(A/N This is the most fun EVER! I love being Rita Skeeter!)
Disclaimer: Don't own HP. Only OC.
Chapter 25-The Daily Prophet
THE DAILY PROPHET
Scare at the Village of Hogsmeade
Last night, Ministry officials explained to the magical world exactly what occurred at Hogsmeade. The Village was shrouded in darkness as both Death Eaters and Dementors attacked the village. Thankfully, no one was killed, though several injuries had occurred. Aurors were dispatched immediately after Rubeus Hagrid, groundkeeper at Hogwarts, informed the Ministry that something was happening to the village. Several streets of the village had been shrouded in darkness from a combination of wizard runes, and the power of the Dementors. Hagrid, unfortunately, was unavailable for questioning. Aurors arrived on the scene to help scores of witches and wizards flee the scene. Four students, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Samantha Howell, were caught in the struggle.
The four students were said to have fought bravely alongside the Aurors. The Death Eaters were beaten back. Several were captured, but a number of them had disappeared before they could be caught.
Those who have been captured have been taken into the Ministry for questioning on Lord (Dark Lord's name) and his motives. So far, no Death Eater has given away any information. Veritaserum is in high demand, but it seems as if the Ministry potion brewers are unable to brew any. Their ladles were jinxed by a Death Eater while he was being taken into custody. Anyone who sees a ladle river dancing is to inform the Ministry immediately.
"This," says Millicent Bagnold, Assistant Minister of Magic, "is an outrage. This war has flown under our noses long enough. If this ministry had acknowledged the war, then this entire fiasco would not have happened. Not only was Hogsmeade - a valuable part of wizard history and tradition - endangered, but our young students were involved. Our future lies with our young, if we cannot protect them against this threat, then who can? Who's to say, if we had not been informed, that these Death Eaters could not have burnt the entire village and the people within it to the ground! I will not stand for this. If I were Minister, I would wring these Death Eaters and their Lord by the neck!"
The Minister himself is in question. Millicent Bagnold ma, in fact get her wish. The public is rallying, specifically the concerned parents of students. They want a new Minister, one who would be capable to defend their homes and their school.
Abraxas Malfoy, well known for his donation and charitable acts toward the Ministry, was available for questioning.
"My son, Lucius, is in his seventh and final year of Hogwarts. As a parent, I am shocked and stunned to hear that Hogwarts had allowed this to happen. But I am still not entirely convinced that this is the act of a new Dark Lord. If the Ministry would investigate it, I would, of course, pay for a full investigation. I am concerned that a new Minister may upset the delicate situation that the wizarding world is in."
Abraxas continued to express his concerns over the management of Hogwarts to this reporter who listened ardently.
"Dumbledore, I should think, as a powerful wizard and Order of Merlin; first class, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, and a part of the International Society of Wizards, should know better. Hogsmeade was within his range. Hogwarts, of course, is his chief concern. But when all of his students leave to go to Hogsmeade you would think he would be aware of something like this happening. The Minister himself should not be questioned. I have met him on countless occasions. He is not the one who is running this society into the ground, it is Dumbledore. He is the one who has been fueling the rumors of this Dark Lord. Dumbledore has always been known to be involved in something of this nature."
The Wizangamot has decided to arrange a meeting. The Minister of Magic, despite outside attempts, has barricaded himself in his office. No word yet of how he has taken this immense blow to his title. Dumbledore, on the other hand, is as active as ever and raising the awareness of the wizarding situation.
"Dumbledore is only, and will ever be, concerned for the welfare of his students." says Amelia Bones, young Assistant to the Head of Magical Law Enforcement. "If he hears about a war, he will want to protect his students from the brunt of it. Teach them and train them to protect them selves. It's a horrible thing, how he's being treated; he should be honored and respected as a teacher. He was like a grandfather to me when I was in school. I don't believe that he would ever spread lies."
When this reporter asked about his position in the attack of Hogsmeade, Bones replied in honesty.
"It is not Dumbledore who should be blamed for the attack on Hogsmeade. He had no power over the regulations and enforcements of boundaries. He could not control the Dementors or the Ministry officials there, just like the attack on the quidditch stadium not long ago. Dumbledore is not at fault. He had, in fact, gone to the Ministry the week before the attack. They laughed him out. The only people who can be blamed for this are the Minister and the higher ups who would not believe him."
Amelia Bones refused to say any more on the subject. The Daily Prophet attempted to get more interviews from the higher Ministry officials, but it was immediately made clear that no one was allowed to see what was happening in the government.
Is this new censorship boding well for the government? It remains to be seen if a new Minister will be elected, or a new Headmaster for Hogwarts. If a new Minister were to be elected, Millicent Bagnold would be the first to receive office. If Bagnold proves to be insufficient, then it remains to be seen.
Aurors are in a high demand now. Alastor Moody, from the Head of Auror Placement, is now recruiting those available to work.
"This new war brings in high demand, and don't look at me that way Rita, you know what I'm talking about. This war is real. What we need are some real fighters, not this Ministry garbage..."
Alastor subsided to mumbling and this reporter listened in intently.
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE! That's what we need, some good fighters who have some constant vigilance. We need to prepare ourselves for the coming war. We need a Minister that knows what war is all about too. Bagnold is the perfect fit for such a position. Our current Minister does not accept anything that will disrupt his afternoon cup of tea. That's not acceptable! I know Bagnold, she's perfect for this. She's ready and she's smart. She'll know what to do. Lord (Dark Lord's name) won't get away with attacking Hogsmeade. I will personally lead the charge against him. You can write that down Rita... oh, you've already written it. I see. Nice quill you got there, cost you much?"
When confronted with his opinion on Dumbledore, Alastor conceded to voicing his thoughts.
"I always liked Dumbledore, nice man. He's dead smart and he's already won a war for us. Unless anyone has forgotten how he defeated (Previous Dark Lord's name). He's smart and he's aware. I'd trust no other man to lead the war. Don't get between him and his students... that's all I can say."
You-Know-Who was not available for questioning during these past events.
Is the Wizarding world headed for war? Will there be a new Minister? The answers are what everyone is dying to know. This young reporter, Rita Skeeter, promises her readers that she will report the truth diligently, and never stretch and distort it.
THE DAILY PROPHET
New Minister of Magic
Last night, an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot occurred deep in the recesses of the Ministry. Early in the morning, this reporter got a sneak preview into the deep argument occurring in the courtroom.
Dolores Umbridge was on the spot in defense of the current Minister of Magic. Dolores was wearing a lovely pink outfit with a bow clip that went wonderfully together.
"The current Minister is the best Minister we have had so far," she said. "All that he asks is for your patience in sorting out the current ordeals that he is facing. He has been pushed and pulled in different directions by the press."
This reporter zealously reports that this is not true in any way, shape, or form. The press is to report the truth as it is seen.
"The Minister asks for your kindness and your cooperation in this long and grueling process. No wizard in this society suffers more than he does now. He is painstakingly taking hours out of his time to sort through all of your letters and complaints. No other man in this country commands more respect than he does, we ask that you show him good will, as he does you. It is improper for us to lose our heads when a small error in our defense occurs. If we acted like this in the past then we would never had been able to defeat (Previous Dark Lord's name)."
Several wizards spoke out in argument when she stated this. In the war against (Previous Dark Lord's name), a new Minister had been chosen.
"Nonetheless, that new minister had been chosen after years of the previous Minister's rule."
The same wizards pointed out that they had been losing up until that point.
"This council has always remained loyal to the Minister," Dolores continued. "Why are you panicking now? This is not the time to be rash and make quick decisions that will affect us for a lifetime. All the Minister asks is for your kindness, patience, loyalty, courage, time, and to remain calm. I don't think that that's too much to ask for since he is the Minister!"
Dolores continued to act in the Minister's defense while the council elected the young Amelia Bones to speak for them.
"The Minister has not responded to any of the pressing concerns so far."
"Patience and time," Dolores said.
"He has ignored the general public entirely. No man has ever shunned the wizarding public as much as he has now. I do not think that it is a bad decision to elect a new Minister.
"Kindness," said Dolores lightly.
"The public is afraid." said Amelia, ignoring Dolores. "He has not acted in any way at all to this recent development. It is time for a change. What we need is someone who will not frighten the public by barricading himself in his office!"
A general murmur of agreement rose from the council. But that did not stop Dolores from furthering her cause.
"Courage and loyalty," Dolores told Amelia.
"The Minister is not doing anything, nor do I think that he will do anything!"
"Remain calm," said Dolores. "We should all remain calm."
"I will not remain calm!" Amelia had shouted. "Let us vote now! All those in favor of electing a new minister?"
This reporter is glad to say that she had counted the number of hands in the room. It was equal. The Wizengamot would normally have an odd number, but unfortunately this was not the case today. Prewett was out sick.
"All those in favor of keeping our Minister?" called Amelia.
An equal number of hands rose and the council was adjourned for the day. The Wizengamot had left the room quietly. This reporter had gotten a fresh interview with Dolores after the council.
"I have no doubt in my mind that this council will make the right decision. They have always stood by the Minister's side, as I do, and they will remember that by tomorrow.
"I am glad with the progress that was made today. It was fair for us to listen to the part of the council who wanted a new minister. And it was fair for us to take a vote. It was all a part of a process that we go through day to day. I think that tomorrow it will be unanimous. The Minister will stay in his office. He asks for patience most of all. Patience..."
This reported also managed to get a few words out of Amelia Bones also.
"If we can all be patient, courageous, calm, loyal, kind and time wise... then why do we need a Minister at all?"
The Wizengamot's effort was wasted though. For, early in the next morning, the Minister unlocked his office door. He has fled to Bermuda with a large trunk full of socks. If anyone sees a man with an overly large beard wearing ducky slippers they are to report it to a Ministry official immediately. It seems that the ex-Minister was lost at sea somewhere around Spain. Bagnold was named Minister of Magic a few hours later.
THE DAILY PROPHET
Rules and Regulations
Millicent Bagnold, newly named Minister of Magic, has passed a list of rules and regulations to be taken into consideration by all public. These rules are for the safety of the public. It is for your families and your friends sakes that this list was created.
1. You are advised to never leave the house alone. Bring a friend or a family member.
2. Arrange all meetings and appointments to avoid the hours of darkness. Should you be caught roaming outside in the dark, you will be questioned and taken into the Ministry.
3. Arrange for security measures around your homestead. Ward casters are available at the Ministry for your usage. Arrange for your family to be taught shield and disillusionments charms. Young children should be taught side-along apparition. A safe haven should be set up for every household to apparate to.
4. Agree on safety questions for families to answer. If a Death Eater is masquerading as a family member or a close friend, they can be detected. Make sure these questions are obscure and random.
5. Observe friends, family, neighbor and shop owners for suspicious behavior. Report all odd behavior to the Inquisitorial Department of the Ministry. They may be under the imperius curse.
6. Any sign of the Dark Mark, a snake ensnared around a skull, should be reported to the Auror department immediately. DO NOT attempt to detain a Death Eater and DO NOT attempt to enter any building with the Dark Mark floating above it.
7. Sighting of inferi have been reported. If any sign of inferi appear around you, report it to the Ministry IMMEDIATELY. Inferi are animated corpses. They are not alive! No wizard can be brought back from the dead! Every witch and wizard should know that fire acts as a repellant to inferi.
8. You-Know-Who is recruiting other witches and wizards. ANY contact with You-Know-Who will put you under suspicion if you do not report it to the Ministry. Any contact with You-Know-Who may put you in danger. Do not seek him out. Do not attempt to contact him.
9. If you have any other concerns, contact the Ministry. We are reachable by floo, owl, and by the telephone booth in London.
Later in the day, five thousand witches and wizards reported that someone was walking outside in the dark. Three thousand reported that the Ward Casters were too busy. Half of them reported wards going wrong. One woman reported her house going pink.
Two hundred people reported that their children could not do magic outside of Hogwarts, and therefore could not cast shield and disillusionment spells. Three hundred students were sent Ministry owls telling them not to use underage magic. Two men reported that their spells backfired and were unable to enter their households, as a large shield was stuck on their arm.
Around thirty children were splinched and then had to be put back together by a Ministry official. Four adults were stuck in walls. Two hundred witches and wizards argued that they had no safe haven, and asked to use the Ministry as theirs.
Around one thousand witches and wizards were blasted into unconsciousness because they had forgotten the answer to their safety question. Some witches and wizards called Aurors and then complained that the Aurors were too busy.
Around six thousand witches and wizards reported a friend, family member, neighbor, shop-owner, painting, pet, quill, person they passed on the street, to be acting oddly. Three thousand of those people lost a good friend that day.
Four thousand mothers reported that they had seen an odd tattoo on their son's arm. This resulted in three hundred "Shut up" "No, you shut up" fights between disgruntled male teenagers and disgruntled Ministry officials. No one can escape the wrath of teenagers.
Four hundred witches and wizards panicked and called the Ministry official when they thought they saw the Dark Mark. It turned out that it was actually a rare sighting of the Northern Lights. Three hundred dinner plans were broken when family members refused to enter a house because they hadn't gotten a good view of the rooftop.
Approximately forty witches claimed they saw inferi; it turned out to just be their drunken husbands. One hundred people claimed their long lost grandfather had come back from the dead. Three witches almost lit their houses on fire. And one little boy named Charlie caught a broomstick on fire and chased it around the village, scaring several wizarding families.
Three thousand calls came in from scared witches and wizards who thought that You-Know-Who had attempted to contact them through. Four hundred of these letters were from Mother-in-laws who wanted to yell at them for abandoning their dinner plans. One hundred witches found out their husbands were cheating them. One thousand witches and wizards had not opened the letter. The rest had simply received a letter from a close neighbor who had a knack for the cryptic arts.
And green ink was no longer for sale... anywhere.
By nine o' clock, every last way into the Ministry of Magic was jammed shut. The lines next to the telephone booths in London were so large that it was drawing muggle attention. Every owl owned by a witch or wizard did not come back for three days because the Owlery at the Ministry was so jammed that it was almost impossible to get a letter through.
By the end of the week, every trashcan was filled to the top with the infamous chart of rules and regulations.
At Hogwarts...
April, May, and June past swiftly by and Hogsmeade became a memory that was rarely revisited by Lily and Ally. James, Remus, Sirius, and Sam were congratulated many times on being mentioned in the prophet. They became heroes and celebrities for several weeks after the attack. Soon, the ruckus died down. A lot of the students looked at the attack as a chance to socialize. Students were always asking each other the same question.
"So where were you when Hogsmeade was attacked? Were you at Honeydukes...? Did you see a Death Eater?"
Lily and Ally didn't mind that their involvement passed by unnoticed. In fact, they were glad no attention was drawn to them. After all, this would pass by quickly.
Their diricawl in Care Of magical Creatures was received by their teacher as the most like their owners. Ally wanted to keep him, but they weren't allowed, Ministry rule. She was tempted to fight them about this, but Hagrid had agreed to keep him. Ally had hugged his waist, being the only part of him that she could reach.
In the first week of June, Lily celebrated her birthday. Ally had thrown her a surprise party. The entire Gryffindor tower was invited. The Marauders arranged it. Lily was happy anyway, even though most of the people there were only there to eat and dance. She was just glad that someone had thought of her.
Halfway through the party, they sung Lily "Happy Birthday" and cut the large three layer chocolate cake that had to be carried up by five house elves. Lily was against using house elves, but somehow, Ally convinced Lily to forget about it and enjoy the party.
At the end of the party, near midnight, Lily opened the presents from her friends.
Ally's was first. Ally was very proud of her selection of a very old Charms book from her uncle's library. Lily loved it immediately and would have started to read it right away if Ally hadn't persuaded her to open the rest of the present first.
Lily sighed and put the book aside.
"Open mine next!" James said eagerly and pushed a brown package toward her. Lily looked at the package curiously and then turned to Remus.
"It doesn't explode, does it?" she asked cautiously, with her eyebrows raised.
"Not to my knowledge," he said mysteriously.
Lily looked at him and then James. She slid the wrapping off and opened the box. Lily was delighted to see that it didn't explode. It was a small silver charm bracelet. The first charm was, of course, a Quaffle.
Lily laughed and clipped in on her wrist. She then turned to her next present, which was a box of sugar quills from Sirius.
"Good for not paying attention in class," Sirius advised.
'Like that would ever happen," Ally said.
She got a uniquely Pria chess set from Carla and Pria, complete with a dragon, a troll and moat on both sides of the board. Remus gave her another book about incredibly advanced Charms and a box of sweets. Peter gave her a hand knitted sweater.
"From my mum," he said quietly and shyly.
Lily thanked him kindly.
The only thing left for them all to attend was the end of the year feast. Finals were over. No more classes would be in session... and after the feast... the incantation.