The Daily Prophet: 30 March 1977

BREAKING NEWS: PRISON BREAK OUT WORRIES GENERAL PUBLIC AND OFFICIALS

NO WORD YET ON LOCATION OF AZKABAN PRISON ESCAPEES

by M. CARNEIRUS

ministry of magic correspondent

LATE LAST NIGHT, A FEW NOTABLE CRIMINALS ESCAPED FROM AZKABAN PRISON AFTER AN EXPLOSION BLEW OUT THE NORTH WALL OF THE BUILDING. AMONG THE ESCAPEES ARE ANTONIN DOLOHOV [THREE COUNTS OF MURDER], THORFINN ROWLE [EXTREME USE OF THE CRUTATIUS CURSE], AND HECATE GOLOVIN [ATTEMPTED BURGLARY OF GRINGOTTS BANK]. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE THREE - ONCE DEEMED KNOWN-COHORTS OF THE RUSSIAN WIZARDING MAFIA - ESCAPED TOGETHER AND ARE LIKELY CONTINUING TO MOVE IN A PACK. IF SPOTTED, DO NOT ENGAGE.

HEAD OF THE AUROR DEPARTMENT, RUFUS SCRIMEGEOUR MADE A STATEMENT EARLY THIS MORNING REGARDING THE ESCAPE FROM THE SUPPOSEDLY ‘SAFE’ PRISON, SAYING, “THIS HAS BECOME OUR TOP PRIORITY. WE WILL FIND THESE CRIMINALS, AND WE WILL RETURN THEM TO AZKABAN AS SOON AS WE ARE ABLE. WE HAVE REASON TO BELIVE THAT THEY ARE HEADED BACK TO RUSSIAN TO A SAFETY CHECK-POINT, BUT WE HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL INTERCEPT THEM BEFORE THEY MAKE IT THAT FAR,” ALSO ACCORDING TO SCRIMEGEOUR, THERE HAS BEEN A SPIKE IN DARK MAGIC USAGE OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS, WHICH COULD HAVE SOME CORRELATION TO THE THREE-PRONGED ESCAPE-ACT, “WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING THIS STRANGE ACTIVITY, BUT WE HAVE OUR BEST HIT-WITCHES AND WIZARDS LOOKING INTO IT, ALONG WITH PAYING AN EXTREME ATTENTION TO THESE REPORTS IN THE AUROR DEPARTMENT,” HE ASSURED THE MEDIA DURING THE HIGHLY PUBLICIZED EMERGENCY PRESS-CONFERENCE.

WHEN ASKED WHAT SCRIMEGEOUR HAD PLANNED TO COMBAT THIS SPIKE, HE WAS ENTIRELY SKITTISH ON THE SUBJECT, OFFERING NO REAL SOLUTION NOR PLAN OF ACTION, “OUR AURORS ARE ON THE JOB - NOT TO WORRY.” HE CONCLUDED THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH A PLEA THAT ANYONE WHO SEES ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY REPORT IT TO THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC. BELOW YOU WILL FIND THE DETAILS:

“DO NOT ENGAGE DOLOHOV, ROWLE, OR GOLOVIN IF SEEN. ANY SIGHTINGS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE REPORTED TO THE AUROR’S OFFICE AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC, ATTENTION: RUFUS SCRIMEGEOUR, AVONA GIOVANNI, PIETRA MARQUIS, AND ALASTOR MOODY.”

