As all students have already heard...
Jun. 2nd, 2010 10:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_mcgonagallIn light of recent events, exams and Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons have been cancelled. All other lessons shall continue as one might expect.
I have heard the most absurd rumors regarding what occurred last night. To put these wild speculations to rest, then: Hydra Lestrange was found to have been possessed by a malicious spirit, which was also controlling the actions of a basilisk hidden deep in the castle's plumbing system. Through courage, daring, and research, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley and Harry Marvolo deduced these facts and sought adult assistance in resolving the situation. However, they discovered that Gilderoy Lockhart - our former Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher - was a snake in the grass. He forced them to accompany him to confront the basilisk, and when he was hurt in the pursuit, Mr Marvolo took the initiative and despatched the beast.
The potion to awaken the Petrified individuals has been administered, and they are slowly recovering in the Hospital wing - as are Hydra Lestrange and Ginny Weasley, who you may recall was missing last night as well. Professor Carrow, naturally, has been cleared of all wrongdoing in these matters.
As a result of these events, the Lord Protector has come to Hogwarts Castle. While He will not be available for the majority of the day, He will grace our table at supper tonight. A feast shall be held in His honor and all students are requested and required to attend in their best.
I have heard the most absurd rumors regarding what occurred last night. To put these wild speculations to rest, then: Hydra Lestrange was found to have been possessed by a malicious spirit, which was also controlling the actions of a basilisk hidden deep in the castle's plumbing system. Through courage, daring, and research, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley and Harry Marvolo deduced these facts and sought adult assistance in resolving the situation. However, they discovered that Gilderoy Lockhart - our former Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher - was a snake in the grass. He forced them to accompany him to confront the basilisk, and when he was hurt in the pursuit, Mr Marvolo took the initiative and despatched the beast.
The potion to awaken the Petrified individuals has been administered, and they are slowly recovering in the Hospital wing - as are Hydra Lestrange and Ginny Weasley, who you may recall was missing last night as well. Professor Carrow, naturally, has been cleared of all wrongdoing in these matters.
As a result of these events, the Lord Protector has come to Hogwarts Castle. While He will not be available for the majority of the day, He will grace our table at supper tonight. A feast shall be held in His honor and all students are requested and required to attend in their best.
ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 02:49 pm (UTC)Marvolo, Weasley and Malfoy weren't forced by Lockhart - but that is clear to anyone who reads these journals; it is merely a nice pretense to suggest that they were, which removes pressure from myself and the board of governors.
Generally speaking, it seems that the Lord Protector presented Marvolo with a journal which he intended Marvolo to write in - a journal which somehow contained a piece of himself, his younger self. Marvolo, all unwitting, gave it to Hydra Lestrange, who began to write in it. The Lord Protector's journal-piece, however, began to scheme against its maker, and control Hydra, releasing the basilisk and menacing the castle.
When the boys figured out the scheme, they went after Hydra in the Chamber of Secrets - fought the basilisk and so on. The way Marvolo did so is most surprising, however. He tells me that midway through the fight, a phoenix carrying a hat swooped in out of nowhere. He reached in the hat and pulled out a sword, which he used to kill the snake. The sword, however - I will swear that it is the true sword of Godric Gryffindor. Evidence, I suppose, that Marvolo is truly a Gryffindor at heart; but how did he come by the hat? What was the phoenix? Where did it come from and why? It took them out of the Chamber, as well, carrying them back up the pipes until they could scramble out themselves. But of course none of us saw it.
The phoenix makes me think of Albus, but who knows where he is? Could there be another sympathizer in the castle, who watched Marvolo more closely than I? What could their motivations possibly be?
In any case, it seems that the young Lord Protector appeared to Marvolo. The trust there is crumbling. I've been hard pressed to cover for the Lord Protector to the other Death Eaters; I have been doing so largely to save my own skin - if I help Him, He will help me. But it is heartening to see that these events have made his grip on the Death Eaters loosen the tiniest amount. We found a scape-goat, of course - a house-elf - but I don't believe that anyone really believes it.
Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 02:54 pm (UTC)Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 03:43 pm (UTC)Do you have any idea how Ginny was involved in all this? Percy said she was having fainting episodes, and they often occurred at the time of the attacks--when the basilisk was out, I suppose. Did she have this journal for awhile?
Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 03:50 pm (UTC)Ginny didn't have the journal at all, from what I can tell; rather, it seems that she has fallen victim to fainting spells all this year. These stemmed from a particularly powerful Obliviation. The Lord Protector intends to pin it on Lockhart; but according to Hydra, she cast the spell, while possessed. It seems that the piece of the Lord Protector that was in the diary was overcompensating for Hydra's youth, and thus made the Obliviate far too powerful.
We don't know what brought on each incident of fainting - but Madam Pomfrey feels confident that the spell-damage may be reversed, given care and time.
Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 03:55 pm (UTC)only ever saw one pheonix before. and he'd be able to get his hands on the sword if anyone could.
damn him, if he's here, why hasn't he told us he's around? and if he isn't, who else could it be?
Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 08:37 pm (UTC)Was it Dumbledore's hat, too, Minerva? I've heard of pulling rabbits out of hats (don't ask!) but swords?
Anyway, I thought when he last contacted us he was in America!
I don't know what to think, honestly.
Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 10:09 pm (UTC)Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 11:04 pm (UTC)Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 04:47 pm (UTC)Re: ORDER ONLY: Inexplicable
Date: 2010-06-02 08:38 pm (UTC)And I've a feeling that as long as Harry's at Hogwarts, we're in for more of this sort of thing. Strap in for the ride, kiddo.