Chapter 3: Supreme Leader Haza P
After the standard "Welcome to Gryffindor House" address was made by Professor McGonagall, everyone prepared themselves for their nightly rest. Neville had chosen to take a top bunk, within the first-year dormitory, as he did not want to be observed too closely. He ensured that everyone was asleep, before he took out his phone and messaged Luna.
Neville: "Looney you there? Got privacy?"
Luna: "Yes Nev, took a top bunk in the corner. Everyone is sleeping."
Neville: "Good, jump to the main group chat, let us tell the supreme leader what happened."
Neville then messaged Harry on a group chat that he had named "Marauders 2.0", which contained Harry, Hermione and Percy.
Neville: "Supreme Leader Haza P, we have information to report."
Five minutes passed before a reply came.
Harry: "I saw some of it on the drone. Oh, how you handled Draco was brilliant. Did you give the cunt's hand a good proper squeeze? You are responding really well to the exercise for a single month."
Neville: "I think it is because I didn't have health issues like you. Anyway, the Sorting Hat is on our joke."
Harry: "…WOT?"
Luna: "The Sorting Hat thinks you being alive is funny, and he has decided he wants to prank Dumblegoat. In any case, he won't tell, he is sworn to secrecy."
Harry: "Well…shit? He is going to keep our secrets? That is welcome. Saves us a possible landmine."
Neville: "Correct. He said to tell Hermione that Fillius would love her. Definitely, a claw. He also said that you would be a difficult sorting. You have qualities of all four houses. And he confirmed your suspicions about Salazar Slytherin. He also told us our Wandless magic can still catch up, although I think we will be behind you. The founders started to learn wandless magic at our age."
Hermione: "Hello my lovelies. What happened earlier on the boat ride? I saw something moving around?"
Neville: "We fed the giant squid in the lake a snickers. He knew how to take the chocolate. Seems pretty smart?"
Harry: "That was nice that you gave him a chocolate bar. He probably gets no stimulation?"
Neville: "Who knows Haza P, we might be able to strap plasma cannons to him. He might not mind. Why have sharks with laser beams when you can have a squid with FiendFyre cannons?"
Harry and Hermione did not reply immediately, as they doubled over with laughter. They realised shy Neville was gone, and he was beginning to tap his inner Slytherin. Percy was seen typing a reply.
Percy: "Hello, just saw my phone. What is this about the squid and cannons? And the Sorting Hat said Harry was correct?"
Neville: "He did. He is happy you are handling it. All three of us managed to pat the squid in the lake. He happens to be just like you, he loves snickers! We are suggesting the weaponization of the lake dweller. Big cannons."
Percy wondered how one would attach cannons to the squid. After his brain temporarily short-circuited, he decided to explain his conversation with Professor McGonagall, and leave the engineering to Harry and Hermione.
Percy: "I think Charlie suspects who both of you are, Harry and Hermione. McGonagall decided to keep the broom secret, and was happy for the tea collection. She bought into the story, even if the delivery was a bit forced. Neville is the hot-sauce guy, Luna is a painter and Ronald likes to work in a muggle factory. The Weasley House Magic also buzzed me tonight. Alliance?"
Harry: "Yes. It was a spontaneous thing. Peverell, Potter, Granger, Black, Longbottom and Weasley. Just the twins and Ronald to deal with. I would prefer if Ronald knew everything, it would have been nice to have him in this conversation."
Percy: "We did not mention anything about the Quidditch gear. There is only so much Professor McGonagall can take in one night. Slytherin did not get any recognition, so Snape will be out to embarrass you three. The news about this morning's fight is already here. I have been told to monitor the students tomorrow.
Harry: "Excellent. If they suspect anything, we will adjust accordingly. Tipsy can get any special items or do food deliveries. Her ability to go to any of the common rooms will be important. Hermione has gotten an illusionary emitter figured out. She will look like other elves. By tomorrow, the new communicators will be available. What else is on the list?"
Percy: "I am going to dig in the library, don't want to blow my cover. Quidditch gear, de-escalation strategy still to be discussed much later on."
Harry: "Find an empty classroom tomorrow, I am sending Pizza tomorrow. Unless you guys want other things?"
