Chapter 1444: The Broadcast
Chapter 1444: The Broadcast
The string of assault incidents that had caused an uproar for several days concluded in a manner that left everyone stunned.
Nothing could be more convincing than a broadcast from the Wizarding Watch.
It wasn't that everyone wanted to believe what they heard on the Wizarding Watch broadcast, but the fact that the broadcast platform itself was set up by the Defense Association carried weight.
Now that the Wizarding Watch broadcast had resumed and the announcer remained unchanged, it proved that the original announcer was still alive. The rumor that all members of the Defense Association had perished in Voldemort's ambush was naturally discredited.
As a direct witness to the entire incident, Lee Jordan's account was far more trustworthy than the vague reports in the Prophet.
"We were fortunate that Albert had predicted this attack beforehand and prepared us. When the Death Eaters struck, we even managed to ambush them and send them running with their tails between their legs."
"But if we're being honest, the Death Eaters won that round. After all, we eventually evacuated and moved to a new headquarters, which took several days to set up, and it's still not ideal."
Was the entire wizarding world in an uproar for so many days simply because the Defense Association had temporarily relocated to a new headquarters and hadn't had time to resume the Wizarding Watch broadcasts? This realization made many people feel foolish.
Especially with Lee Jordan's calm tone, many felt he was mocking their blindness and stupidity.
...
On the Wizarding Watch broadcast, Lee Jordan was casually recounting the night of the attack to the listeners by their radios, leaving them dumbfounded.
Most witches and wizards had only heard that the Defense Association's headquarters had been completely destroyed in Voldemort's retaliatory strike, and that the Dark Mark had even appeared above the ruins.
As for the specifics, they actually knew very little and could only piece together scattered information from the Prophet.
Some witches and wizards even took pleasure in the misfortune of others, exposing their ugly nature without restraint while spreading malicious gossip about Albert and the brave heroes who stood up against the mysterious figure. It was truly disgusting.
However, everything changed starting tonight.
Not only had the Defense Association thwarted the mysterious figure's plot, but they had also successfully escaped Voldemort's attack unscathed. This certainly bruised the egos of those who had been jumping at their shadows.
Now, looking back, it felt utterly laughable.
Nevertheless, through this deadly attack, people truly recognized the strength of the Defense Association. They dared to confront the mysterious figure and his Death Eaters head-on, and even in the face of an ambush, they managed to evacuate calmly and without casualties from right under the infamous Dark Lord's nose. To this day, not a single member of the Defense Association had perished—a terrifying feat.
It was worth noting that the Defense Association had been in constant friction with the Death Eaters since its inception, yet not a single life had been lost.
"No, that statement is not entirely accurate. The association did suffer a loss once."
A slight smirk played on Lee Jordan's lips as he began to tell the audience about Mr. Thompson's glorious deeds.
Yes, our Mr. Thompson, instead of being grateful that we rescued him from prison, ignored our advice and took it upon himself to act foolishly. His stupid actions directly led to his capture by the mysterious figure soon after leaving the shelter. Not only did he seal his own fate, but he also endangered his son and inadvertently dragged the Defense Association into this mess, triggering this damned attack.
For the foolish Mr. Thompson, Lee Jordan bluntly labeled him as an idiot and a liability.
Of course, by bringing this up so freely in the broadcast, he was not only venting his frustration but also sending a warning to other families to not pull similar stunts, or they would suffer the same consequences as Mr. Thompson.
...
Lee Jordan was quite pleased with this lengthy broadcast announcing the "Defense Association's Return." He even made a little joke during the meeting.
"I wonder how many witches and wizards will dare to stand up against the mysterious figure after hearing tonight's broadcast?
"Forget it." Kenneth interrupted with a hint of annoyance. "I don't dare to even think about such a good thing. Having a teammate like that is too scary."
They were also aware of what had happened at the shelter, and everyone was gathered here tonight to discuss how to handle the situation.
Of course, even though it was described as a discussion, the decision had already been made. Tonight's deliberation was merely a display of unity and wise leadership for the Defense Association.
As expected, after some deliberation, everyone unanimously decided to temporarily erase the memories of those few relatives and send them out of the country.
Just as Kenneth had said, having teammates like that was too dangerous, and it was better to keep them at a distance.
Fortunately, Albert had a connection that could help resolve this issue quite perfectly. They could wait until after the war to find these people, restore their memories, and help the relatives regain their original lives instead of letting them become ticking time bombs. One such case was enough to serve as a cautionary tale for the world; there was no need for another.
The commotion caused by this attack also made them keenly aware of the malice that lurked in people's hearts.
As a result, they became even more stringent in their selection process for new members joining the Defense Association.
Among the witches and wizards who bravely stood up against the mysterious figure, how many could truly be relied upon? This was a question that needed to be carefully considered.
A slight trust crisis emerged between the two sides.
For those witches and wizards who genuinely wished to help, they could always join the shelter as reserve members and contribute to the fight against the mysterious figure.
Of course, this attack also served to strengthen the unity and cohesion within the Defense Association. The fact that they were able to escape unscathed from such a dangerous situation instilled everyone with confidence in Albert, believing that he would lead them to a glorious victory.
In fact, this influence extended beyond the Defense Association. Even the Dumbledore's Army members at the shelter, upon learning the truth about the entire incident from the broadcast, became eager to join the Defense Association.
Who wouldn't want to become a powerful wizard? They, too, wanted to be like Albert and bravely stand up against the mysterious figure in times of peril.
The Dumbledore's Army members who remained at Hogwarts were no exception. It was said that on the night they listened to the broadcast, they not only set off fireworks from the Astronomy Tower but also repeatedly shouted, "Snape eats poop!" throughout the castle, much to Snape's displeasure.
To everyone's astonishment, the Death Eaters didn't react at all, as if they didn't exist. They started to play dead, which surprised quite a few people.
As for the reason behind this, Albert had some idea. According to the latest intelligence from the Death Eaters, Voldemort had left Britain.
Without Voldemort's support, the Death Eaters naturally dared not continue their antics.
As for why Voldemort left Britain, it wasn't difficult to guess. In his last encounter with Albert, the infamous Dark Lord realized that his wand was a hindrance, and he became even more desperate to obtain the legendary Deathstick.
If he had possessed the Deathstick that night, he would have undoubtedly killed that Muggle-born.
What about killing Snape and taking control of the "Deathstick"? Voldemort had considered it, but he ultimately abandoned the idea because he needed Snape, or rather, he needed the Death Eaters.
If it had been in the past, Voldemort might have indeed killed Snape to gamble on whether his wand was the Deathstick. But now, with the presence of Albert Anderson, a formidable Muggle-born enemy with a large group of followers, Voldemort couldn't afford to have the Death Eaters turn against him.
Voldemort even experienced a rare moment of regret due to Albert's influence. He regretted not paying attention to his old companions, as the new Death Eaters were not very useful. Now, only a handful of his old allies remained by his side.
(End of Chapter)
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