The Dungeons

My dear Severus,

I do not think it necessary to direct an owl to me when I am domiciled three floors away. Of course, I was out until just now so it was not entirely a wasted effort.

It appears a number of the board have eagerly taken up Rufus' plan of complete reconstruction. I've no doubt that the mass exodus pleases them entirely. After all, who of the faithful shall remain to bar their way? I confess myself quite curious to see how they will manage. Perhaps even a degree of schadenfreude, although it is possible they will surprise us.

Have tea with me tomorrow and we shall discuss things, yes? I shall be in the lesser withdrawing room. Now that they have resolved this plan, I cannot see them reversing it immediately, and certainly not after the results of today. You need something to do, lad. As always, my offer stands.

Horace

P.S. I've no doubt, lad, that any injunction of the sort would be more effective coming from you. And as you have demonstrated, a pen, parchment, and owl are all within ready means. Of course, should I see your excellent son before you do, I shall happily inform him of your opinion on the matter instanter.

Dear Miss Umbridge,

I regret to inform you that I will be unable to welcome you back to Hogwarts next week. I have very recently decided that, however old I am, it is quite old enough to retire. Ah. I have checked my diary: it was in fact on Tuesday that I made this decision. I apologize for the delay in notifying you. I needed to explore alternate arrangements.

I am not, of course, retiring from work. I hope to have the opportunity to explore pedagogical alternatives, work with young alchemists (for my benefit as well as theirs), and generally pursue a less irritating and restrictive approach to education and scholarship. I'm sure that with your enthusiasm for intellectual freedom, rigorous scholarship, and pedagogical excellence, you will more than understand.

I'll be out of my rooms by Tuesday - let us say noon. That will give you several hours to clear any residual wards or charms before the students arrive. I can't imagine they'll pose any problem for an experienced Ministry professional like yourself.

One gentle reminder, since you have not visited us for many years now: avoid the Forbidden Forest. The name is not purely traditional.

Actually, I'd steer clear of the paddocks as well. And the greenhouses. And perhaps some parts of the castle.

Well, I suppose that's all. Good luck!

APWBD

Minister Scrimgeor's First Scandal Looms

By Rita Skeeter

Official results won't be in until Monday, but early ballot reports and interviews of voters leaving the polls have left us at the Prophet in the happy position of announcing the results! Witches and Wizards of Britain, your next Minister of Magic will be Rufus Scrimgeor. This, in spite of a polling day bombshell that, had it come a mere twenty-four hours earlier, would certainly have sunk his candidacy. The Hogwarts Board of Directors, which, as you know, dear readers, is led by our newly elected Minister, has sacked Headmaster Severus Snape, a decorated war hero. This has prompted waves of resignations from the faculty, which has only been accelerated by the Board's appointment of Dolores Umbridge as Headmistress! As it stands today, loyal readers, our brightest minds will arrive in just five days to a castle devoid of instructors!

"It's utterly ridiculous," said Celeste Sinatra, who was campaigning outside the Diagon Alley polling center. "That horrid woman nearly destroyed the school and our best hope of winning the First War when she was last in charge. I'm amazed she escaped Azkaban, and astounded that Scrimgeor thinks she's capable of running anything more complex than a cleaning spell."

Our new Minister has a good deal to explain, and we here at the Prophet intend to ensure that he does so. Hogwarts is the pride of Wizarding Britain, and we'll not stand to see it dismantled!

"I'm not saying it couldn't use a few changes," said Fred Burkes, who changed his plans to vote for Scrimgeor after hearing of the sorry affair on the way to the polls. "But sacking the headmaster a week before terms starts? Only an idiot would do that, and I don't want an idiot running the country!" Such sentiments appear to have fueled an eleventh hour surge for Weasley, and preliminary results indicate he received 49% of the vote. Unfortunately, however, our sources inside the election commission tell us that with 90% of the vote tallied, there are not votes remaining for Weasley to surpass Scrimgeor.

The election of our own Harry Potter to the Wizarding Parliament seat was happily unmarred by such scandal, and, as predicted, preliminary results show our Hero with over 75% of the vote. Congratulations, Harry! We here at the Prophet are sure you will do a sterling job, and we hope to see you running for Minister in the next election!

For additional election results and news, please turn to page four.

... That is, if you don't mind giving me a moment alone.

They won't mind for ten minutes, Harry.