Before the Statute of Secrecy came into effect—and for a long period afterward—wizarding society was almost entirely dominated by pure-blood families.
They possessed the greatest magical talent, the most wealth, the most complete inheritance of knowledge, and the strongest means of ensuring their own safety. Naturally, they took on a role similar to landed gentry. Scattered witches and wizards gathered around them for protection, and over time, individual wizarding communities formed.
As those communities expanded, so too did the power and wealth of the pure-blood families who governed them. That was how they accumulated the enormous fortunes they still held today. By the seventeenth century, it was these very families who formed the Wizard's Council, coordinating affairs across the magical world.
The now-famous names—Black, Gaunt, Malfoy, Lestrange… most of them rose through precisely that path.
"…So you're saying that the pure-blood families of the time reached some sort of cooperation with the goblins, and the goal was to force wizarding society into shrinking and hiding—so they could then take complete control?"
Avada asked, brows tightly furrowed.
"I'm not finished yet."
Professor Benjamin Baker smiled faintly. "That was merely one interpretation of history centered on the Goblin Rebellions. You should also hear what happened after the Statute of Secrecy formally took effect…"
"Once wizarding society withdrew into hiding and the Goblin Rebellions subsided, life became significantly more comfortable for witches and wizards. The population increased markedly. And after the Wizard's Council was reorganized into the Ministry of Magic, administrative efficiency improved dramatically, formally unifying what had once been separate communities into a single system. On the surface, society appeared orderly and flourishing."
"But the price of that development was this—progress in foundational magical theory slowed to a crawl. Nearly all of our current technologies are merely refinements of what already existed back then. Truly innovative breakthroughs born from new theoretical foundations are extremely rare."
"Worse still, because advanced knowledge is complex and difficult, and there was no standardized or large-scale system for disseminating it, the amount of knowledge circulating within society actually began to decline. The Ministry even started instituting formal restrictions on knowledge under the pretext of maintaining order. Can you imagine? Centuries ago, spells like the Disillusionment Charm and Legilimency were common, almost basic competencies. Now they're regulated."
"And the reason a magical university never appeared…"
Avada's brows drew together even tighter.
"…was precisely the governing class of wizarding society—the pure-blood families."
Baker drained the last of his now-cold coffee and wiped his mouth casually before continuing.
"Unlike the broader magical world, their inner circles preserved the most complete knowledge and the greatest wealth. As society stagnated, they rose to absolute dominance. If ordinary witches and wizards wanted access to that knowledge or those resources, they had only one option—serve them. And within that 'service'… there were things that could never see the light of day."
"Dark wizards."
In an instant, Avada recalled the contents of that massive black tome, and the answer slipped from his lips.
"Exactly. Dark wizards."
Baker's expression hardened.
"For centuries, nearly every Dark wizard has had ties to pure-blood families. After all, almost all Dark magic can be learned within those circles. And those Dark wizards—armed with complete knowledge and backed by immense wealth to conduct 'research' without restraint—have been the primary driving force behind magical advancement for hundreds of years."
"You've read that book. You know what 'unrestrained research' really means."
Gradually, the gap between the pure-blood inner circle and the wider magical society widened further and further. Their ability to control and suppress the broader population became increasingly stable.
"In theory, given enough time, that control would become unbreakable. In reality, it nearly did. Voldemort's rise more than a decade ago was a symbolic event. Can you imagine what the world would look like today if Dumbledore hadn't restrained him?"
"But Dumbledore's brilliance was an anomaly. Voldemort, on the other hand, was the product of centuries of accumulated pure-blood power—something that can be reproduced. If this trend continues, pure-blood dominance over everything will eventually become reality. All it takes is another Voldemort… and no Dumbledore to stand against him."
"This," Baker said quietly, "is the script written by generations of ambitious men—a conspiracy spanning centuries to secure absolute control over wizarding society."
"Now do you understand how those 'Muggles' with flintlock muskets were able to 'persecute' wizards?"
"…"
A realization dawned on Avada.
It wasn't just that Dumbledore had defeated Voldemort and frightened the pure-blood families.
It was that Dumbledore had also recognized the systemic problem Baker described—and had publicly declared his intention to confront it.
That speech at the end of Avada's second year… it hadn't merely been a warning. It had been a declaration of war against the pure-blood establishment and the structure of wizarding society itself.
The current magical world—hidden from public view—might be even more dangerous than it had been when Voldemort was alive in the original timeline.
"Voldemort's rise was indeed a milestone," Baker continued.
"Fifty years ago, he cursed the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts. The quality of instruction plummeted. An entire generation of young witches and wizards suffered a sharp decline in combat capability. That was likely another experiment by the pure-blood families."
"When I accepted a position at Hogwarts, it was to study that curse and determine whether it could be broken. Instead, I nearly destroyed myself in the process."
"…So back then, you actually had a backup plan?"
"Yes."
Before departing, I told the other professors the location of the Horcrux I had created—the room inside the Room of Requirement. So if they detected that something was wrong with the 'other me,' they would infiltrate and rescue me."
He coughed lightly under Avada's slightly resentful gaze and quickly shifted topics.
"That doesn't diminish my gratitude toward you and Baron."
"Our founding Headmaster, Nobby Leach, recognized all of these problems. That was what gave birth to his vision of changing this society."
"With exceptional ability and extraordinary social skills, he built a network of allies. He gathered remnants of Grindelwald's movement. As a Muggle-born wizard, he broke through unprecedented barriers and rose to the position of Minister for Magic."
"But in the end, he could not overcome the pure-blood families. He was poisoned during his tenure, forced to resign, and not long afterward succumbed to illness."
"But that was not the end."
Baker's voice grew solemn, almost reverent.
"In places hidden from the pure-blood families' sight, he left behind his most precious legacy."
"This place."
"A true magical university."
"And here… is where the transformation of wizarding society will begin."
(End of Chapter)