Chapter Text
Excerpts from the Daily Prophet, June 4, 1991:
Harry Potter: Truths & Lies
Do we really know our savior?
Last night our editor-in-chief, Barnabas Cuffe, received a piece of mail. Considering he often receives letters due to his work, this may seem like nothing new. However, dear readers, when he opened it up, it was from none other than Harry Potter himself!
Now, many of us know that despite us fans sending out thousands of letters to the boy-who-lived, he has never once responded. Albus Dumbledore has told us in the past that “[the boy] is not to be expected to reply due to all the adventures he goes on.” We know of these adventures through the numerous books available on the child.
But what if I told you that the letter stated that not only are all the books blatantly false, but that he has never once received a single piece of fanmail? …
Continued on Page 2, with a Printed Copy of the Letter Following on Page 3.
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Illegal Stewardships
And it happened on both sides of the party lines!
We received word earlier from our Wizengamot correspondent, who is diligently working on bringing forth further information about the issue we are about to present to you:
Both Lucius Malfoy and Albus Dumbledore have been apparently illegally holding the Stewardships for the Black and Potter Families, respectively! While this is a disaster to fix for the families themselves, this does have further reaching impact on our government itself. Stewards are allowed to vote in the Wizengamot on behalf of the family. However, the illegality of the appointment negates the votes that were submitted. Thus, each and every bill voted upon by either of these two gentlemen must now be re-voted upon, for good or for ill.
Considering Malfoy has only held the Black Stewardship since February, you wouldn’t think that the re-votes would be much of an issue, right? But, what most don’t realize is that the Potter votes have been used by Albus Dumbledore since the Wizengamot meeting directly after James and Lily Potter’s deaths. That is nearly 10 years worth of votes to be re-examined!
Further consequences and potential issues found on Page 4.
Questioning as to how these two men came into these roles, however illegally, found on Page 5.
Excerpts from the Daily Prophet, June 5 , 1991:
Sirius Black: Imprisoned without Trial?
How did we miss this?
Dear readers, I bring to you news that I am ashamed to reveal: somehow Sirius Black, former Heir to the House of Black, never received a trial.
But we all know what happened, right? Wrong, apparently. When the issues with the Black Family Accounts revealed themselves at Gringotts a few days ago (leading to finding out about the illegal Stewardship of Lucius Malfoy: see yesterday’s paper for further detail), apparently it was found out that Black was illegally incarcerated!
Amelia Bones, Head of the DMLE, quickly jumped to find out what actually happened once notified of the issue. Preliminary findings from speaking with Black—with veritasium that he, himself, requested—reveal his possible innocence in the tale behind the Potter Murders and the death of Peter Pettigrew.
Apparently the man was not the secret-keeper, but was instead the decoy. …
Further information found on Page 2.
What does this mean for our Justice System found on Page 5.
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The Black Heir
And it is not who we thought it was.
W ith everything coming out recently about the Black Family, from the illegal Stewardship to the illegal incarceration of the previous heir, it seems as if no one really knows the state of the family.
We all believed that with Sirius Black in prison, Regulus Black assumed dead, Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black in prison, and Andromeda Tonks nee Black estranged, that the heir to the family would fall to the remaining available option: Draco Malfoy via his mother, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black.
However, we just received a statement from Percival Parkinson excerpted below:
I, Percival Parkinson, would like to formally announce that my nephew, Hydrus Black [Age 10], has taken upon himself the Heirship of the Black Family.
From further inquiry, we found out that the young Black is the son of Regulus Black ( 1961-1979 ) and Primrose Parkinson ( 1961-1980 ). However, we were not given an explanation behind where the boy has been this whole time.
As is true for all minors, we have been notified (and are informing you, dear readers) that we are not allowed to publish information not permitted by their guardians. Please do not harass the family, nor us at the Daily Prophet for more information that we cannot give without permission.
For more information about Regulus Black, Primrose Parkinson, and their apparent relationship, see page 3.
To see the potential impacts of a Black Family Revival, see Page 4.
“Hydrus! Are you almost ready to head to Diagon?” Pansy excitedly shouts at me from down the hall.
It has now been a few days of living with the Parkinson family, and it is far from expected. Though quite composed in public, the family is very, for lack of better words, bubbly and touchy-feely in private. Pansy and Phineas both treated me like a little sibling from the get-go. I’m definitely much closer to Pansy than her brother, though.
Speaking of Pansy, she just burst my door right open: “What’s taking you so long? Let’s go already! I can’t wait to work on getting you a new wardrobe and getting our books and all our supplies for Hogwarts!”
I sigh in fondness at her excitability. “Just reminiscing a bit, Pansy. I’m definitely excited to get everything for Hogwarts too, but you know they haven’t sent my letter yet.”
“Since they send it on your birthday, no duh you don’t have it yet. But we can just get the supplies based off of my list, and make minor adjustments and get your wand once yours comes in. This way we can avoid the bulk of the crowds that occur later in the summer.”
“True. I guess I’m ready to go then,” I respond, then follow my new sister-like cousin towards the floo where her parents are waiting.
Unsurprisingly, I get pulled all over the place once we reach Twiflit and Tattings. Going through all the various robe cuts, colors, fabrics, etc. is nearly overwhelming. To be honest, I just let Pansy do what she wished with my wardrobe. As long as I can easily pick something out of my closet and wear it, it’s good in my book. Pansy gave me a very unimpressed look when I mentioned that, but continued what she was doing anyways.
Next, we reached the bookstore. Flourish and Blotts with Pansy is a bit of an adventure. We explore pretty much every topic an aisle. I’m even learning new, but basic, things that I wish I new my first time around. Like the “ Raised By Muggles? Here’s how to Live as a Wizard” series that went into everything from personal hygiene and household charms, to civics and government. There was even a little section in the back about hobbies and crafts. The books on writing with a quill that Pansy passed to me would be helpful too. We ended up spending hours in that shop before we even got to the Hogwarts-specific book section!
Fortunately, getting the other supplies went quickly. I was exhausted.
Dear Pansy,
Why haven’t you mentioned that we have a mutual cousin? When will you introduce him to me? Are we still on to meet in a week?
Yours,
Draco
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Draco,
I was not able to mention our cousin before, as I didn’t know about him. Hydrus can explain more if he likes, but don’t pester him about it if he does not wish to do so.
Of course I’ll introduce you to him! My family will be sending out a few invitations for a small birthday party for Hydrus, so you should come over then instead.
Speaking of birthdays, how was yours? How does it feel to now be 11? Was receiving your Hogwarts letter as grand as you believed it to be?
Love,
Pansy