FOR THE GREATER GOOD
Out of Character
Albus Dumbledore lost his duel against the Dark Lord Grindelwald in 1945, who maintained his Mastery over the Elder Wand. As a result, Grindelwald's forces - both Magical and their Muggle puppets - won the war for Europe. Dumbledore did not die, and indeed was rescued from Nurmengard, but this bitter defeat forced the man into hiding.
In 1946, the Statute of Secrecy was destroyed rather permanently as the Dark Lord personally oversaw the destruction of Muggle governments, and the various Magical Ministries of Europe unite under his organization into the First Magical Empire. Grindelwald's Empire eventually stormed the British Isles, and with the assistance of the local blood purists united under the leadership of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, the Empire was victorious.
The International Confederation of Wizards sued the Empire for peace, even as they forged tentative alliances with their Muggle governments because of the Statute's breaking. Grindelwald instead forced the ICW into agreeing that any Magical Ministry who wished to join his Empire could do so freely - and many did, whether out of fear or out of genuine desire to be free from their Muggle governments and be open about their Magic.
By 1950, the First Magical Empire came to cover most of the eastern hemisphere - with the Dark Lord Grindelwald at its head. Under the Empire, there has come to be a certain hierarchy in society: Muggles at the lowest rung, and Purebloods at the top.
Meanwhile, Albus Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix have begun sponsoring various Magical and Muggle resistance groups within the Empire's territory - they are known about by both the ICW, United Free Nations (their Muggle counterpart for the Americas), and the First Magical Empire.
Gellert Grindelwald believes that this society will eventually achieve humanity's greatest feats, and so for the Greater Good, he waits for the day his Empire reigns over the Earth - supreme and whole.
But, for Albus Dumbledore, his greatest failure has cost most of the world its freedom - and so it is for the Greater Good that he and his Order continue to help those oppressed peoples' fight against Grindelwald's regime...
Book I: Reign
Gellert Grindelwald
Nurmengard Castle, Austrian Magical State, Deutscher Zauberund (“German Magical Alliance”)
Capital of the First Magical Empire
January 1, 1981
Gellert Grindelwald
Nurmengard Castle, Austrian Magical State, Deutscher Zauberund (“German Magical Alliance”)
Capital of the First Magical Empire
January 1, 1981
It had been many years since Gellert's final victory. The German Magical Alliance was, effectively, the leadership and capital state of his Empire. While Nurmengard was not the “official” capital of the German state, it was the true capital - just as Nurmengard acted as the nerve center of the Empire when Gellert called forth his inner circle.
In thinking of his inner circle, Gellert decided that - as it was now the first day of the new year - it was time to summon them to discuss the happenings of the last month, as well as a review of the year. It would also be prudent to inform some of them of what he had Seen, considering the fact that he had formed a Prophecy - one which he guarded, here, at Nurmengard. The Prophecy, on his review of it, had to do with him and the Empire at large.
Namely, it spoke of the Final Confrontation - that much, Gellert knew for certain. It did not reveal who the victor would be, or the conditions under which it would occur - just that the Final Confrontation was approaching. At a more liberal guess, Gellert supposed his Sight could be suggesting it would occur at the end of the decade. But, the more conservative and paranoid part of the Dark Lord felt that it was entirely possible that it could mean within the next year, if not the one after.
Regardless, that and many other things had to be discussed. And so:
“Expecto Patronum,” the Dark Lord murmured. His Patronus was fuelled by the memory of his victory. One of his happiest moments, it had changed his Patronus from when it had been fuelled by memories of his time with Albus. Gellert's Patronus was once a Phoenix, like Albus' familiar. But now, it was an Augurey. The silver animal split into many as he gave his order: “Go to my people, and deliver this to them: You are summoned to Nurmengard. The yearly review is to commence soon. Use your Portkey, as it is tuned into the wards of the Castle. The password for today is Victoria.”
With that, the many Patroni set off to deliver the messages - vanishing as they did so. Gellert turned and went to his dining room, where his friends and allies would arrive for the meeting upon being Portkeyed. The House Elves knew what to do, and he had the Elder Wand prepared in case of someone managing to intrude.
Gellert smiled as he sat at the head of the table, waiting for the arrival of his fellow heads.