The fall

During the two months that followed, the heir's attacks ceased. But the Muggle-borns were not out of danger yet.

At first, everything was going well, but slowly, the new director's measures took effect. Little by little, the Muggle-borns became victims of small vendettas and had to provide numerous services to their peers in exchange for access to their rights.

At first, the house heads cracked down to prevent this kind of behavior. But Headmaster Malfoy intervened more and more often to ensure impunity for the culprit. With the notable exception of Hufflepuff house, Muggle-borns became the pariahs of their own house, and many talked about not returning to Hogwarts the following year. However, Hogwarts being the only magic school accessible to Muggle-borns, for them, leaving Hogwarts would mean cutting themselves off from the magical world and permanently giving up the legal use of their wand. Although Beauxbatons Academy also accepted their lineage, it was located in France and required far more Galleons than a full year’s tuition at Hogwarts. Not to mention the language barrier and the accompanying culture shock.

The youngest hesitated, but the older ones understood that, in the long term, it was not a good idea. It was better to endure a few difficult years and then have the right to use one's powers, rather than leave school and find oneself defenseless. Especially since everyone was aware that this was what the purists wanted.

Once resigned to having to stay, the Muggle-borns formed small resistance groups, which some pure-bloods like the Weasleys joined.

At the same time, the same thing was done among purebloods to harass Muggle-borns. The different groups were made up of students from all houses. There were Muggle-borns from Slytherin in the resistance and pureblood Gryffindors among the purists. But for the most part, the tensions took the form of a traditional war between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Between the families of light and the families of darkness. Between the Malfoys and the Weasleys.

The tensions gradually increased until one morning Harry entered the great hall and found it completely devastated.

In order to avoid the other students, Harry had gotten into the habit of coming to have his breakfast at dawn (a time when only the earliest students occupied the great hall). He thus discovered with two other students that it was covered with wood shavings and various debris. That was all that remained of the large tables and benches allowing thestudents to sit down. The windows and the Gryffindor hourglass had been shattered, thus spreading a mixture of rubies and broken glass on the ground, which was extremely dangerous. Everyone silently observed the damage while an icy breeze came in from outside.

Once he had realized the extent of the disaster, the new director ordered all the students to be summoned to the great hall. 30 minutes later, a crowd of hysterical students (some still in pajamas) stood in the devastated room. Everyone was wondering what had happened, and the wildest rumors were circulating. Many thought that the heir had struck again. After a few moments, the director appeared in front of what was left of the great table.

With a single glance, he obtained complete silence.

As you can all see, a band of hooligans took advantage of the cover of night to devastate our common heritage. Its tapestries, of which now only smoldering remains exist, dated from the Middle Ages and were woven by Rowena Ravenclaw herself. They had survived a thousand years of crisis and war but did not withstand our decadence. I would like to promise you that they will be found and severely punished for this outrage. But from the beginning, I have insisted on leading with honesty, and I am therefore compelled to tell you that unless the culprits confess, we have no way of finding them. This crime will therefore go unpunished. I tremble with shame and indignity.

But this only strengthens my resolve to do everything possible to ensure that such an incident never happens again. Obsessed with tracking the heir and protecting his potential targets, I completely neglected to consider that the threat could come from a handful of delinquents produced by the laxity of the previous administration.

Some will tell me, rightly so, that I should have realized it sooner, when the same thugs exploited the measures taken against the heir to abuse the Muggle-borns. In a burst of naive optimism, I wanted to believe that the problem would resolve itself. I must now admit that I was wrong and that new measures are necessary to curb the rise of violence within the school. The list of measures is not yet finalized and I am open to all suggestions. The prefects, as representatives of the students, will notably be summoned to share their suggestions and opinions on the matter.

Feel free to share your comments and ideas with them.

Nevertheless, I am now announcing the creation of a new directorate brigade, whose members will be chosen by myself based on their seriousness and past commitment to the well-being of the school. Their mission will be to ensure order and security. For this, they will have extended rights. Everyone will be able to participate regardless ofTheir origin, even if, as long as the heir is there, adaptations will have to be made for the Muggle-borns. Notably, given that recent breaches of the rules originate from conflicts between the Muggle-borns and other students. I am already considering the creation of a common room or even a dining room dedicated to them where other students would be prohibited from staying. Of course, their use will not be mandatory. On the contrary, I urge the Muggle-borns not to forgo their legitimate rights to occupy the common areas of the castle. However, I want them to have a safe space until this crisis ends.

And why not make them wear a yellow star so we can differentiate them more easily, while we're at it? Harry couldn't help but exclaim, not fooled by the optional nature of the new dormitories.

A student next to him replied:

It's true, it would be a good idea. It's a symbol that will give them protection, in addition to allowing the prefect and the teachers to identify them more easily.

Harry didn't even bother to respond to that ignorant pureblood and held back his anger. For some time now, he had been feeling an almost constant anger that didn't seem to belong to him. It scared him a little, but he had other problems. Starting with the fact that his secret training sessions were a failure. At first, he thought the problem was the target he was using for his training. The book specified that it was necessary to feel genuine hatred when casting the spell for it to work. So he decided to practice on rats captured in the castle. But it was a complete failure.

The only noticeable effect was that Luna Lovegood no longer wanted to partner with him in Potions, complaining that his aura was darkening, and Theodore Nott gave him advice on moderation. Harry ignored them. But he wondered how they knew about it (and if others had noticed).

A month passed without notable incident, except for a slow deterioration in the living conditions of the Muggle-borns. At first, he felt sorry for them and tried to put aside his resentment to ask the Weasleys if he could join their group. But little by little, he thought more and more often about the remarks they had made to him and became indifferent to their fate.

The director was exulting in congratulating himself that no other attack had been deplored since he took office. Until the day when a new message in letters of blood appeared on the wall next to the girls' bathroom on the second floor (where the first attack had taken place).

The heir had just kidnapped Ginny Weasley and in a few hours she would be dead. The students were confined to their common room and rumors spoke of an imminent closure of the school.