DISASTER STRIKES HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT & WIZARDRY

DISASTER STRIKES HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT & WIZARDRY
____________________________

On the first of September the Hogwarts Express departed from Platform Nine and Three Quarters loaded with students ready to resume their magical education, and for some this was their first journey aboard the Hogwarts Express. Unfortunately, when this historic steam engine was travelling to Hogsmede Station, which is located just outside of the gates, the Express didn't complete this journey. The viaduct over the Black Lake, which the Hogwarts Express travels across before coming to a stop at said station, was partially destroyed causing the Hogwarts Express to plummet off the edge and into the lake below.

Your devoted Daily Prophet reporter, Pansy Parkinson-Nott, was present at the scene. With little warning from the school staff the passengers weren't prepared at all for the icy arrival that awaited them. For the majority it was only until the Express had rounded the final corner, arriving on the viaduct, until new teachers and students alike realised the danger ahead. Naturally some students, my youngest daughter included, had the sense to abandon-train before it came to a screeching halt off the edge of the crumbling bridge. However, others weren't so lucky and were taken down to the bottom of The Black Lake.

Amelia Cooper, newly appointed Deputy Headmistress, was first to arrive on the scene having witnessed the destruction of the viaduct from her office. With help from the bubble head charm and the Selkies (merpeople whom reside in the Scottish lake) she began to swim down to the depths and rescued any students who were trapped on the train. It wasn't long before other members of staff, ministry officials, Hogsmede villagers and even The Giant Squid aided in their endeavours in rescuing the students and Staff that had sunk in their trusted carriage. Once students were brought to the surface they were either loaded into the wooden boats, usually used to transport first years across the lake from Hogsmede Station, or hauled through the water by the local Selkies.

Naturally, when such a disaster arises, it's never an uncommon sight to see the infamous Lupin clan arrive on the scene - after all they do like to play the heroes in this situation. However, they aren't the only familiar faces to be sighted in the midst of a catastrophe. James Blood, leading of the rouge werewolf pack, had managed to find a way onto the school grounds. Upon further investigation, your devoted Daily Prophet reporter, Pansy Parkinson-Nott, soon discovered that it was in fact Blood who had caused the collapsing of the Viaduct in an attempt to put a severe blow into the wizarding population. Of course, this may no be the sole reason behind his monstrous actions.

It is common knowledge, after Khaat Lupin herself informed us in her Daily Prophet expose, that James Blood has an obsession with the witch. Why? That still remains anyone's guess, perhaps due to the relationship she holds with werewolf Remus Lupin? Of course it doesn't take a genius to notice how Lupin has this yearning to play the hero, much like our dear Harry Potter (and look where that got him - dead), and of course it wont be a surprise that James Blood has picked up on this case. Could the reason for this unfortunate incident have been a strategy to draw Lupin from her safe house? Blood seemed extremely excited by her arrival and made a beeline straight for her.

Thankful she wasn't injured, although word on the street is that people are tired of the Blood Pack causing such chaos to our somewhat peaceful civilisation. Perhaps Khaat should be forced to surrender, sacrifice herself for the needs of the rest of the population but then, would you? Lupin is an asset to our country holding a vital spot on the wizengamot as well as being the director of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. The country would suffer a devastating loss if she were to sacrifice herself, as much as we would gain, however the responsibility of blood doesn't reply on Lupin but the Ministry Of Magic, who ironically is under the control of Robert Lupin.

Unfortunately Lupin still hasn't recovered from his assassination attempt a year ago and your devoted Daily Prophet reporter, Pansy Parkinson-Nott, has heard first hand knowledge that he wont be improving anytime soon. In his absence the power has been shifted to newly appointed deputy minister Gideon Pierce. Although Pierce is an extraordinarily intelligent man many are begin to question his potential as a leader of wizarding britain. Instead of having people looking for Blood, instead of trying to bring order and silence the rouge band of lycanthropy infected lunatics one and for all he's shifted his attention to the marriage law and through the grapevine your devoted Daily Prophet reporter, Pansy Parkinson-Nott, has heard he may be stepping things up a gear or two to really revolutionise this law.

Although this may benefit the country in the long term in politics it is forever about the short term. People aren't interested in a ten year plan they want to hear the right now plan, the plan that will improve their country. The Ministry Of Magic is there to serve the people, to regulate and control our economy (with the aid of the goblins) as well as ensuring our safety and needs are met. Currently nobody cares about the population crisis for it is an issue that can be put on hold for a couple of years because, in the present, there are more pressing issues that the Ministry should be dealing with, James Blood's pack being one of them!

It may only seem trivial, just a bumpy start to an exciting year at Hogwarts, especially with the masses of students being dragged from the water in one piece and taken up to the castle ready for the welcome feast and sorting ceremony. However, it was the sorting ceremony where the pain of this catastrophe began to tear at the heartstrings of the students and staff. Friends whom the students share dormitories with, faces that they pass in the hallway and even family members for some appeared to be absent from the welcome feast. This became apparent when eleven year old 'Bartimus Arrowbeam' was called up to be sorted into her house. No Bartimus Arrowbeam sat beneath the sorting hat.

Our hearts here at the Daily Prophet go out to the family members and friends of those unfortunate students that sadly passed away upon their descent into the Black Lake. As a sign of respect your devoted Daily Prophet reporter, Pansy Parkinson-Nott, made it her personal endeavour to create a list of those students whose lives were sacrificed yesterday evening:

Brian Alvord, 14 Years
Bartimus Arrowbeam, 11 Years
Keith Broadbent, 13 Years
Simon Butterweed, 16 Years
Thalia Connolly, 17 Years
Marie Davenport, 12 Years
Escala De Lavinge, 11 Years
Margarita Flitwick, 11 Years
Eliza Foxwood, 11 Years
Vincent Goshwok, 15 Years
Lucy Hemmingway, 11 Years
Peter Hemmingway, 14 Years
Stephen Hemmingway, 14 Years
Veronica Hemmingway, 16 Years
Brendon Hope, 11 Years
Mary McKinnen, 14 Years
Ronald Roachester, 11 Years
Tamsyn Sheik, 14 Years
Gabrielle Spore, 17 Years
Sophie Thomlinson, 13 Years
Fiona Wallace, 13 Years

This tragic loss doesn't only affect relatives and friends of those who remained submerged beneath the water, the entire nation now has their flags at half mast. Students are the future of our next generation, the people who will one day run the wizarding world whilst their parents would have retired in hope of a quiet life. Future healers, inventors, aurors, authors and potioneers could have been among those students. Perhaps Thalia Connolly,17 Years, could quite possible have gone onto become the next Minister for Magic.

We can now only turn to each other for comfort whilst uniting as one population to overcome the werewolf crisis. The ministry needs to act now before costing more innocent children their lives. Tamsyn Sheik, 14 Years never got to sit her OWL's; Brendon Hope, 11 Years never learnt how to ride a broomstick and Simon Butterweed, 16 Years had just discovered he'd secured an internship at St Mungo's Hospital. The Ministry can be the only ones to blame for their failure to take to the Blood Pack seriously and now we are the ones suffering.

There have been no statement issued by the Ministry of Magic as of yet besides their announcement that proceeds from The Triflings Project (see page 4) will be used to restore the collapsed viaduct. Hopefully this will allow the Ministry to focus their funding to coordinate a large task force dedicated to the silencing of James Blood. One thing we should expect is an Order of Merlin to be awarded to the those who aided in the rescuing of our children.