In another world, the Wizarding World had changed as well.
The Ministry of Magic led by Fudge bestowed upon The Daily Prophet the title of sole official media outlet. Under its lead, ninety percent of the newspapers and magazines in the British Wizarding World swiftly fell into line, ruling mainstream opinion as though it were a feudal society.
For several consecutive days, newspapers and magazines had been "deeply investigating" Vincent Wayne's "crimes," analyzing his unusual behavior as a student and his unorthodox alchemy. They embellished his arrogant escape from trial and his contempt for the International Confederation of Wizards, defined the Gringotts incident as a terrorist attack against the ancient financial order, and blamed the Christmas Eve disaster on a "frenzied" terrorist operation intended to strike both Muggle society and the authority of the Ministry of Magic.
Fudge appeared in public more frequently than ever before. The day after the disaster, he announced with a grave expression that he was forming an "Interdepartmental Dark Magic Threat Response Task Force," with himself as its leader.
He strongly condemned certain irresponsible individuals for spreading panic, repeatedly hinting, intentionally or otherwise, that a certain historic school of magic was connected to Dark Lord Vincent Wayne. He also stressed time and again that the Ministry of Magic was capable of independently handling its internal security affairs.
He also commended a group of dutiful officials, including Director Arthur Weasley, and signed a series of temporary decrees strengthening internal security at the Ministry of Magic.
Fear and anger intertwined among the wizards. In the official narrative, Vincent Wayne's image swiftly solidified into that of a cunning, powerful, terrifying Dark Lord willing to recruit the remnants of the Death Eaters.
But as time passed, more and more wizards learned some of the inside story through Muggles.
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