The more well-known incident happened two years ago when the 'East Berlin Innovation Society' and the 'West Reich Initiative Society', the two groups I mentioned earlier, got into a major fight at the Duden House. It wasn't just a heated argument either; they openly used spells and dark magic against each other.
Both sides brought in over a dozen wizards, and six of them ended up seriously injured. Thankfully, no one died, but the whole situation caused a huge stir and led to the Duden House being split in two.
Since then, there have been smaller skirmishes popping up here and there, and now, the divide between East and West German factions inside Duden House is very clear. There's even a physical barrier between them, and if anyone dares to cross that line, it's seen as a provocation.
Tensions are high, and people are quick to get angry. Franz shrugged with a helpless look on his face, he clearly found the whole situation frustrating. If things really did escalate into a full split, it would definitely hurt his business.
"That's how things are now," Franz said, resigned.
"But doesn't the Ministry of Magic do anything about all the fighting?" Alex asked, already forming a clearer picture of how these so-called 'civil society groups' operated. His question shifted the topic toward the Ministry's role, or lack thereof, in the conflict.
"They want to handle it, but it's honestly a real headache," Franz said with a sigh, shaking his head.
"These groups are mostly made up of civilian wizards. They aren't technically criminal organizations, so when conflicts break out, it becomes tough to figure out who's at fault.
Plus, the Ministry of Magic tends to stay out of it. After all, there's that old saying: 'the law doesn't punish the majority.'"
"Hmph," Alex scoffed, clearly unimpressed.
"So just because there's a crowd involved, violent behavior gets a free pass? If you ask me, they should be locked up and forced to learn a lesson. Honestly, it'd be better if their organizations were just banned altogether."
To Alex, these civilian groups reminded him of color revolutions, chaotic and dangerous movements that could spiral out of control if not dealt with firmly and quickly. He believed that waiting around would only lead to disaster down the line.
"You know," Franz said with a laugh, clearly amused by Alex's bluntness, "you sound a lot like Director Andre. He's also been pushing for direct action."
"Director Andre?" Alex raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the name Franz had casually dropped.
"Yeah, he's the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Franz explained. "He's strongly against any talk of separation or rebellion, so naturally, he can't stand these civilian groups. He's brought up the issue multiple times in the Ministry, calling for harsh punishments for these troublemakers.
He's even led Auror operations himself to arrest them. But Minister Eisenberg refuses to back him. In fact, every time someone's arrested, Eisenberg orders their release, across departments, no less."
As Franz spoke about Director Andre, his expression became more animated. There was clear admiration in his tone, but also a hint of unease. It was obvious he both respected and feared the man.
After all, Franz had dealings in the gray areas of the magical world, and someone like Andre, who was known for his temper and strictness, wasn't the kind of person you wanted on your back. Franz had crossed paths with Aurors more than a few times because of his work.
"Oh?" Alex leaned in slightly, now genuinely intrigued. "From what you're saying, it sounds like there's a serious rift between them. With Andre taking such a hard stance, isn't Minister Eisenberg furious?"
Franz gave a helpless shrug. "It's more than just a rift. Honestly, those two are practically at each other's throats.
Minister Eisenberg has been actively pushing for a deeper divide between East and West Germany within the Ministry of Magic, while Director Andre seems to be advocating the exact opposite," Franz explained.
"Really? Can you tell me more about these two?" Alex asked, placing another 10 Galleon coin in front of Franz.
Franz's eyes lit up at the sight of the gold, and he smiled broadly. "No problem at all. Honestly, a lot of people in the Ministry are aware of this situation," he said, clearly eager to share more.
As Franz spoke, Alex gained a clearer picture of the inner workings of the German Ministry of Magic, especially regarding Eisenberg and Andre's roles. Minister Eisenberg had quite an unusual background. He wasn't originally a Ministry employee; instead, he was a renowned Charms expert, well-respected in German magical academic circles for his contributions to spell development and improvement. His reputation in Germany was somewhat comparable to that of Newt Scamander in the UK. However, unlike Newt, Eisenberg had always been deeply interested in politics.
Early in his career, Eisenberg earned a seat on the Wizengamot Council, which allowed him to be involved in legislative matters. He frequently visited the Ministry of Magic, engaging in policy discussions, reviewing proposed laws, and building strong relationships with senior Ministry officials and other council members.
Unlike the Muggle parliaments Alex was familiar with, the Wizengamot in the wizarding world is a fixed body of 50 members. Anyone beyond that number is listed as a candidate and must wait until a current member retires or steps down to be promoted. Alex himself was one of these candidates, and it could take years before he became a full member.
The council includes many prominent domestic wizards, most of whom are invited based on their reputation. However, these well-known wizards usually aren't very politically active.
They mainly show up for important decisions and otherwise focus on their own research or personal affairs. Since they don't make up a large portion of the Wizengamot, their lack of political involvement doesn't really disrupt the Ministry's daily operations.
Eisenberg, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He thrived in political environments and was deeply involved in government work. Seeing his dedication and influence, the former Minister of Magic officially invited him to join the Ministry about a decade ago. Since then, Eisenberg had steadily risen through the ranks, becoming a key political figure within the German magical community.
Eisenberg was initially assigned to the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters, a rare but influential branch within the Ministry of Magic. This alone showed how much the former Minister trusted him, suggesting that Eisenberg wasn't just some nobody, he clearly had skills and knew how to get along with people.
After joining the Ministry, Eisenberg quickly made a name for himself thanks to his strong people skills and likable personality. His popularity helped pave the way for his election as the new Minister of Magic five years ago.