Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today we’re going to be discussing what happened to the Wizarding World AFTER the
climactic defeat of Lord Voldemort in the Deathly Hallows.
After a period of total chaos, a sudden silence fell over the Hogwarts grounds.
The menacing lord of darkness, Voldemort, was finally defeated.
Victory brought a fresh morning glimmer, marking an end to the fear and terror that the dark
lord had spread across the wizarding world.
But even though Voldemort’s reign was short lived, his time in power was more than long
enough to spread a veil of darkness over the once-vibrant wizarding world.
Lives were lost, institutions crumbled, and the inhabitants of the wizarding world were
reminded of what darkness was capable of.
And in times like this, the darkest of times, it would be wise for the wizarding population
to follow the sage advice of Albus Dumbledore, the man that always reminded us to "turn on
the light".
Voldemort’s defeat was a glorious occasion for the good guys, but as the light of victory
settled a new (and colossal task) dawned on the wizarding world- the reconstruction of
a fractured world and the healing of a society bruised by Voldemort's regime.
But if the Phoenix has taught us anything, it’s that it is after the fall from the
flames that we rise again, stronger than ever.
The ashes of defeat had fallen; now, it was time for the magical world to rise.
I’ve done a video in the past discussing what happened to each and every character
from the series in the post war era *show video on screen*, but today we’re going
to be honing in on wizarding society as a whole.
What happened to Hogwarts?
The Ministry of Magic?
Diagon Alley?
Without further ado, let’s uncover the rebirth of wizarding society.
New Leadership
During the Second Wizarding War even the Wizarding World’s primary governmental body fell to
the regime of Voldemort.
This meant that, following the Ministry takeover, Voldemort was able to install Pius Thicknesse
as Minister for Magic- replacing the previous Minister Rufus Scrimgeour who was assassinated
at the hands of the dark lord.
During his time as Minister, the Imperiused Pius acted as Voldemort’s puppet, blindly
following his orders.
It’s not entirely clear what happened to Thicknesse, but we do know that he participated
in the Battle of Hogwarts.
We also know that he was STUNNED during the battle, and possibly later killed.
This put the Wizarding World in a brief and unique position where NO Minister for Magic
existed, that is, until Kingsley Shacklebolt was named temporary Minister.
During his time as interim minister Kingsley was able to use his steady hand and calculated
mind to steer the fragile Ministry of Magic through turbulent times.
One of his first acts was to set about the task of apprehending Voldemort's remaining
followers in order to uphold peace and security in the wizarding realm.
This task, however, was far from straightforward.
Many who obeyed Voldemort claimed to have been acting under the Imperius Curse, which
led to the arduous task of picking out the liars.
Nevertheless, Kingsley did quite a job at re-instilling the wizarding population’s
confidence in it’s primary governmental body.
Kingsley helped to implement reforms anchored in fairness, equality, and transparency-leading
to a marked improvement in the Ministry's relationship with the wizarding community
and other magical beings, which had been strained under Voldemort's regime.
Crucially, Shacklebolt's era as Minister saw the modernisation and democratisation of the
Ministry that had been overdue.
It allowed the scars of conflict to heal and gave the wizarding world a glimpse of a future
filled with hope and peace.
Under Kingsley's guidance, the Ministry sought to cleanse itself of the rancor and prejudice
that had festered within its ranks.
Muggle-borns, once persecuted under Voldemort's regime, found solace in a more inclusive society,
where their magical prowess was valued and respected just as much as that of their pure-blood
counterparts.
During his term Kingsley helped rid the Ministry of corruption, captured and imprisoned Death
Eaters, banned Dementors from guarding Azkaban, appointed Harry as head of the Auror department,
and (along with Hermione) mostly eradicated pro-pureblood views.
Because of Shackebolt’s invaluable contributions to Wizarding Society, he was eventually appointed
as the 35th official minister for magic- a position that he remained in for over 20 years.
Eradication of the Death Eaters
The Sentencing of the remaining Death Eaters was a large part of the Wizarding World’s
next chapter, namely as identifying and bringing the surviving Death Eaters to justice was
no easy task.
After the First Wizarding War many Death Eaters escaped the claws of Justice and were able
to re-integrate with Wizarding society undetected.
This time, more stringent protocols were put in place to avoid repeating the same mistake
twice.
The likes of Lucius Malfoy, who frequently strutted the halls of the Ministry with arrogance,
were among those who faced a series of intense interrogations, eventually finding themselves
with a one way ticket to Azkaban.
Not every Death Eater received a prison sentence, though.
Severus Snape, the bravest man Harry ever knew, was posthumously exonerated.
Unraveling the intricate web of Voldemort’s followers was largely the responsibility of
the Aurors.
The Ministry’s bravest, undeniably became the frontline soldiers in this complex mission.
After the war Harry Potter himself became an Auror, as did Ron Weasley.
