Written by Cassandra Middles, Excerpt by Delerius Quilt
While at my internship in France, an owl dropped in through the window. Same thing everyday, i pay for my post, get pecked a few times, and they fly off. Today though, instead of seeing the normal “Which Witch is with Who?” a rather terrifying face covered the front page: Judy Dorchester. The same Wizengamot High Judge that nearly sent our own Miss Helena Arlet to Azkaban last autumn of 2021. The same woman that approved the dismissal of Professor Draco Romanov, the demotion of Professor Helga Von Der Vogelweidhof, and yes, the same witch that strikes fear in the hearts of many, just at a simple lip twitch.
My heart thumped loudly at the sight of her, finally putting a face to the name that has haunted my dreams for several months. Though this article is about her fully trying to find Zemeckis, and do a full investigation upon the school, I must ask: Is her motive pure? For while we are to assume Hogwarts is not only safe, but THE safest place to be away from any danger, this article brings up a good point. We’ve survived Hawthorne, we survived psychotic frogs, we survived our whole castle tumbling down on us multiple times, from wars and so many lives lost; it raises a brow to her intention.
Little by little, as Zemeckis began to infiltrate the castle with her over-glamoured so-called reform, I began to lose confidence. Letters appeared throughout the hallways, almost as though the castle wanted me to find them; they revealed plans. Plans written in the unmistakable signature of Judy Dorchester that stated her want of being headmistress in our school. My question is; Why? While the daily prophet believes our castle is cursed, these events make me believe our castle hosts something precious. Could it be the malleable minds of young witches and wizards, or possibly something more. What is Judy Dorchester’s motive?
While I might be sounding far too paranoid, other students seem to have the same fear, most notably, Lyra Arcand, who expressed similar thoughts and views of Dorchester and Zemeckis, mostly fearing ill-intent. To those of you who might need a refresher of Zimelda Zemeckis, she came to our school, under order of the Ministry of Magic, as the new Potions professor. Demoting and firing two professors, abusing a student, cursing our very own headmistress with Rescindo Vitae, a curse that slowly eats her life away, with no counter charm or full antidote. She left the castle abruptly after being ousted of helping the Dark Lord during the Wizarding Wars and for who she really was, not being seen since that day.
In another part of the Daily Prophet article, it pointed out the rumour of where the still missing Wicked Witch could be hiding, months after she fled from our own hallowed halls. So many seemed to believe she was in Germany, causing a few raised brows at the Aurors on the field. A woman of such dangerous intent should have been caught by now, one would think. This is starting to cause doubt in the securities the Ministry seemed to be taking, many wondering if they really are trying.
This article isn’t to scare students away, or to make parents worry over sending their kids to Hogwarts. We are still the most prestigious school there is, I know this for a fact, along with professors that would put their neck on the line to protect us, as many have seen displayed over the years. But, it’s to just remind our student body to stay alert, report any odd activities to those in charge, and remember to keep our school united and strong.
