Chapter 81 The 'We're Still Alive' Club
Lyall Lupin was a staunch pro-Muggle advocate; his wife was a Muggle who worked in insurance.
In fact, almost all members of the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance were pro-Muggle.
However, unlike the political narratives of the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters, which focused primarily on "Muggle-born wizards," the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance's "pro-Muggle" stance was literally about being close to Muggles.
They generally regarded Muggles as fellow humans, believing that the differences between wizards and Muggles were no different from distinctions like nationality or skin color.
For example, Gilderoy Lockhart, a famous honorary member, stated quite plainly in his book that his greatest dream was for magical and non-magical people to coexist harmoniously.
(His fan, Hermione, had this part memorized.)
Because of this, the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance, compared to politically-oriented organizations like the Order of the Phoenix, found it easier to gain favor and funding from various Ministries of Magic and society at large.
Of course, sometimes they were quite a headache.
These highly-esteemed magical masters, with nothing better to do, spent their days engaging in lofty discussions and speaking their minds freely. Consequently, the Alliance harbored all sorts of peculiar small clubs.
One such club constantly advocated, in various settings, for Ministries of Magic to strictly restrict Aurors from using Obliviate on Muggles at will.
It was precisely this widespread, high regard for the "human" collective that made the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance members' attitudes towards "non-human collectives" even worse than those of ordinary wizards.
For instance, the theme of this gathering, celebrating the 380th anniversary of the failed Goblin Rebellions, was held in Hogsmeade Village, the former Goblin headquarters. The specific party venue was even set at the "Hog's Head Inn," built on the former site of the Goblin Rebellion's command center. This was akin to dancing on a grave.
With this clear understanding, it became evident which group was the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance's greatest enemy.
Werewolves!
Because in this world, only werewolves caused people to be stripped of their humanity, unless one was willing to accept that werewolves were also human.
In fact, some members were already trying to bring about such a legal determination—to classify werewolves as part of the human collective.
Among the small clubs advocating for this principle was Lyall Lupin.
A Dark Arts creature expert who had detested werewolves for most of his life.
Having offended the werewolf Fenrir Greyback, his young son was bitten and infected with lycanthropy, turning him into a werewolf. From then on, his happy and fulfilling life became filled with bitterness.
Lockhart had a good relationship with Lyall. He understood very well which groups to join to gain broader support from readers and fans, so he was also a member of this small club.
Being well-connected was no idle boast.
Lockhart and Dumbledore arrived at the Hog's Head Inn in Hogsmeade Village, where they happened upon Lyall Lupin chatting with the barman, Aberforth Dumbledore.
"Hey, Gilderoy!" Lyall enthusiastically handed them two cups of yellowish ale from the table. "Madam Merriweather's looking for you!"
Galatea Merriweather, a retired Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, taught for nearly 50 years, with students including the Dumbledore brothers, Minerva McGonagall, Horace Slughorn, and Tom Riddle...
Her seniority was exceptionally high.
Old Dumbledore was also curious why his old friend sought Lockhart. Seeing Lockhart's puzzled expression, he accepted his drink and casually asked, "What does Madam Merriweather want with him?"
Aberforth, standing nearby, sneered at old Dumbledore, saying in a strange, mocking tone, "You wouldn't want to know."
Lyall clearly realized that discussing this in front of Dumbledore was somewhat inappropriate, but seeing those questioning eyes, not saying anything seemed to imply deliberate concealment.
He had no choice but to awkwardly explain, "Madam Merriweather intends to invite Gilderoy to join her club. It's... it's a fraternity for past Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professors."
One thing needed to be clear: the curse the Dark Lord Voldemort placed on the Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship specifically stated that "all professors holding that subject would be unable to stay in post for more than one year due to various reasons," not that the professors would directly die in office.
Before the previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Quirinus Quirrell, there were no records of professors dying in office.
From 1956, when the position was cursed, until now, Hogwarts had replaced over thirty Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. Adding the professors before Tom cast the curse, there were enough to form a small club.
