The Spark {Book 5 in the Star of Gryffindor Series}

Chapter 39 - The Magical Parliament

The Daily Prophet
Issue No. 102,216
13 June, 2022

Attack on Ministry Brings Out Shocking Ties Between Minister and Stillens

Yesterday, Isaac and Katreena Predatel bombed the main lobby of the Ministry of Magic, then engaged aurors in a short battle before escaping. In total, 23 are dead and several dozen are wounded. Only two of the Predatels' agents were caught and brought into custody, identified as Henrique Dombegh and Alora Mendosa.

While this tragedy is shocking and heart-breaking, it brings a few questions to light. How could the Minister let this happen? Surely her sources knew what was happening. Did they not tell her, or did she keep it quiet herself? Evidence is pointing to the latter.

Among the agents the Predatels had with them, aurors identified several who are supposed to be in Azkaban Prison, including Zaria Hempsey, the St. Mungo's bomber. Further investigation showed that only yesterday, these prisoners were released with a special pardon, sealed with the Minister's seal...

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Emergency Elections for Members of New Magical Parliament to Be Held Tomorrow

In the wake of all this chaos, order has risen. A new Magical Parliament has been instated to take on the authority formerly held by the Minister of Magic. This is a protection against the corrupt policies a single Minister of Magic is capable of creating, as well as ensuring that no one person under Stillens' influence can hold all the power in the government.

The new Prime Minister, Pollux Russey, was sworn in this morning...

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Government Overthrow Orchestrated by Stillens!

Do not believe anything else you hear. The entire government overthrow was orchestrated by Caymus Stillens. He means to take complete control, pulling the strings from the shadows. In fact, Stillens' reach is far larger than anyone imagined. Not only are several key members of the Magical Parliament who are his agents, or under the Imperius Curse, but Ferdinand Welling, co-headmaster of Hogwarts School, is a spy for Stillens, as well...

~~~~

"Did we fail?"

A very good question, and one I didn't really know how to answer. Wren and Colette both seemed at a loss, as well.

Teddy had taken us to the Three Broomsticks, and had escorted us back to the castle from there. He'd wanted to take us to Mr. Potter's office, but Wren had insisted on going to the hospital wing. Teddy had shrugged, cautioned us to keep all of this quiet until Mr. Potter was back and had had a chance to speak with us, then hurried off in another direction.

We'd walked along in silence for a few minutes, Albus still gripping my hand tightly. I had been right, some curse had affected his vision. He claimed everything was very dark, but growing lighter, which Colette said was a good sign; perhaps the spell was wearing off.

We'd been just outside the hospital wing doors when Al had finally broken the silence with that question. I glanced at Wren and Colette uncertainly. Everything had fallen apart. We hadn't gotten to the Ministry in time to warn them. Everything had happened exactly how Stillens had wanted it to, it seemed.

"I think we've got to wait," Wren said thoughtfully. "We weren't trying to stop anything, you know. We can't know if we failed until we see the Prophet, right?"

"I guess you're right," Albus said, sighing. "This is all pretty horrible, though."

"I feel like it's just the beginning," Colette said. "This could flame up into something much worse."