Harry Potter and the World War Two AU of Doom
...because yes, I am still working on that. Mad props to the wonderful
__sine, who has been more than patient with this cracktastic idea of mine.
So here -- some more totally insane fic. Sorry if I'm spamming everyone's f-list. I'm at the point where I'm feeling a little better, but am still not allowed to move around, so I'm going stir-crazy.
This is quite different from anything else I've written or am working on. It's also quickly becoming my favourite WIP, and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
By the end of November, Scrimgeour had gotten worried enough to call an emergency meeting of his inner circle. The guest list read like a Who's Who of the political elite. Scrimgeour himself may have been ousted by the electorate, but his advisers were the sort of men who knew how to make themselves indispensable in any administration, and over half of the Ministry's departments were represented at the dinner meeting by either their head or deputy head. As all of them moved in the same social circles, the conversation centered on parties and hunting expeditions until the house-elves had finished clearing away the meal and left the room.
"Gentlemen," Scrimgeour said, and the murmur of conversation ceased. "You all know why we are here. I would like to thank Tiberius for the use of his table and his provisions."
"A pleasure, Marcus," Tiberius Malfoy murmured. He had ceded his place at the head of the table to Scrimgeour, and sat instead at the man's right hand.
"We have a decision to make," Scrimgeour continued, "and a course of action to decide upon. We must decide if we are willing to be thrust unprepared into battle, or if we are to act now, and risk everything we possess to save everything that we hold dear."
"You say that as if there is a difference between the two," Tiberius Malfoy said dryly.
"There is," Scrimgeour said. "Or do you not rate your freedom higher than your possessions, Tiberius?"
"If you are about to make the proposal I came expecting to hear," drawled the man to Scrimgeour's left, "we are all about to risk both, and on your say-so."
Pure-blooded and extremely wealthy, Orion Black had for years been the single most influential voice inside the Ministry of Magic. He was also one of the few men present who was not already securely in Scrimgeour's camp. Black considered himself and his position to be above political intrigue, and generally behaved accordingly. His presence at what was undeniably a partisan meeting was proof that he was seriously concerned with the current government's behavior.
"Indeed," Scrimgeour said bluntly. He turned to Malfoy. "Tiberius, I would not insult you by asking if your wards are secure --"
"Doubly so. I checked them myself before we sat down."
"Thank you." Scrimgeour looked down the table. "Gentlemen, if there are any here who do not have the stomach for treason, I ask that you leave now. There will be no retribution."
"Of course," Orion Black added calmly, "I will personally curse any man who repeats what has been or will be talked about in this room until he no longer resembles a human being*. The changes, I assure you all, will be permanent."
----------
*It was rumoured even then that Orion Black was adept in all forms of Dark Magic. No evidence has been found to either prove or disprove this theory, and no member of the Black family has ever been willing to comment on these - or indeed, any - of the rumours that persistently attach themselves to the Black name.
----------
No one moved.
After a moment, Scrimgeour continued. "It has become obvious that the Muggles will be at war within the year. It is also looking extremely likely that in Germany, at least, wizards will be fighting alongside them. Grindelwald's behaviour is no longer open to any other interpretation. The current government is stumbling blindly through the dark, and have given us no sign that they even have the ability to cast Lumos, let alone that they will know what to do when the threat is inevitably illuminated.
"At that point it will be too late. History will have passed us by. We will have been judged cowards and incompetents, and judged rightly. If we are to spare ourselves the censure of future generations, we must act. If we wish to ensure the freedom of those generations, we must act. We must act, and act now, or within five years every one of us will be calling Grindelwald 'Master.'
"We must move swiftly and boldly, because we will get only one chance -- and this applies to our opposition of the current government as well as to our resistance of the Germans. We do not possess the power to force Smith-Pinkersley out of office legally. The elections are not for another two years, and by then, I repeat, it will be too late."
"Overthrow by force," Crastor Moody interrupted. "That's what you're suggesting?"
"Did you really expect to hear anything else?" Orion Black snapped. "After all, none of us were sorted into Hufflepuff, were we? Let's hear legitimate objections, if there are any, rather than confirmation of facts we are already well aware of."
"Well?" Scrimgeour asked. "Objections, anyone?"
"Not an objection, exactly," said a man at the end of the table. "Simply a thought." Kevin Potter, deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, adjusted his glasses before continuing:
"When we do this, we must do it carefully. Smith-Pinkersley may be willfully blind, but he is not an idiot. He may not notice German treachery, but he'll certainly notice the domestic variety. We will all be risking not only life sentences in Azkaban, but government seizure of our property as well."
"And what, exactly, do you think that Hansel Grindelwald will do, should he successfully conquer Europe?" Malfoy sneered. "Pat us all on the back and hand us Chocolate Frogs? They'll throw us in Azkaban and seize everything we own just for being at this meeting, Potter, and you're worse than a fool if you think otherwise."
"I am fully aware of the consequences of my actions," Potter said stiffly. "Still, there is a difference between the risks of plotting sedition and the risks of carrying it out. I am merely saying that as we are determined to act, we must be equally determined to act wisely. Otherwise, we might as well do nothing."
"We must use magic," Orion Black said.
Scrimgeour was torn between annoyance, and gratitude that the man had spoken first. The use of magic on one's political opponents had always been taboo, and he had not been looking forward to telling this particular group that they would have to break it. He'd expected an outcry, and indeed, some of the men around the table, particularly Crastor Moody, looked as if they would speak, but Black rolled right over their objections.
"It is the only way to be certain that we succeed," he said flatly, "and we cannot afford to fail."
"The precedent it would set -- " Percy Longbottom began.
"Hang the precedent," Black said impatiently. "Is there anyone here who feels himself incapable of fending off a magical attack? I thought not. However, if we try and fail, you can all be certain that no one else will be willing to follow in our footsteps -- and that Grindelwald and his pet Muggles will have their victory."
--------
(and a disconnected snippet)
By the summer of 1939, the Muggle crisis in Europe was rapidly approaching a boiling point. The leader of the German Muggles, Adolph Hitler, had annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia, and was looking with covetous eyes at Poland. Muggle armies were being mobilized across the continent, and international relations were so tense that they vibrated. The average European Muggle was convinced that war was only a heartbeat away.
In the Wizarding world, things were quite different. There was no real sense of urgency among the general population; in fact, a record number of British wizards chose to vacation on the Continent that summer. The Smith-Pinkersley Administration had its head firmly in the sand, and as the presses were beginning to fall under Ministry control, no 'alarmist' articles ever made it to print.
That did not mean that Times* reporters were not investigating the situation in Europe. Though the paper's management was already beginning to submit to the governmental regulations that were so notable in the recent Second Crisis, investigative journalists have always proven an extremely difficult group to control, and the best of them will find a way to get their stories into print no matter what obstacles stand in their way. The pre-eminent journalist of the age was of course the American Edward R. Murrow, but as he had chosen to make his impact felt in the Muggle presses rather than in Wizarding ones, he had little effect on on the popular perceptions of Magical Britain, at least until the beginning of the Blitz.
-----
*The Wizarding Times was Britain's only newspaper from 1754 until The Daily Prophet rose to supremacy during the Grindelwald War, due largely in part to their emphatic refusal to accept the increasingly stringent government restrictions, save where it concerned matters of national security.
It is perhaps ironic that the Prophet originally began as an underground newspaper, only to evolve into the same sort of propagandist publication that their founders heaped such scorn on the Times for becoming during the lead-up to the Grindelwald War. (Colin Creevey: The Daily Prophet: From People's Champion to Ministry Mouthpiece, publ. 2001)
*****
Author's Notes: Like it? Love it? Hate it? Think I should stop fucking around with this and get back to my other fic? Let me know!
