Outstanding by birth, splendid by merit.
The Baum family name is rooted in the enchanting, mysterious forests of Northern Germany. Long before formal wizarding societies emerged, they existed as a coven of enchanters within the shadowy realm of the Arnis Woods. Renowned for their remarkable talent for communicating with trees, these wizards were referred to as "Die Bäume" by nearby Muggle villagers. This title reflects their sacred connection to the towering trees that seemed to share their secrets.
In contrast to others who viewed the forest as a resource, the Baum coven regarded the trees as vessels of ancient magic, serving as a bridge between the magical and natural realms. Their rituals centered around "Baumblut" or "Treeblood," a unique red sap they considered the lifeblood of the mystical domain. Legends claimed they could harness this sap to heal the ill, enchant objects, and even conjure glimpses of the future. This deep connection with nature granted them respect from magical beings but instilled fear and contempt among superstitious villagers, who spoke in hushed tones of dark pacts and ancient curses.
The surname "Baum" became their unifying banner as they distanced themselves from their Muggle detractors. Over time, the covens began to identify with this name, symbolizing their unbreakable connection to the forests and their heritage as protectors of natural magic.
One fateful winter, the silence of the mountains was broken by the anguished roar of a great dragon. This ancient and majestic creature, with scales that shimmered like molten gold, had been gravely wounded in battle. The dragon fell, its body crumpled in the forest close to the Baumblut, its fire fading and its magic bleeding into the earth.
The Baum coven was drawn to the dragon's plight, knowing they could not allow such a magnificent creature to perish. They invoked an ancient and dangerous ritual to merge the tree's life force with the dragon's fading essence. They chanted incantations for three days and nights, pouring their strength into the tree and the dragon. The tree's roots wrapped around the creature's body, infusing it with vitality, while its magic coursed into the tree, deepening its crimson hue.
Once the ritual ended, the dragon rose, its injuries mended, yet its connection to the tree—and the Baum family—remained unbreakable. That very day, the creature took flight and vanished from sight.
The memory of their ritual had transformed into a legend within their household, but none dared hope that the dragon, bound to the Baumblut, would return. Then, on a moonless night, the roar of the golden dragon, echoing through the Arnis Woods like thunder, broke the stillness once more.
For several months, the coven had faced Muggle intruders. These invaders aimed to investigate the legends surrounding the tree and seize control of the area. That night, they launched an attack with a small army. Without the dragon's timely arrival to save them, the wizards would have been defeated despite their magical advantages.
The dragon descended like a storm, its golden form gleaming even in the absence of light. Fire and magic surged through the air as it fought alongside the Baum family. Its flames reduced the invaders’ weapons to ash, and its roars shook the courage of even the most hardened among them. The dragon’s intervention turned the tide of the battle, leaving the invaders no choice but to flee. Grateful and amazed, the Baums knew this was no mere act of repayment but the beginning of something profound.
Tales of the golden dragon’s intervention circulated, granting the Baum family newfound respect and legendary status within magical circles. The fear it instilled deterred potential invaders from attempting to breach their territory, even in the dragon’s absence. The coven named the creature Ignilár (derived from the Latin "Ignis," meaning fire, and the Old High German "lár," meaning protection or teaching), yet they never reencountered it.
Some say that Ignilár returned to the Blood Tree upon death, his body transforming into a shimmering golden vein in its bark. Others believe the Blood Tree still holds a fragment of Ignivor’s soul, granting it unmatched magical potency.
As the years passed, the Baum family's reputation grew, intertwining their legacy with the story of the golden dragon, whose name became a whispered legend among magical and non-magical folk alike. The tale of the dragon's resurrection and return to defend the forest spread far and wide, drawing other wizarding families to the Baum territory. Those seeking refuge, magical wisdom, or protection from the escalating tensions between wizards and Muggles found solace under the canopy of the Arnis Woods.
A quaint, magical community emerged at the edge of the forest. Initially, it consisted of only a few homes belonging to those devoted to the Baum family and their principles. However, it gradually developed into a vibrant, enchanting village. Legends say the air in the settlement buzzed with ancient magic as if the energy from the Baumblut tree flowed unseen.
While maintaining their traditions and solitude deep within the forest, the Baums became the de facto leaders of the growing village. In honor of their bond with the dragon, a towering statue of Ignilár was erected at the village center. Its gleaming golden figure symbolized unity, strength, and the magical bond between the Baums and their protector.
While open to other magical families, the village remained hidden from Muggles' eyes, cloaked in powerful magic. Only those with magical blood or those who were invited and sworn to secrecy could find the village or enter its borders.
Understanding Germany’s transformation during this period is crucial for comprehending the Baum family's strategic rise to power. From a fractured collection of states, Germany united into a single empire in 1871, unleashing industrial, technological, and political revolutions that positioned it as Europe's dominant force. During this time, the Baum family leveraged these changes to expand their influence, intertwining themselves with the newfound empires.
