Heyy Guys!
Welcome to the Daily Prophet! The Prophet is a small companion read to my 'Hogwarts Tales' Series, providing any small snippets of info that was missed from the main stories, as well as coverage of the 423rd Quidditch World Cup! Please enjoy, and remember, this is not a fully-fledged story of its own. Also, vote in the poll on my profile to have your say on who you think will win the Quidditch World Cup!
Thanks for reading,
IronMan.
The Daily Prophet
1st Issue
June 1999
Subscription price: 1 Knut
423rd Quidditch World Cup Announced!
After the cancellation of the Quidditch World Cup last year due to the lengthy war with You-Know-Who, thousands of Quidditch fans were left distraught at the thought of having to wait 8 years to see the best players in the world - some of whom may have reached retirement long before 2002 – battle it out to see who can be crowned the World Champions. Well, after a nastily exhausting period of deliberation, discussion, and disagreements, the I.Q.A has finally announced that the Quidditch World Cup will take place in July and August of this year! Whilst the tournament is a year late, and organization is slightly rushed, the two-week tournament is set to take place in the French Alps, in the newly constructed Les Dieux Chaudron (The God's Cauldron). Defending Champions Ireland, along with second place Bulgaria, and third placed Japan, automatically qualify for the group stages, and are expected to announce their team selections in the next week. Viktor Krum is expected to return for the Bulgarians, and fans hope to see Krum face off against Japan's young seeker, Rio Hamomoto.
Other teams to watch include the always entertaining Italians, the surging French team - captained by the Chaser that many fans say is the best player in the world, Elise De Laserre – or perhaps this could be the year that the Americans finally break through in international Quidditch. England are expected to qualify for the tournament, as is Gwenog Jones' Welsh side. Scotland have a mountain to climb if they want to reach this year's group stages, having been utterly decimated by Luxemburg in the previous tournament. Bookmakers and pundits alike have placed Bulgaria as strong favourites to go on to win the tournament, with favourable odds on either Ireland, France, or Japan to reach the finals. In a statement to the international press given yesterday evening, French Minister for Magic Jacques DuPont said: 'It is a privilege for France to host such an event. I would like to personally wish all competing nations the best of luck, and express my desire for a tournament of fair-play, respect, and fierce competition.
The Daily Prophet will keep our readers updated on any news concerning the tournament.
Tensions Grow as More Wizards Call for the Statute of Secrecy to be Overturned
Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt came under pressure again from the Wizengamot this week as a small group of radicals referring to themselves as the Wizards United Liberation Front broke into the Ministry of Magic and defaced the Fountain of Magical Brethren, engraving the words Bring Magic into the light at the base of the fountain. Aurors quickly arrested the group, who are awaiting trial for crimes of vandalism and dangerous propaganda, and the statue has been covered whilst curse-breakers attempt to remove the words.
WULF, as they are commonly known among the Ministry, were formed after the Battle of Hogwarts, which saw the fall of He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. The group claims that Wizards have hidden from the rest of the world for far too long, and should not fear Muggles. They believe that You-Know-Who was simply a misguided genius who had to resort to dark magic in order to be heard above the tyrannical Ministry and its associates in the International Confederation of Wizards. The Wizards United Liberation Front started off small, placing posters in shops and pubs, and handing out leaflets in Diagon Alley. But as their popularity has slowly grown, WULF has become more and more daring, their latest attack on the Ministry showing a complete disregard for the law. The Minister for Magic was not available for comment, but the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Gawain Robards, told the Daily Prophet 'The Ministry is aware of a small group of Witches and Wizards calling themselves the Wizards United Liberation Front. This group is intent on causing trouble and harassing those who do not share their views. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is investigating the problem, and will deal with it as necessary. We recommend that the public stays clear of this group, and protects their homes accordingly.'
Minerva McGonagall to take Leave of Absence
Professor Minerva McGonagall, the current Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is set to take a leave of absence at the end of the school year. Her reasons for leaving remain unknown, but its been reported that the Headmistress will take a year, or two at most, away from the school. Professor McGonagall was Deputy Head of the school for the majority of Albus Dumbledore's tenure as Headmaster, taking over the post temporarily after his death, and later succeeding Severus Snape, who abandoned his post (although it was later revealed that Snape had been working against You-Know-Who in secret). Professor McGonagall was a prominent figure in the Battle of Hogwarts, even duelling You-Know-Who himself. She has also been instrumental in rebuilding both the school walls, and its reputation, successfully guiding students through their school year after a very traumatic period of their lives, as well as promoting international magical co-operation through a Quidditch Tournament against the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and the Durmstrang Institute of Magic; a tournament in which Hogwarts was victorious.
The Professor's other achievements this year include the extensive modifications to the protective enchantments surrounding Hogwarts, the construction of a newer, safer, Quidditch pitch within Hogwarts, which includes state-of-the-art training facilities. The Stadium will also play host to the newly founded Hogsmeade Horntails, allowing students the opportunity to train alongside their favourite Quidditch stars, and have access to top-level coaching. Outside of the world of sport, Professor McGonagall has modernised and improved the school curriculum, producing some of the best magic the school has seen in years. Hogwarts has also made big strides in becoming a target for foreign exchange students, with five foreign students set to join the school next year, including Quidditch star Gabrielle Delacour, who has signed a two-year contract with the Holyhead Harpies Youth Program. She will swap places with Hannah Kirk, one of Hogwarts' top Transfiguration students, who is incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to study in France.
Whatever Professor McGonagall elects to do with her time off, we at the Daily Prophet would like to wish her all the best for the future, and thank her for her services to the school.
Sports News
Aside from our cover story regarding the upcoming Quidditch World Cup, there has been a lot happening recently in the world of sports! After reading our sports column, please vote in our poll about the Quidditch World Cup!
Dent-Head Loses Appeal
Magnus 'Dent-Head' Macdonald has lost another appeal to the Department of Magical Games and Sports to legalize the ancient sport of Creaothceann. Considered the most dangerous of all broom games, Creaothceann is a game from the Middle Ages in which twelve players take to the air with cauldrons strapped to their heads. At the sound of a horn, a hundred rocks that have been charmed to float high in the air, begin falling to the ground. The winner is the Witch or Wizard who catches the most rocks in their cauldron. The game was made illegal in 1762, but is still played illegally in some areas. This was Macdonald's 65th appeal to legalize the game.
Nimbus Fastest During Testing
It's almost time for the Annual Broom Race, which takes place in Kopparberg, Sweden, with the 437-mile course running through a dragon reserve on the way to the finish in Arjeplog. As such, broomstick manufactures and private race teams from across the world have spent the past week at the race's testing facility in Ställberg to prepare their latest racing brooms for the gruelling race. Whilst it may come as no surprise, the Nimbus Factory Racing Team have produced the fastest times around the 50-mile test-track by quite some margin, beating the second fastest team, Siberian Arrow Racing, by a whopping 12 minutes and 50 seconds. Nimbus's latest model, the 2500, is widely rumoured to be the fastest broom in the world today, and Nimbus certainly seem keen to prove everyone right, with incredibly quick laps, and marathon test sessions, the 2500 was put on full display this week. Although Nimbus have sponsored 7 National Quidditch teams for the upcoming world cup, as well as 5 teams in the British and Irish League for next season, the Annual Broom Race will be the first time that Nimbus have had the chance to really show off the 2500, with only one model having played in a Quidditch tournament, flown in the final of the Cedric Diggory Quidditch Cup.
Notable for their absence opposite the Nimbus team, the winners from last year, Firebolt Racing Team, have yet to make an appearance at the test facility, with rumours circulating that development of a new Firebolt model is not going smoothly at all, amidst many walkouts by the Goblin Metalworkers. If Firebolt do intend to reveal their new model at the Annual Broom Race, they'll need to hurry! Fans are eager for the seemingly inevitable clash between Nimbus and Firebolt, but it would seem they will have to wait until next year. Privateer team Butterbeer Racing ran a modified Firebolt during testing, but only managed to nab third place before pulling out, citing problems with their custom tail that caused the broom to be unstable at 160 mph. If they can refine the design, we could see them provide more of a challenge to Nimbus Racing, and as we've seen in the past, speed is not the only thing that matters at the Broom Race. Only time will tell who can claim this year's title.
Potter Merchandise a Huge Seller for Chudley Cannons
Now some months removed from the shock announcement that Harry Potter, and two other Hogwarts students, are set to play Quidditch for the disappointing Chudley Cannons, fans of the orange gunners have seemingly welcomed the news of fresh talent with open arms, and open wallets. Fans of the Cannons and fans of the Boy-Who-Lived alike, are flocking to the Cannon Bowl to snap up anything that bears the Potter name, including jerseys, hats, scarfs, socks, souvenir cups, posters, and even a set of HP7 underwear for his most devoted female fans. Reports suggest that the Cannons are struggling to keep up with the demand, frequently running out stock in their team store. Which Broomstick? Reported the merchandise is all reasonably priced, and well made. The Cannons have made mega-bucks from Potter merchandise, but reportedly the man himself has taken a significantly small percentage of the profits from any merchandise sold, with almost the entire profit going directly into the Cannons transfer budget. Could this be a sign of change for the Cannons?
British Wizards Chess Championship Set to Get Underway
Starting next week, the British Wizards Chess Championship kicks off, with the opening rounds to be played in the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, before the Grand Final in the Ministry of Magic. Fans are keen to see whether Stephen 'Black Knight' McLaren can be the first ever ten-time British Champion!
Weasley's Wizard Wheezes to Sponsor Broom Racing League?
Reports suggest that, in an effort to promote their Broom Broom Kit, the famed Diagon Alley Joke Shop is set to sponsor a broom racing league in the Forest of Dean. The Broom Broom Kit, banned from all official I.Q.A and I.B.R.A events, claims to 'turbocharge your broomstick' by fitting a small fan underneath the tail of your broom for extra power. So while we may not see any of the major broomstick manufacturers enter a team any time soon, Randolph Spudmore (creator of the Firebolt), has stated that if the Broom Broom Kit was proven to be safe to use, and provides a reasonable performance gain, he would consider providing the new league with a fleet of his new Tinderblast 2 broomsticks to help form a one-design racing league.
Delacour, DuPont Sign Sponsorship Deals with Nimbus
Two of France's young Quidditch stars, one of whom will study at Hogwarts next year whilst captaining the Holyhead Harpies Youth team, have signed full sponsorship deals with the Nimbus Racing Broom Company. Gabrielle Delacour, who was previously gifted a Nimbus 2500 for her performance in the European Youth Cup, joins Nimbus full-time as part of their line-up of Quidditch stars, whilst Juliette DuPont, who recently turned pro, will race the newest version of the Nimbus 2001 in Kopparberg this year, before piloting a 2500 in her games for Quiberon.
That's all for this issue! Subscribe to the Daily Prophet and never miss an Issue! Coverage of the 423rd Quidditch World Cup will be provided by our new Sports Correspondent, Lee Jordan, host of The Quidditch Show!