Chapter 1450: Stirrings
Chapter 1450: Stirrings
If Albert knew what Snape was thinking, he would have surely scorned him directly.
How dare you, a deceitful, despicable, and shameless spy, accuse others?
Moreover, Albert had nothing to do with this matter. He was aware of the Death Eaters' plan to exploit the chaos in the wizarding world to target members of the Defense Association, which was why he had advised everyone against getting involved.
As for why he didn't interfere through Yaxley, anyone who thought that way must have had their brain jammed in a door.
It was nearly impossible to change the Death Eaters' unanimous decision, even if Yaxley was Voldemort's right-hand man. Instead, it would easily arouse suspicion and expose the fact that Yaxley was being controlled by the Imperius Curse, a foolish move that would bring more harm than good.
So, upon receiving Yaxley's message, Albert simply feigned ignorance.
It was almost impossible to stop the current chaotic situation, and Albert should even be glad about it, as it would likely force most wizards to turn to them.
Like a whip, the Dark Wizards lashed at the British wizarding community, forcing the majority of wizards to strive for self-preservation. This was undoubtedly a scenario Albert was pleased to see, and it was no wonder that Snape suspected him of being the mastermind behind it all.
However, he really wasn't; he couldn't even be considered a participant, merely a spectator.
"I know what you're thinking, but it has been confirmed that this is a Death Eater plot targeting us. Are you sure you want to walk right into their trap?" Albert put down his quill and looked up at the group of Defense Association members who had come to him. In a calm tone, he reminded them, "Once you step into the trap, even with your training, you won't stand a chance against the Death Eaters. Failure and losing your lives will be the inevitable outcome."
"But...are we just going to do nothing?" a Hufflepuff student couldn't help but ask.
"We are not saviors, and we only offer help to those who are willing to help themselves. Do you understand what I mean?"
Albert couldn't comprehend where their sense of justice came from. Was it because this matter had affected their interests or because they had led too comfortable lives?
"According to the latest information I've received, the mysterious person intends to select a new batch of Death Eaters to counter us, and they will be chosen from among the Dark Wizards. This is the source of the current madness in the wizarding world," Albert explained. "As a result, half of the current Death Eaters will be dismissed, which has driven those desperate to retain their status to go crazy. They are eager to prove their worth to the mysterious person by capturing or killing one of us, thus securing their position as a Death Eater. If you get involved in this storm, you will not only face Dark Wizards but also a group of insane individuals."
Albert turned his head towards the oppressive clouds outside the window and continued, "To be honest, I don't want you to get involved in this mess. This isn't even your problem to worry about. Remember, the Ministry of Magic has a group of Aurors, and they are not weak. They have ample experience dealing with Dark Wizards, and it wouldn't be difficult to gradually curb the spread of chaos. Yet, the Aurors are turning a blind eye to the turmoil in the British wizarding community."
The group exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
In the end, they didn't dwell on the matter further. After all, Albert was only considering their safety when he asked them to stay out of it, just as he had said—the British wizarding community wasn't powerless, but those with the ability to stop the chaos were standing by and even fueling the fire.
"It seems you've successfully convinced them," Sana said as she placed a cup of tea in front of Albert and watched the group leave. With a smile, she added, "To be honest, I'm also curious about what they're thinking, allowing the entire British wizarding community to descend into this mess."
"What are they thinking?" Albert chuckled, leaving Sana beside him puzzled.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"They're obviously thinking about what benefits them," Albert replied. "The mysterious person probably wants to cause me some trouble and find more reliable servants for himself. As for the Death Eaters, they just don't want to be removed from the Death Eater roster, so they're trying everything to prove they're not worthless. The best way to do that is by capturing or killing one of us. If they achieve some results, they can stand out among their peers and secure their position."
He paused, then continued, "The wizarding world is like a stirred-up pond right now, and the Death Eaters are using our kindness to fish for prey. If we show ourselves now and don't move fast enough, we'll likely lose eight out of ten people. Even though our members are strong, if we're targeted by a group, our chances of winning aren't high."
Sana fell silent for a moment before speaking softly, "Those Death Eaters truly deserve to die."
"I agree," Albert said, a contemptuous smile playing at his lips. "But believe me, even if we eventually win this Wizarding War, people will probably think they should be imprisoned rather than executed, making them pay for their crimes. I wonder if this painful lesson will change their way of thinking."
"I'm just worried that someone might take the bait, especially since most members of the association have their own families. It's hard for them to ignore it," Sana said, not very optimistic about the situation. Especially with the previous case of Death Eaters taking association members' families as hostages, who knew if the Death Eaters would try something similar again.
"There's only so much we can do," Albert said. "If those persecuted wizards lack the courage to stand up and fight, then they deserve to be robbed."
Albert's words made Sana glance at him, but what he said made sense. They really couldn't provide much help, and most of the time, it was up to the wizards themselves.
This matter had caused quite a stir within the Defense Association, and if not for Albert's restraint, many members would have likely formed hunting squads for Dark Wizards.
But Dark Wizards weren't made of mud; they might succeed once or twice, but after a few times, they would become prey themselves.
Even though many had suggested joining forces with the Order of the Phoenix, they hadn't received Albert's approval. Despite some grumbling within the association, no one dared to act on their own.
Over the past days, Albert had proven time and again with countless examples that his decisions were right, and it was in their best interest to listen to him rather than foolishly act on their own.
(End of Chapter)
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