The Baum family had long regarded Muggles with disdain, viewing them as inferior and untrustworthy. This ideology remained firmly rooted in their identity as a pure-blood clan. However, they were wise enough to recognize the strategic advantage of maintaining a degree of collaboration with the non-magical world. The Baums made no effort to disguise their contempt for Muggles within the wizarding community, but they presented a facade of cooperation in public matters that served their interests. Their alliances were motivated by ambition and necessity rather than respect or genuine coexistence.
Before establishing a formal governing structure, German wizards were represented by the leaders of their local villages. Inspired by Germany's unification, the Baum family, alongside other prominent wizarding leaders, spearheaded the founding of the Wizarding Parliament, drawing heavily on the framework of the British Ministry of Magic. The Wizarding Parliament became a cornerstone of wizarding Germany, designed to centralize power and ensure a coordinated response to the rapid societal changes brought on by industrialization and modernization.
The culmination of the Baum family's political ambitions came with Griffin Baum’s appointment as the first wizarding chancellor of Germany. Working in close coordination with Bismarck, Griffin oversaw the integration of the German Wizarding Parliament with the broader structure of the newfound empire in 1871, ensuring that wizarding Germany remained a vital, albeit hidden, force behind the nation’s rise.
Between 1871 and 1914, the Baum family experienced a golden age, solidifying their status as one of Europe’s most influential magical families. In the wizarding world, they were pioneers in forging international alliances, establishing magical treaties with other European nations, and promoting a trade system that benefited Germany and its allies.
The Baum family’s influence was subtle yet significant in the non-magical world. They financed industrial projects and technological advancements through trusted intermediaries, ensuring that Germany remained at the forefront of progress.
Tensions culminating in the First World War strained the delicate balance between the magical and non-magical worlds. The devastation caused by the war extended far beyond the battlefields, ultimately threatening the Baum family's most sacred legacy. Their magical village, nestled at the edge of the Arnis Woods, became a target during the war’s chaos. The Baumblut tree—an ancient symbol of their heritage—was destroyed, its lifeblood spilling into the earth. Recognizing that their magical sanctuary could no longer survive, the Baum family decided to disband the village and relocate their base to Hamburg.
Before abandoning their ancestral home, the family salvaged a single seed from the Baumblut tree. Years later, this seed would find new life when planted in the dragon sanctuary the Baums established in the Northern Sea—a testament to their resilience and enduring connection to the mystical forces of their past.
Durmstrang historically served as a stronghold for the Baum family. Despite the severe losses from World War I and the precarious conditions of post-war Germany, the Baums remained committed to their traditions; their pride swelled amidst the economic and political turmoil. As the Nazi Party gained ground in the non-magical world, similar movements began to surface in the wizarding community, creating a fertile environment for Grindelwald's rise.
Several members of the Baum family were already acquainted with Grindelwald from their time at Durmstrang and found his ideology compelling. His rhetoric of wizarding superiority resonated deeply, aligning with their disdain for Muggles and belief in magical dominance. The loss of their village due to Muggle’s actions only fueled their frustration and drove them to action. Seeing an opportunity to regain influence and rebuild their legacy, they pledged allegiance to Grindelwald’s growing movement.
Though the Baums never openly declared their support for Grindelwald as a family, several individuals took active roles in his campaign. Some fought directly on the front lines of the wizarding conflicts that erupted across Europe, while others worked in the shadows. Utilizing their military connections and influence within key magical departments – such as the Auror and Obliviator offices – the Baums often acted as covert operatives, passing along information and sabotaging opposing forces. Their espionage efforts proved instrumental in Grindelwald's quest for dominance.
This covert support culminated in a political coup orchestrated by Nicolaus Baum, who rose to power as the German Wizarding Chancellor. Once in office, Nicolaus declared a policy of neutrality, claiming that German wizards would not interfere with non-magical conflicts while subtly aligning with the Nazi Party’s ideals. This alignment provided financial backing for Grindelwald's war, funneling resources into the dark wizard’s cause. The family coffers, drained by the Great War and subsequent hardships, flourished once more.
Nicolaus’s rise to power brought with it the means to restore the Baum family’s ancestral prestige. Under his leadership, they founded a new Dragon Sanctuary on a remote island in the Northern Sea. The opening was marked by planting the seed from the Baumblut at its center. To this day, it remains the family's most incredible pride.
Despite their deep involvement, the Baum family maintained a calculated silence, refusing to declare allegiance to Grindelwald openly. This duplicity allowed them to avoid the scrutiny of those who opposed the dark wizard while continuing to expand their influence behind the scenes. Their actions during this period solidified their reputation as a family that valued power and tradition above all else, willing to manipulate any situation to secure their legacy.
By the end of the 1930s, the Baums had successfully reestablished themselves as a dominant force in both the magical and non-magical worlds.
The fall of Grindelwald in 1945 marked a turbulent chapter for the Baum family. Having walked the fine line between public neutrality and private allegiance, they now faced a precarious future. Grindelwald's defeat at the hands of Albus Dumbledore sent shockwaves through the wizarding world, forcing his supporters to scatter or face retribution. For the Baums, this marked the beginning of a carefully orchestrated retreat to preserve their reputation and influence.
Nicolaus avoided any formal accusations, aided by his adept manipulation of records and witnesses. He condemned Grindelwald’s actions publicly, framing his policies during the dark wizard’s rise as pragmatic measures meant to protect German wizarding interests. This calculated response, combined with the family’s extensive influence in the Ministry of Magic and wizarding courts, allowed them to emerge relatively unscathed.
As the Muggle world plunged deeper into chaos with the outbreak of World War II, the Baum family found themselves at another crossroads. Their disdain for Muggles and alignment with pure-blood superiority made them sympathetic to the ideologies propagated by the Nazi regime.
Instead of direct participation, the Baums wielded their influence from the shadows. Using their wealth and connections, they maintained ties with select figures in both the wizarding and Muggle Nazi circles, providing magical resources and intelligence when it suited their interests.
The Baum family emerged from the chaos of the Second World War and the fall of Grindelwald, and their power was not diminished but recalibrated for the changing tides of history. Klaus Baum, known for his pragmatism and ruthless efficiency, assumed the role of patriarch after the war. Klaus was the architect of a carefully orchestrated era of expansion that transformed the family into a dominant force in Europe’s wizarding world while preserving their staunch pure-blood values.
While many pure-blood families faced backlash for their associations with Grindelwald, the Baums avoided confrontation. Klaus skillfully navigated the post-war political landscape, leveraging the family’s wealth, influence, and strategic alliances to ensure continued dominance.
The Baum family's vast financial reserves allowed them to invest in rebuilding Europe’s wizarding infrastructure after the war. They funded magical transportation networks, potion supply chains, and real estate ventures. Klaus positioned the family as indispensable to reconstructing the magical world, securing wealth and goodwill from the broader wizarding community.
Klaus expanded on Nicolaus’s earlier efforts to integrate the Baum family into the International Wizarding Confederation. By 1950, Klaus had cemented his position as a key political figure, using his seat to champion policies that ostensibly promoted unity but subtly protected pure-blood interests. He also brokered alliances with other influential European families, particularly in France and Scandinavia, ensuring the Baum family remained central to magical diplomacy.
Klaus spearheaded the reformation of Germany’s magical government after Grindelwald’s defeat. He played a pivotal role in reorganizing the German Parliament and positioning the Baums in critical departments such as International Magical Cooperation, Magical Law Enforcement, and the Department of Mysteries. By the late 1940s, the family’s influence was deeply embedded in German magical governance, ensuring they could use it as an advantage.
The Baum dragon sanctuary in the Northern Sea became the cornerstone of its public reputation. Its expansion in the 1950s and 1960s solidified its status as Europe's foremost institution for dragon conservation and research. The sanctuary was also an unspoken reminder of the family’s wealth and influence, with rare dragons and magical artifacts displayed as symbols of their superiority.
On the sanctuary’s opening day in 1923, the Baum family planted a seed from their ancestral tree at its heart. By the 1950s, the tree had grown into a towering symbol of strength and renewal, its presence a reminder of the family’s enduring legacy. Klaus frequently used the sanctuary to host diplomatic gatherings, forging alliances with other pure-blood families and magical governments.
By 1970, the Baum family had solidified its position as one of Europe's most potent and influential wizarding clans. Their ventures in dragon conservation, magical innovation, and political diplomacy restored their reputation and elevated them to new heights. Under Klaus’s leadership, the Baums transformed from a family shadowed by war into a dynasty poised to shape the future of the wizarding world.
In the years that followed the chaos in the British wizarding community, the Baums remained neutral while closely monitoring its evolution. Klaus forbade any member from aligning with a side or visiting the island during this period. It was also an important decade for the family’s expansion efforts abroad, with its members committing to marriages with prestigious pure-blood foreign families, such as the Castillos in Spain.
Once again, the family formally chose not to engage in British issues. However, connections forged by younger members—particularly during the Triwizard Tournament held at Hogwarts in 1994-1995—led some to become embroiled in the conflict, even taking part in its ultimate battle.
The Baum family maintains its influence and power, but its status as pure-blood is increasingly challenged by modern times, leading to the decline of many families upholding this tradition. Most family members hold significant roles in the Magical German Parliament and magical embassies worldwide. The sanctuary is still the crown jewel, and they expand their industries in different areas, utilizing the primary materials provided by dragons. They keep traditions alive and are very protective of them. They hold the fame of being a cold, distant, and intimidating family.
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