragnarok Industries (weapons & armor, medical) from Scandinavia, MagiTech Inc. in Wales (misc.), and Shields Corp (power plants and generators) in South Carolina.
After several years, these companies begin taking over and making their own cultures. Shields Corp and MagiTech both create almost their own national identities by using a series of large interconnected seasteads and airships that possess everything a civilization needs to exist. Such as civilian housing, schools, farmland, military defense forces (Republic Guard), currency, etc. Mounting discrimination and pressure from the different wizarding societies would quickly force these different corporations to join together to create their own true nation: the Republic of Magic, usually called 'the Republic'.
Due to his upbringing, Tom Marvolo Riddle hates all things muggle, and so he latches onto the Pureblood push to keep this 'new muggle threat' out of wizardry daily life. But even with his immense charisma, building political power, growing fortunes, and magical might, there was no stopping the companies build up as they gained more and more steam during the late 80s. The company factories, warehouses, and stores begin to become constant targets of the overzealous, radical, and/or extremist traditionalist purebloods. Under pressure from Pureblood supremacists, new Ministry legislation is also put in place to make it harder and harder for Muggleborns to make a living and find a way in wizarding society as increasingly more restrictions are put upon them that limit their freedoms, enforce special taxes and tributes, wear heritage identifying badges, and forbade many potential job opportunities. Though these increasingly harsh conditions were meant to keep Muggleborns under control and on a tighter leash, they only further accelerated their exodus out of the wizarding society to join the new Republic.
2000-2010
Against all odds, Lily Evans is one of the few Muggleborns to finish her tenure and graduate from Hogwarts rather than giving in to pressure and dropping out. She would spend the next two years trying and failing to find gainful employment in the Wizarding World, still trying to live the idyllic fantasy life she'd been dreaming of for all her life. But despite James' unyielding support, her frustrations mount and Lily's patience wanes. After suffering from one too many slights on a particularly bad day in the early days of her pregnancy, Lily vehemently quits her job as a waitress in The Leaky Cauldron. The very next day she approaches and is immediately employed in one of MagiTech's Research and Development facilities. Unlike the Wizarding World, they actually recognized her brilliance and wanted to capitalize on it as quickly as possible.
Not too long afterwards, James Potter follows her example and gets a job in MagiTech as well, also as a researcher but for a different department. He initially did this partially because the 'rebellious nature' of the company interested him, but mostly because Lily was there. However, shortly after his employment, he's shocked to realize that he genuinely enjoys the innovative nature of their research and experiments done there, as well as the companionable atmosphere the employees share. It reminds him greatly of his time testing new spells and potions back in Hogwarts with his friends as they prepared their numerous pranks. Inspired by this comparison, James approaches his friends and throws out an offer of employment in MagiTech alongside him. Hearing James' high praise of the job and work being done, as well as the 'dangerous and roguish' stance the company took when it came to the Statute of Secrecy, Remus and Sirius were fast to apply and be likewise hired. Peter begged off, wanting to follow his own path in the Wizarding World for the time being, but promising to consider the job offer later. Much to Remus' surprise, he wasn't the first (or even the only) werewolf that had been hired. In fact, much to his shock, he even received special privileges and compensations due to his condition. This company policy alone made him an immediate lifelong supporter of the entire 'New Age Movement' as the Muggleborns were calling this fusion of magic and technology they were undergoing.
However, because Lily had tried to abide by the Ministry's law for so long, this had put her under close surveillance for years. Thus, when she finally gave in and tried to leave the Wizarding World's sphere of control, the Purebloods knew of her 'betrayal' almost immediately. This put her and James at the top of the assassination list. However, thanks to their combined skills and some magitech, the pair were able to avoid or survive numerous attempts on their lives, including a trio of ambushes by Lord Voldemort himself. Eventually, Lily gives birth to Harry and a prophecy is made. Dumbledore forces James and Lily to take their son into hiding until either Voldemort is defeated or the Death Eaters are neutralized. Against Dumbledore's recommendations, the family take up residence in Sealand Housing 313 (one of the Republic's seasteads in the North Sea) hoping to hide among the crowds.
January 2009
Lucius Malfoy and Ladon Greengrass teamed up. After Harold Minchum retires as Minister of Magic, Ladon becomes Minister, dismisses Dumbledore, and appoints Lucius as the new Chief Warlock. They enact the Bloodlines Enrichment Decree upon Great Britain (Muggleborns can gain higher social status by gaining a high number of educational rewards, degrees, and accolades).
