Chapter 85: Interview Pt. 2
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"That's right, readers; we are currently on location in Diagon Alley where Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary used to be, and as you can see, this place is unlike any other," Rita turned to gesture at the store around them as the cameras panned along capturing the interior, "But it's not just looks that separates this store from the rest. Just moments before this interview, Lord Fae gave me a personal demonstration of how one can purchase any item with relative ease without having to wait in line or browse disorganized shelves looking for that one specific ingredient. Take a look now."
"Footage will be added in post; cut to right after," a crew member called out, cueing Rita to transition without missing a moment.
"Now, isn't that something!" Rita beamed as she turned back to Thane, "I wish all shopping were that easy. Lord Fae, Is there any way you can tell us how you implemented such an innovative solution? I've never seen magic quite like it before?"
"I'm afraid not, and please feel free to drop the honorifics," Thane replied, "The magic on display here at Fae's Apothecary is the result of my personal endeavors and countless hours of research."
Rita leaned in at that, "So you're saying that you, yourself, a second year at Hogwarts, created this spell?"
Thane shook his head, "What I have created is not a simple spell or charm but an entirely new branch of magic, and what you've seen today is only a mere fraction of its capabilities. I wholeheartedly believe that the impact of my creation, once fully implemented, will have the same impact on the wizarding world as the Industrial Revolution had on the muggles."
Silence rang after Thane's proclamation, leaving Rita stunned, though she quickly cleared her throat to recover, "I-I'm sorry, you caught me off guard. Do you truly believe that-"
"Yes, I do," Thane interrupted, cutting Rita off as he sat up in his seat. He made full use of his imposing figure as his once easygoing smile disappeared from his face, "Another thing future patrons of Fae's Apothecary will notice is not only our wide array of herbs but their discounted price, currently at an average of thirty percent of current market rates—another direct result of my magic."
Rita's brow furrowed at Thane's sudden shift from polite and easygoing to almost overbearing, but she kept her smile, "I see. That is quite an accomplishment. But surely, Thane, you are aware that any new implementation of magic on the scale you imagine must go through strict screening by the Ministry of Magic. A process that can take years or even decades-"
"I understand that wholeheartedly, Rita," Thane spoke up again, "Which is why at the upcoming Wizengamot, I will propose a bill aimed at restricting the administrative powers of the Ministry."
Once more, silence rang after Thane's words, but compared to the earlier disbelief, people were stunned as Thane announced his plan to take on the Government itself.
"W-what?!" Rita stammered, her permanent smile replaced with a look of absolute confusion and shock, "C-certainly you don't mean."
"I am wholly capable of understanding the significance of my words," Thane replied, his tone cold and hard as he crossed his legs and clasped his hands together, "But I'll repeat myself plainly for those who might misinterpret what I said. I am not calling for a complete removal of the Ministry's oversight; however, I believe their current absolute administrative power is stifling the growth and evolution of magic."
When Rita didn't raise her voice, Thane continued, "You must understand that despite my current position, I was raised as a muggle ignorant of the Wizarding World. But I was not ignorant of magic. From my earliest memory, I have been aware of it. I could feel the mana in my body as clearly as the pounding of my heart. I understood that the power I held was limitless, with an infinite number of applications and possibilities. So imagine my joy when I discover an entire world full of people like me who have had centuries to discover the secrets of this mysterious power. Needless to say, my joy didn't last long as I realized just how little Britain's Wizarding society had progressed compared to the muggle world."
"Are you saying that muggles have accomplished more than wizards?" Rita asked with narrowed eyes. While she didn't care, Thane was broaching a subject that could alienate him from a large majority of the wizarding community.
"While I don't think there is a direct comparison to be made, I must admit that despite their lack of magic, muggles have accomplished a great deal. In contrast, I believe the wizarding world has stagnated, and I can't help but wonder how much time we have before muggle ingenuity rivals our shallow understanding of magic." Thane spoke solemnly as if imagining a terrible future, and a far-off look in his eyes called for those watching to join him in gazing on a world where magic became secondary, "I understand that the Ministry's Laws seek to protect the muggle world from discovering the existence of magic, but such laws were made out of cowardice during a time of persecution. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have let fear cripple us into inaction, believing that if muggles were to learn of magic, it would spell the end of our kind. However, if we were to embrace magic, the lifeblood of Wizardingkind, we may finally free ourselves from a prison of our own creation."
For the third time, Thane's words were met with silence, but after a brief pause, one of the camera operators began to clap, followed by another, then another. Before long, the store was drowning with applause, and Thane dipped his head in gratitude while Rita stared at him unblinkingly.
Rita had agreed to the interview, believing that Thane thought he could bribe her into shamelessly endorsing his business with her platform. But now she realized that Thane had planned out every detail from the beginning, 'Advertising the store was never his objective.'
Looking into Thane's deep green eyes, Rita couldn't help but flinch as they glanced at her. Thane's gaze was steady and unreadable, that of a seasoned politician who could whip the sleepy public up into arms or tranquilize a raging mob all with his words. Combined with the terrifying prospect that Thane had indeed invented an entirely new branch of magic made for a dangerous figure, for the power he wielded personally, financially, and socially.
And at that moment, Rita understood why Thane had offered her a position; it was an opportunity to ensure that she would be standing on the right side of history as the force that was Thane Fae swept across the world like a storm.