WHO: Luna Lovegood and OPEN [OOC: Feel free to do a fly-by visit :D] WHEN: Saturday, 26th March, all day WHERE: Diagon Alley WHAT: The Quibbler has a popcorn cart set up for the day to promote their return, free popcorn for whoever buys an issue
The Quibbler popcorn stand definitely stood out despite the dismal weather - the neon orange banner, "FREE POPCORN!", across the top of the stall had magical Catherine wheels at the ends that spun constantly, emitting bright multi-coloured sparks and flames intermittently, and squealing loudly.
The center of the stand was taken up by a large black cauldron, about four foot wide, full to the brim with popcorn. To the sides were racks of the Quibbler, and Luna sat on a squashy orange and pink plaid armchair beside the cauldron, her long hair piled into a bun atop her head, encased in a white hair net, and a money tin held in her lap.
People mostly walked by without stopping, but some were drawn by the offer of free popcorn.
"STILL NO SIGN OF HELIOPATHS"
Though the Ministry have an army of Heliopaths at their disposal, the country-wide book burning on 20th March went ahead without their aid. Books written by purebloods, including the popular romantic novels of Ingrid Stroud and the positively delightful classic children's picture book The Very Hungry Bowtruckle, and ancient anti-government texts were among the destroyed, by rather ordinary flames.
Heliopaths, explained for the newer of our readers, are magnificent creatures, spirits of fire shaped like horses, capable of great destruction. Reports suggest they are gentle beasts, unaware of the danger they have the potential to create, but they have not yet been seen in public. Bred within the Department of Mysteries many years ago, our anonymous source admits former Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, planned to use them in some diabolical plot to seize Gringotts Bank. It is the Quibbler's concern that the current administration has a far more sinister plan in mind for the army of Heliopaths at it's disposal, and believes it rather worrying that they continue to deny the existence of such beasts.
"They could do with a bit of sunlight. It's right dark down there," a former Ministry employee said about the ninth level of the Ministry of Magic. [...continued on page 5]
EXCLUSIVE! Interview with Neville Longbottom, former serpent slayer, current rebellious youth [...page 3]
MIND CONTROL? Drop in album sales forces Celestina Warbeck to include persuasive enchantments in new songs [...page 7]
INTERSPECIES RIGHTS - WHY THE DELAY? Read the Quibbler's special report into the rights afforded to interspecies relationships, including one wizard's rocky affair with a hag [...page 9]
DIET BUTTERBEER? New butter-substitute recipe invented, trials to begin soon [...page 13]