- Tell me Cub, any idea where you are going to spend your holidays?
-Fen! I didn't hear you! Come in!
The werewolf observed his young friend. He had returned from Hogwarts a week before and had spent that week at Malfoy Manor. Knowing the young man, Fenrir knew he wouldn't last long. If there was one thing he had understood about him in two years, it was that Mirus did not like to be idle and that the life of an aristocrat was not for him.
- I'm waiting for Siri to be available and we're both going to take a little trip to a warm country. I want to see the world beyond the old continent.
And he couldn't wait for his godfather to finally be free. He couldn't possibly disappear for a vacation when his godson's funeral was taking place soon. The death of Harry Potter had unleashed the media and he was constantly bombarded with requests for interviews.
.oOÔOo.
The Triwizard Tournament, real carnage!
At the start of the past school year, the Wizarding World was excited about the organization of the Triwizard Tournament, a legendary competition between the greatest magic schools in Europe.
This enthusiasm was short-lived when the first
Task marked the death sentence for one of the participants.
Cedric Diggory, only son of Amos Diggory, employee of the Department for the Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures and his wife Genevieve Diggory, and Champion designate of Hogwarts School was so badly burned during his confrontation with a
Swedish Short-Snoutthat the best potions could not save him.
To refresh everyone's memory, let's remember that the
Task consisted of stealing a fake egg hidden in the nest of a fierce dragon. It seems inconceivable, despite the fact that we were all assured that the safety of the Champions was perfectly guaranteed, that an accident of this type could not occur. The catastrophe seems, in retrospect, inevitable.
The second victim was the designated Champion of the French school of Beauxbatons. Fleur Delacour, daughter of Jean Delacour, employee at the French Ministry of Magic, and Apolline Delacour, marked the spirits by her beauty but also by her ingenuity during the First Task during which she put the Welsh Green to sleep in front of her.
Unfortunately, this did not save her from a horrific death by drowning during the Second
Task. Indeed, the Champions had to save someone dear to their heart at the depths of the famous Hogwarts' Black Lake. It was young Gabrielle, Fleur's sister, who was waiting for her in the village of Merpeople living in the abysses of the lake. Armed with a Bubblehead charm, the young woman dove without hesitation to save her little sister. It was a bad idea as the charm did not resist if something sharp pierced the bubble thus created as the Grindylows present in the depths quickly discovered.
This is how only two Champions participated in the last event. This consisted of a
maze in the center of which stood the Trophy declaring the winner. Viktor Krum, designated Champion of the Durmstrang Institute, and Harry Potter, involuntary Champion of Hogwarts, both entered in good health, ready to face the trials scattered among the high hedges.
The first Champion to
reach the Trophy was the too young Harry Potter, also nicknamed the Boy Who Lived after he defeated You-Know-Who when he was just a toddler. (Complete story pages 4 to 9). He would have been the winner of the Tournament if he had not immediately succumbed to his injuries when the Trophy carried him to the entrance of the labyrinth.
This is how the young Krum was declared winner of the Tournament. He declined any request for an interview. However, his agent told us that the young man was traumatized by his experience, which we, at the
Prophet, can understand perfectly. We all wish him a moral recovery, no person of his age should come so close to death.
.oOÔOo.
The Triwizard Tournament, tensions on all sides!
In our last issue, we reminded our readers of the terrible events that took place during the Triwizard Tournament.
The very evening of our publication, news from France reached us. The French Ministry of Magic asked our Minister for an investigation to determine whether the successive tragedies could have been avoided.
This request was supported by Lord Black, godfather of the late Harry Potter. The man who had been unjustly locked up in Azkaban for years (details p.7) had found freedom and obtained sole custody of his best friend's son. He was only able to enjoy the joy of finally being able to be present in his godson's life for one year. Devastated by his death
and enraged against the organizers of the Tournament, Lord Sirius Black demands answers. The Lord wants those responsible to be justly punished.
.oOÔOo.
Sirius was finally able to go free a week after "Harry" was buried with his "parents".
He and Mirus decided to go to the wizaring island of Quechol located in Chile. The population was isolated enough that their presence together would go entirely unnoticed by the rest of the world, and the fact that only wizards inhabited it would save them from having to spend a fortune on sunscreen when a few spells would do the job perfectly.
Lucius and Narcissa just asked them to spend their last evening with the rest of the inhabitants of the Manor, that is to say them, Draco and Severus. It was in the middle of the meal that Lucius finally decided to say what had been weighing on him since the boys' return.
-Mirus?
- Yes Lucius?
- Is everything alright?
- Um yes. Why do you ask?
- It seems obvious to me that your life has changed enormously in recent months, especially since the ritual we performed last summer. If you ever want to... talk to us about what you're feeling, know that Narcissa and I are ready to hear you.
- Oh… Um… Thanks?
- You don't have to, obviously, reassured the woman.
- No, no, I think I understand a little. You have lost and forgotten one of your children for years. I guess I'm not really what you expected of a Malfoy...
- Mirus, we know perfectly well that, despite the fact that you are our son, you did not grow up seeing us as your parents. We do not expect our relationship with you to ignore the many years we have been apart. Despite everything, know that we wish the best for you, even if what is best for you is not what we anticipated when you were born.
- I… I know. I've seen the efforts you've made since you found out who I am. You never imposed yourself but stayed close whenever possible. And I really appreciate it. I confess to you that when I first saw Draco, I was afraid of how you would treat me and how I would respond.
-Hey, what do you mean by that? How can the way I behave scare you about our parents?
-Are you kidding Draco? Okay, put yourself in my place for a second. I grew up with a family who hated me, who taught me one thing: adaptation. Throughout my childhood, I had to educate myself, learn what I needed to survive. From a young age, I was extremely independent, relying only on myself to stay alive. I learned at eleven that I was a wizard and that I had living parents and a brother. At eleven you could have left me in the middle of the sleaziest parts of London, I would have survived just fine, I even did it for two weeks when I was seven and they tried to abandon me.
Mirus grimaced when he noticed that his last remark had made his parents turn pale. He continued anyway.
-And the first time I met you, I saw a spoiled brat who would have been incapable of surviving more than twenty-four hours in a quiet Muggle neighborhood without at least bursting into tears. No offense, but before you introduced yourself to me before sorting in first year, I nicknamed you "the little jerk from the clothing store." So I had doubts about the education you received. And I wasn't entirely wrong, no offense. If I had been discovered and forced to live with you at eleven years old, before Marvolo, Fenrir and Sirius intervened, I would have completely flipped out. All this…
He gestured with his arms encompassing the environment around him.
- It is not me. It will never be me, it's too late for that. I only stayed at the Manor for two weeks and I already feel claustrophobic. It's too smooth, too slow... I've grown to like you, honestly, but I could never be a classic Malfoy.
- We're not asking you to, son.
- I know, Lucius. And I only appreciate you more for it. By the way, Severus?
The man, sitting across from the young blond, finally raised his head, one eyebrow raised questioningly.
- Stop being so stressed. Marvolo is not going to kill you, at least not for what happened all those years ago. Of course, if he learns that you continue to spy for Dumbledore, nothing is guaranteed. Next year I will be your student and your relationship with the Malfoys is well known. If you continue to be so uptight around me, it's going to seem weird. Especially since I spent a lot of time with Draco among the Slytherins who all know me now, at least by sight.
The dark-haired man sighed.
-You are right, Mirus, obviously. This year has been… special. I admit I had a hard time separating Harry Potter from you, it was so confusing. You know that Lily Evans was my childhood friend and that James Potter was my enemy when we were teenagers. Harry was supposed to be their son... My feelings towards him were already complicated and the fact that you are ultimately the son of the closest thing to a family for me...
- I understand. I'm not asking you to be all smiles with me, that would give many students nightmares, but try to relax a little. Take a vacation, find a partner, do something.
Lucius hid his smile by taking a sip from his glass of wine while Narcissa giggled softly behind her hand. They had both been touched to hear Severus speak of them like that, it was so rare from their taciturn friend. They had tried to remain impassive so as not to embarrass him but Mirus' last remark broke their resolve.
- I don't think the student population would survive such a personality change on my part, Severus replied, glaring at his friends.
