I Was Talking Over Dinner Over The HP World Building / Plot, Mainly Missed Opportunities, And I Feel

I was talking over dinner over the HP world building / plot, mainly missed opportunities, and I feel like sharing one main point here: the wizards already live in a dystopia.

Wizard dystopia evidence:

Small society with little cultural diversity. There are other cultures referenced but they never play a large role, there’s this sense of Brit wizard exceptionalism that infects not only their relations with muggles but with foreign wizards too. Even when shit gets dire they don’t really call in allies for help or anything.

They have slaves and defend it as something the house elves prefer (+ Hermione is given the villain-with-a-point treatment in her efforts to free them; she is well meaning but her methods are Too Much and she doesn’t really Get It)

Second class citizens (particularly thinking goblins) are looked down upon and there is an extended history of them attempting to rise up and being defeated. This also goes for squibs (well, not the rising up, but).

Widespread racism - towards goblins, werewolves, centaurs, muggles… a lot of this is institutionalized or supported by society at large even if not officially approved of (think goblin statue in MoM lobby, werewolf treatment, the emphasis on being pureblood even in ‘nicer’ families).

Lack of proper education - the ‘best school’ has a lot of unqualified teachers working there but even beyond that there doesn’t appear to be any further education after 17, and especially with regards to the muggle world even so-called enthusiasts like Mr. Weasley and the Muggle Studies teacher don’t seem to know what the hell they’re talking about

Resistance to new ideas - goes hand in hand with some others here, but their world is steeped in tradition at the cost of innovation. They use candles and quills and fear of the Other is a major part of everyone’s life. They are highly selective about who can know about them and limit what change they can make.

Only ONE real source of news. No other newspapers we really hear of besides the universally-derided Quibbler. We also know for a fact the government has their hands firmly in the Daily Prophet.

Corrupt government - shows up strong in later books but is present from the start via the Malfoys clearly buying their way and also through the…

Harsh punishments for lawbreakers - Azkaban is pretty brutal and there is not much evidence of a more minor punishment beyond like… fines. We know from that the government has just skipped trials when it wanted to, and even the trials it gives don’t seem especially fair or thorough

At the very least, this society is highly flawed. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with this set up. It’s great, even. Except for one detail…

Voldemort represents change. And he is the enemy.

What I mean by this is that he shakes up the status quo. Everyone seems horrified at him killing Muggles because of a combination of patronizing pity (“those poor helpless muggles can’t defend themselves”) and xenophobic fear (“if he reveals us to them we could all die”). There isn’t widespread societal hatred of his message that wizards are superior so much as there is to his methods. Some of which include things like giving power to second-class citizens like werewolves, for example. Sure, our heroes all know that his message is Wrong, not just his methods.

But Harry was abused by muggles and dives right into the escape of the Wizarding world. Hermione longs to be accepted and her hangups tend to get punished by the story (making them character flaws or moments of humor), until there’s even a scene where she fully cuts ties with her roots. Even exceptions to the rule (werewolves are horrible predators, but Lupin is a great guy. Giants are seen as violent beasts and half-giants discriminated against, but Hagrid is a true friend.) seem to only emphasize the rule itself by being the only exception and even having reinforcing events around those 'good’ characters. (Fenrir Grayback revels in being a beast and leads a whole pack of like-minded werewolves, and even Lupin has put people in danger multiple times. The giants sided with Voldemort/beat up Hagrid with even his brother being so dangerous he had to be tied up, and Hagrid himself has an affinity to dangerous creatures that has put being in danger several times.) These aren’t one to one comparisons but overall the impression you get is of exceptions while the norm isn’t really challenged.

And since Voldemort, who breaks the rules of the Wizarding society, is the villain, our heroes become representatives of returning the world to the way it was before he ruined everything. Their grand victory in the end is nothing more than a return to the status quo, at least on a textual level. Maybe Hermione becomes Minister of Magic but as far as I recall we don’t hear about all the house elves being freed or the goblins getting a fair shake.

And since the world is already pretty much a dystopia, albeit one with fun magic flavoring, this victory doesn’t make anyone really better off. If they had defeated Voldemort using Muggle tech or unconventional thinking or something, that would have helped to lead to a story of change. But they instead used old magic, pretty much, and let things go back to the way they used to be. There is no forward progress in the end. No true overhauling of the corrupt system.

Phantom Thief Hanako-kun AU Story: Chapter 4 - The Heist

Hey guys! Thanks for your patience! Life gets busy.

Enjoy!

—

-Previously in the last chapter…

-Yashiro and Tsuchigomori discovered Detective Three′s corpse at the crime scene

-Believing Hanako to be innocent, Yashiro took on the case to clear his name

-And a heist note had been delivered. Hanako planned to steal the moon.

-So what happens now?

-Next morning, Yashiro went to Tsuchigomori’s detective agency as usual

-To find Teru and Kou there discussing with Tsuchigomori

-Teru: “We appreciate if you could cooperate, Detective Tsuchigomori. The police force would like all the help we could get.”

Tsuchigomori: “Ugh.”

Yashiro: “What’s going on here?”

Kou: “Ah Senpai! Good morning!”

Yashiro: “Kou-kun! Good morning!”

Kou: “We’re discussing about the heist that’s happening tonight! We’re gathering information to capture Hanako!”

Yashiro: “Ah. Kou-kun, could you come here for a second?”

Kou: “Hm?”

-Yashiro dragged Kou out of earshot from the other two and whispered to him

-Yashiro: “Listen, do you think you could distract your brother during the heist? I don’t want him capturing Hanako. At least not yet.”

-Kou: “What? Why not, Senpai?”

-Yashiro: “Detective Three’s been murdered. Hanako is being suspected but I know it’s not him. If the police gets him, I wouldn’t be able to interrogate him.”

-Kou looked surprised but he understood the situation.

-He didn’t even question why Yashiro was sure. He just believed.

-Kou: “Okay I got it.”

-Yashiro: “Thanks, Kou-kun! It’s a secret between the two of us!”

-”The two of us”

-Those words echoed in Kou’s mind as he got slightly flustered

-Yashiro looked really dazzling to him

-Kou still wanted to ask her though

-Kou: “Is it okay if I let Mitsuba know?”

-Yashiro: “That’s fine! But don’t let him write about it in the papers just yet. It’s supposed to be still under wraps.”

-Kou: “Got it!”

-The two went back to where Tsuchigomori and Teru were.

-They were apparently discussing about the meaning of the heist notice.

-Tsuchigomori: “It’s the moon. Simple. That’s what it says on the letter.”

-Teru: “You don’t think there’s more to this? How does someone steal the moon? I can’t wrap my head around it.”

-Tsuchigomori just shrugged. He looked slightly irritated.

-Yashiro also thought the heist notice was weird.

-Perhaps by the time of the heist, they would understand.

-Teru: “Anyways, we’ll be sure to provide security to Aoi-san’s property again. He notified us about the location. The thief seems to often frequent his places huh.”

-Throughout many heists in the past, Hanako would steal from the gem collector Akane.

-Poor Akane. It was hard for him to trust the police force since they couldn’t protect his jewels each time.

-He wanted to impress Aoi and get a successful love confession

-His outfit even looked like a phantom thief kind since Aoi took a liking to Hanako, which Akane could not understand. He would capture Hanako and show Aoi that he was better! So he wanted to do.

-He hadn’t had much luck there sadly.

-So everyone waited for the time of the heist

-Night time arrived

-Crowds swarmed around the tall building where the heist was going to be as they chanted for Hanako

-Yashiro was among them, trying to get into the building

-Oh gosh she was late

-She should have arrived to the scene earlier

-It was taking her some time to squeeze through the crowds

-Never had she seen and expected so many people before

-Perhaps everyone was wondering how Hanako would steal the moon tonight

-It was all over the news.

