Hogwarts: Era of Darkness

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

When the First Wizarding War ended, and Lord Voldemort chased out Dumbledore from Hogwarts, he became the undisputed leader of the Wizarding World, cementing his rule as the new Minister of Magic. Yet everyone in power knew the war was far from over; it was now waged behind closed curtains and under the table. Behind the veil of secrecy, those still loyal to Dumbledore continued to fight, waging guerilla-like warfare against him and his forces, drawing in other countries' wizards and witches, opposing Voldemort and his plans to dominate all magic.

The Anguine family, home of pure-blood wizards, part of Voldemort's new Ministry of Magic, were often tasked with confronting the Order of the Phoenix, raising their reputation year by year. Born into the Anguine family, Conrad just came to age, ready to attend Hogwarts to start his studies. He was excited to go to a school he had heard about from his father many times, but times have changed. It is not like in the old days. But who knows? One day, the school may return to what it was before the Era of Darkness.

Author's Notes:

Dear Readers, let me give you more details about what to expect so you won't be disappointed if it isn't your cup of tea!

- An alternate timeline: Voldemort killed the Potters and Harry as a baby. He never lost his body, thus winning the 1st Wizarding War.- Of course, a battle is still going on in the background, but that will only come later in the story.- Being in an alternate timeline, the dates may be a little bit off, but the story will mostly play out in the same time frame as the original.- Being an altered history, some main characters will not show up, and I mainly mean Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Or any of the Dumbledore supporting cast. (at least for a good portion of the story). If this is not what you want, please understand that I am going for a familiar yet different story than the original. I am taking inspiration from the original plot, but I am not planning mirroring it 1:1.- Of the returning characters, some may have altered personalities, although I will try my best to remain true to their book counterpart. But I will also think up "what would they have done" scenarios and modify their personality to match the alternative world we are in. I hope you will still enjoy it; that is my goal. To entertain you.- There is no transmigration, no isekai tropes, no reincarnation, no knowledge of in-lore events, none of that. The main character is someone who is born in-universe.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2024
Author: Corty

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.4/ 5.0
Followers: 246
Views: 296,328

Chapters(190 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(8)

ruben99Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is easily in my top 3 of Harry Potter fanfic that I have read. Out of the ones with a unique twist on the setting it is definitely number 1. The Author does an amazing job at character building and world building. The main character does get pretty overpowered for his age quickly but it makes sense in the story and doesn’t make it boring in any way. I love the characters that the author adds, each one is masterfully written, and the twist on all the characters living in the world that we already know feels right for a character that would exist with how the world is. I love the direction the story has gone and can’t wait to see where it continues to go. Anyone that enjoys the Harry Potter universe would probably enjoy this read. It’s darker tone makes sense for the world without it being too brooding, characters act how they should living in a world where Voldemort never lost. The main characters thinking makes sense and seeing them change throughout the story and what happens to them feels like real progress a person would make. The relationships between characters is well written and gives a lot of depth to their characters as well.
ChibrowRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I stumbled upon this story while searching for a a new story to read. I'm normally not into Fanfiction but the synopsis intrigued me , and after diving into the story, I can confidently say i do not regret it.
Unique Take on the Harry Potter Universe
The story presents a bold alternate timeline where Voldemort has taken control of the Wizarding World, a setting that allows for a darker, more politically charged exploration of the universe. What makes it stand out even more is that the protagonist isn’t tied to the original story or its outcomes. This lack of meta-knowledge gives the narrative a sense of unpredictability and authenticity.
Strong Characterization
The main character, Conrad, is well-written and believable, embodying the curiosity and eagerness of someone genuinely discovering magic for the first time. His lack of inherent advantages like prior knowledge or overpowered abilities makes his journey feel earned. The original characters are few but integral, and their roles are clear and purposeful. Familiar characters, on the other hand, are expanded upon in ways that make them feel fresh while staying true to their core personalities. Even side characters exhibit realistic growth, avoiding the pitfall of being mere narrative tools.
Balanced Plot and Themes
The story skillfully weaves elements of political intrigue, highlighting the tension in a world dominated by Death Eaters, without letting these aspects overshadow the character-driven plot. The romance is a standout feature—it’s integrated into the main story naturally, serving as more than just a subplot or a means to glorify the protagonist. For those tired of harem tropes, this story offers a refreshing alternative.
Pacing and Magic System
The pacing is excellent, partly due to the author's decision to avoid over-explaining the mechanics of magic. While the magic system remains mostly familiar, the story focuses on plot progression and character interactions, which keeps the narrative engaging. This
Sami26Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Amazing fanfic it have everything from story to magic a great one hope you continue with it you have my support. Keep up.
Now I'm gonna add words so it can reach 50 word so I can send the review.
Why word 50 letters are enough but I guess this is why when you want a great novel you come to this website hey I passed 50 word. Goodbye
SergeandgreenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Hello,
I came across this story while searching for a Harry Potter fanfiction that went beyond the typical self-inserts where the main character is overpowered, but doesn't change the original plot. Upon reading the synopsis, I was immediately intrigued. While the idea may not be unique, it is still quite rare, and I personally have never read a story where it was executed well... until now.
So first of all, like I already said, the story is not following the original plot, which is a huge +. The character doesn't have any knowledge about the original plot, which makes the story even more unusual. The main character itself is still like how you would imagine someone that is learning magic for the first time. So he is eager to learn and simply curious, and it is a little like reexperiencing the time you read harry potter for the first time. At least at the beginning.
The problem is, like the synopsis says, the school is ruled by Death Eaters, so it's not so easy to study while also trying to fit in to the new school structure. The few original characters all have an important role in the story and are well written, so you don't have to remember twenty different characters and don't know what they are even there for. Then there are characters we all know and have an opinion about, but the author manages to let these well established characters grow beyond their normal roles. Even the side characters have a realistic progression.
The romance is nicely written, and it's nice to see that it's part of the actual plot and not just for character development or just to show how amazing the MC is. Also, there is no Harem. Another huge + for me.
As one could expect, with the change of the war's victors, a few political elements come into play, but compared to some other fanfictions where it becomes the main focus, it appeared quite balanced.
Another point I especially like is that the MC doesn't have any major boon like a game system, unlimited Mana, prior knowledge or the li
ThousandLeavesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I have to say that there are a number of HP fanfics out there and I have tried a number of them. .. and dropped all except for this one.
There is a reasonable level of innovation vs sticking to the original. The plot does not follow the original, but it is related to it to a large extent. The right mixture in between the "same old boring plot" vs crazy madness.
Grammar is probably ok, but it was irrelevant for me anyway. I am ready to survive even machine translations if the story is worth it.
I cannot say that I read it in one breath, but it is solid, 5* solid.
CJ HolmesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
When the story opens, the Order of the Phoenix has been fighting Death Eaters for over a decade. Conrad and Quincy, the main characters, are caught between Voldemort's UK regime and an increasingly ruthless Order, trying to find a way to live the lives they want. They swiftly acquire power, but talent draws attention. Some of that attention is unwanted.
There's a lot to love about this fanfic: characters with individual motivations; a story that takes unexpected turns; people who make mistakes with consequences; good(ish) people compromised by dark magic.
The core attraction of Era of Darkness is the familiar-but-different characters from the canon works. A different set of experiences breeds a different person, one we recognize but who can shock us with their choices. Even Gildroy Lockheart surprises us: we get to see him from a new perspective. He's still a fraud, mind you, but there's more to him.
The only downside is the grammar. Some chapters drift into English-is-my-second-language territory. I get the feeling not all chapters received the same level of editing, which makes sense when you consider how much text Corty produces. It detracts from the style, but it doesn't damage the story enough to send me away. I'm still hooked.
TheFishingDruidRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Honestly a solid read.
Its a fresh breath of air in comparison to most other HP fanfics since this one don't have the usual "boy who lived" and his entire plot written in to fit with the story while MC is either helping, avoiding or doing whatever else while it happens.
Lockhart is also quite a joy in this story in comparison to most others.
Durmstrang is explored, muggle world is explored, goblins were visited and given lore. Alchemy and potions got kind of mixed into 1 and the same, but its whatever.
Give it a read.
Mister ERoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
This is genuinely an excellent Harry potter fanfic that does fascinating things with the lore and creates an interesting and self-consistant story with interesting and personal stakes. If someone just gave me the summery/ plot notes I would give it five stars.
The problem is that the text doesn't flow. The characters don't really have unique voices and the vocabulary isn't very varied and the descriptions are pretty limited. There will be minor spoilers as I use a short passage to show the style of writing.
Original text:
"How are you enduring the cold?" He laughed as it was already mid-November, and the first snowfall was getting closer and closer. It always got dark very quickly, and rain was falling more and more. Which always made me angry, reminding me of my failure with the animagi ritual.
You can judge the quality of the writing for yourself but I think it would be better if it was rewritten as the following:
"A bit chilly, are we?" Lockhart chuckled while nodding at my scarf. While Lockhart still looked immaculate in his breezy summer robes as if fully prepared for a spontaneous photo-shoot to ambush him around the corner, my outfit was actually more appropriate. Time was racing and mid-November had arrived, heralding the first snowfall of the year. As if in preparation, the darkness of night arrived quicker than ever and there had been near constant rain. I however was in a thunderous mood every time I heard the normally calming pitter-patter of rainfall. It felt as if Nature herself was taunting me for all the times I looked out the window wishing for even a sprinkling during the animagi ritual only to botch the opportunity when it finally arrived.
The writing could seriously use more imagery. Add some similes, metaphors, personification and onomatopoeia. It's the sort of stuff you don't normally notice when reading a webnovel because most authors include it subconsciously.
If you can overlook some of the style problems or think it's good enough, I highly