- You may be right…
- So, Sirius, what are your plans for this summer?
- Ah, Narcissa, if you only knew, beach, walks in the wild mountains. And Barty should join us as soon as Marvolo finishes debriefing him…
.oOÔOo.
Retired Auror Found Dead! Reasons for suicide!
Last night, the Aurors were called by wizards concerned about a smell emanating from the house of Alastor Moody, retired Auror and the last Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts.
Arriving on site, the agents had to
cats with Bubble Head charms on themselves in order to be able to enter the home of the man who was nicknamed Mad Eye because of his artificial eye capable of turning in all directions. The smell of putrefaction that greeted them when they opened the door was so nauseating that they immediately became ill.
The sight they encountered was described by one of the Aurors as a nightmare. In the only bed in the little house was a corpse covered in maggots, hundreds of flies buzzed around the room, obscuring the scene.
The identity of the deceased was left in no doubt when the Aurors saw the famous eye as well as the old man's well-known wooden leg lying in the various fluids that had flowed onto the sheets. The
healers who examined the body confirmed that it was indeed Alastor Moody. The reason for death quickly became apparent after a vial of poison was discovered lying on the floor next to the bed.
Everything indicates that it was taken voluntarily. A farewell letter, signed by him, was found on the nightstand next to him. We managed to obtain a copy of which here are some extracts. We cannot transcribe it faithfully, its author having obviously not been of sound mind when writing it and certain passages were illegible.
"I leave tonight with a heavy heart. [...] I should never have accepted Albus' offer to become a teacher. [...] And it cost the life of a promising young boy. […] If I had known that putting his name in the Cup would have such consequences. […] I just wanted to prove to the world that this kid could do anything, like Albus told me! […] This old fool convinced me, I shouldn't have trusted him. […] I have this child's blood on my hands! »
For years, Alastor Moody's mental health was questioned by his peers.
He was known to be violent and paranoid. According to our sources, his way of regularly drinking from a flask which he never parted with during his teaching year at Hogwarts was the reason for rumors about an addiction to alcohol among students. From what we can deduce from his letter despite its inconsistencies, is that Mad Eye was the one who forced young Harry Potter to participate in the Triwizard Tournament and that he was unable to live with the consequences of his action.
.oOÔOo.
- Come on, Siri, it's not that complicated!
The man was red and sweating from the effort.
- Hey, I remind you that I'm not the same age and don't have the same training as you! Try spending years in Azkaban, you'll see if you don't lose your muscle mass!
- You've been free for more than two years! Just admit that you have enjoyed the life of a pasha since you came out. Come on, we're almost there. I'm sure Barty is already there!
- Obviously, grumbled the man, his Portkey must have brought him to the door... Why did we choose this day to go around the island, again?
- Because the weather was ideal. And I wanted to see the real size of the island. When I think the muggles think it's a small rocky islet. Can you imagine, if they saw the vegetation that grew there?
- I can imagine their shock, yes. More than three quarters of the plants are magical. The purple flower of yesterday would be delighted to come across muggles unaware of the danger.
- Like you were before I warned you?
- Yeah, well... Herbology was not my favorite subject at Hogwarts. What's more, we don't study foreign species there.
- Exactly, you should be more wary of what you don't know. Luckily I bought this book on local plants when we arrived otherwise you would have lost a precious part of your anatomy.
Sirius paled as he remembered how he had approached it while he was alone to urinate. Fortunately Mirus had seen him from afar and shouted at him to get away from the carnivorous plant.
- What do you think is happening in England?
.oOÔOo.
Hogwarts' Keeper of Keys and Grounds Arrested for Breeding Dangerous Animals!
Everyone knows Rubeus Hagrid, the man who held the position of gamekeeper at our famous school since 1943 and was appointed professor of Care of Magical Creatures for two years. His apparent good nature and exuberant
deamanor endeared him to hundreds of students who knew him during their schooling.
But appearances are sometimes deceiving, right?
Last week, around ten Aurors went to Hogwarts to question Mr. Hagrid for his role during the Triwizard Tournament. It indeed appeared during the investigations that the acromentula which caused the death of young Harry Potter was provided by Rubeus Hagrid himself!
How could this man who has not even completed his schooling be able to obtain this beast classified as XXXXX, i.e. considered "Known to be a wizard killer / Impossible to train or domesticate"? How did he obtain the necessary permissions?
Interrogations led the Aurors to discover that Rubeus Hagrid had been expelled from Hogwarts in 1943 when he was suspected of murdering Myrtle Warren through the use of a creature. He had been exonerated thanks to the intervention of the Transfiguration professor at the time, Albus Dumbledore.
It turns out that he was indeed in possession of a dangerous creature, an acromentula named Aragog that he kept locked in a cupboard at school! The beast fled into the Forbidden Forest while the young prefect who had surprised him was going to sound the alert.
But it doesn't stop there, my dear readers! Finding that Aragog deserved a family life, Rubeus Hagrid provided him with a female. Since then, hundreds of acromentulas have been born within a few dozen meters of a school containing young children and adults who would have been incapable of surviving an encounter with one of them. Only luck has meant that no casualties have been reported so far.
Mr. Hagrid's only defense was to assert that the acromentula placed in the labyrinth had been emptied of its venom just before being transported there. The death of the Hogwarts Champion quickly proved the opposite.
Appearing before the Wizengamot this morning, Rubeus Hagrid was convicted of breeding a dangerous creature, endangering wizards unable to defend themselves and involuntary manslaughter of Harry Potter. The sentence was final and the Kiss was administered to him within the hour that followed.
A team of exterminators was immediately dispatched to Hogwarts and eliminated the entire colony, much to the relief of the Centaurs who, for once, thanked the wizards for their intervention.
.oOÔOo.
Albus Dumbledore fired from his position as Wizard-President of the Wizengamot!
You read the title correctly, dear readers. Following the conviction of Rubeus Hagrid three days ago, Albus Dumbledore was the subject of an internal investigation.
The reason for this investigation? Quite simply the fact that the Headmaster of Hogwarts was perfectly aware of the presence of a colony of acromentulas near the school.
No charges were brought regarding the breeding of creatures classified as XXXXX, but the fact that he never reported their presence was enough for the Wizengamot to vote for his dismissal at their head with perfect unanimity.
His position as Supreme
Mungwump of the International Confederation of Wizards would also be in the hot seat, the French Ministry having launched a motion of censure against him.
.oOÔOo.
- Say it if I'm disturbing…
- But no, my dear beloved godson!
- Yeah, your beloved godson is going to go to the beach, so you can kiss in peace.
- Be careful on the way, Mirus.
- Don't worry Barty, I'm more careful than Siri. Have fun! And Siri, don't forget that you start teaching me how to become an animagus tomorrow!
Mirus grabbed his bag containing his beach gear and quickly sped away, already seeing lust enter his godfather's eyes.
It didn't take threes days before the two men became closer. Sirius had always been a flirt and Barty had been more than receptive. Mirus had nothing against their relationship but he was starting to get tired of seeing more than he would like from his godfather (they could at least close the door!).
The walk to the beach only took him half an hour (half the time it took when he went there with Sirius) and he quickly settled down on the towel which he spread on the rocky beach. He applied a cushioning spell to his towel to make it more comfortable and a sun protection charm before removing the book he had started that morning from his bag.
- Mirus Malfoy?
Surprised, Mirus turned his head so quickly that his neck hurt slightly. He was on a lost island in South America, no one was supposed to know him here. He quickly got up and faced the one who had just called him.
His gaze met deep purple eyes. The boy in front of him looked a bit familiar to him but, above all, was particularly pleasant to look at.
- I didn't think I would find an Englishman here. We met last year when you were talking to Draco, I'm in the same year as him even if I'm not really part of his social circle.
- Indeed, I kind of remember your face. I'm sorry but your name escapes me.
- Blaise Zabini, replied the boy with a charming smile. It's funny, I always thought your eyes were pure silver but in the sun, like this, they have emerald green reflections. It's simply stunning to look at, a real gem.
Something clicked in Mirus's mind when he really looked into the other's eyes.
"Purple and emerald go well together, don't you think? »
Only Luna...