Percy: "Pad Thai and Orange Chicken. Ginger Soda. For me and a friend."
Hermione: "I will get it all organised. Neville and Luna revise your subjects. Keep us informed. Night everybody."
Neville: "Night everybody"
Luna: "Later alligators!"
Percy: "Good night everyone."
While these conversations were occurring, Severus Snape was now finished with his address to Slytherin house. He encouraged his students to stick together on the basis that they would all be branded as evil. He did not attempt to foster unity between the muggleborn Slytherins and the purebloods. He merely suggested that they exercise their resourcefulness and that the means did justify the ends. Harry followed the entire year one Slytherin group into their common room, as he deployed a small micro-drone. He found it strange that Severus Snape abided by these rules, but when the opposition was stacked against purebloods, he complained – He was a classic hypocrite. He openly encouraged his students to break rules, and his comments included "don't get caught", "that they were better than the rest" and "all Slytherins were one family."
Harry decided that ideological warfare would begin after he split Slytherin house along its existing divisions. Having all the muggleborn, some of the halfblood and neutral pureblood Slytherins accepted by the other houses, would ensure that the numbers were in Harry's favour. After Severus Snape had finished with his mindless indoctrination attempt, he invited Gregory, Vincent, Marcus and Henry to accompany him to his study. Harry had bugged Snape's study. Would he encourage them to forget about the Dark Lord as Dumbledore had suggested, or would he encourage them to fight? After the door creaked into the closed position, Severus Snape began to address the now fatherless Slytherins, with his signature set of pauses.
"Sit Gentlemen. I am afraid…that I have some…..terrible news."
Snape then took four glasses out and opened a bottle of scotch. Perhaps Snape preferred mundane spirits? He seemed selectively convenient about what was muggle and magical. Surely he would prefer Odgens as such a pureblood purist? Snape poured out two fingers of scotch into each cup and presented the drinks to all the boys. Harry listened to the discussion.
"This is a personal stash of a foreign spirit. I only use this when I find myself…..at rock bottom. I have poured this out for you….because what I must say…..you will never forget. Terrible events…have befallen your fathers."
Harry realised that Warrington and Flint already suspected something had gone wrong with their little parade in Diagon Alley. Crabbe and Goyle appeared properly confused.
"The criminal known as the Storm-Lord…along with his assassins…killed your fathers this morning in Diagon alley. They were garbed, in service to the Dark Lord. Decapitated and chopped…..into individual limbs.
No decency, no respect for duelling protocol, no recognition as aristocracy, no nothing at all. He is a common animal, and he murdered your fathers like common animals. I am sorry….for your loss."
The shock was now on the faces of the young men and Harry had expected tears and sobbing. However, there were none - almost as if the boys did not know how to cry. They looked bloodthirsty. Perhaps they were already so cutthroat and the news merely bounced off the young men? Or perhaps they could cry in privacy? Delayed grief? Harry could only see the gears turning behind the eyes of the young men.
"Good. Control your emotions. It makes no sense…to cry out for justice. We will have none. Once again, see how we are persecuted? You may demonstrate some of the family spells at your disposal, but do not permanently maim. Otherwise, you will be expelled. I will not openly acknowledge the instructions that I have shared.
You are Slytherins…be resourceful."
Flint and Warrington were already planning certain activities for tomorrow. Harry realised that Snape was probably experiencing cognitive dissonance - was this a pitiful attempt to fight back, to show some teeth? Harry nodded to Hermione, as they took in this information and decided that they could play games too.
"You are dismissed, gentlemen" Severus Snape replied, as he could not even dream to consider that there was someone far more Slytherin than him, listening to his every conversation.
The next morning, Ronald Weasley found himself already up and about, before the sun had announced itself. Before he had met Hadrian, he usually slept in. However, Ronald preferred to be on the Peverell compound before 7:00 a.m. to get an extra hour of work done, after becoming gainfully employed for the holidays. Ronald slipped on his track clothes, his jacket and his trainers and headed out of the Hufflepuff common room. He found it odd, that his track clothes were all yellow. Then it hit him.
Lorna already knew long before the Sorting ceremony, that he was a badger.
