"No wonder magical Britain has remained stagnant for centuries while the rest of the world moves forward," Maverick said as Lord Greengrass finished speaking. "Clinging to outdated traditions, trapped in the same petty conflicts."
Lord Greengrass frowned. "I am not sure I follow."
Maverick met his gaze. "You said it yourself—one side is corrupt, and the other is so self-righteous that they refuse to acknowledge anything useful the corrupt faction proposes. Even when an idea could benefit the community, they bury it out of sheer stubbornness. It is not about what is right or wrong... it is about ego... That is why nothing ever changes." He let out a scoff. "Tell me, Lord Greengrass, how can anything progress when both sides refuse to cooperate?"
Lord Greengrass exhaled while nodding slightly, seemingly agreeing with what had been said. But his next words made the man's face darken like the bottom of a burnt pot.
"And then there is your so-called neutral faction. You sit between these two sides, watching them tear each other down, but what have you done to change anything?"
Lord Greengrass blinked at a loss for words. How had everything ended up becoming the fault of his faction?
Maverick continued without paying any mind to the man's expression. "You claim neutrality, but all you have done is maintain a deadlock. You keep the balance, but a balance between what? Corruption and self-righteousness? Stagnation and infighting?"
Lord Greengrass's face darkened more with every word Maverick spoke. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"I am saying exactly what it sounds like," Maverick answered without hesitation.
Lord Greengrass did not back down. "You speak as if we have another option," he said firmly. "Let me remind you again... we do not have a powerful backer like the other factions. Dumbledore's faction has him, his title as an Archmage. The nobles have their Great Magi, their ancient bloodlines, and their wealth. What do we have?"
"Wealth? Yes, but they have more. Ancient bloodlines? So do they. Influence? A handful of Wizengamot seats, nothing more. That is not enough to compete with real power."
Maverick let out a short laugh. "And you expect me to believe that in all these decades, not a single Great Magus shared your ideals? Or rather, not one talented wizard could have been nurtured by you?" He shook his head, unimpressed. "This isn't about a lack of opportunity—it's a failure to act..."
Lord Greengrass remained silent. There was nothing he could say.
Maverick pressed his point more. "The nobles and Dumbledore allow your faction to exist because you're useful. You keep the scales from tipping too far in either direction. But that is all you are... a tool to maintain the status quo. You are not a force of your own. Frankly, you do not hold any real power."
He leaned forward. "So tell me, Lord Greengrass... how long do you think you can stay useful before they decide they no longer need you?"
A shadow crossed the older man's face. He had no answer, and a heavy silence filled the room as he struggled to process everything that had been said.
Finally, he let out a long exhale and sank deeper into his chair, as if he had pieced something together. "Since you have taken the time to so thoroughly expose the flaws we have ignored, I assume you have a solution." His voice remained measured, but there was a clear sense of caution. "I believe I understand now why you came here—and what this so-called deal of yours truly is."
Maverick leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "Yes."
Lord Greengrass studied him, searching his face for any sign of deception. "Are you offering to be our backer?"
Maverick shook his head. "No, Lord Greengrass. I do not want to be your backer. I want to be your leader." His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable finality in his tone. "If I am going to raise your faction above the others, I demand absolute obedience. No divided loyalties, no hesitation. You will be my spokesperson, and you will make your lords fall in line."
A flicker of disbelief crossed Lord Greengrass's face. "You... do not bother with pretense, do you?"
"I am not here to play house of cards, Lord Greengrass. I am here to tear it down and build something unshakable."
"I see..." Lord Greengrass murmured. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest. "And you expect the lords of my faction to submit without resistance? To abandon the neutrality that has safeguarded us for generations?"
Maverick met his gaze without wavering. "I expect them to recognize an opportunity." He leaned forward, his voice steady and deliberate. "Neutrality has not protected you—it has made you weak. But I am offering you something neither Dumbledore nor the noble faction ever would. Power."
Lord Greengrass narrowed his eyes. "And you believe you can give us that?"
Maverick exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Not believe. I can give you power." His expression turned colder. "I can ensure that any side that dares to oppose you stops before they ever become a threat. I can give you influence, real influence, not just a few Wizengamot seats with no real weight behind them." His eyes locked onto Lord Greengrass. "This is a win-win for you. You keep your noble status, your wealth grows, and your faction finally becomes relevant. All I demand in return is obedience."
He paused before adding, "Besides, you must be aware of the Hogwarts headmaster's condition."
Lord Greengrass raised an eyebrow. "I have heard rumors… but nothing confirmed. Are you telling me they are true?"
Maverick nodded. "Four, maybe five years. Unless he finds a cure, his days are numbered. That is why Fudge and the nobles who put him in power have been growing bolder—discriminating against Muggle-borns outright, as if we are still living in the Middle Ages."
He leaned forward slightly. "If that old man were to pass, I have no doubt this country would take a thousand steps backward."
"Dumbledore may be an obstacle to progress because of his stubborn ideals, but there is no denying that he is the only reason the backward nobles are kept in check."
"But regardless of whether Dumbledore finds a cure or not, I intend to clean out this country's magical hierarchy—him included. The nobles, the Ministry, and the old ways that keep us shackled. All of it."
....
Lord Greengrass studied him carefully, as if he were looking at a madman. He had doubts—of course he did. Whether Maverick was an Archmage or not, pulling off something of this scale in a few years was beyond reckless.
If Maverick had presented a long-term strategy, a roadmap spanning a decade or more, it would have been more believable. But within just a few years, before the only other Archmage in the country supposedly died? That was hard to believe.
Brute force was always an option—eliminate those in the way and seize power. He could have simply crushed anyone in his way, but that would be the fastest way for the world to brand him a Dark Lord. But he did not believe a dignified master alchemist, a Hogwarts professor, and the student of another Archmage would resort to such crude methods and tarnish his own image.
If this young man had no plan beyond raw power, then there was no reason for this conversation in the first place. Yet here he was, sitting across from him, negotiating—well, sort of. Either way, it meant he sought something more than mere domination.
And yet, if he did manage to succeed, and if Greengrass aligned himself with him—no, submitted to him—the benefits would be undeniable.
However one question still nagged at him. Why?
What could this young man possibly gain? He was already an Arch-Magus, standing at the peak of magical power. He was building a successful business, ensuring he would never lack wealth. As a master alchemist, he commanded influence few could ignore. So what benefit was there in seizing control of a country's leadership?
And more importantly, why did it feel like he was in a hurry—like something big was coming?
He exhaled slowly. If he was going to step onto this ship, he needed to know where it was heading.
"Everything you have said makes sense. But why the urgency? If I am to submit to you, at least tell me—what do you stand to gain from all of this?"
Maverick met his gaze, unbothered by the scrutiny. The old man was sharp, but he was not outright rejecting him. That was a start. And there was no point in hiding the truth.
"Are you aware that, at the rate Muggles are advancing, the Statute of Secrecy will not remain a secret much longer?"
Lord Greengrass frowned slightly. The Statute of Secrecy? How had the conversation veered into something so seemingly unrelated?
Maverick chuckled at Lord Greengrass's confusion. He leaned back in his chair with a smirk, then raised a hand and snapped his fingers. The air around them rippled and the illusion spell took shape, displaying images unfamiliar to any wizard who had not studied the Muggle world.
"This is a satellite," he said as a metal construct appeared, floating against a backdrop of stars. "Muggles use these to monitor the planet from space. They can see cities, forests, even people from miles above. Right now, they are not looking for us. But they could."
The image shifted, showing a group of people staring at glowing screens, tracking movements in real-time.
"They have cameras everywhere. On streets, inside shops, even in their homes. Some can zoom in from miles away, capturing the smallest details. The Muggle world is no longer blind. They record everything."
The illusion changed again, showing a bustling cityscape at night, the streets flooded with light. Then, it zoomed in, highlighting a small group of wizards Apparating into an alley. A second later, a security camera's red light blinked in the corner.
"How long before they start noticing inconsistencies? How long before one of their machines records something magic cannot erase?"
Lord Greengrass watched the display with a deepening frown.
"The ICW has dealt with breaches before," he countered. "That is what the Obliviators are for."
Maverick let out a short laugh. "And how long before the Obliviators can no longer keep up? Look at the sheer scale of the Muggle world. Nearly eight billion people, and soon, more than half of them will walk around with these—" he snapped his fingers, conjuring the image of a sleek, rectangular device.
Lord Greengrass studied it warily. "A Muggle artifact?"
"A smartphone," Maverick corrected. "A device that records, communicates, and instantly shares information across the world. It is not perfect yet, but in less than a decade, it will be. I know this because my business in the Muggle world is also involved in its development."
Lord Greengrass raised a brow.
"My point is," Maverick continued, "if even one person captures undeniable proof of magic and uploads it, millions will see it before the Obliviators can react. And it will not stop there. Muggles document everything. They analyze, investigate, and spread information faster than wizards can ever hope to control."
The illusion changed again, showing news reporters discussing a strange event, scientists dissecting footage, and government officials debating in a large hall.
"Once the Muggles know we exist, they will not just accept it and move on. Some will panic. Some will try to expose more. Some will want to control us.
Of course, they cannot. In reality, Muggle governments already know about our world, and there is an agreement in place. But that does not mean every scientist or ambitious fool will abide by those rules. Just like the Muggle mutants, wizards will become their next obsession... anomalies to be studied, weapons to be controlled.
And when that happens, conflict will be inevitable. The moment our world is forced into the light, everything changes."
The illusion faded, leaving only the dim glow of the fireplace between them. Lord Greengrass sat frozen, his face changing through shock, fear, and disbelief as he processed what he had just seen.
Maverick watched him closely. "You think I am wrong?"
The older wizard shook his head after a while, but his voice was quieter now. "I think I have never considered how close we truly are to the edge."
Lord Greengrass raised his head and met Maverick's gaze. "I understand. If that day comes and this country's leadership remains as it is, I don't need to spell out the chaos that would follow. It would be two extremes colliding."
He paused, then hummed, as if piecing together Maverick's true intentions. "So your plan is to take control of the country's leadership and prepare for it? To educate the public beforehand, soften the impact, and prevent disaster?"
Maverick let out a low laugh, making the old wizard frown in confusion. He shook his head. "You are right. I will educate the public. In fact, I've already started with the children of Hogwarts. And when I have enough influence over this country's leadership, I will begin educating broader, teaching the wizarding community as a whole about Muggles and their science."
He paused. His voice turned icy cold. "But."
Lord Greengrass stiffened as he felt the shift in tone.
"I have no intention of waiting for the Statute of Secrecy to collapse because of some accident."
The older wizard's eyes widened. "You mean—"
"Yes," Maverick said without hesitation.
"You're... mad," Greengrass muttered, unable to hold back the words.
—————————
Author's Note:
Just a quick update — up to Chapter 153 is already available on P AT r30n!
PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic