The Daily Prophet
Date: Monday, 12 June
Time: Morning Edition
Characters Involved: The Daily Prophet
Rumours Abound!
From the fantastic to the substantiated, what is the Wizarding Populace to believe?
by Dabriel Lochrin
Just when life seems to be attempting a return to normality, the other shoe drops!
We have seen an economic boom since the end of the war, with new shops and businesses opening their doors every day, as well as the return of ones we feared were closed forever. Quidditch has resumed, and already has a nearly pre-war level of fanatical followers.
Minerva McGonagall has now closed Hogwarts grounds except to those to whom she, personally, grants admittance. The gates are closed and warded, and obscurement charms prevent being able to see what is occurring within. Rumour has it that she has hired Hungarian Gnomes, long fabled to be Master Engineers, though, of course, the Wizarding World has believed them to be extinct for over two hundred years, about the time the legendary Norse Dwarven craftsmen also vanished into realm of myth and yet who are also rumoured to be working on the damaged castle.
When asked to comment on the nature of the workers restoring the castle, the proud Scotswoman merely sniffed haughtily at me and said, "Believe what you like. If you need to believe faerie tales have come to life in order for Hogwarts to be restored, so be it. We will be reopening on the first of September, as always."
She would make no comment whatsoever as to her staff appointments for the many vacant teaching positions.
All of this, however, is merely grand proof of the resilience of our Wizarding Populace as we strive to rebuild our lives and our world!
But wait!
This reporter has another rumour - from a very reliable source - that it is very possible Mrs Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black, has, "shown significant improvement in her mental condition, lately. Almost to the point that there is talk of giving her a clean bill of health and declaring her to be cured."
Bellatrix Lestrange was accused of savage war-crimes during the height of both our recent wars. Shortly after her most recent capture (effected by Mr Neville Longbottom, recent recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class), she was declared 'not guilty by reason of insanity', and placed in St. Mungo's.
The question now is, if she is 'not guilty by reason of insanity', and said insanity is suddenly 'cured', what is to become of Lestrange?
This question was posed to the Chief Healer of the Mental Ward. He was quick to insist that they never, ever declare a person 'cured' unless they are certain the individual poses no threat of harm to him or herself, or to society at large. Having stated that disclaimer, he did admit that if she was 'cured', they would have no legal authority to hold her in the hospital, though she would be on the Registry, like so many others.
Neville Longbottom, currently employed as Herbalist at St Mungo's Hospital, was asked for comment regardign this rumour. He seemed utterly astonished at the very idea, and considerably discomposed, though one would think that he might attempt to keep closer ear to the rumour mill at his place of employment, that such things wouldn't take him by surprise.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't have anything to say. I'd like to get back to work now, if you don't mind," he said, wiping trembling, slightly dirty hands on his work-robes, before turning and walking away. This forces us to wonder if his priorities have not become a little distorted since his Order of Merlin award - perhaps his career has now become more important to him than the fates of his parents and the disposition of their convicted tormentor?
This, coupled with Lucius Malfoy's astonishingly selfless act the night of the Order of Merlin Award Ceremony, and his very remarkable book, leads many of us in the population-at-large to question our own preconceived notions of guilt and innocence.
Mr Malfoy's book is among the most enlightening publications of our age, detailing the tremendous sacrifices he made in order to remain amongst the highest echelons of the Death Eaters. His book, written after the war, and after he knew the truth of Severus Snape's similar role, makes the agony of both men all the more poignant. The torment of young Draco Malfoy, used as a tool, a means by which to constantly test and control the actions of both Mr Malfoy and Mr Snape, might have been alleviated had either man been able to trust the other, collaborating to effect Draco's escape earlier than it occurred. Malfoy's anguish over his son's treatment is particularly heart-wrenching to read. Mr Malfoy discusses his personal pain and horror at seeing his wife's beloved sister coerced into performing heinous acts which she would never have dreamed of doing had her will been her own.
It has been said, time and again, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had great power to control and manipulate men beyond their will. Two valorous men in our midst, Malfoy and Snape, managed to resist that control, and find personal strength to be able to endure physical and emotional torture the likes of which many of us cannot begin to imagine, in order to provide information it would have been impossible, otherwise, to obtain.
Where does this leave us? Three individuals - Malfoy, Lestrange, and Snape - whom we have all believed to be HIS, utterly and completely, and yet who have now been shown in an entirely different light. How do we know whom to believe? Are they all guilty? Innocent? Something in-between? At what point do we decide that a person has earned forgiveness? Redemption?
It would seem we have a very long way to go before we can consider ourselves 'back to normal'.
