Public Opinion, Judgment, and the White Dark Lord (II)

"It wasn't just the Daily Prophet." Carmichael took several more folded newspapers from his pocket and spread them across the table. "The British Wizarding Gazette, Wizarding World Weekly, the Wizengamot Observer, even the North American Magical Review—our American counterparts ran similar reports today. Different headlines, different angles, but the core argument was the same: Dumbledore's power had overstepped its bounds."

Zabini let out a whistle. "More than a dozen outlets attacking at once. That wasn't a coincidence."

"Of course it wasn't." Madara finally opened his eyes. The scarlet Sharingan gleamed in the eerie green firelight like two smoking coals freshly pulled from a furnace. His gaze swept over Draco, then Nott and Zabini, before finally settling on Daphne beside Draco.

"Daphne, your father did well."

Daphne gave a slight nod, her long golden hair glowing softly in the firelight. "He merely followed Lord Madara's instructions and gave the necessary information to the necessary people." Her voice was calm, but the fleeting gleam in her eyes revealed her pride.

"The Shadow Society's informants in the Ministry of Magic's Public Relations Department and Judicial Liaison Office have all been activated. There was no recording of Dumbledore and Fudge's conversation in the Wizengamot chamber, but at least four separate sets of meeting notes from different sources could corroborate one another. What we gave the media wasn't rumor. It was quotes from 'insiders.' Every sentence had a source; the sources simply could not be disclosed."

The corner of Madara's mouth curved upward. It was a faint expression, but everyone at the long table noticed it.

"Dumbledore enjoyed standing beneath the spotlight. He had always believed that light was under his control, that he could make it shine however he wished." Madara lightly tapped the armrest with one finger. "But he forgot that an outside