__sine, who has been more than patient with this cracktastic idea of mine.
So here -- some more totally insane fic. Sorry if I'm spamming everyone's f-list. I'm at the point where I'm feeling a little better, but am still not allowed to move around, so I'm going stir-crazy.
This is quite different from anything else I've written or am working on. It's also quickly becoming my favourite WIP, and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
By the end of November, Scrimgeour had gotten worried enough to call an emergency meeting of his inner circle. The guest list read like a Who's Who of the political elite. Scrimgeour himself may have been ousted by the electorate, but his advisers were the sort of men who knew how to make themselves indispensable in any administration, and over half of the Ministry's departments were represented at the dinner meeting by either their head or deputy head. As all of them moved in the same social circles, the conversation centered on parties and hunting expeditions until the house-elves had finished clearing away the meal and left the room.
"Gentlemen," Scrimgeour said, and the murmur of conversation ceased. "You all know why we are here. I would like to thank Tiberius for the use of his table and his provisions."
"A pleasure, Marcus," Tiberius Malfoy murmured. He had ceded his place at the head of the table to Scrimgeour, and sat instead at the man's right hand.
"We have a decision to make," Scrimgeour continued, "and a course of action to decide upon. We must decide if we are willing to be thrust unprepared into battle, or if we are to act now, and risk everything we possess to save everything that we hold dear."
"You say that as if there is a difference between the two," Tiberius Malfoy said dryly.
"There is," Scrimgeour said. "Or do you not rate your freedom higher than your possessions, Tiberius?"
"If you are about to make the proposal I came expecting to hear," drawled the man to Scrimgeour's left, "we are all about to risk both, and on your say-so."
Pure-blooded and extremely wealthy, Orion Black had for years been the single most influential voice inside the Ministry of Magic. He was also one of the few men present who was not already securely in Scrimgeour's camp. Black considered himself and his position to be above political intrigue, and generally behaved accordingly. His presence at what was undeniably a partisan meeting was proof that he was seriously concerned with the current government's behavior.
"Indeed," Scrimgeour said bluntly. He turned to Malfoy. "Tiberius, I would not insult you by asking if your wards are secure --"
"Doubly so. I checked them myself before we sat down."
"Thank you." Scrimgeour looked down the table. "Gentlemen, if there are any here who do not have the stomach for treason, I ask that you leave now. There will be no retribution."
"Of course," Orion Black added calmly, "I will personally curse any man who repeats what has been or will be talked about in this room until he no longer resembles a human being*. The changes, I assure you all, will be permanent."
----------
*It was rumoured even then that Orion Black was adept in all forms of Dark Magic. No evidence has been found to either prove or disprove this theory, and no member of the Black family has ever been willing to comment on these - or indeed, any - of the rumours that persistently attach themselves to the Black name.
----------
No one moved.
After a moment, Scrimgeour continued. "It has become obvious that the Muggles will be at war within the year. It is also looking extremely likely that in Germany, at least, wizards will be fighting alongside them. Grindelwald's behaviour is no longer open to any other interpretation. The current government is stumbling blindly through the dark, and have given us no sign that they even have the ability to cast Lumos, let alone that they will know what to do when the threat is inevitably illuminated.
"At that point it will be too late. History will have passed us by. We will have been judged cowards and incompetents, and judged rightly. If we are to spare ourselves the censure of future generations, we must act. If we wish to ensure the freedom of those generations, we must act. We must act, and act now, or within five years every one of us will be calling Grindelwald 'Master.'
"We must move swiftly and boldly, because we will get only one chance -- and this applies to our opposition of the current government as well as to our resistance of the Germans. We do not possess the power to force Smith-Pinkersley out of office legally. The elections are not for another two years, and by then, I repeat, it will be too late."
"Overthrow by force," Crastor Moody interrupted. "That's what you're suggesting?"