Dumbledore's expression was a bit strange. He vaguely guessed that the existence of this club might not be good news for him.
Aberforth nearby suddenly burst out laughing, a mischievous chuckle. "Hahahaha, Albus, you know what, hahahaha, the club's name is, hahahaha, it's called 'We're Still Alive,' hahahaha..."
"It was... hahahaha... established after Quirinus Quirrell died in office!"
"!!!"
Funny?
Dumbledore didn't find it funny at all.
He only felt a headache. The club's name would undoubtedly pose a great challenge to his continued search for a successor to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship at Hogwarts.
But what could he do?
Discuss with Madam Merriweather about changing her club's name?
Oh, Merlin's pink hairpins, that probably wouldn't work. Madam Merriweather, that stubborn old witch, wouldn't listen to his resolve.
Lockhart, however, had no such worries. Instead, he looked forward to such a group being able to better help him collect Dark magical creatures.
Lyall Lupin led him to a corner of the Hog's Head Inn, where some space-expanding magic had clearly been temporarily cast to accommodate such a large organizational gathering. They walked for quite a while.
Madam Merriweather was a kindly-looking old witch. The other members of the "We're Still Alive" club also seemed very distinguished. Everyone appeared to welcome his arrival, and within a few words, they raised their glasses together in celebration.
They even encouraged him, the young man, hoping he would persevere and not die in office like the previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Quirinus Quirrell.
Lockhart quickly noticed the difference between this small group and other members of the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance.
Compared to the typical scholarly personality of someone like Lyall Lupin, these individuals who had served as Defense Against the Dark Arts professors generally seemed more "wild."
Or rather, it was the difference between academics and practical combatants.
This difference, rather than being a change brought about by serving as a professor for a year, was more likely Dumbledore's preference when selecting Defense Against the Dark Arts professors.
He carefully recalled Hogwarts' professor lineup and was startled to realize that, aside from Professor Kettleburn of Care of Magical Creatures, they were all indeed practical combatants.
Even the Divination professor was like that.
In other words, he really had found the right organization; these people were undoubtedly the ones who could truly help him find Dark magical creatures.
"We're family, after all." One elegantly dressed old wizard in a three-piece suit chuckled, sharing the cigars he had brought, and looked at Lockhart. "Young man, everyone here is concerned about your situation at Hogwarts. If there's anything you need help with, just say it. We help each other out; that's how a club stays active."
Of course, he needed help!
Lockhart's eyes lit up. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt the Boggart in his wizard's robes stirring restlessly. He thought for a moment, and some terrifying images and emotions began to surface in his mind.
Soon, the Boggart transformed into a pale, shriveled arm with sharp black fingernails, clutching him inside his robes.
The Dark magical creature it had now transformed into had a very unique ability: upon touching a human, it would generate terrible wailing sounds in their mind.
Such a clever use allowed the Boggart to secretly convey messages to him.
The Boggart said, "Alert! This wizard has extreme hostility towards you! Only he has hostility towards you, this is very unusual!"
"!!!"
Lockhart's heart tightened, but he kept a calm expression, smiling and responding, waving his hands as he began to expound on his innovative adventure activities, and loudly spoke at length about how his favorite student, Harry Potter, respected him.
Indeed!
When he mentioned Harry Potter, the old wizard's hostility increased again!
Death Eater? Or another follower of the Dark Lord?
Soon, Lockhart learned the old wizard's name from others: Corban Yaxley.
Born into one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families, owner of a dragon reserve, a wand material supply forest, and the global clothing brand "Twilfitt and Tatting's" wizarding robes chain, he had served a short term as a professor during Headmaster Armando Dippet's time, was a high-ranking Ministry official, and a member of the Wizengamot.
Of course, he had other identities.
Like a Death Eater!
In the original story, he was one of the members who participated in Dumbledore's murder. After Voldemort's return, he rose to the position of Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement (which included the Auror Office, Wizengamot Administration, etc.).