Ronald smiled, as he realised that she was very perceptive. As soon as the door closed, Tipsy appeared and held Ronald's hand as she apparated him to the Quidditch pitch. While Ronald was unaware of the fact that Elves could receive wandless magic through a wizard's fingers, Neville thanked Mipsy anyway with his fingers. It was an impressive sight to see so many redheads in one place. Lorna had purchased sporting wear that denoted the houses of everyone, and her intuitions about the year one students were spot on the money.
Neville explained, "Alright, I am giving you the Hadrian treatment. I will take you through some stretching exercises, and then we will take a brisk walk around the Quidditch pitch, to get warmed up. Then we break off for a five kilometre run. You will not be able to run the entire thing. You will have to run pieces of it and then take a break by walking when you get tired. Then we have some push-ups, sit-ups and squats, along with some callisthenics. That will be all for now, until we get access to a gym. We are working on that."
Harry and Hermione were right behind the group and were under their invisibility field or 'cloak', as they preferred to call it. They had decided that exercising at Hogwarts was not a bad idea. It would allow them to keep an eye on the progress of the group. The exercise session for the Hogwarts students was now in progress. As Neville began to push himself, Luna found herself not too far behind. As a person with a small build, she did not need to exhaust much effort to run. Charlie was just behind Neville, but his breathing was far more laboured, as the mist from his mouth coalesced. Fred and George were somewhat behind Charlie and Percy and Ronald had to stop quite often.
"Neville is very fit. This is difficult…" exclaimed Percy as he stopped again to catch his breath. Ronald was also bent over, as he was nursing a muscular stitch that threatened to claw his kidney into oblivion.
Everyone had to limp back, after the run. Only Neville, Charlie and Luna had completed the run. Percy and Ronald had not managed and they were forced to walk back. The twins had barely managed. Neville decided to cut down the number of repetitions and sets, to something manageable as they went through the other exercises. When they were finished the group was now crawling back to the castle, from the Quidditch pitch.
Albus Dumbledore opened his window, and found some strangely coloured clothes limping towards the Gryffindor tower. He took his telescope and looked on at the Weasleys, along with Luna and Neville dressed in strange Muggle clothes. He realised they had taken a morning run. He found this practice unusual but admirable. It seemed that Neville loved to exercise, and he had encouraged the rest of the students. Minerva had just entered the office, and he decided that he would ask her to investigate the practice. The lioness seemed curious about the telescope as she explained her new intel:
"Good morning Albus. I have some startling news for you. I think you will be pleased to hear what I have uncovered."
"Morning Minerva. Please come to the window and tell me what you see. I promise it will make you proud."
Minerva walked over and took the telescope. She focused on the little group of coloured specks that were visible. She was surprised but proud to see her lions out for a morning walk. Even more interesting was…Percy Weasley? She was aware that he dreaded physical activity. And the presence of Luna Lovegood and Ronald Weasley warmed her heart. She even wondered if Charlie was training for the Quidditch season, with Fred and George.
"It seems Albus that my lions are out for a morning run. It warms my heart to see Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw represented. Is it too much to hope that we will see some green one day?"
"We can hope. I want you to ask why such practices are necessary. I do not disapprove, as they surely cause good health? I am merely curious as to the other benefits. I am aware that Aurors are required to train their bodies physically. I was under the impression that was for dodging."
Minerva considered Neville's claim about lopping Bellatrix's head off, and decided to misdirect the conversation. Was the boy truly training to take on Death Eaters? Perhaps the boy already knew about what occurred yesterday morning, and he had made up his mind? He did mention that Augusta had sent him a letter. She would find out, later at breakfast.
"I will certainly ask. Last night I spoke to Charlie Weasley and I enquired about their newfound wealth. It seems that the Storm-Lord decided to ask Charlie to test his Stormbolt. Of course, Charlie is not aware of the deeper political ramifications. It seems the Storm-Lord is reaching out through intermediaries to do market research. Charlie was selected on the basis that he was the best seeker at Hogwarts."
"That is interesting, but it makes sense. Anything else Minerva?"
"Everything seems to be guarded by confidentiality agreements. Mr Padfoot Snuffles is a Nimbus executive, and after eating Molly's soup he offered for her to take over a kitchen in Muggle London. The Weasley children all got jobs at the Nimbus factory to assemble Storm bolts. The parts are manufactured elsewhere and come via portkey shipments.
Most importantly, the Storm-Lord's company is named Peverell Industries."
"I understand from the extended analysis that if you have the correct Muggle tools you can change the components yourself. That means there is no need to buy a complete broom if a part is damaged. I must admit I am impressed with his business acumen, even if I do not like his combat methods."
"I also found out how the Weasleys met Neville and Luna. Luna was already familiar with Ginny, but I understand that she is friends with Ronald too. All of them met in the Muggle world. And about the red bottle that you asked about Albus, Neville was not having medicine last night on his food. It is called 'hot-sauce'. I understand that it is a genuinely dangerous chilli condiment."
"Ah, not surprised. I do like Muggle chocolates. The odd passwords for the office are all confectionary items. I will give you a Mars bar from my drawer, it is a pretty wonderful item. I think I will visit Molly's new kitchen, it would be nice to get some of her Onion soup if she is selling that!" Albus smiled.
"I know Albus. The Weasleys are doing well enough to be easily the best off children at Hogwarts this year. It pleases me to see Draco that little viper upset about their progress. You will say that I should not make such a comment, but Malfoy senior has prevented me from winning that Quidditch cup for many years by buying the best brooms for House Slytherin. I do dislike him for that. Make no mistake, the broom standardisation will make my house shine!"
"I am aware of the Quidditch changes. We will enjoy those matches very much. Do let me know how the new students fare, at the weekly staff meeting, Minerva."
Minerva nodded and left. Harry and Hermione were sitting on the Quidditch stands, and laughed as they spied on the headmaster's conversation. Harry had delivered his "dataslates" and "earbud" prototypes to Neville, and Hermione was using an incomplete map of Hogwarts to track the three first years. Invictus via a vocoder issued instructions on the shortest path that Luna, Ronald and Neville could take to reach their common rooms. The communicators allowed Ronald, Neville and Luna to speak to each other via selectable buttons on a finger ring. This would allow them to operate freely, but stay in contact with each other. As Neville and Luna spoke to Harry on a private channel, Ronald was walking back to the Hufflepuff common room when he ran into Pomona Sprout.
"Morning Ronald. Out for a morning run, I see! I went the Owlery this morning and I saw the whole lot of you running. Five points to Hufflepuff!"
"Thanks. I am running because I want to be fit for Quidditch. I want to try out for Hufflepuff keeper next year. Exercise also helps with magic too."
"Oh, I know that. Despite my small stature, I am dangerous with a wand. People often think I am a pushover. I do like when they make assumptions…" Pomona smiled.
"Neville's grandmother thought that he was a squib, but she decided to get in touch with someone who used to train Aurors. The exercise made his magic flow, like nobody's business. Now he can stun pretty good. I saw him shield a couple of times."
"He can shield? That is quite a feat!"
"I know, professor. But I plan to catch up with him by the end of the year. Neville is a great sport, he offered to teach me."
"Oh! That is very good. If you can demonstrate a shielding spell by the end of the term, I am giving you twenty points!"
"Deal, Professor Sprout."
"You go ahead and shower. Don't bother to stay for the House address, you are already up and working hard. Off you go, Ronald!"
The rest of Hufflepuff was slowly being roused from bed by the older students. By the time the sleepy-eyed students were standing in the common room, Ronald Weasley was already sharply dressed. His acromantula robe glinted in the beams of sunlight from the windows, as he made his way to the door. Pomona Sprout merely excused him with a dismissive hand wave from the public service announcements. Now the Hufflepuffs were sure that Ronald was indeed special.
Ronald was quite surprised to hear Harry's voice in his communicator.
"Hello, Ron. Excellent effort this morning. I will direct you to the Great Hall for breakfast. The purple rune on the ring silences your voice, so you can speak freely and not be heard by anyone."