October 31, 2011
Voldemort arrives upon Sealand Housing 313, shortly afterwards killing James and Lily. James makes a heroic last stand using a variety of MagiTech tools and weaponry. If not for a fatal misstep, James could've defeated Voldemort, but he was struck down in the end and Voldemort went on to kill Lily and attempt to kill Harry. Afterwards, Sirius and Hagrid arrive. Sirius gives his airspeeder for Hagrid to use to bring Harry to Dumbledore for safekeeping while he rushes off to find and confront Peter. Harry is brought to live at the Dursleys after Peter frames Sirius and disappears.
But the attack of Voldemort upon Sealand Housing 313 isn't an isolated incident. Voldemort had brought with him a large contingent of his loyal followers to attack and destroy the abominable seastead, killing as many as they could. Thankfully, there was a squad of officers patrolling the seastead at the same time. Just that single squad of them are able to kill or drive off most of the Death Eaters while Voldemort is distracted with the Potters.
Upon Voldemort's defeat, the surviving Death Eaters either flee or surrender themselves, hoping to cry 'Imperio' and escape consequences. The ones who surrender are all tried, convicted, and summarily executed by the authorities of the Republic in a fair trial. This brazen act of self-governance and enforcement of laws not approved of by them shocks the British Wizengamot. Not just because it was a true sign of independence against them and the Wizarding World, but because it was later revealed that some of their own members had been among those put to death. With the surviving Death Eaters within the Wizengamot pressing for charges to be levelled against the upstarts. Not just of the British Wizengamot but the whole of Europe, the entire ICW, finally begin to comprehend just how vast and extensive this supposed 'Republic of Magic' has become as more and more city-states and large numbers of missing Muggleborns begin to turn up in defense of Sealand Housing 313 and the Republic's High Council's rulings.
The first sparks of an international crisis are lit. War begins to loom on the horizon.
November 2011
Without Voldemort holding their leashes anymore, Minister Greengrass establishes a new elite branch of the Aurors called the 'Blazers' (orange hooded robes, fiery masks) who would wield lightsabers and specialize in swordsmanship. The Blazers were meant to be the close quarters counters of the Republic Guard (lightsaber/blasters/wands) and would serve as commandoes and officers in wartime.
Chief Warlock Malfoy establishes a new branch of Unspeakables called the 'Inspectors' who would actively seek out both Muggleborn children and kidnap them, erase their memories of their muggle parents, and bring them to a magical orphanage for adoption (surnamed 'Magic' if not adopted before Hogwarts). These Inspectors would also closely monitor the known Muggleborns who are either attending or recently graduated Hogwarts for any sign of disloyalty or connection to the Republic. If such connection or disloyalty was found (or, more commonly, manufactured), they would immediately arrest the Muggleborn, snap their wand, and bring them into Ministry custody for 'intensive questioning' (reprogramming). Delores Umbridge is made the Head Inspector, answerable only to the Chief Warlock and Minister of Magic (whichever is available at the time)
November 2018
While Harry was out one day playing alone in the park, he comes across a strange and badly damaged device that'd been kicked into a bush. He is fast to recognize it as a lightsaber, further proven when he accidentally activates it. Sadly for him, that first activation was too much for the lightsaber. The crystal burnt itself out and the lightsaber died. That didn't deter Harry as he brought it home and began taking it apart carefully, trying to learn as much about it as he could. Thanks to this discovery, Harry begins to wonder if he could somehow use the Force. After all, lightsabers were real! Why couldn't the Force also be real? So, eventually, he also began trying to figure out how to touch and use the Force. He joins a martial arts class to learn how to fight and defend himself, as well as how to properly meditate. It is through these classes that he learns how to tap into 'the Force' and he excitedly begins trying to master his use of it.
March 2019
Thanks to his increasing ability with his 'Force Sense', Harry eventually comes across The Millennium Hotel and is transported up to High Street (city airship), aboard the Westwood Motors-owned merchant aircraft. As he explores, he comes across a store that sells kyber crystals. Much to his relief, the store accepts British pounds. But much to his disappointment, a single blank kyber crystal costs as much as 750 sterling ($1000). Hearing of the boy's plight, the shop owner asks if he has a wizarding bank account since they do also accept wizarding currency as well. Though surprised, Harry asks for and is given directions for where to find Gringotts Bank down in London. He returns back to the Dursleys as the day is getting late. After school the next day, he ventures through The Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley. After his experiences on High Street, he is far less impressed by the outdated wizarding community. Finding Gringotts, he speaks with the Goblins and goes through a magical ritual to summon his lost/stolen bank account key. Despite not being given access to his parents' full vaults, he still is able to get into his trust fund and withdraws a large sum of gold, silver, and bronze before making his departure. Once done, he returns to High Street and buys a crystal. Knowing that the boy is most likely either an orphaned Halfblood or a Muggleborn, the shop owner suggests to Harry that he imbues his crystal with his magic right there rather than at his home down below since the Ministry of Magic would most likely detect him doing such a thing and would throw a terrible fit. Harry does so, quickly bonding to the crystal and slips it into what is now his lightsaber. As he continues to further explore High Street, Harry comes across the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen before in his life: a 'starship' that was for sale for 45k ($60k). He had to have it!
April 2019
Harry has now made it a habit to visit the Millennium Hotel and High Street as often as he can (usually on weekends) so that he can further explore this strange new world he's found. On High Street, he comes across many fascinating things, stores, inventions, and concepts. But the thing that truly captures his attention is the swordsmanship school he comes across. A very special school that instructed the students in various techniques and skills in using a lightsaber in self-defense. He is quick to enroll himself in this school when he finds that he's just old enough to do so.
But it was also through these explorations of his that he meets some important people. While he's dining in a small café one day, he finds himself approached by a small group of adults. They introduce themselves as concerned parents who'd noticed that he has been frequenting High Street without adult supervision. Harry reluctantly tells them about his circumstances at home, fully expecting them to disregard or forget afterwards. Thus, he's quite surprised when, two days later, a man introducing himself as Mr. Elijah Hughes, Professor of the Science of Thaumaturgy. He has come to offer them an incredible opportunity to change their lives. He entices Vernon with a potential new market he could get his business involved in since (as a company that makes/sells drills) he'll have a lot of buyers for the foreseeable future. To better illustrate what he means and to ensure that Vernon believes the offer is genuine, Mr. Hughes asks for him to accompany him with his family (Harry included) to see one of their work sites. The family climbs into his car and are quickly dumbfounded to realize that it's flying! Mr. Hughes flies them up to a nearby hovering airship that they can only see after entering its cloaking field.
After landing, he then takes them on a brief tour of the airship Errant Venture 2 and shows Vernon the potential office and store/factory he could be in charge of. He shows them many of the technological advances and innovations they have built and are preparing to release to the public in a few short years. He shows them a potential new apartment they could rent or even purchase. Needing answers to his many questions, Vernon lets Harry and Dudley go off to explore, but warns them against going too far. Once alone, he starts demanding answers, particularly why them when they are perfectly ordinary people from a perfectly ordinary suburb living perfectly ordinary lives. Mr. Hughes finally drops the bombshell that they are being given this offer because people more powerful and knowledgeable than himself wants their nephew to enroll in their school, rather than at Hogwarts. He explains the bitter rivalry between the secretive 'Republic of Magic' and the Wizarding World, and how they are trying to break away from the oppressive regime. He also explains that the Republic's ultimate goal is to leave Earth and colonize Mars, maybe even further beyond later on. After explaining that, he quickly escorts the family back to their home with the suggestion that they think on the matter. Even if they don't want to join the Republic, the Republic would still be willing and ready to take Harry off their hands. On the other hand, the Republic is fully willing to support their own son's education and their schools are fully accredited and acknowledged institutions in the nonmagical world. After almost a week's worth of heavy consideration, Vernon and Petunia come to a decision and accept the Republic's offer. Thus, they move out of their house on Privet Drive to take up residence on one of the many airships (Cloud Watcher 7), Vernon becomes the Director of a new branch of Grunnings Drills Manufacturing, Petunia gets employed as a secretary for Vernon there, and the boys start their next year of school aboard the Resurgence Star Destroyer Higher Education.
They quickly learn that the airships aren't stationary. That they travel all over the world with clearly established and well-known agendas to the passengers as they continuously seek out undiscovered Muggleborn children from among the nonmagical peoples and countries.
Hermione joins the Republic, attends Higher Education.
Voldemort fails to steal the Philosopher's Stone, abandons Quirrell when Dumbledore catches him.
Delamort is born after absorbing Ginny's life force. He unleashes the ancient (and dying) basilisk upon the school to cover his presence as he slips away.
Delamort finds and seals away Voldemort, forming him into a Horcrux (basilisk fang). He seeks to learn the inner secrets of the Republic to more easily destroy it. Tom enrolls in Greater Prospects, gains a lightsaber, and soon aims to become the President of the Republic and convert it into an empire.
When the ICW tries to reinstate the Triwizard Tournament, Dumbledore makes the controversial decision of inviting the Republic to spectate and even send participants. (Higher Education, Proud Alumni, and Greater Prospects hover over Hogwarts)
Higher Education = general education, farmers, shop workers, guards, factory workers
Proud Alumni = airship workers, pilots, mechanics, engineers, research and development
Greater Prospects = politicians, merchants, businessmen.
Students take entrance exams to determine their level of intelligence and are given choices/recommendations on which school would be best suited for them