Interlude

DAILY PROPHET, 28 August 2000

You-Know-Who's Followers Seeking Revenge?

Two years after the Dark Lord's downfall, and despite the Ministry's repeated assurances that all of You-Know-Who's known followers are either dead or locked away in the prison of Azkaban, three unexplained attacks raise again the fears and doubts of the magical community. The three attacks took place simultaneously on Saturday morning; Ronald Weasley, of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department, Luna Lovegood, co-owner of the independent monthly the 'Quibbler', and Merlin Parletoo, Head Healer of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Diseases and Injuries, were all shot in the back with what appear to be poisonous arrows. While the latter personally tended to most of the people severely wounded by You-Know-Who and his followers, and even had Harry Potter himself among his patients, Weasley and Lovegood played important parts in the last war and were known to be close friends of Potter's. In such conditions, it's hard not to think of a Death Eater attack. (…)

The three victims, in critical condition, were transported to St Mungo's; the Healer in charge, Augustus Revol, asserted that an antidote to the poison that was used against them should be found shortly.

DAILY PROPHET, 15 September 2000

Poisonous Attack: the Healers Mystified

The victims of the attack that took place on the 26 August are still in a deep coma, two weeks after they were shot with poisonous arrows. No antidote was found in spite of the Healers' and Potions Masters' best efforts. This unknown substance seems to have plunged its victims in a catatonic state; despite having their eyes open, they can't recognise anybody and don't react to their surroundings, and they keep muttering nonsense under their breaths. Questioned by our reporter Miranda Backston, Harry Potter, whose ties with all three victims are widely known, has refused to make any comment, instead advising our reporter to "get out of (his) way, unless (she had) suicidal tendencies." Unspeakable Hermione Granger, another close friend of two of the three victims, was contacted by our reporter Brandon Morley who received a similar — if less aggressive — answer. (…)

DAILY PROPHET, 1st November 2000

Harry Potter falls into coma

Yesterday, nineteen years exactly after the murder of James and Lily Potter and the Dark Lord's first downfall, Harry Potter was celebrating Halloween at the Weasley house when he abruptly fell to the floor, unconscious. He was carried over to St Mungo's in emergency, and as we write this no Healer has yet been able to confirm that he would survive. (…)

DAILY PROPHET, 3 November 2000

The-Boy-Who-Lived Has Survived Again

Harry Potter has regained consciousness and his life is no longer in danger, Healer Revol said. However, he is kept under observation and won't be able to resume his professional activities before a few weeks at least. (…)

DAILY PROPHET, 17 December 2000

Harry Potter is out of hospital

The Auror, after almost seven weeks spent at St Mungo's, is finally back at the Ministry. Contacted by reporter Morley, he refused to give a full interview, and merely said, "I was ill, now I'm back to work. That's it." (…)

DAILY PROPHET, 25 February 2001

The Quibblerwill no longer be published

The director of the independent monthly the Quibbler, Ebenezar Lovegood, says in the editorial of February's edition that he is leaving England with the intention of going after a fabled animal, the optical nerves of which would contain an antidote supposedly even more powerful than bezoars. Lovegood's goal, although he made no mention of it, is probably to find a cure for his daughter, Luna, who was shot six months ago with a poisonous arrow and is still in a coma. We wish our esteemed colleague much luck in this perilous quest.

DAILY PROPHET, 20 June 2001

A hot summer ahead

This summer will be particularly dry and hot! Remember never to leave your little ones unprotected under the sun! Read page 2: Which Sun Potion Should I Choose? by Claudia Ramirez.

DAILY PROPHET, 5 September 2001

Young Transfiguration Teacher appointed at Hogwarts

He's young, handsome and athletic. But does the new Transfiguration teacher have what it takes to succeed Minerva McGonagall, who until last June held concurrently both her post as Headmistress and the position of Transfiguration teacher, for lack of suitable candidates? Our analysis on page 3.