Ronald pressed the rune, and spoke to Luna and Neville who all agreed to meet via the Viaduct exit. Harry had already reminded all three of them as to which items to take for their classes, and Ronald was pleased when his knapsack had passed Harry's checklist. With the Great Hall mostly empty, Luna and Ronald decided to eat breakfast at the Gryffindor table. They all sat and helped themselves to the buttered toast, eggs, beans, mushrooms, sausages and tomatoes. Other teachers were now walking into the hall and were quite surprised to see three first years present before the entire school. Professor McGonagall walked over to Neville, as she was interested in some fact-finding.
"Morning Professor" was the greeting that had occurred in triplicate, as the trio began to tear through a rather large amount of food.
"Morning to all of you. I did notice your little excursion this morning. The Headmaster and I do not disapprove, and we do love seeing the house unity. We are curious as to the nature of the practice?" Minerva asked.
Neville and Ronald nodded at Neville as he politely put down his toast and explained:
"We are exercising for many reasons. Exercise helps to strengthen and increase the magical core. I had problems with my magic until I met a person who helped me clear out the blockage. Until then, Grandma thought I was a squib. She even wondered if I would be invited to Hogwarts. I have been exercising for two months now, and the benefits have been amazing. I think you know the person?"
"Oh, who helped you with your problem Mr Longbottom?"
"Remus Lupin. He is a physical trainer in the muggle world, but he is a wizard. When we got the news about Harry he disappeared. He did mention that he knew Harry's father very well. I do have an address you can reach him with if you would like. I will get it for you later, it is in my trunk."
"This is wonderful news. He was one of my brightest lions after Lilly Potter. Mr Longbottom, did you walk with your choice of condiment? I am curious about it. I have great tales of its ferocity!" Minerva replied, as she somewhat smiled.
"I am warning you. Just try a teeny drop."
Neville then handed Professor McGonagall the oddly labelled bottle from his pocket. Luna had sketched a fire-breathing cartoon dragon, and the bottle read:
"Dragon sauce. Be aware of possible death."
The bottle made the rounds at the staff table, with Albus and Flitwick sampling some of the volcanic liquid. Albus was now fanning his mouth and sweating bullets, but Fillius Flitwick totally doused his food. After eating some, he gave Neville a thumbs up. Ronald laughed as Minerva immediately gulped down her pumpkin Juice after trying some with salt crackers and cheese. Now the hall slowly was filling up with the senior students, but the trio were already leaving. They soon found themselves in the Transfiguration corridor. On their way, Neville explained to Ronald,
"Remember yesterday when I told Draco that my grandmother wrote me a letter, Ron?"
"I did? But I can't remember that happening. In fact, what is the dreadful news Malfoy was supposed to hear? I know you were misleading the donkey."
"Just the same way you have an agreement with Hadrian, so do I. We do have another artefact that allows us to communicate outside the school. Death Eaters decided to celebrate Harry Potter's death, and they made an appearance in Diagon Alley."
"What? So wait, what happened next?" Ronald asked, as he had no idea that Hadrian Singh was Harry Potter.
"The Death Eaters attacked people, and the Storm-Lord and the Storm-Priestess arrived and killed the whole lot of them. Brutally. Your mother was shopping in Diagon Alley with Ginny and the Storm-Priestess saved them from being attacked."
"Bloody Hell! Wait, why hasn't anybody told me anything?" he asked.
"Well usually, the message would come by letter. Hadrian is getting your Mother and Xeno linked in this afternoon. When he heard the news, he thought that you would feel better after speaking to them. Remember, we got the communicators only this morning. He told me they are fine."
"Neville, you have to teach me everything Hadrian showed you! Everything! What if I had lost them? I am glad the Storm-Bringers killed the whole lot of them. I don't feel sorry for Death Eaters. What will happen now?"
"I imagine the newspapers are dropping in, and the headlines will have Slytherin uncomfortable. Also, consider that Professor Snape will be after us?" replied Luna.
"Well, here we go I guess?" Ronald replied.
A Greengrass Manor, Cyrus was holding a copy of the Daily Prophet, as he examined the ghastly pictures. He was aware that Harry Potter was the ringleader of this event, and he found himself surprised by the utter carnage that the boy had caused. It was one thing to see Ophelia's recollections, but to see thirty men dead?
Cyrus was impressed.
