The election is around the corner, so it is only a matter of time until Harry Potter will ascend to the magical premiership. The youngest minister ever, the shining light of our people, but in so many ways a complete enigma. Where does he come from, what makes him tick and what really happened during the tri-wizard-tournament? Join Rita Skeeter, special correspondent, in her weekly series “Anatomy of a Leader”, one writer’s attempt to retrace the trail Harry Potter blazed through the world ever since that fateful night 17 years ago.
“Anatomy of a Leader”
by Rita Skeeter
Part seven “Triumph”
Voldemort had been gone for thirteen years and the world moved on. People had repressed and forgotten, invested in their hopes and dreams. When he cheated death and returned, he must have hoped to turn back time, to intimidate, to destroy, to finish forging a society in line with his ideals. In this he failed, because he didn’t account for Harry Potter.
It seems hard to fathom that a whole society would rally around a simple schoolboy. A simple schoolboy most only knew from second-hand accounts. Then again the great Harry Potter never was just a simple boy. Time and again he had shown a willingness to stand for what was right, where others wanted to cower for what was easy. When Voldemort’s abduction of Harry backfired so, he was forced to retreat, regroup, reconsider. Harry recuperated and so did the self-styled “Dark Lord”.
The Monster Voldemort’s first reign was one of uncertainty and terror. His night time attacks played into primal fears and deprived his opposition of feeling safe. This, and agents in influential political positions, lead to a people locked up at home and descending into full blown panic. Harry Potter’s heroism set them free, and ignited a spark of hope that never again went out.
In retrospect it became clear, that Voldemort’s focus changed together with his methods. He gathered forces and declared war on Britain, but his target was Harry Potter. Not many wizards and witches followed his call. Hardly any that had not already been Voldemort supporters. He had to ally himself with beasts and continental mercenaries, in order to mount any offence at all. Close to month had gone by without incident, before Voldemort struck in force. The prison island of Azkabahn was over run and dozens of loyal Voldemort supporters were freed. Even worse, the soul-sucking Dementors threw in with the Monster and abandoned their posts.
Voldemort had assembled his army. His loyalists from back in the day, some of questionable health, most of questionable sanity, were with him. He had hired a band of ruthless Austrian mercenaries, and made outlandish promises to monsters and half-breeds. A pack of werewolves joined him, as did some giants and a hand full of vampires. He had a force, what he didn’t have was patience.
Fenrir Greyback, the once feared werewolf terrorist, was happy to talk to us about what he remembered. “It’s a better life I wanted, innit? And that’s what the [Dark Lord] offered. Said we could make our own fortune and not hide.” Greyback is one of the many werewolves living in the Lupin Memorial Rehabilitation Reservation. Wheelchair bound and sick, Greyback was fighting hard to get to grips with his shame. “I was [a zealot]. I [really thought that] werewolves were a better kind of being. When [Voldemort] said he was going to attack the Hogwarts Express I was thrilled. I think [Voldemort] was sure that three wizards and thirty werwolves were enough to overpower a train full of [innocent] children. The children had wands, though, and it wasn’t the full moon. It was a disaster, [but of course the best thing that could have happened to me].”
The attack on the train failed and while Voldemort managed to escape, his werewolf force was subdued and locked up, and soon after moved to their current location on the island of Qwghlm. “The idealistic me would have [thought the punishment harsh], but it is not [more than we deserved]. Cutting off our legs is [fair and justified], after all we [could escape otherwise]. [And this way we can’t] attack each other during the full moon. It’s not what I was fighting for under Voldemort. It is [a life of quiet dignity].”
Voldemort had been thwarted and Britain’s students made it to Hogwarts castle. Behind the walls they were supposed to be safe from harm, and would have been. Traitorous students were however doing everything to undermine the protection.
Marisa Pinselstein’s work “The Great Stand” is fiction, but those that were there swear that it evokes the joy of Harry Potter’s ultimate triumph. The giant painting adorns Hogwarts’ entrance hall and will forever remind us where, and at what price, our peace was forged. The artist talked to the prophet when the painting was unveiled.
“I talked to people, visited the great hall, but it was my mind’s eye that allowed me to tell the tale. I [wanted] to portray Harry Potter, not [precisely like he was], but what he represented. Who [wouldn’t] want to see a painting of a [strapping young lad we can all relate to]? So I remade him how he is seen, not how he looks”.
Many of the cheering, who are sure to fill Squaresquare on December 21st, will bring the image with them in some shape or form. Harry Potter standing over the broken body of the Monster Voldemort, exhausted but elated, while the battle between good and evil winds down in the background. It might be the most reproduced work of art. It has been put on posters and plates, commemorative robes and shirts. It even found its way onto the bodies of some of the Great Stand’s survivors, who got it in the form of a tattoo.
Dean Thomas was not without pride when he bared his back to the Prophet’s photographer. Between broad shoulders and without colour or movement, the iconic image is unmistakable. Thomas, a Gryffindor roommate of Harry Potter, remembers “It was a triumph, sure, but not without cost. A lot of people died that night and not just on the other side. I saw Seamus [Finnegan, of Gryffindor] die and that messed me up good for a while. When we got time off after the battle Ron [Wesly], Neville [Longbottom] and I, we got kind of lost. I don’t know what [went through Harry’s head], but he was taken away, to the minister, to the prophet. Who knows.”
It was amidst the grief that hope began to blossom. This time there remained no doubt. Voldemort’s demise was final and his followers were with him or apprehended. Justice was served, when the students responsible for allowing Voldemort into the school, were tried and executed as adults. Sorting out this fateful night took time and to this day some mysteries remain unsolved.
When the school reopened every student, able to return, did. Exams had been post-poned and for two months the house system was ignored. The Quidditch cup was won by a team of fourth years that had members from all four houses. It was decided to repeat the year and let the students recover. Next to nobody protested this wise decision.
Should you make your way to London for Harry Potter’s inauguration take a moment to remember what you are cheering for. Harry Potter is a man of few words, and if you’ve never seen him before he might not seem to live up to your expectations. He is our hero and has proved that without fail. The moment the Monster Voldemort was at his feet and so was the world. Harry did not allow that to corrupt him. He returned to school, happy to let Minister Sleyzik finish out the term. Harry Potter surrounded himself with capable advisors and passed his NEWTs with distinction. There have been voices that accused the examiners of leniency, but who could begrudge that.
It’s time for a changing of the guard and for a brighter tomorrow. Harry Potter will lead you there. Trust him, for he has earned it.
_____
Ende.
(Author’s note: It’s done and quite different from the original version published on the DLP forum. This was my first ever attempt at a fic, and inspired by Dark Rabbit’s Challenge #2: Retard!Harry. I’d like to think that my Harry is content with the cards he has been dealt. He never got to be anything but a puppet, but that doesn’t make him anything less of a hero. The wizarding world has a penchant for self-deception. Who knows what of the above reflects Rita’s beliefs and what stems from her desire to manipulate public sentiment. She is an accomplished fibber and this is nothing else. I am not completely disgusted with my attempts of recreating her style.
Reactions to this have been decidedly mixed. Some readers seem to like it and some despise it. I refuse to believe that anybody failed to get the joke. It was, after all, really obvious. Humour is diverse and if somebody doesn’t share mine it cannot be helped. There is an outside chance at a short epilogue starring one Hermione Granger, but for now I’m happy to leave this universe behind. I do love brave Harry Pottard, but he’s got a nation to run.
Cheers.
Cy)