Together they joined the ranks of elite Aurors at the ministry and worked relentlessly to
root out the remaining Death Eaters.
The trials of the Death Eaters and the steady eradication of Voldemort’s lingering influence
undoubtedly proved pivotal in restoring a sense of security and progress within the
wizarding world.
It also demonstrated the resilience, courage, and determination of a community that wished
not to forget its dark past, but rather to learn from it and aim for a brighter future.
Hogwarts and Magical Education
In the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts, the once-majestic grounds of Hogwarts school
were left in shambles.
The landscape was scarred by the skeletal remains of smashed debris and crumbling infrastructure-
with what remained serving as a constant reminder of the immense destruction that occurred as
a result of the conflict.
"They stood up at once, and together he, Ron, and Hermione left the Great Hall.
Great chunks were missing from the marble staircase, part of the balustrade gone, and
rubble and bloodstains occurred every few steps as they climbed."
But nonetheless, Voldemort’s forces were defeated, and the sight of the ruins also
served as a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifice displayed by students, teachers,
and defenders of the wizarding world.
And amidst the wreckage, something stirred – the chance for a new beginning and the
opportunity to rebuild a better world.
In many ways, the fall of Hogwarts represented not a catastrophic end, but rather the dawn
of a new era.
It was the closure of a chapter marked by fear, distrust, and division, opening the
path for transformation, unity, and growth.
And who better to guide Hogwarts in this new direction than Minerva McGonagall?
The first step in bringing Hogwarts back to its former glory was REPAIRING the grounds
and restoring the protective enchantments that made Hogwarts a safe haven for young
students.
It took 4 months to get the school back to working order, at which point McGonagall was
appointed as the official Headmistress by the Hogwarts Board of Governors.
In September of 1998 the school began welcoming first years back to the school, and though
the school was fit to accommodate students, there was still a lot of work that needed
to be done.
Voldemort met his demise on the 2nd of May in that same year, so all things considered
the turn around time for the school was pretty good.
And while the castle was rebuilt, Hogwarts and its denizens bore the invisible scars
of the war.
The most blatant example of this being the fact that nearly all of the students were
now able to witness the Thestrals that pulled carriages- creatures that we know are only
visible by those who have witnessed death.
This served as a constant reminder of what they had survived.
To commemorate the Battle, McGonagall hosted annual memorials, ensuring that the memory
of that fateful day lived on.
Included in these memorials were demonstrations on how to perform an effective shield charm.
As Headmistress, McGonagall made revolutionary decisions, including providing extra guidance
to Muggle-born students who were unfairly targeted during Voldemort's regime.
She was also quite hands on- closely engaging with students of the school and even carrying
out duties such as sending acceptance letters to admitted students, escorting first years
to the Great Hall, and presiding over the Sorting Ceremony, tasks that she performed
in her previous role at the school.
One of the biggest challenges, however, was filling the void left by staff lost during
the battle.
With that said, McGonagall certainly did rise to the occasion- successfully hiring a new
Transfiguration teacher, staffing Defence Against the Dark Arts, and even (eventually)
appointing Neville Longbottom as a professor of Herbology (working in Tandem with Professor
Sprout).
Earning a reputation as a successful and inspiring Headmistress, Minerva eventually took up residence
in Dumbledore's old quarters, turning her study into a space filled with a soothing
melody from a self-playing harp.
She also continued the tradition of contributing to the Pensieve, ensuring that her valuable
memories were accessible by future Headmasters and Headmistresses.
One major aspect of the school’s progression was ensuring that the four Houses- Gryffindor,
Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin were unified.
The Battle of Hogwarts and Voldemort’s regime placed a considerable amount of tension between
the students of Slytherin and the other houses.
However, the fall of Voldemort also presented a valuable opportunity for Hogwarts staff
to educate students on the histories of the 4 houses.
With more emphasis placed on the past, Hogwarts staff and students were able to avoid making
the same mistakes, which resulted in a much more prosperous dynamic moving forward.
The previously tarnished reputation of Slytherin House began to wash away as the school and
its community learned from past prejudices.
The sorrows and triumphs of the past became crucial life lessons ingrained in the curriculum.
History of Magic, once considered by many to be a tedious subject, gained newfound importance
as it familiarized students with the Second Wizarding War and its implications.
Broken Families
Though the Wizarding War was won, it certainly didn’t come without a price.
Families were ripped apart, lives were lost, and homes were destroyed.
This holds true for many of the families that we became more intimately connected to during
the story.
But despite all of the tragedy, the healing of families and communities was a vital and
necessary ingredient in the process of mending the wizarding world.
The Weasley family perfectly exemplified this path to healing.
Over the course of the second wizarding war they experienced unimaginable tragedy.
They lost their home, they lost Fred, and they all bore the traumatic scars of people
who had witnessed death first hand.
