Eu acho que muitas pessoas sabiam que Voldemort e seus seguidores tinham assumido o controle, mas com o Profeta Diário seguindo a linha oficial, a maioria das pessoas não tinha certeza do que estava acontecendo.
“So Death Eaters have taken over the Daily Prophet too?” asked Hermione furiously.
Lupin nodded.
“But surely people realize what’s going on?”
“The coup has been smooth and virtually silent,” said Lupin. “The official version of Scrimgeour’s murder is that he resigned; he has been replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperius Curse.”
“Why didn’t Voldemort declare himself Minister for Magic?” asked Ron.
Lupin laughed.
“He doesn’t need to, Ron. Effectively he is the Minister, but why should he sit behind a desk at the Ministry? His puppet, Thicknesse, is taking care of everyday business, leaving Voldemort free to extend his power beyond the Ministry.
“Naturally many people have deduced what has happened: there has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the last few days, and many are whispering that Voldemort must be behind it. However, that is the point: they whisper. They daren’t confide in each other, not knowing whom to trust; they are scared to speak out, in case their suspicions are true and their families are targeted. Yes, Voldemort is playing a very clever game. Declaring himself might have provoked open rebellion: remaining masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 11, The Bribe
O ministério usou propaganda (coxa) para cometer genocídio em nascidos trouxas.
“Muggle-born Register,” she read aloud, “The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called ‘Muggle-borns’, the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets."
“Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when wizards reproduce. Where no proven wizarding ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force."
“The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 11, The Bribe
Algumas pessoas podem ter aceitado a propaganda, mas a maioria das pessoas estava com medo e com Dumbledore e Harry fora de cena, não havia ninguém para eles se reunirem.
“And this dramatic change in Ministry policy,” said Harry, “involves warning the wizarding world against me instead of Voldemort?”
“That’s certainly part of it,” said Lupin, “and it is a masterstroke. Now that Dumbledore is dead, you — the Boy Who Lived — were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance to Voldemort. But by suggesting that you had a hand in the old hero’s death, Voldemort has not only set a price upon your head, but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended you.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 11, The Bribe
Houve apenas um programa de rádio que estava dizendo a verdade sobre os eventos que estavam ocorrendo.
“Potterwatch, didn’t I tell you that’s what it was called? The programme I keep trying to get on the radio, the only one that tells the truth about what’s going on! Nearly all the programmes are following You-Know-Who’s line, all except Potterwatch. I really want you to hear it, but it’s tricky tuning in …”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 22, The Deathly Hallows
Temos visto nos livros anteriores que as pessoas cegamente depositam sua confiança no Ministério da Magia e no Profeta Diário.
Com informações limitadas disponíveis ao público em geral, elas não saberiam o que exatamente estava acontecendo. Tudo o que eles sabiam era que o ministério estava tentando expulsar bruxos nascidos trouxas que haviam roubado magia. Eles podem não ter acreditado nisso, mas não havia outra fonte de notícias.