This chapter is a simple piece about something that should have been done to improve student safety at Hogwarts.
On Tuesday, August 18th, 1998, the Wizarding World awoke to a major Daily Prophet headline regarding improving student safety at Hogwarts:
Minister Shacklebolt Orders Removal of Dangerous Animals From Hogwarts Forbidden Forest.
Late Monday evening, Minster of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt issued an executive order requiring a number of dangerous animals and creatures be removed from what is known as the Forbidden Forest on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Creatures such as cerberuses and acromantulas do NOT belong to a school of tweens and teens," the Minister told the Daily Prophet in no uncertain terms that, "It is simply reckless and quite frankly, an act of child endangerment relative to every student at Hogwarts to allow such creatures to be kept on the school grounds. It's not good enough for the headmaster or headmistress to announce that "The Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students." Let's be honest with ourselves here: Tweens and teens are very curious creatures and can also be rebellious. Telling a group of tweens and teens that a certain area is forbidden or that some unspecified danger exists is simply inviting them to go check it out. Furthermore, younger students sometimes do get lost and stumble into the wrong location by mistake. As Minister of Magic, it is not my intention to be heavily or frequently involved in matters relating to Hogwarts. I intend to let the headmaster or headmistress and the Board of Governors handle most Hogwarts affairs. However, I will step in in cases where I feel student safety is an issue. When there are dangerous creatures present in a school full of tweens and teens, then yes, student safety is an issue. I intend to visit Hogwarts to inspect the school at least once a semester while I am Minister of Magic. I will be keeping my eyes and ears open for any signs of animals or creatures that do not belong to in a school environment and I will issue executive orders to have them removed if necessary. I have ordered the removal of a Cerberus from the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. It will be gifted to the Greek Zoo of Magic in Athens, Greece. An acromantula reservation will be established in northern Scotland to take on the massive spiders that have been residing in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts for over half a century. It should be noted that not all animals and creatures will be taken away from the Forbidden Forest. The thestrals that reside in the Forbidden Forest when not being used to fly or pull carriages will be allowed to remain in the Forbidden Forest as thestrals are very gentle creatures that pose no danger to the Hogwarts student body. The unicorns will also be allowed to remain as they are pure and gentle creatures that will not harm students. Hogwarts gamekeeper Hagrid has also been informed that the Forbidden Forest will no longer be allowed to be the home for his giant half-brother Grawp. A private house has been built a little way away from Hogwarts that has been tailored to his needs that he will be moving into before the Fall 1998 semester starts at Hogwarts on September 1st. Hagrid and I have come to an understanding that living in the Forbidden Forest is not in the best interests of either the Hogwarts student body or Grawp himself and that both are better off away from each other. Student safety has not been emphasized enough in recent years and the presence of creatures such as three headed dogs and giant vicious spiders on campus proves that. It is my hope to help create a safety environment for all people at Hogwarts by removing these creatures and sending them to more appropriate places. I will be continuing to monitor this situation going forward."
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