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Lizzy Shell Speaks: The Reasons Revealed
By Ophelia Montgomery
The British National team is under investigation today in the removal of Lizzy Shell as starting chaser for the National Team. A few weeks ago, the Daily Prophet broke the news that Lizzy Shell had been removed for the British National Team due to “violating team policies”. However no one from the National Team would reveal exactly what team policies Miss Shell had violated and Miss Shell herself could not be reached. But in an exclusive interview with the Prophet last week, Lizzy Shell revealed all to the Prophet’s reporter, and agreed to bring her testimony to the International Quidditch Association.
According to Miss Shell’s testimony, she was approached several weeks ago by a representative of the National Team’s Board who spoke with her about her position on the team. Though the conversation started out politely, with a discussion about the team’s image, it quickly took a turn for the worse when the representative eluded that Miss Shell’s background would be damaging to the team. “He never explicitly stated that my blood status was the problem,” stated Miss Shell in both her interview and her official testimony, “But when I asked him straight out of that was what he was referring to, he stated that he was glad to see we were ‘on the same page’.”
The representative allegedly went on to suggest that Miss Shell resign willingly to avoid damage from her reputation. When she refused the man quickly got threatening, pointedly looking out the window to where her three year old son was playing in the backyard. “He stated that he knew my son’s father,” Lizzy testified. Though she doesn’t want the father’s name brought into this, it should be known that he is not only a well-known player, but also one with an old surname that is prominent in Wizarding society. “He said that he could arrange it so that the father got full custody of my son, that it might be better anyway, given my ‘background’. He even gave me a copy of a custody suit, with my ex-boyfriend’s name signed to the bottom and everything. He said if I refused, they’d file the motion with the Wizengamot, who were sure to take their side. He said I’d lose my son if I didn’t go along with his plan and agree to let them remove me from the team.”
The representative left the copy of the custody suit with Miss Shell, who turned it in as part of her evidence. Though at first she was unwilling to speak out against the National League due to her worries against her son’s safety, the IQA and the British Ministry of Magic have guaranteed both her safety and that of her son and her custody over him. It was these assurances that convinced Miss Shell to come forward, though she has remained silent since her removal from the team several weeks ago.
In a statement given this morning, a spokesperson from the IQA stated that Miss Shell had submitted her testimony and had willing given her memory of the event to the investigator in charge of the case. The testimony, pensieve memory, and documents have been reviewed by the IQA, and as a result, the British National Team is now under investigation. “Miss Shell has been very forthcoming with her testimony,” stated Herbert Taylor, spokesperson for the IQA, “Even going so far as to give us her actual memory of the event. Our experts are currently inspecting it to make sure that the memory has not been tampered with, but it seems clear that there is a case here. The British National Board and Team will be investigated, and the consequences for their board member’s actions will depend on what we uncover.”
According to another source at the IQA, who wishes to remain anonymous, repercussions for the British team could depend on whether the entire board was involved, or whether these were simply the actions of one individual. The consequences could range from penalties against the team in their first game, to suspensions, to the banning of the team from this year’s World Cup. Members of the Team Board are also at risk for removal if they are proven to be involved. So far, no team members have been implicated in the scandal and we can hope that the National Committee’s actions will not impact their careers or their ability to participate in the World Cup.
According to Miss Shell’s testimony, she was approached several weeks ago by a representative of the National Team’s Board who spoke with her about her position on the team. Though the conversation started out politely, with a discussion about the team’s image, it quickly took a turn for the worse when the representative eluded that Miss Shell’s background would be damaging to the team. “He never explicitly stated that my blood status was the problem,” stated Miss Shell in both her interview and her official testimony, “But when I asked him straight out of that was what he was referring to, he stated that he was glad to see we were ‘on the same page’.”
The representative allegedly went on to suggest that Miss Shell resign willingly to avoid damage from her reputation. When she refused the man quickly got threatening, pointedly looking out the window to where her three year old son was playing in the backyard. “He stated that he knew my son’s father,” Lizzy testified. Though she doesn’t want the father’s name brought into this, it should be known that he is not only a well-known player, but also one with an old surname that is prominent in Wizarding society. “He said that he could arrange it so that the father got full custody of my son, that it might be better anyway, given my ‘background’. He even gave me a copy of a custody suit, with my ex-boyfriend’s name signed to the bottom and everything. He said if I refused, they’d file the motion with the Wizengamot, who were sure to take their side. He said I’d lose my son if I didn’t go along with his plan and agree to let them remove me from the team.”
The representative left the copy of the custody suit with Miss Shell, who turned it in as part of her evidence. Though at first she was unwilling to speak out against the National League due to her worries against her son’s safety, the IQA and the British Ministry of Magic have guaranteed both her safety and that of her son and her custody over him. It was these assurances that convinced Miss Shell to come forward, though she has remained silent since her removal from the team several weeks ago.
In a statement given this morning, a spokesperson from the IQA stated that Miss Shell had submitted her testimony and had willing given her memory of the event to the investigator in charge of the case. The testimony, pensieve memory, and documents have been reviewed by the IQA, and as a result, the British National Team is now under investigation. “Miss Shell has been very forthcoming with her testimony,” stated Herbert Taylor, spokesperson for the IQA, “Even going so far as to give us her actual memory of the event. Our experts are currently inspecting it to make sure that the memory has not been tampered with, but it seems clear that there is a case here. The British National Board and Team will be investigated, and the consequences for their board member’s actions will depend on what we uncover.”
According to another source at the IQA, who wishes to remain anonymous, repercussions for the British team could depend on whether the entire board was involved, or whether these were simply the actions of one individual. The consequences could range from penalties against the team in their first game, to suspensions, to the banning of the team from this year’s World Cup. Members of the Team Board are also at risk for removal if they are proven to be involved. So far, no team members have been implicated in the scandal and we can hope that the National Committee’s actions will not impact their careers or their ability to participate in the World Cup.