The Daily Prophet - Special Edition
Ministry of Magic descends into Chaos as Minister for Magic admitted to St. Mungo's
Ministry officials confirm He Who Must Not Be Named no longer 'corporally present'
Special Update as events unfold by our reporters on the scene: Hamfist Caven and Sukie Gorgonsi
Dramatic events continue to unfold at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Ministry of Magic following rumours of the death of the Hogwarts Headmaster, Severus Snape, in fresh disturbances at the school and the widely proclaimed downfall of You Know Who, the wizard terrifying Muggle Britain and styling himself as Lord Voldemort.
Senior Ministry officials interviewed by the wizarding press have told reporters to their face that both deaths are real and confirmed though persistent rumours to the contrary continue to undermine the Ministry's claim. The Ministry has so far failed to produce either body to show the wizarding community, and the word from insiders is that no bodies have been brought to Ministry headquarters all day.
This is even while the Minister for Magic, Pius Thicknesse, was observed being led into St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries under Auror guard, and the Order of the Phoenix, a wizard militia dedicated to fighting the forces of You Know Who was reportedly claiming to be in charge of Hogwarts.
Claims of student deaths cannot currently be confirmed as the Ministry continues to block all access to the school premises, which reliable reports describe as witnessing fierce fighting earlier between members of the Order of the Phoenix and You Know Who's Death Eaters.
Concerned parents demanding to know the whereabouts and safety of their children have met with Ministry officials in the last hour, but were reportedly afforded no guarantees that all students were safe and sound.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has made a number of extraordinary pronouncements through private outlets like the Wizarding Wireless Network which have yet to be officially announced to the press at Ministry headquarters.
These include the claim that the Chosen One, Harry Potter, is alive and well, and had defeated You Know Who in a magical duel during the day's scenes of siege and warfare at Hogwarts.
Observers were puzzled however by a second pronouncement that appeared to appoint mid-level Auror, Kingsley Shacklebolt as the new Minister for Magic.
Lending credibility to the announcement however has been a flurry of activity at Headquarters with no senior Ministry official caring to comment or currently provide a statement. Leading members of the wizarding community have called upon the Ministry to provide clarification.
The Daily Prophet's own sources have indicated that meetings to do with the sudden deterioration in health of the Minister of Magic, Pius Thicknesse, and a possible replacement have taken place. The cause of the ill-health remains a mystery but may relate to a breach of security.
However the same sources have also informed The Daily Prophet that any appointment of Kingsley Shacklebolt as Minister is not a foregone conclusion, and the Auror faces grave charges of misconduct for cooperating with the Order of the Phoenix without the Ministry's knowledge.
Our reporters witnessed a number of leading members of high wizarding society, enter Ministry premises in the last few hours, including Secat Parkins, a member of the well known Parkinson clan, Adinamus Malfoy, a cousin of Lucius Malfoy, the convicted Death Eater and Gerrick Gladon, the heir to the Greengrass fortune.
None of the aforementioned wizards made a statement to the press upon arrival but their visits coincided with the rumours of more discussions over the choice of a new Minister of Magic.
Insiders at the Ministry point to two or three names who may well be considered favourites for the post of Minister, but surprisingly none is an Auror or a well known personality. One of those names, Earle Crumpleworthy, is Head of the Department of Magical Records...'
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It was a long article, covering the entire front page, and went into some detail about the lack of a body - Voldemort was no longer 'corporally present', meaning the body had vanished, either due to the rebirthing charm described in Goblet of Fire giving out or some other reason.
We will copy the rest later, the article was surprisingly accurate on the rumours, and Earle Crumpleworthy was officially announced as Minister a little later. A non-entity and totally inexperienced but a safe bet for the Pure-bloods that he had nothing to do with the Order of the Phoenix.