Long May She Reign

by EdennBlue

Draco Malfoy had always been the suspicious type, after all it came with the territory. With DADA classes pure theory, he could see her suffering from the disuse of her magic. It was a very rare form of withdrawal and it was impossible for her to be going through. So how was Hermione Granger experiencing the last stages of family magic slipping away from her?

16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

December 24th 1995

SIRIUS BLACK INNOCENT OR GUILTY? - PETER PETTIGREW ALIVE

by Rita Skeeter

Long believed to be dead, Peter Pettigrew, Order of Merlin First Class, was apprehended by Aurors early yesterday evening in the home of Ministry Official, Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office Head, Arthur Weasley. Mr Weasley has been in St Mungos for several days after a freak accident at work and the home has been vacant. Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was visiting the Ministry man's home to water plants when Peter Pettigrew was found. Despite his public demise decades ago, Mr Pettigrew was found alive and unharmed.

"While his death was clearly false, we will be doing a full investigation into his whereabouts for the last 14 years, his business at the Weasley home that evening, and what really happened on the Second of November 1981." A Ministry spokesperson told us. He also added, "While he is physically unharmed, at some point over the last 14 years, he has lost all use of magic." Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge himself, penned an Official Announcement late last night.

'We at the Ministry of Magic are as perplexed as you by the miraculous survival of Peter Pettigrew, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is fully mobilising to properly account for his mistaken death, and to overturn that judgement. This office is committed to the thorough and proper dispensation of the law, regardless of Mr Pettigrew's Order of Merlin, and thus, should we find any illegal activity linked to the man, he will be punished to the full extent of our laws.

'Mr Pettigrew's supposed murder on the Second of November 1981 would call into question Sirius Black's innocence, it is important to remember that twelve Muggles were killed that day also. However Mr Pettigrew survived, and what reason he had to remain in hiding after his attempted murder, Sirius Black will remain Undesirable Number One and this office will continue to pursue Mr Black as a fugitive.

'Any person with knowledge of Mr Pettigrew's whereabouts over the last 14 years is urged to step forward and share what they know with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Any such reports found to be fruitful shall be rewarded with a sum of Ten Galleons. While Mr Pettigrew is not officially charged with a crime, he will be held at the DMLE for interviews, piecing together what exactly happened to him since 1981.'

While Mr Pettigrew's miraculous survival is enough for its own front page story, the details of his apprehension and those of Sirius Black's 14 years ago are called into question by this journalist. Despite both Ministry statements given to the Daily Prophet, this journalist has found a shocking letter, and even more shocking facts that the Ministry has elected to withhold from a deserving public.

When Mr Pettigrew was arrested, Ms McGonagall also handed over a letter found on the premises. It has been copied for our readers.

'This man is Peter Pettigrew, a Death Eater. He betrayed Lily and James Potter, and gave them up to Voldemort. They were killed on the night of the 31st of October 1981. He murdered twelve muggles with a blasting curse and cut off his finger, before escaping as an unregistered animagus on the 2nd of November 1981. He murdered Cedric Diggory on the night of the 24th of June 1995. Cover this up all you want, the papers will be printing by morning.

You will find him incapable of performing magic, and thus simple interrogation under Veritaserum will have to suffice for your investigation. He is magicless, not because of his own action, but mine. I, the last surviving Stuart, am coming to receive my birthright. Take this man, and his lack of magic, as my proof. I wish for a peaceful, cooperative transition of power, and offer Peter Pettigrew, a mass murderer, as a token of that wish.

Merry Christmas.'

This journalist plans to dissect the whole letter, in detail, for our readers.

Sirius Black, imprisoned for his betrayal of Lily and James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived's late parents, and the murder of twelve muggles and Peter Pettigrew, escaped two years ago under the Ministry's watch, appears to be exonerated in this letter. Its writer accuses Peter Pettigrew of Sirius Black's crimes, insinuating Sirius Black was framed, and adds another crime to he man's list. He is also accused of being an unregistered animagus whose form is that of a rat. A creature certainly small enough to escape in the commotion of an explosion.

The sudden death of Cedric Diggory early this summer was a tragedy not just for his family, but the entire wizarding community. A front-runner in the TriWizard tournament and this journalist's pick to win, was found dead at the climax of the tournament. His fellow competitor, Harry Potter, used a portkey to bring Mr Diggory's body back to his family from the centre of the Maze that held the Final Task of the Tournament. Mr Potter alleged that night that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned that night and had Cedric Diggory killed. Mr Potter has maintained that stance, even to this day despite the Ministry's stance of the opposite.

With such accusations levied against Mr Pettigrew, it is surprising to hear the Ministry's lack of criminal investigations or charges. Chief among the accusations levied against the Order of Merlin recipient, is that accusing him of being a Death Eater. This journalist has gotten her hands on definitive proof of at least one of these accusations. Pictured here is a photograph of Mr Pettigrew in custody. As we can see he is missing his right hand (in the foreground) and on his left, the hand lacking one finger, his arm is clearly painted with the Dark Mark, a symbol of the Death Eaters and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

With the validity of one accusation confirmed, one has to wonder just how many of Mr Pettigrew's other accusations will be found true also. The implications of this for Sirius Black, a man accused of being a Death Eater, and the murder of many, are extreme. Could the previous administration under Millicent Bagnold have imprisoned an innocent man? To answer this question the Ministry's public record of criminal cases and convictions was searched and no charges attributed to Mr Black, nor a trial, was found.

Following such damning evidence leads to one conclusion. The penner of this letter, found with Mr Pettigrew, was correct, and the Ministry did indeed stage a cover up. This brings to question the ministry's motivations in its investigation of Mr Pettigrew, and their relationship with this anonymous sender. This journalist has found several leads.

As mentioned in the letter, our sender calls themselves "the last surviving Stuart". Those familiar with our magical history will know that long before the Statute of Secrecy and the Ministry of Magic, our community was governed by Her Majesty Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. This sender seems to insinuate that they are the last of this royal bloodline and that they have "come to receive their birthright."

While it would seem futile to have a King or Queen while the Ministry of Magic stands, some investigation in both the Ministry Charter and that of the Wizengamot show a clause penned into their final form, state "Article 16, Section 7, Dissolution Clause - in the event of the return of the Royal Bloodline, the Ministry of Magic shall immediately disband and turn over power to the rightful monarchy upon a Royal descendant's declaration to the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot." No such request has been made as there currently is no sitting Chief Warlock after Albus Dumbledore's removal in July, Minister Fudge has assumed said role temporarily as the Wizengamot fails to elect a new leader.

This further calls into question Minister Fudge's motivations, as the anonymous individual that seemingly turned over Mr Pettigrew (earlier pictured with a Dark Mark) is likely in contest of his position as Minister of Magic. Furthermore, this journalist has found a secret investigation within the Wizengamot as to their inability to access Official Chambers. On the night of the Twenty-Ninth of November, the chamber was rendered inaccessible by an unknown force, and has remained empty since. The Wizengamot have been meeting in their lower court rooms in the interim.

On this same night, a disturbance was occurring at Hogwarts school. At the same time the Wizengamot was thrown from their chambers, a red light was reported on the Quidditch Fields, likely the result of two students. However, this journalist posits another theory. This light was caused by our anonymous sender, as mentioned earlier, and is bringing about the total upheaval of the Ministry of Magic as we know it.

While I cannot confirm such claims, I can make a request of the Ministry to be truthful in its interactions with the public and the media, in order to answer the questions brought up in this article. Who is the Last Stuart? Are their claims true? And what is the Ministry going to do about it?