-How was she going to get to Hanako before the police did?

-She decided she would but the amount of security was incredible

-Somewhere in the crowd, she spotted Mitsuba who was being interrogated by the news reporters Natsuhiko and Sakura

-Natsuhiko: “Hey boy! What are your thoughts on Hanako stealing the moon?”

-Mitsuba: “M-me? My thoughts…I’m not so sure. I find it absolutely crazy.”

-Natsuhiko: “Right! Hahaha!”

-Well they sure were having fun. Sakura was telling Natsuhiko they should interrogate the others

-Yashiro finally arrived inside the building on the first floor

-She was allowed in since she was part of the capturing team

-Everyone else she knew must be at the rooftop

-That place was heavily guarded since you could see the moon from there

-It was the highest place to the sky

-The heist could start any minute and she wasn’t with the others. Geez.

-She rushed to find the stairs

-But then the lights in the building suddenly blacked out.

-Hanako must have messed with the electricity

-Let the heist begin

-The policemen were in their positions in the building

-They were organized on each floor in case Hanako tried to escape to them

-But the blackout started confusing them

-Thinking they need to at least move around, they set off booby traps they didn’t know were there

-Definitely Hanako’s doing

-Yashiro got lost

-She hadn’t set off any traps thankfully

-She had prepared a flashlight on her just in case to navigate herself

-The building was huge though

-Where were the stairs?

-The elevator wouldn’t be working since the electricity went out and it wasn’t a good idea anyways

-To steal the moon, the one location Hanako should be at would be the rooftop, right?

-Oh why did she have to arrive late?!

-As she was frantically looking around in the dark, a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind

-Yashiro freaked the hell out

-Yashiro: “KYAAAAHHH”

-She heard laughing and immediately recognized it. Hanako.

-She turned around to see him

-Hanako: “Detective, why are you so jumpy? Haha”

-Yashiro: “Hanako! You…! What?!”

-Wait, why was Hanako here?! Where were the others?

-Nevermind that! Wasn’t this what she wanted in the first place?

-Yashiro: “I need to ask you something–”

Hanako: “Hey Detective, do you believe in real magic?”

-What? That just came out of nowhere

-She started pondering

-Real magic? Like a mystical force that defies logic and reason?

-What does this have to do with anything? Why would she go believing that?!

-Yashiro: “If real magic existed, there would be no need for detectives. There’s a reason behind everything, so no.”

-Hanako: “Heh. So that’s your answer. You don’t dream, do you?”

-Yashiro: “Wh- I can totally dream! Wait stop distracting me!”

-There was no time to waste! They’re in the middle of the heist!

-Yashiro was so angry right now though. She wanted to release all her built up stress she’s had

-Yashiro: “You are so reckless! Maybe the most reckless person I’ve ever met! Not only do you steal jewels, you crash into my apartment, take a bullet out of you with a knife, make a risky deal with me, crossdress to meet my friends when you didn’t even need to, and now you’re trying to steal the moon at the most terrible time?! Do you have no sense of danger?! Or is this what thrills you?! HUH?! Don’t steal the moon! It shouldn’t even be possible!”

-Hanako: “Calm down, detective! It’s not good for you to get so angry. Besides, I already accomplished my mission.”

-Yashiro: “YOU ARE THE REASON I–wait what did you say?”

-Hanako showed Yashiro the very thing that he stole. A lunar rock.

-Hanako: “Pretty, isn’t it? I guess people don’t usually consider this as a gem but I do. That gem collector had this as part of his collection here in this building”

-Yashiro’s mind was completely blown

-Yashiro: “WHAT?! I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ENTIRE MOON”

-Hanako: “Oh, so you can dream, detective!”

-Yashiro’s eye twitched

-Oh she’s had it. And she was so worried about him too!

-She went to pin him down in a rage

-A moment soon, Akane and Aoi arrived to where they were.

-Akane: “AHA I KNEW IT! I didn’t give all the information to the police because screw them! I’m going to be the one to capture you–what are you guys doing?”

-Aoi: “Nene-chan…?”

-Yashiro looked up to see them

-Yashiro: “Huh? Akane-kun? Aoi?”

-Yashiro realized the position they were in. She was on top pinning down the thief.

-Hanako: “Oh I didn’t know you had it in you, detective~”

-Hanako just had to tease

-Yashiro’s face blushed completely red and she immediately got off

-Yashiro: “YOU GUYS MISUNDERSTAND!”

-Hanako got up and started running away

-Ah.

-They began the chase

-Akane: “Wait, you thief!”

-Yashiro: “WAIT HANAKO!”

-She hasn’t even asked him her most important question yet!

-Yashiro: “Did you murder Detective Three?!”

-Hanako flinched and stopped running

-The others did too, looking at Yashiro in question

-Yashiro: “Detective Three was murdered a couple days ago! And the police suspect you but I believe it was an imposter! You’ve been framed!”

-Hanako turned his head towards the party

-He looked quite troubled and pale

-Hanako: “And what if it really was me? What if I said I was guilty? Would you charge me right now?”

-Yashiro froze

-Okay, what the hell was he going on about??

-Is he okay??

-Yashiro knows it can’t be him already so why wasn’t he denying it?!

-Suddenly, a whip came forth and Hanako jumped out of the way

-Teru appeared. Looks like Kou couldn’t hold him off any longer

-Teru: “So this is where you are, thief. I should have known. Our battle isn’t over yet.”

-Hanako: “Tch”

-Oh no! What should Yashiro do?!

-Was there no way out of this??

-Aoi:“This way!”

-A smoke bomb exploded and Yashiro and Hanako were pulled along

-Akane followed with Aoi

-Teru blew the smoke out of the way with his weapon to find them gone

-Teru: “Huh…”

-Back with the group, they appeared to have found a secret passage

-Akane: “Ao-chan…why did you have a smoke bomb? Also, how did you know there was a secret passage here?”

-Aoi: “Hehe I know a lot of stuff, Akane-kun! I’ve done my research on this building and I’ve studied Hanako’s smoke bombs before. I wanted to make one!”

-Akane: “Darn it thief! Stop influencing Ao-chan! But Ao-chan sure is really smart!~”

-As usual, Akane was fawning over Aoi

-Yashiro questioned Aoi’s actions

-Yashiro: “Wait Aoi, you’re helping Hanako?”

-Aoi: “Nene-chan, I know you. You’re trying to clear his name, right?”

-Yashiro: “Aoi….I’m glad you understand!”

-Akane: “Ao-chan, he’s a phantom thief though…”

-Aoi: “Please Akane-kun. For me.”

-Akane: “Aaaa how could I say no?!”

-They seemed to have forgotten about the stolen lunar rock

-Now focusing on getting out of the building

-Hanako was quiet the whole time

-Which felt really strange

-Once they gotten out safely, Akane and Aoi left Yashiro and Hanako alone

-They were in an alleyway where nobody else was around

-Yashiro confronted Hanako

-Yashiro: “Hanako, I know it can’t be you. Who is the murderer?”

-No response from him

-His expression was unreadable at this point

-Yashiro sighed. She wasn’t getting anywhere

-Yashiro: “Sorry”

-She apologized.

-Hanako looked at her confused. Finally some expression she could read

-Yashiro: “I’ve been demanding information from you the whole time. It’s unfair of me to not share any from my side. I haven’t properly introduced myself to you, even though we agreed to get know each other.”

-Yashiro took a stance, pointing at herself smiling

-Yashiro: “I’m Yashiro Nene! A detective’s apprentice from Tsuchigomori’s detective agency. It’s nice to meet you!”

-A second later and Yashiro waved her hands at him

-Yashiro: “Ah you don’t have to tell me anything! Just let me tell you a few things. Back before I began this job, my best friend Aoi was framed for something she didn’t do. Akane-kun tried to bribe the police but it didn’t work. I didn’t know what to do and I was scared. I was crying a lot. And then, Tsuchigomori-sensei stepped into my life. He proved Aoi was innocent and I felt really thankful. That’s when I decided I wanted to become his apprentice and learn from him.”

-Hanako: “It wasn’t because you had a crush on the devil?”

-Yashiro: “Minamoto-senpai isn’t a devil! He means well! That may be partly why but it’s not the main reason.”

-Hanako: “Heh~”

-Yashiro: “I’ve decided. I’m going to call you Hanako-kun from now on! We’re friends now and you’re not allowed to object!”

-Hanako looked surprised.

-A detective wanting to be friends with a phantom thief?

-Hanako: “Pff what a weird detective.”

-He smiled a little

-Yashiro: [pouts] “What do you mean by that?”

-She was relieved that he seemed to be feeling better

-Hanako: “…Actually I do have something I want to say to you.”

-Yashiro: ?

-He embraced her in the alleyway, the moonlight shining so beautifully on them

-Hanako: “I never got to properly thank you for saving me that night. Thank you. Thank you for caring about me.”

—

-Meanwhile on the rooftop

-Kou was talking with Mitsuba, mentioning about his conversation with Yashiro in the morning

-The police had declared the heist was over so Mitsuba was allowed to come over there

-Teru then just came back

-Kou: “Oh Nii-chan! You’re back! Looks like Hanako couldn’t steal the moon after all!”

-Teru: “No, he succeeded. It wasn’t the moon he was after. It was a moon rock.”

-Kou: “Oh why didn’t I think of that! Darn, we’ll get him next time! What do you want for dinner, Nii-chan–”

-Teru: “Kou”

-Kou: “Yes?”

-Teru: “Don’t think I didn’t know you were trying to prevent me from going anywhere. I saw Yashiro-san and her friends behaving oddly.”

-Kou: “Teru-nii…”

-Kou put on his glum face and Teru sighed.

-Teru: “Well…I’ll let it go this time. You guys may have a reason for doing so.”

-Kou: [smiles] “Nii-chan!”

-Mitsuba: “Minamoto-kun…”

-Kou: “Hm?”

-Mitsuba: “There’s something I should tell you…I..Well I think I’m going to go home early”

-Kou: “Oh okay! Get home safely!”

-Mitsuba arrived home, staring at the photos he took and had recently developed in the last couple days

-Mitsuba: “I didn’t tell him in the end…”

—

-Radio (Natsuhiko’s voice): –And so that’s what happened! Wow, what do you know! Phantom Thief Hanako did another successful heist! Thanks for listening folks! Now–

-A hand appeared to turn off the radio

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0-0malik

1 year ago

in the midst of drawing... i just had the urge

sorry

not >:^D

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digital art bsd fanart workinprogress

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0-0malik

1 year ago

ah yes, trying a new way to render with skk

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digital art bungou stray dogs bsd dazai bsd fanart skk nakahara chuuya

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0-0malik

1 year ago

Demon Laurent is confused about the unkempt sacrifice.

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fanart captive prince laurent of vere damen of akielos damen x laurent capri fanart

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0-0malik

1 year ago

coloring is hard. I just want to yeet it away!

btw, this is for days 5 & 6 of Damenfest.

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fanart digital art captive prince laurent of vere damianos of akielos damen of akielos damen x laurent damenlovefest2023

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0-0malik

3 years ago

Twitter User: I wish I had more followers, then I’d be more likely to get verified.

Facebook User: I wish my posts reached further, then I’d get famous.

Instagram User: I wish I had more followers so I can unlock more basic features for my account.

TikTok User: I wish I had more views then I’d be a real influencer.

Tumbler User: I specifically didn’t tag this so no one would find it why does it have 200k notes? Who the hell are these people following me? All of you need to go away so I can go back to posting incomprehensible garbage and pictures of frogs.

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0-0malik

2 years ago