What if... The Dark Wizarding World

In a world perpetually bathed in a dim, oppressive "dark light," a tyrannical Headmaster enforces his absolute rule through fear and public punishment. Young JR, burdened by the loss of his mother and clutching her wand, finds solace in rhythmic counting to manage his pervasive anxiety. During a dreaded school assembly, the Headmaster singles out JR, his intent clearly malicious. However, a fellow student named Sara, from another class, unexpectedly intervenes. She casts a powerful spell, "Peradelum," which creates a convincing illusion, fundamentally altering JR's appearance and rendering him invisible to the Headmaster's magically enhanced detection. This act of defiance and deception allows JR to escape the immediate threat, suggesting a hidden network of resistance among the students. The "Peradelum" spell, a clever manipulation of perception, highlights the clandestine nature of magic in this regime, where it's primarily used for survival and evasion rather than overt displays of power. Sara's intervention, driven by an unspoken alliance, hints at a budding resistance movement within the school, a fragile hope against the pervasive authoritarianism. JR's survival is a testament to the courage found in unexpected places and the formation of bonds that create a sense of "found family" in a world where freedom is constantly under siege.