Jag tror att många människor visste Voldemort och hans anhängare hade tagit över men med den dagliga profeten näring den officiella linjen var de flesta människor inte säkra på vad som hände.
“So Death Eaters have taken over the Daily Prophet too?” asked Hermione furiously.
Lupin nodded.
“But surely people realize what’s going on?”
“The coup has been smooth and virtually silent,” said Lupin. “The official version of Scrimgeour’s murder is that he resigned; he has been replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperius Curse.”
“Why didn’t Voldemort declare himself Minister for Magic?” asked Ron.
Lupin laughed.
“He doesn’t need to, Ron. Effectively he is the Minister, but why should he sit behind a desk at the Ministry? His puppet, Thicknesse, is taking care of everyday business, leaving Voldemort free to extend his power beyond the Ministry.
“Naturally many people have deduced what has happened: there has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the last few days, and many are whispering that Voldemort must be behind it. However, that is the point: they whisper. They daren’t confide in each other, not knowing whom to trust; they are scared to speak out, in case their suspicions are true and their families are targeted. Yes, Voldemort is playing a very clever game. Declaring himself might have provoked open rebellion: remaining masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 11, The Bribe
Ministeriet använde (lame) propaganda för att begå folkmord på muggle-borns.
“Muggle-born Register,” she read aloud, “The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called ‘Muggle-borns’, the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets."
“Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when wizards reproduce. Where no proven wizarding ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force."
“The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 11, The Bribe
Vissa människor kanske har accepterat propaganda men mestadels var folk rädda och med Dumbledore och Harry ute av bilden fanns ingen för att de skulle samlas.
“And this dramatic change in Ministry policy,” said Harry, “involves warning the wizarding world against me instead of Voldemort?”
“That’s certainly part of it,” said Lupin, “and it is a masterstroke. Now that Dumbledore is dead, you — the Boy Who Lived — were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance to Voldemort. But by suggesting that you had a hand in the old hero’s death, Voldemort has not only set a price upon your head, but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended you.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 11, The Bribe
Det var bara ett radioprogram som berättade sanningen om händelser som inträffade.
“Potterwatch, didn’t I tell you that’s what it was called? The programme I keep trying to get on the radio, the only one that tells the truth about what’s going on! Nearly all the programmes are following You-Know-Who’s line, all except Potterwatch. I really want you to hear it, but it’s tricky tuning in …”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 22, The Deathly Hallows
Vi har sett i de tidigare böckerna att människor blint förlitar sig på magiministeriet och den dagliga profeten.
Med begränsad information tillgänglig för allmänheten skulle de inte ha vetat vad som exakt hände. Allt de skulle ha vetat var att ministeriet försökte rensa muggle-födda trollkarlar som hade stulit magi. De kanske inte har trott på det, men det fanns ingen annan nyhetskälla.