Rosabella Black |Daughter of Sirius Black| (Book 6)

An Excess of Phlegm

Rosabella's Point of View:
I was sitting on my bed with Roseanna on my lap as she reached out to stroke Winter. Winter leaned forward to let her even though Roseanna grabbed and pulled out fur, Winter never showed any sigh of aggression and would fondly lick Roseanna. Soren then flew through the window carrying the Daily Prophet and he landed on my shoulder. Roseanna laughed at as the owl flew in. With one arm securely around Roseanna I used my other to take the Daily Prophet from Soren and I enforced it. Roseanna watched mesmerised as she watched the pictures move.
My eyes widened at the Headline.

HARRY POTTER: THE CHOSEN ONE?
Rumors continue to fly about the mysterious recent disturbance at the Ministry of Magic, during which He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was sighted once more.
    "We're not allowed to talk about it, don't ask me anything," said one agitated Obliviator, who refused to give his name as he left the Ministry last night.
Nevertheless, highly placed sources within the Ministry have confirmed that the disturbance centered on the fabled Hall of Prophecy.
Though Ministry spokeswizards have hitherto refused even to confirm the existence of such a place, a growing number of the Wizarding community believe that the Death Eaters now serving sentences in Azkaban for trespass and attempted theft were attempting to steal a prophecy. The nature of that prophecy is unknown, although speculation is rife that it concerns Harry Potter, the only person ever known to have survived the Killing Curse, and who is also known to have been at the Ministry on the night in question. Some are going so far as to call Potter 'the Chosen One,' believing that the prophecy names him as the only one who will be able to rid us of He - Who - Must - Not - Be - Named.
The current whereabouts of the prophecy, if it exists, are unknown, although (cont. page 2, column 5).

I flipped the page and was shocked again at the second article and I was shocked for a second time.

SCRIMGEOUR SUCCEEDS FUDGE
Most of this front page was taken up with a large black - and - white picture of a man with a lionlike mane of thick hair and a rather ravaged face. The picture was moving - the man was waving at the ceiling.
Rufus Scrimgeour, previously Head of the Auror office in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, has succeeded Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic. The appointment has largely been greeted with enthusiasm by the Wizarding community, though rumors of a rift between the new Minister and Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, surfaced within hours of Scrimgeour taking office.
Scrimgeour's representatives admitted that he had met with Dumbledore at once upon taking possession of the top job, but refused to comment on the topics under discussion. Albus Dumbledore is known to (cont. page 3, column 2)

I then turned the page to the next article.

MINISTRY GUARANTEES STUDENTS' SAFETY
Newly appointed Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, spoke today of the tough new measures taken by his Ministry to ensure the safety of students returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this autumn.
   "For obvious reasons, the Ministry will not be going into detail about its stringent new security plans," said the Minister, although an insider confirmed that measures include defensive spells and charms, a complex array of counter-curses, and a small task force of Aurors dedicated solely to the protection of Hogwarts School.
Most seem reassured by the new Minister's tough stand on student safety. Said Mrs. Augusta Longbottom, "My grandson, Neville... good friend of Harry Potter's, incidentally, who fought the Death Eaters alongside him at the Ministry in June and -"

I was interrupted by a knock on the door. Lucas entered.
   "Just came to steal my daughter back." Lucas said and walked over to a smiling Roseanna.
I passed her to him and Lucas cradled her in his arms.
    "Here. Everyone has to read this. All Ministry employees have been told to give it to family and friends." Lucas said and handed me a purple leaflet and he left to go bath Roseanna, feed her and the put her to bed.
I looked at the purple leaflet emblazoned with the words: