Assault on Hogwarts Express injures dozens!
You read right intrepid readers; the Hogwarts Express was attacked on its route to deliver the innocent young children to school by a hoard of werewolves. Reports put the number of beasts taking part in the attempted massacre at between fifty to one hundred.
Although the intent is not completely known this reporter, and likely many of our readers, will take note of certain legislation in the Wizengamot at the moment.
Is this an attempt at intimidating our elected officials into giving into terrorist demands or something more vile still? Perhaps it is simply retaliation, the monstrous Lycanthropes wanting to maim the weak and helpless because they are too cowardly to go after anyone else.
What's next? Attacks on the sick and hospitalized? Perhaps targeting newborns?
Enough is enough. I say, along with many of you I am sure, that the Wizengamot is not taking this threat seriously enough! If our officials will not take prompt and decisive action then we need someone who will.
Luckily, we may have found that someone. Although an official statement has not been released I have learned that a student was hospitalized for far greater injuries than all the others.
One by the name Harry Potter.
You will undoubtedly remember the name from the last two years my dear readers. He was the same who aided in the apprehension of the intruder in 1992, as well as being involved in an incident in 1993. Now once again he seems to be at the forefront of catastrophe and everyone's mind.
Although he is expected to make a full recovery his injuries were not noted as being due to the savagery of a Lycan, instead a form of Magical exhaustion and feedback. I speak for all when I say we eagerly await news on what this means.
-R.Skeeter
Augustina let out a sigh after tossing the paper onto her desk and rubbing at the bridge of her nose. "We knew there would be a reaction, how could there not be." The Headmistress glanced up at the speaker, Minerva McGonagall, giving the woman a look saying she wasn't in the mood for her blunt comments.
"Something clearly needs to be done," Snape intoned as well as the rest of the staff sat around the conference table to discuss the recent events. "Regardless of how we feel individually there was an attack and children were injured. Plus, the information leak is rather… concerning."
"The injuries were, for the most part, far from serious" Flitwick countered, "the paper makes it sound as if there were dismemberments and casualties. Apart from Harry the worst injury was a series of cuts and scrapes from broken glass."
Grace turned towards her, eyes flashing in anger, "And you are going to ignore what he had to do to ensure this was the case along with the breach in privacy? If he hadn't been on the Express, if his parents had opted to keep him home after last year, or worse just removed him and his sisters from Hogwarts? Would we be having this conversation if a dozen students had been torn to pieces or infected?"
"No, we wouldn't." The only non-staff member interrupted from where she sat in the corner, opting not to join the others at the table.
"You aren't wrong, something needs to be done and the Wizengamot dragging its heels isn't helping but neither is calling for citizens to take matters into the own hands. The last thing we need is a bunch of witches hyped up on hysteria and roaming the streets attacking anything that looks suspicious."
Dumbledore raised her hand before any further arguments could be voiced, "Unfortunately, we cannot force the government to act, especially not the kind we would want. For now, our role remains the same. Protect and instruct those under our care as best as we are able. I will be investigating how so much information reached Skeeter. Apart from that, the ban on Hogsmeade will remain in place as will any trips outside of the wards unless specifically authorized by myself. Remi, have you identified any other concerns?"
The woman slipped a piece of parchment from her pocket. "A few, although Quidditch should be safe I would recommend having an additional faculty member or two at the stands just as a precaution.
Naturally we are going to need to figure something out for outside visitation, especially on Halloween.
Either have the parents Floo into a controlled room where they can be verified before allowing them admittance to Hogwarts or something of similar nature.
Finally, I have overheard more than a few worrying conversations from students challenging others or simply boasting about going out and confronting the threat head on to prove their bravery or skills."
All four heads of house opted to stay silent, each knowing at least a few of their members who fit such criteria as to being so foolish.
"We will need to address all of these." The Headmistress confirmed without any doubt in her voice. "I will work on the waiting chamber for visitors and setup a schedule for each Quidditch game. In the meantime, I expect all professors and especially those who are the leaders of each house to address the third concern during each class and outside of hours during the next few days at latest. I do not want any repeat of last year where students are harmed or run off to do dangerously foolish acts."
The message was clear, and Grace made a mental note to sit Harry down specifically to address it with him.
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