MINISTER ON GOBLIN RELATIONS

IGNORES LARGER ISSUES

by T. RAGHNALL

prophet special correspondent

MILLICENT BAGNOLD, OUR AUGUST MINISTER OF MAGIC, SPENT LAST WEEK MEETING WITH SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE GOBLIN LIASON OFFICE AND PROMINENT FIGURES WITHIN THE GOBLIN COMMUNITY. THIS QUESTIONABLE USE OF THE MINISTER’S TIME APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN LITTLE MORE THAN A PLACATING MEASURE ON HER PART, AS NO NEW RESOLUTIONS HAVE ARISEN FROM THE TALKS. DESPITE SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THE MINISTER DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING DEFINITE ABOUT THE OUTCOME. “IMPORTANT DIALOG HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND THE MINISTRY IS READY TO REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO OUR GOBLI ALLIES,” BAGNOLD HAD TO SAY. IT WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER HER VAGUENESS WAS DUE TO LACK OF PROGRESS WITH THE GOBLINS OR A REFUSAL TO REVEAL MORE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. WHEN ASKED WHETHER SHE PLANNED TO ENACT ANY NEW MEASURES REGARDING GOBLIC RIGHTS, THE MINISTER REFUSED A DIRECT ANSWER. “THE MINISTRY CONTINUES TO RESPECT THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF GOBLINS WITHIN THE WIZARDING WORLD. WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE OPENED THE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OUR SPECIES,” SHE STATED.

THE MINISTRY HAS REMAINED SYSTEMATICALLY TIGHT-LIPPED ON MANY OTHER ISSUES, LEADING SOME TO QUESTION THE GOVERNMENT’S PRIORITIES, REPORTS OF INCREASING VIOLENCE AGAINST MUGGLEBORN AND HALF-BLOOD WIZARDS HAVE GO UNHEEDED. IN ADDITION TO TAKING NO ACTION AGAINST THE SUDDEN RISE IN HATE-CRIMES, THE MINISTRY HAS POINTEDLY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF BAGNOLD, THE DEPARTMENT OF MAGICAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT (INCLUDING THE AUROR OFFICE) HAS DECLINED ALL COMMENT ON THE SITUATION. THE DEPARTMENT APPEARS RELUCTANT IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO SECURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR CITIZENS. WITH THE MINISTER DIVERTING HER TIME TO CREATURE RELATIONS, AND THE DEPT, OF LAW-ENFORCEMENT CATEGORICALLY DENYING ANY PROBLEMS, IT FALLS TO THE INDIVIDUAL TO SECURE THEIR PERSON FROM OUTSIDE THREATS. IN THESE DANGEROUS TIMES, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE CANNOT DEPEND ON OUR MINISTER FOR PROTECTION.

WEDDING OF THE CENTURY’S DATE HAS BEEN SET

THE LEWIS-MONROE WEDDING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, AND INVITATIONS HAVE BEEN SENT

by K. MEEKS

prophet special events columnist

THE BUZZ SURROUNDING THE LEWIS-MONROE WEDDING HAS NEVER BEEN BIGGER, CONSIDERING IT IS NOW IN FULL SWING. AS OF LATE LAST WEEK, INVITATIONS TO THE BIG EVENT HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO EVERY NOTABLE FAMILY IN THE WIZARDING COMMUNITY, BECKONING THEM TO ITALY TO WATCH THE NUPTUALS OF THE BALLYCASTLE BAT’S RIAN LEWIS AND THE DAILY PROPHET’S OWN RAVEN MORNOE ON APRIL THE SIXTEENTH. THE WEDDING WILL BE HELD AT THE MORTELLE ESTATE IN SICILY, WHERE THE COUPLE’S WELL-KNOWN FRIEND VINCENT MORTELLE RESIDES WITH HIS FAMILY.

OVER AFTERNOON TEA, WITH THE LEWIS’ FAMILY RING RESTING ON HER FINGER, MS. MONROE GUSHED, “THIS WILL BE A NIGHT THAT NO ONE WILL WANT TO MISS!” OUR BLUSHING BRIDE SEEMS ENTHUSED ABOUT HER IMPENDING MARRIAGE, THOUGH GIVES NO HINTS AS TO WHICH DESIGNER SHE WILL BE WEARING FOR THE BIG DAY. “A LOT OF THE PLANS HAVE BEEN VERY HUSH HUSH, WE DON’T WANT TO SPOIL THE BIG DAY FOR EVERYONE, SUGAR,” RAVEN COOED. OUR VERY OWN GOSSIP COLUMNIST APPEARS TO BE LETTING NOTHING SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS THAT SHE DOESN’T WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.

A FEW RUMORS MANAGED TO ESCAPE HER CAREFUL GRASP: TALK AROUND THE STREETS BOAST THAT THE PROPHET’S SLOANE BREKENRIDGE AND HEALER CHARLOTTE PARRISH WILL BE MAKING AN APPEARANCE IN THE WEDDING PARTY AS WELL AS RIAN LEWIS’ NEW FOSTER CHILD, RAVENCLAW STUDENT, KEIRA LEXINGTON. THE GROOM’S WEDDING PARTY HAS BEEN KEPT RELATIVELY UNDER WRAPS, BUT ONE CAN SPECULATE THAT WORLD TRAVELER AND PLAY-BOY ZACHARY WINCHESTER WILL BE MAKING AN APPEARANCE NEXT TO RIAN AT THE ALTAR.

ENGLAD QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP TEAM ANNOUCED

ENGLAND’S WORLD CUP TEAM HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE SUMMER CUP, SPARKS FLY

by A. FENETRE

quidditch correspondent

RIGHT ON TIME, THE LINE-UP FOR ENGLAND’S QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP TEAM HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED, AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW UPSETS THIS SEASON’S ROSTER.

THE SOON-TO-BE-MARRIED RIAN LEWIS WILL REPRISE HIS ROLL AS CENTER CHASER FOR THE CUP TEAM. AFTER RECOVERING FROM HIS KNEE INJURY, WE HAVE FAITH THAT RIAN WILL MAINTAIN HIS SPEED AND AGILITY. MS. DESDEMONA VAISEY WILL BE DEBUTING HER FIRST SEASON AS RIGHT CHASER FOR THE TEAM. SHE HAS SHOWN A GOOD DEAL OF PROMISE WITH PUDDLEMERE UNITED AND WILL BRING AN ENERGY TO THE TEAM THAT THEY HAVE YET TO SEE. THE PAIR’S LEFT CHASER WILL BE MARCUS MCKINNON - A CHUDLEY CANNONS NEWBIE TO THE CUP RING. WE HAVE NOT SEEN HOW THESE THREE INTERACT WITHIN THE PITCH TOGETHER, BUT WE HAVE FAITH THAT THEY WILL PROVE THEMSELVES WORTHY OF THE CUP TEAM, ESPECIALLY WITH LEWIS AT THE HELM OF THE CHASERS.

KEEPER FOR THE HOLYHEAD HARPIES, HAZEL TENNET, WILL DEFEND THE GOAL. THE FALMOUTH FALCONS’ OWN RODGER BEETS WILL BRING HIS INCREDIBLE SEEKER ABILITIES TO THE TEAM - AFTER CATCHING AN IMPRESSIVE ELEVEN SNITCHES IN THE GREAT BRITAIN LEAGUE SEASON. 

FINALLY, THE TWO BEATERS OF THE TEAM WILL BE THE ABBLEBY ARROWS’ STAR BEATERS AND BROTHER-SISTER DUO: CHASE AND CHELSEA MCGREGOR. AS BROTHER AND SISTERS, THEIR STRATEGIES ARE SIMILAR AND THEY OFFER STABILITY TO THE TEAM THAT THEY WOULDN’T NORMALLY SEE WITH BEATERS. THEY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR YEARS AND SURELY WON’T DISAPPOINT THE TEAM. 

A SURPRISE ADDITION TO THE TEAM - KEIRA LEXINGTON, RAVENCLAW SIXTH YEAR AND NOTABLE STRATEGIST - WILL PROVIDE STRATEGIC ADVICE DURING THE SEASON. HER YOUNG AGE WILL PROVIDE A REFRESHING WAKE-UP CALL TO THE REST OF THE COMPETITORS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT SHE BRINGS TO THE TABLE. IT IS UNKNOWN IF LEXINGTON IS THE YOUNGEST STRATEGIST EVER HIRED IN THE WORLD CUP LEAGUE.