"Did you really expect to hear anything else?" Orion Black snapped. "After all, none of us were sorted into Hufflepuff, were we? Let's hear legitimate objections, if there are any, rather than confirmation of facts we are already well aware of."
"Well?" Scrimgeour asked. "Objections, anyone?"
"Not an objection, exactly," said a man at the end of the table. "Simply a thought." Kevin Potter, deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, adjusted his glasses before continuing:
"When we do this, we must do it carefully. Smith-Pinkersley may be willfully blind, but he is not an idiot. He may not notice German treachery, but he'll certainly notice the domestic variety. We will all be risking not only life sentences in Azkaban, but government seizure of our property as well."
"And what, exactly, do you think that Hansel Grindelwald will do, should he successfully conquer Europe?" Malfoy sneered. "Pat us all on the back and hand us Chocolate Frogs? They'll throw us in Azkaban and seize everything we own just for being at this meeting, Potter, and you're worse than a fool if you think otherwise."
"I am fully aware of the consequences of my actions," Potter said stiffly. "Still, there is a difference between the risks of plotting sedition and the risks of carrying it out. I am merely saying that as we are determined to act, we must be equally determined to act wisely. Otherwise, we might as well do nothing."
"We must use magic," Orion Black said.
Scrimgeour was torn between annoyance, and gratitude that the man had spoken first. The use of magic on one's political opponents had always been taboo, and he had not been looking forward to telling this particular group that they would have to break it. He'd expected an outcry, and indeed, some of the men around the table, particularly Crastor Moody, looked as if they would speak, but Black rolled right over their objections.
"It is the only way to be certain that we succeed," he said flatly, "and we cannot afford to fail."
"The precedent it would set -- " Percy Longbottom began.
"Hang the precedent," Black said impatiently. "Is there anyone here who feels himself incapable of fending off a magical attack? I thought not. However, if we try and fail, you can all be certain that no one else will be willing to follow in our footsteps -- and that Grindelwald and his pet Muggles will have their victory."
--------
(and a disconnected snippet)
By the summer of 1939, the Muggle crisis in Europe was rapidly approaching a boiling point. The leader of the German Muggles, Adolph Hitler, had annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia, and was looking with covetous eyes at Poland. Muggle armies were being mobilized across the continent, and international relations were so tense that they vibrated. The average European Muggle was convinced that war was only a heartbeat away.
In the Wizarding world, things were quite different. There was no real sense of urgency among the general population; in fact, a record number of British wizards chose to vacation on the Continent that summer. The Smith-Pinkersley Administration had its head firmly in the sand, and as the presses were beginning to fall under Ministry control, no 'alarmist' articles ever made it to print.
That did not mean that Times* reporters were not investigating the situation in Europe. Though the paper's management was already beginning to submit to the governmental regulations that were so notable in the recent Second Crisis, investigative journalists have always proven an extremely difficult group to control, and the best of them will find a way to get their stories into print no matter what obstacles stand in their way. The pre-eminent journalist of the age was of course the American Edward R. Murrow, but as he had chosen to make his impact felt in the Muggle presses rather than in Wizarding ones, he had little effect on on the popular perceptions of Magical Britain, at least until the beginning of the Blitz.
-----
*The Wizarding Times was Britain's only newspaper from 1754 until The Daily Prophet rose to supremacy during the Grindelwald War, due largely in part to their emphatic refusal to accept the increasingly stringent government restrictions, save where it concerned matters of national security.
It is perhaps ironic that the Prophet originally began as an underground newspaper, only to evolve into the same sort of propagandist publication that their founders heaped such scorn on the Times for becoming during the lead-up to the Grindelwald War. (Colin Creevey: The Daily Prophet: From People's Champion to Ministry Mouthpiece, publ. 2001)
*****
Author's Notes: Like it? Love it? Hate it? Think I should stop fucking around with this and get back to my other fic? Let me know!