Harry Potter was only targeting Death Eaters - The boy would directly allow him to remain neutral. He had written a letter to Daphne with instructions, but had not mentioned that Harry Potter was alive and well. No, that secret would be discussed during the Christmas holidays. Cyrus wondered how a boy who was approximately the same age as his eldest could be that big and strong. He seemed to look like a fourth-year student and a rather large one of that.
"Astoria, after you are finished with your breakfast, I would like to speak to you. I must discuss the events of yesterday. One morning was all that was required by the Storm-Bringers, and Lord Crabbe, Lord Goyle, Lord Warrington and Lord Flint are all dead."
Astoria nodded as she realised that Draco's father was a rapist, and she and her mother could have been raped by the men in the alleyway. She found herself repulsed by Draco, and she wondered if he was ever honest about his family. While she pondered these thoughts, she found herself feeling a bit sick and light-headed.
"Daddy, after we talk can I sleep? I don't feel so well and I don't know why" the little silver-haired girl responded.
"Yes daughter, I imagine after what you saw yesterday, you will not feel well. I am an adult, and after watching your mother's recollection of the entire experience, I could only stomach tea last night."
Astoria nodded.
"I hope this experience teaches you about the real horrors of the world. You like to think that one day, you will be a princess, and you will run off to be a lady of the Manor? Life is not a fairy-tale, and that is something adults gradually understand. Yesterday you saw the real horrors of supporting the Dark Lord. You also saw how somebody who was hurt by their actions, decided to tear it all down. I honestly owe the persons who did such things congratulations – these events allow us to remain Neutral and that is preferable, for now.
You cannot assume that you can do as you please, and there are no consequences."
At this point, Astoria had fainted and faceplanted into all the tomato soup. When Cyrus put his hand on her shoulder to remove her from the mess she had made, his finger brushed her neck and he felt the intense heat coming from her jugular.
"Ophie! Come quickly. Bring the Grimore! Astoria is in trouble!"
Cyrus Greengrass prayed to Lady Hecate that his intuition was wrong. Yet deep down he knew that this would not be the case. He already knew the issue - the generational Greengrass blood curse had arrived and his youngest would die before her 20th birthday.
As the slow chattering in the Great Hall continued, Albus scanned the students at the Slytherin table. Marcus Flint and Henry Warrington wanted to blatantly attack the students from the other houses. Crabbe and Gayle were clenching their firsts. Soon enough, the owls arrived and the Daily Prophet was dropped unto tables everywhere. The children of the Death Eaters were terrified as they saw the pictures. Draco paled as he realised that Neville's threat had been true:
Former Death Eaters Butchered in Diagon Alley!
- A exclusive by Rita Skeeter.
It seems some sort of madness has overtaken the Wizarding World. Recently I explained the momentous news of Harry Potter's death. Merely days after this shocking death, it seems the Grim Reaper has arrived. Parents after sending their children off on the Hogwarts Express, stopped by in Diagon Alley just to casually shop, or conduct business. This was where the first indication of the madness arrived.
Many people could not apparate yesterday morning. Some type of dark magic had been used and an anti-everything ward had been erected. This enchantment was not erected in a single place but over the entire of Diagon Alley.
It is alleged that people pretending to be Death Eaters then revealed themselves and began to cast dark curses and even unforgivables. I have confirmed figures from St Mungo that at least fifteen people were treated for Cruciatus exposure. Other cloaked figures set businesses on fire and destroyed everything in their path. With the wards raised and most people occupied elsewhere, no Aurors were able to apparate into the area. Most Aurors were on duty at Hogsmeade and the train station. Even the magical partition at the Leaky Cauldron was unresponsive. The situation had been set up perfectly and there was no escape.
For many of you who experienced the last Wizarding War, these observations sound rather similar, don't they?
I cannot say if the people behind the masks and the robes were joking, or if they were individuals who had been coerced during the last war. I did manage to get access to the morgue through a friend, and all of the participants possessed the Dark Mark. But then again, after the damage and the liberal use of the Crucio, I do have to wonder if they were not serious in the first place. The Cruciatus is an unforgivable after all.
I suppose that these men did not consider that they would not survive the morning.
