Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: A little "article" for the Daily Prophet, written for a homework assignment at Accio Firebolt. Set after HBP, of course, while Harry and Crew are off galivanting who-knows-where.
In light of last summer's horrifying events at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, one would like to think that the Ministry of Magic was, indeed, making progress in their supposed "security measures". Prepare to be disappointed.
Perhaps you will remember Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour's words last June: "We are making every effort to ensure the safety of the magical community. We are determined that you feel safe in your homes once more." A nice sentiment, Minister, but I doubt I am alone in wishing that sentiment had a bit more action behind it. I also doubt that any in the magical community feel safe in their beds at night, knowing that Aurors are being killed left and right, that Inferi are walking the streets, and that "The Chosen One" (the one and only Harry Potter, our supposed savior, for those of you who have been living under a rock) has suddenly disappeared. Oh yes, of course the Ministry is doing all that they can, but many of us are much more inclined to believe that the Ministry is full of hippogriff manure. Security is nothing more than a joke, and the Ministry is laughing hardest of all.
This also begs the question: why in Merlin's name is the Ministry relying on the abilities of a barely-legal teenager to save us from the most evil wizard of all time? Oh, that's right - Harry Potter is the only one who can stop He Who Must Not Be Named.
A show of hands who believes that.
Perhaps it would be believable if we even knew where The Boy Who Lived actually was. Or perhaps if The Boy himself would actually confirm that he is working on the Ministry's behalf, as Scrimgeour is so loudly proclaiming. Naturally, young Mr. Potter could not be reached for comment - or for anything else for that matter. What are we supposed to think when our "only hope" has suddenly gone AWOL? I know what I think, and I don't think I'm alone in my opinions. The only conclusion that a thinking person can reach is that we are on our own. The Ministry is useless, The Chosen One seems to have chosen something else, and the hope that has so vehemently been promised is nothing but a pipe dream.
Guard yourselves, my friends - the worst is yet to come.