With that said, however, they were able to lean on one another during these dark times,
embodying the resilience and power of a family uniting to cope with such a great deal of
pain.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have the Malfoy family.
Though they might not have suffered as dramatically as the Weasley family, their journey to redemption
and reparation was no less daunting.
Throughout the series, we saw the Malfoys fluctuating between power, fear, and disillusionment
with their Dark alliance.
In the aftermath of Voldemort's defeat, they had to redefine their lives, find a new path,
and be accepted back into the community.
The journey of healing, encompassing families and communities, is one of pain and progress.
As the wizarding world picked up the broken pieces and molded them into a magnificently
mended future, they were given a stark reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is
light to be found.
The restoration of the Wizarding World can be aptly summarized in the wise words of Luna
Lovegood who remarked "Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if
not always in the way we expect"
A New Era in Magical Media
In the wizarding world, the Daily Prophet is more than a source of news — it's a significant
influence on public opinion.
Remember when Harry's claims of Voldemort's return were ridiculed in the paper?
Or when the boy-who-lived was labeled a 'disturbed and dangerous' individual?
Those weren't mere character assassinations.
They were crucial pieces in the jigsaw of wider wizarding perception, setting the stage
for Voldemort's triumphant return.
This meant that following Voldemort’s defeat, the magical media was not exempt from reformation.
Under the reign of You-Know-Who, the once revered Daily Prophet had morphed into a mere
instrument of propaganda.
It published Rita Skeeter’s highly embellished poison pieces and blatantly denied Lord Voldemort’s
return.
Post-war, the Ministry's new administration demanded transparency and honesty in journalism,
pushing the Daily Prophet to shed its bias and regain its stature.
The post-war era also brought with it a push for information sharing between the magical
and non-magical world (without breaking the Statute of Secrecy, of course).
With numerous Muggle-borns having suffered under Voldemort's regime, efforts to bridge
the gap between these two worlds became paramount.
Initiatives included sharing magical news through certain Muggle channels, carefully
disguised to avoid suspicion.
In addition, close contact was retained with the Muggle prime-minister who happened to
get along quite well with Kingsley Shackebolt.
Magical Sports and Entertainment
Before the Goblet of Fire, magical sports and entertainment thrived in the Wizarding
World.
However, all of that changed when, during the Quidditch World Cup, chaos ensued and
Voldemort’s Death Eaters made their resurgence known- tyrannizing fans and players alike.
With Voldemort’s imminent return, games suddenly didn’t seem quite so important.
But with light triumphing over darkness, the magical world certainly didn’t wait long
to dust off their old brooms and get back on the Quidditch pitch.
What better way to heal the wounds and reconnect with beloved traditions than by reigniting
the competitive spirit of wizards and witches alike?
Magical Creatures
From the Forbidden Forest to The Great Lake, the Wizarding World is filled with a myriad
of magical creatures and beings, many of which were implicated in the second wizarding war.
Voldemort, by way of false promises, manipulated legions of creatures to do his bidding- from
Giants to Dementors to Werewolves.
Standing in opposition to them, fighting for the good guys, were Centaurs, Thestrals, Hippogriffs
and House-elves.
The Battle of Hogwarts claimed many lives, but you’ll be glad to hear that they didn’t
die in vain.
Right after the Battle of Hogwarts, there was a renewed interest in the rights and care
of magical creatures.
From Dobby’s legacy inspiring a more compassionate perspective on house-elves to Hagrid’s unwavering
adoration for all creatures big and small, the post-war era unveiled a heartfelt effort
towards co-existing harmoniously with magical creatures.
The aftermath of the war saw the magical community taking determined steps to restore and preserve
the magical environment.
From cleaning up the enchanted forest to tending to the Whomping Willow, there was an outpouring
of love for Mother Nature- a humbling reminder that magic is as much a part of the environment
as it is of us.
In essence, the post-war era sent a clear message - magical creatures, beings, and the
environment hold a vital, throbbing heart at the core of the magical world.
Whether it's understanding the freedom-craving essence of house-elves or valuing the wisdom
of Centaurs, a step back to admire our magical allies is a testament to the diverse and symbiotic
universe we dwell in.
Conclusion
And that concludes my exploration of the breathtaking resurgence of the wizarding world, following
the fall of the Dark Lord, Voldemort.
From the reformation of the ministry of Magic, to the rebuilding of Hogwarts, to the valiant
steps towards living amicably amidst magical creatures and beings, the spirit of magic
was rekindled in a world that had borne the brunt of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Is there anything I missed in the post 2nd Wizarding War era?
If so, please leave a comment down below.
Also, if you want to find out what happened to all of the characters, be sure to check
out my video where I dive in to the post-war lives of ONE HUNDRED Harry Potter characters
*show video*.
Link in the pinned comment.
Until next time
Remember
It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities