Gathering Your Founders
Step 3: Building a Strong Foundation
By Harry Potter
Now that you've defined your vision and chosen the perfect location, it's time to gather the people who will help bring your magical community to life. No village, town, or city—magical or otherwise—can function without the right witches and wizards working together. Your founders will shape the future of the settlement, so choosing wisely is crucial.
I learned firsthand that the people you surround yourself with determine not just the success of a mission, but also the kind of life you build. Whether it was fighting Voldemort or working in the Auror Office, I never did anything alone—and you shouldn't either.
The Importance of the Right Founders
A magical community isn't just a collection of homes; it's a living, breathing society. If you don't have the right people involved from the beginning, your settlement could struggle before it even has a chance to grow.
Here's what to consider when selecting your core group of founders:
✔ Shared Vision: Does each person believe in the purpose of the community? Differences in opinion are natural, but there must be a common goal.
✔ Diverse Skills: A settlement can't be built with dueling experts alone. You need magical craftsmen, healers, farmers, and enchanters to create a balanced, sustainable village.
✔ Commitment: Founding a magical settlement isn't easy. Your core team should be in it for the long run, not just as a short-lived adventure.
✔ Trust & Cooperation: Infighting can destroy a community before it even begins. Make sure your founders can work together without hexing each other every other day.
The Essential Roles for a New Magical Community
While every settlement is different, there are a few key roles you'll want to fill before you start welcoming more residents.
1. The Spellwrights & Wardsmiths (Magical Defense & Protection)These witches and wizards specialize in casting large-scale protective enchantments.They will set up Repello Muggletum, Muffliato, and defensive spells to keep the community safe from external threats.Over time, they'll maintain the village's magical integrity, ensuring protective spells don't weaken.
2. The Builders & Artisans (Infrastructure & Homes)Enchanters who specialize in magical construction, using spells like Lapifors Structura (for raising stone structures) and Cresco Habitat (to strengthen buildings).Magical blacksmiths, wandmakers, and furniture crafters are also valuable for making the community self-sufficient.
3. The Healers & Potion Masters (Healthcare & Well-being)A village without a healer is a disaster waiting to happen.Potion makers and herbologists should establish an apothecary with essential supplies.Healing spells like Vulnera Sanentur and knowledge of magical first aid are vital.
4. The Farmers & Magical Ecologists (Food & Sustainability)Even magic can't summon food out of thin air forever. A reliable source of enchanted crops and livestock is necessary.Herbologists can cultivate rare magical plants, while skilled potion-breeders can raise magical creatures responsibly.Self-replenishing gardens, enchanted wells, and charmed greenhouses help keep the community thriving.
5. The Record Keepers & Historians (Community Structure & Laws)Every magical community needs rules. A historian or scribe can document the settlement's founding principles, ensuring future generations understand its roots.They also keep track of magical discoveries, traditions, and important events in the village's history.
6. The Leaders & Diplomats (Governance & Mediation)While many settlements start with informal leadership, someone must step up to ensure conflicts are resolved fairly.A group of elders, a council, or even an elected leader can help guide the community and make major decisions.If your settlement plans to interact with the wider wizarding world, a diplomat or ambassador is necessary to handle those relationships.
Where to Find Your Founders
So, how do you actually find the right witches and wizards for your community? Here are a few ways to start gathering your team:
✔ Personal Networks: Reach out to trusted friends, former classmates, or colleagues who share your vision. The best founders are those you already trust.
✔ Wizarding Marketplaces & Taverns: Places like the Leaky Cauldron, Hogsmeade, or even Knockturn Alley (if you're feeling particularly adventurous) are filled with skilled magical folk looking for new opportunities.
✔ Magical Guilds & Associations: Groups like the Potioneers' Consortium, Wandcrafters' Guild, and Magical Architects Union can connect you with specialists willing to relocate.
✔ International Connections: Consider looking beyond Britain—wizarding communities in Europe, Africa, and Asia have centuries-old traditions and skilled magical practitioners who may be eager to help build something new.
✔ Word of Mouth & Magical Notices: Posting enchanted job listings on wizarding notice boards or using a Mundus Audite spell (which spreads your message to receptive minds) can help attract the right people.
The Founders' Pact: A Magical Agreement
Once you've gathered your founding members, it's crucial to set expectations. A Founders' Pact ensures that everyone understands their responsibilities and commits to the community's vision.
The Founders' Pact Ritual
This is a magical agreement sealed by a shared spell, binding each founder to their commitment. While not as binding as an Unbreakable Vow (no one wants that level of pressure), it creates a strong magical connection between the settlement and its leaders.
How to Perform the Ritual:
Gather all founders in a circle at the chosen settlement site.
Each person places their wand in the center, touching a magical artifact (such as a stone, book, or enchanted branch) that will symbolize the settlement's foundation.
Recite the following incantation together:
"By wand and will, by earth and spell,
We pledge our hands, our hearts as well.
Bound not by chain, but by intent,
A home we build, our magic spent."*
The artifact will absorb the magic, strengthening the founders' connection to the land. Some settlements even use this object as a Keystone, a physical representation of their shared responsibility.
Final Thought
The right founders will determine whether your magical settlement succeeds or fails. Choose wisely, set clear expectations, and ensure that every member is committed to the same goal.
With your core team in place, it's time to move forward. Next up: Establishing Magical Infrastructure—The Spells, Structures, and Systems That Will Bring Your Community to Life.
— Harry Potter