2nd June 1998 • The Wizarding World's Beguiling Broadsheet of Choice • 5 κ
WIZARDING WORLD REBUILDS
By Betty Braithwaite, Reporter
The fires have finally been put out at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry following the battle that saw the downfall and death of the man previously known at Lord Voldemort, You-Know-Who, and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named exactly one month ago. Some portions of the castle remain collapsed, but specialists are confident that the structure is now sturdy enough to allow reconstruction. Returning students hoping to avoid the start of classes on 1st September will be disappointed to learn that Headmistress Minerva McGonagall assures us that the school will be reopened on time.
"Should Gryffindor tower not be ready to welcome students, alternate arrange-ments will be made," the frazzled and haggard-looking head-mistress told us this morning. As has been reported on numerous occasions, Gryffindor tower collapsed during the battle and has not yet been rebuilt.
Rebuilding is also happening at the Ministry of Magic. Acting Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt is weeding out corruption and has removed all known Death Eaters from their positions, leaving several holes in his administration. As a result, the job market is booming. Expanded Classifieds, pages 11-15.
But not all approve of the Minister's methods.
In a controversial move, the Minister has offered NEWTs students positions as Aurors, Dark wizard catchers, without the need to study for or take their exams, nor to undergo Auror training. It is unclear at this time if the positions are intended to be permanent. Meanwhile, sev-eral are left to wonder if the Ministry is cutting corners as the Department of Magical Law Enforcement struggles to keep up with the influx of Death Eaters and other criminals into Azkaban.
"Are they even giving these people trials?" asks one Ministry employee who requests to remain anony-mous for fear of reprisal.
Although a harried spokes-person for the DMLE confirmed yesterday that every suspect will see their day in court, it will be several months before the backlog can be cleared up. In the meantime, suspected Death Eaters and Ministry officials accused of corruption are being held in Azkaban.
"Meanwhile," the anonymous Ministry official told us, "there's talk of modifying House Elf rights following the battle. Talk about a waste of time!"
In sports news, the Department of Magical Games and Sports announced yesterday that a modified Quidditch season for the British and Irish Quidditch League will resume in the coming months. It's nice to see that the Ministry has its priorities in order.
"We want everything to return to normal as soon as possible," a department representative explained. "Which is why we're excited to report that the 1998 Quidditch World Cup will take place as usual." It is this reporter's hope that the Ministry of Magic intends to provide better security than at the Quidditch World Cup Final of 1994, where Death Eaters wreaked havoc following a win by Ireland.
For a play-by-play of the Battle of Hogwarts from witnesses, see pages 2-4 (not included in Elysium delivery)
For a comprehensive list of the deceased, see pages 5-6.
For a complete list of known Death Eaters still at large, see pages 7-10. Remember that the DMLE welcomes tips and reports of Death Eater sightings via Owl Post but advises not to approach them, as they remain armed and dangerous.