15 November 2003 • The Wizarding World's Beguiling Broadsheet of Choice • 5 κ
DAMAGE IN THE THOUSANDS OF GALLEONS AFTER 'INFERI' ATTACK
By Betty Brathwaite
LONDON, HOGSMEADE- As the magical community picked up the pieces from the attack on Wednesday and Thursday, business owners and Ministry officials have estimated the damange to nearly reach five figures. The destruction has resulted in property damage that, in some cases, will take months to repair, and stock that is expensive to replace.
St. Mungo's as well found itself to be inundated with patients with everything from potion burns and broken bones to severed limbs. They have stated they have nearly depleted their stock of skele-grow, but are working to resupply as quickly as possible. Several private practice healers have offered to share their supplies until St. Mungo's has managed to restore its supply.
CURE FOR QUIDDITCH HIATUS BOREDOM?
HOGSMEADE - While the professional quidditch players recuperate in the off-season, fans are often left bereft with nothing to occupy their passions. Philomel Perkins of Hogsmeade claims to have found the perfect cure to the off-season blues.
Fairy quidditch.
"You don't need a really big pitch, just a room will do, and the fairies are always happy to look pretty for an audience. This has meant, of course, that I've had to re-design some of the uniforms to make them look more flattering to the fairies. Unfortunately, even the redesign didn't help find fairies willing to wear the orange of the Chudley Canons, and those that did finally agree aren't exactly the best players. In other words, I think I've accidentally discovered the secret to the Canons' losing streak!"
Ms. Perkins gave a small exhibition of her Fairy Quidditch for the media using two fairies that, like all participents, were given names of current known professional players. The two she had brought were Angelina Johnson and Ginny Weasley.
"These are two of our most enthusiastic players. 'Angelina' is amazing on the pitch, but we can't let her near barley dew or else she'll go a little overboard. And 'Ginny' has a mighty temper, but she can usually keep it in check as long as she's not playing against any of her siblings."
Perkins hopes to have a league running and playing in various locations by the end of the month. Whether or not the game will catch on with the average witch or wizard remains to be seen.