Chapter 175 – Going Legit
The Dark Lord was no more. The news of his demise spread like wildfire, and even if many didn't believe it at first, after a week, the fact that Voldemort never appeared again was enough proof to push the remaining Death Eaters into chaos. The loss of connection within their marks was the final nail in the coffin; the remaining highest-ranking Death Eaters, the likes of Bellatrix, disappeared without leaving a trace. Well, the smarter ones, that is, because a few of them decided to contact those they heard about, people who paid good gold to make them disappear. Only to be met with Grindelwald, Conrad, and Quincy's spell, which extinguished their life on the spot.
Many from the Order came out to the open, searching for clues and remnants of Voldemort's followers, returning to the light in splendid glory as their forces began dismantling any dark wizard's stronghold they could locate. The first bastion to fall was Hogwarts itself, retaken by Dumbledore himself. With the Order of the Phoenix at the helm, they established a new Wizarding Order, aiming to act as peacekeepers until a new ministry was established and Britain was cleansed of the influence of twenty years of filth.
Everyone knew it wouldn't be an easy transition as thousands wore the tattooed mark of Voldemort, and nobody could deny the fact that countless families were forced into servitude against their wishes. The most significant proof was those who took the bribes from the emerging third faction, escaping the clutches of Death Eaters, slowly beginning to return.
"We need to keep our eyes peeled." Dumbledore exclaimed, sitting within the Headmaster's office in Hogwarts, meeting with the core of the Order, many of them being old Professors who finally had a chance to return to their old Alumni. "Even with Tom dead, we can't relax."
"But the prophecy..." Moody spoke, making Dumbledore shake his head.
"I am not talking about that. I believe Neville and Severus! It was the prophecy that guided young Neville's hand in defeating Tom and not letting his last fragment escape and hide in the vast world. I am talking about the two Anguines. They won't stop just because Tom died... Not with their current Master standing with a rejuvenated body behind them."
"It is an opportunity then." Moody chuckled, "We bested the worst Dark Wizard; we can best the second worst, too. Get rid of him for good! Not to mention, this one should have only one life, yes?"
"Yes. Only one." Dumbledore nodded, his voice going softer and calmer, "Finding him will be more challenging, and this is why I told you to keep alert at all times. Their methods will be not like Voldemort's. Grindelwald was never one who ruled by fear; he never collected followers with force but by charisma. We don't know the extent of the wealth they have amassed by emptying out Gringotts... but they could most likely continue their plans and bribe everyone for years to come. Think of how many families are there now, in desperate need of a helping hand, of money to start anew."
"Are you trying to say... we can't trust nobody?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked as many of them watched the old wizard play with his beard, slowly nodding his head in the end.