Onlookers reported some of the men being chopped into literal pieces. From what I have been able to put together, twenty minutes was all that it took for the unknown assailants to rip the possible Death Eaters into bloody body parts. Those who were not sliced like an apple soon found themselves with snitch-sized holes in their body. Hecate's mercy, one person I spoke to recalled seeing a sword penetrate a wall, as it decapitated a Death eater on the other side. Obscurus Books now has a deep, gigantic slash in the wall, and last time I checked swords do not cut through the walls.
The issue is that no aggressors were not seen, and we can only guess who responded with such force.
I do suppose this is not a new thing in the wizarding world. There was no evidence to convict many of the Death Eaters in the last war as the excuse was "anyone could wear a mask". Many purebloods who conveniently dodged the opportunity to take Veritaserum, flat out passed a law that stated that direct eyewitness testimony was necessary for conviction.
I have not listed the deaths in this article. Please see page three for a full list of people who were killed during the altercation yesterday. We will wait to hear the decision of the Wizengamot, this Saturday to see what decision has been taken, concerning this issue.
As the Slytherins turned to page three, many of them realised that they had lost either fathers, brothers or Cousins. Suddenly the purebloods were glaring daggers, but the rest of the school did not seem to care. Albus hoped that over the next few days that Slytherin students who had been hurt, would only involve other students in minor scuffles. Quirinus Quirrell seemed quite angry and Albus found this puzzling. After all, he was a halfblood and he had always been an open supporter of Muggleborn rights. Perhaps he was merely ill, and it would pass. Severus Snape was silent and stone-faced and the rest of the teachers displayed a mixture of emotions. Some approved and others were merely surprised. Albus hoped as the homework and assignments came along, that these concerns would become buried and forgotten.
Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis were reading the paper and decided that they would not openly show any pleasure at the events. Such an action could only endanger them within their common room. However, Pansy Parkinson was out for blood, and she considered Daphne and Tracey supporters of the Storm-Bringers.
"Well, the neutral and the blood-traitor are probably pleased by the events. So many good people butchered and not even a little sympathy from our housemates. I wonder why you are even allowed to sit at this table."
Suddenly the rest of the darker purebloods were listening to the conversation.
"Well, my first question is that whoever the perpetrators are, we don't know what side they are on. They could be fighters for the light but they could also be very much supporters of the Dark Arts."
"Why do you believe so?" asked Blaise Zabini, curious to ascertain where the argument was going.
"Well as a Neutral, we make it our job to examine both sides. The forces of the Light, never killed or used dark magic. They only ever stunned. Ask around. Even Headmaster Dumbledore doesn't kill. He never killed Grindelwald?"
Suddenly there was muttering at the table.
"So yes, I find it strange that such uncouth and flagrant violence was used. Now I am beginning to wonder if there might be a new Dark Lord in town and he is merely playing the 'good guy' narrative? I mean these people are outright killers. They seem almost operate like us, with intrigue and resources."
The muttering got even worse. Now the table was apprehensive and Malfoy was mad.
"What exactly are you saying Greengrass?" asked Draco, hoping to report anything of value to his father.
"The lions over there specialise generally in reckless, brazen attacks in the name of the greater good. If no yelling and loud spells were present, then it wasn't people like them. These people Storm-Bringers or not, rely on stealth, deception, obscene amounts of power and hit and run tactics. I am not saying I am sure, eh. Merely that we should evaluate all the facts? That is the Slytherin way."
"So it could be another Dark Lord?" asked Oliver Rivers, who was aware of the Azkaban breakout.
"Possibly Mr Rivers? Perhaps, he might be trying to move in on any turf formerly held by the Dark Lord. If this is the case, and he is a pureblood, he would exercise all the rules that already exist. Or, it could be an entirely new group of people? Look, it is not good to make assumptions. My condolences go out to the families. If I was you, you might want to think about anything that might be relevant to this mystery."
Draco considered what Neville had said, and realised that he probably knew something. He was now looking for Neville at the Gryffindor table, and Daphne smiled. She had pointed the entire Slytherin table to another possibility and they would soon forget everything. She hoped secretly that Draco would try to engage Neville, and he would cut the annoying ponce down to his proper size.