Time: Morning Edition
Characters Involved: The Daily Prophet
Rumours Abound!
From the fantastic to the substantiated, what is the Wizarding Populace to believe?
by Dabriel Lochrin
Just when life seems to be attempting a return to normality, the other shoe drops!
We have seen an economic boom since the end of the war, with new shops and businesses opening their doors every day, as well as the return of ones we feared were closed forever. Quidditch has resumed, and already has a nearly pre-war level of fanatical followers.
Minerva McGonagall has now closed Hogwarts grounds except to those to whom she, personally, grants admittance. The gates are closed and warded, and obscurement charms prevent being able to see what is occurring within. Rumour has it that she has hired Hungarian Gnomes, long fabled to be Master Engineers, though, of course, the Wizarding World has believed them to be extinct for over two hundred years, about the time the legendary Norse Dwarven craftsmen also vanished into realm of myth and yet who are also rumoured to be working on the damaged castle.
When asked to comment on the nature of the workers restoring the castle, the proud Scotswoman merely sniffed haughtily at me and said, "Believe what you like. If you need to believe faerie tales have come to life in order for Hogwarts to be restored, so be it. We will be reopening on the first of September, as always."
She would make no comment whatsoever as to her staff appointments for the many vacant teaching positions.
All of this, however, is merely grand proof of the resilience of our Wizarding Populace as we strive to rebuild our lives and our world!
But wait!
This reporter has another rumour - from a very reliable source - that it is very possible Mrs Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black, has, "shown significant improvement in her mental condition, lately. Almost to the point that there is talk of giving her a clean bill of health and declaring her to be cured."
Bellatrix Lestrange was accused of savage war-crimes during the height of both our recent wars. Shortly after her most recent capture (effected by Mr Neville Longbottom, recent recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class), she was declared 'not guilty by reason of insanity', and placed in St. Mungo's.
The question now is, if she is 'not guilty by reason of insanity', and said insanity is suddenly 'cured', what is to become of Lestrange?
This question was posed to the Chief Healer of the Mental Ward. He was quick to insist that they never, ever declare a person 'cured' unless they are certain the individual poses no threat of harm to him or herself, or to society at large. Having stated that disclaimer, he did admit that if she was 'cured', they would have no legal authority to hold her in the hospital, though she would be on the Registry, like so many others.
Neville Longbottom, currently employed as Herbalist at St Mungo's Hospital, was asked for comment regardign this rumour. He seemed utterly astonished at the very idea, and considerably discomposed, though one would think that he might attempt to keep closer ear to the rumour mill at his place of employment, that such things wouldn't take him by surprise.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't have anything to say. I'd like to get back to work now, if you don't mind," he said, wiping trembling, slightly dirty hands on his work-robes, before turning and walking away. This forces us to wonder if his priorities have not become a little distorted since his Order of Merlin award - perhaps his career has now become more important to him than the fates of his parents and the disposition of their convicted tormentor?
This, coupled with Lucius Malfoy's astonishingly selfless act the night of the Order of Merlin Award Ceremony, and his very remarkable book, leads many of us in the population-at-large to question our own preconceived notions of guilt and innocence.
Mr Malfoy's book is among the most enlightening publications of our age, detailing the tremendous sacrifices he made in order to remain amongst the highest echelons of the Death Eaters. His book, written after the war, and after he knew the truth of Severus Snape's similar role, makes the agony of both men all the more poignant. The torment of young Draco Malfoy, used as a tool, a means by which to constantly test and control the actions of both Mr Malfoy and Mr Snape, might have been alleviated had either man been able to trust the other, collaborating to effect Draco's escape earlier than it occurred. Malfoy's anguish over his son's treatment is particularly heart-wrenching to read. Mr Malfoy discusses his personal pain and horror at seeing his wife's beloved sister coerced into performing heinous acts which she would never have dreamed of doing had her will been her own.
It has been said, time and again, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had great power to control and manipulate men beyond their will. Two valorous men in our midst, Malfoy and Snape, managed to resist that control, and find personal strength to be able to endure physical and emotional torture the likes of which many of us cannot begin to imagine, in order to provide information it would have been impossible, otherwise, to obtain.
Where does this leave us? Three individuals - Malfoy, Lestrange, and Snape - whom we have all believed to be HIS, utterly and completely, and yet who have now been shown in an entirely different light. How do we know whom to believe? Are they all guilty? Innocent? Something in-between? At what point do we decide that a person has earned forgiveness? Redemption?
It would seem we have a very long way to go before we can consider ourselves 'back to normal'.