Hogsmeade Hive of Activity
Ongoing illegal magical creature breeding causes increased visibility of the Ministry of Magic in Hogsmeade and the surrounding villages.
The 24th May turned out to be a very busy day as The Ministry of Magic descended again on Hogsmeade to investigate the travellers camp which appeared to have been abandoned by its former residents. Whispers through the village hinted at mutated magical creatures of various amounts of eyes and limbs, and strange skeletons left lying around. Last Friday saw even more activity in Hogsmeade village as a mass clear out of the strange crossbreeds were collected in cages by The Ministry and taken away to an unconfirmed location for testing and investigation.
The Department for the Regulation of Magical Creatures have declined to provide a comment, and the travellers camp remains cordoned off.
International Confederation of Wizards Outshone by Gossip?
Preparations remain ongoing for the International Confederation of Wizards which will be hosted by Switzerland this Summer.
The Bernese Alps will play host to the International Confederation of Wizards this summer. In a recent diplomatic shift Marc-Adrien Leuenberger has just been announced as the new President of the Swiss Magical Council, and will be chairing the summit.
Newly-elected Leuenberger has been unable to shake the gossip and intrigue that has surrounded him, despite his political prowess, having recently been connected to one of the world famous Va-Va-Veelas – though which of the three has not been confirmed. Leuenberger urged for focus to be upon the International Confederation, rather than his extravagant social life, when announcing the key points of discussion for the upcoming meeting.
Concerns surrounding illegal magical creature breeding are no longer confined to the British shores and appear to have spread across Europe and most of North America, and is a key discussion point for the Ministers who will descend upon Switzerland. The fall of the ‘New Kalmar’ Nation is also expected to take precedence after the sanctions upon it have curtailed efforts to expand, and previously annexed lands have begun to be restored.
This reporter, however, is most eager to see which Va-Va-Veela Leuenberger has on his arm for the highly anticipated pre-Confederation gala!
Oh Merlin – The O’Keeffe Report
An independent review into historical claims surrounding Merlin’s involvement in the Mirror Incident of 2030 is to be launched following a Wizengamot debate on the legacy of the famed wizard.
The review will examine the circumstances surrounding the events, the authenticity of historical accounts, and the aftermath of the incident.
A packed chamber greeted this reporter when the Wizengamot met to discuss the renaming of the ‘Order of Merlin’ last month, following an open letter to The Daily Prophet. The 2030 incident at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had been kept largely under wraps with only the school newspaper reporting, and the hasty exit of the Head and Deputy Head of the school being glossed over with the smooth installation of Richard Crozier, magical historian, and Archimedes Fetherstonhaugh, formerly of the Department of Magical Education, in their places.
The allegations outline a mirror, allegedly created by Merlin, using dark magic to form duplicates of students, whilst retaining their original forms in a world within the mirror. Present in the courtroom, in the capacity of Youth Representative to the Wizengamot, was a student who found themselves trapped in this cursed state. They explained that a portrait of Merlin, and letters from Merlin, told them the mirror-existence was created to protect an artefact.
Madame Aoife O’Keeffe, Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and former Hogwarts Headmistress, addressed the court, highlighting the indisputable fact that a portrait of Merlin would have had to have been painted in the 10th Century. Despite the alleged portrait being magical in nature, it is expected to have decayed over time and therefore O’Keeffe questioned the authenticity of the portrait, and the knowledge it may have provided.
Chief Warlock Alistair Colquhoun suggested to the Wizengamot that the court appoint Madame O’Keeffe to lead an independent review into the incident, citing her experience as a former Hogwarts Headmistress and her current role within the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. The review is expected to draw upon expertise from across the Ministry, Hogwarts, and the wider magical community, however the terms of reference and the panel are yet to be announced.
A subsequent vote on the proposal to rename the Order of Merlin failed to gain sufficient support, with a number of members choosing to abstain pending the findings of any future investigation. The Wizengamot also indicated its support for temporarily withholding any further awards of the Order until the review has concluded.
The Daily Prophet understands that interested parties may be invited to assist with interviews, evidence gathering, and the establishment of the review’s terms of reference. Further details are expected in the coming weeks. Readers wishing to follow developments are encouraged to continue reading The Daily Prophet for updates as the investigation progresses.
The Daily Prophet will continue to follow developments closely as the review begins its work and seeks to answer some of the many questions that remain surrounding the Mirror Incident of 2030.