AS WE MOVE INTO THE WORLD CUP’S SUMMER SEASON, THE GB LEAGUE FINISHED ITS OWN SEASON WITH AN UPSET IN THE STANDINGS. THE HOLYHEAD HARPIES BEAT THE BALLYCASTLE BATS FOR THE NUMBER ONE SPOT, WHILE PUDDLEMERE UNITED FELL TO THE NUMBER FOUR SPOT AFTER LOSING THEIR FINAL GAME TO THE FALMOUTH FALCONS. THE REST OF THE STANDINGS REMAINED RELATIVELY UNCHANGED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT THE TEAMS WILL BRING NEXT SEASON:

FINAL GB LEAGUE STANDINGS:

1: HOLYHEAD HARPIES

2: BALLYCASTLE BATS

3: FALMOUTH FALCONS

4: PUDDLEMERE UNITED

5: ABBLEBY ARROWS

6: CAERPHILLY CATAPULTS

7: TUTSHILL TORNADOS

8: KENMARE KESTRELS

9: PRIDE OF PROTREE

10: MONTROSE MAGPIES

11: WIGTOWN WANDERERS

12: WHIMBOURNE WASPS

13: CHUDLEY CANNONS

RAVEN’S RANTINGS

THE POTTER FAMILY TAKES A TURN FOR THE WORST

by R. MUNROE

prophet gossip columnist

PUREBLOOD PARTY-GOER ASKED: THE POTTER FAMILY WAS RECENTLY MISSING FROM THE GALA AT THE SELWYN HOUSEHOLD. ANY IDEA WHEN THEY’LL RETURN TO SOCIETY?

THE POTTER FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LARGE NAME IN THE PUREBLOOD CIRCLES - THEY NEVER MISS A GATHERING, AT LEAST UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY WERE SURPRISINGLY ABSENT FROM A SEWLYN BENEFIT FOR ST. MUNGO’S. THE SEWLYNS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT, BUT SOURCES SAY THAT THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CLOSE FRIENDS, THE POTTERS.

AFTER A FAIR AMOUNT OF DIGGING AND PRESSING INTO THE PUREBLOOD CIRCLES FOR INFORMATION, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT MR. AND MRS. POTTER HAVE FALLEN EXTRAORDINARILY ILL IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS. WHAT APPEARED TO INITIALLY BE A CASE OF THE CURABLE DRAGON POX HAS EVOLVED INTO SOMETHING FAR WORSE AND DEADLY. INFECTION HAS RAGED THROUGH THEIR BODIES WHICH CAUSED A “MUTATION IN THE DRAGON POX ILLNESS” [ACCORDING TO ST. MUNGO’S EMPLOYEE FRANNY WESTON], LEAVING THEM A PERMANENT ROOM AT ST. MUNGO’S FOR THE TIME BEING. RUMORS ARE SWIRLING THAT THEY ONLY HAVE A FEW WEEKS LEFT TO LIVE, HOWEVER, CONFIRMATION COULD NOT BE MADE WITH THE HEALERS AT ST. MUNGO’S. 

THEIR SON, JAMES POTTER, HAS BEEN CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GOLDEN CHILDREN OF PUREBLOOD SOCIETY. NO COMMENT FROM THEIR SON WAS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME NOR WE WE ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH HIS GOOD FRIENDS SIRIUS BLACK, REMUS LUPIN, OR PETER PETTIGREW, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THEIR SITUATION AND THE SITUATION OF THE YOUNG MR. POTTER. BEST WISHES TO THE MR. AND MRS. FROM THE PROPHET AND R. MONROE.

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DEAR READER,

AS THE MONTH OF MARCH DRAWS TO A CLOSE, I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE PROPHET IS DOING BETTER THAN EVER! CONTINUE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS, DEAR READERS! 

THIS ISSUE OF THE PROPHET, ALTHOUGH, RIDDLED WITH THE HINTS OF A DARKER TIME THAT MAY BE LAID OUT BEFORE US, IS BY FAR ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF THE YEAR. DO NOT FRET, DEAR READER. THE ENTIRE PROPHET STAFF IS DEDICATED TO KEEPING YOU WELL-INFORMED AND ISSUING VALUABLE SAFETY TIPS FOR THE COMING MONTHS, AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH NOTEWORTHY NEWS REGARDING HOGWARTS, THE MINISTRY, AND THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU, DEAR READERS, AT THE LEWIS-MONROE WEDDING AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF APRILS.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SUBMIT ANY PHOTOS, ARTICLES, AND REACTIONS TO THE PROPHET OFFICE BY MAIL NO LATER THAN TWO HOURS BEFORE PRINT-DATE.

YOURS,

Anastasia Grayson

DAILY PROPHET ASSISTANT EDITOR