Which one?

3-9-1988

Lady Malfoy,

      We have found that one Albus Dumbledore has been working with a traitor within the bank. We have identified and exiled the traitor.

We have placed a different member of the bank, *Hookfang, on the Potter Vaults. If you see another member when next dealing with the Potter affairs, let Ripclaw know.

Normally, we would not share the following information, but as the nearest relative to the Heir to House Potter, we feel this is necessary. 

The vault contains an invisibility cloak. After testing it, we found it has not been tampered with. It’s magical signature is very old. It must have been passed down for generations.

Surely, you are aware invisibility cloaks only last approximately ten years, so you understand how strange this is. Clearly, this is not a normal cloak.

The tale of the three brothers speaks of the stone, the wand and the cloak. 

As unusual and unlikely as it seems, there is a chance that his cloak could be Death’s Invisibility cloak which he gave as a gift to Ingnotus Pervell. Coincidentally, the Pervell heir ring has a stone which has the deathly Hallows insignia.

It is well known to the Wizarding and Goblin community that the Pervells had changed their name to ‘Potter’ in the beginning of the 15th century ce. 

However, this is all pure speculation on our part, however, it would be advisable to allow us gobins to do more research on the nature of the cloak.

As for Heir Chandra Potter, we do not know where he is, we had tried sending bank statements to him in the past, unfortunately he has mailwards around him so he could not be reached, everytime we try to send him letters, they are always forwarded to Albus Dumbledore.

May your gold flow,

              Gringotts Bank, Diagon alley Branch

7-9-1988

Dear diary, 

      How strange today was! 

Today was the day we were able to bring the boys from the orphanage. The reason it took so long was because we had to do everything - and I do mean everything - the proper muggle way, lest Dumbledore find out about their existence and try to manipulate his way into their lives.

At first, Draco did not wish to meet his new brothers - he despised the fact that ‘outsiders’ were going to live with us - after a few stern words from Lucius, Draco, because he was a dutiful son, decided to greet Regulus and Hari when they reached the Manor. When the boys arrived at the manor, Draco took one look at young Hari and had a bright smile on his face.

Lucius and I were both pleasantly surprised when Draco told us that Hari Potter was his soulmate. It was quite uncommon for one to find their soulmate before they go to Hogwarts. However, Hari was quite upset with this new development, which is understandable, as he was raised in the muggle world, it would take some time for him to get used to his new environment.

Regulus on the other hand chose to stay quiet and observe. A very quiet boy, just like his father. It was a pity he was dead and very unfortunate no one knows how he died exactly; but every Black knew he died: the Family Trapastry could never lie.

After dinner,  Hari looked extremely glum. When asked, he said it was because he left his cat at Grimmauld Place, and a few minutes after summoning Kreacher, Harri got his ‘cat’ back. Personally, I believe James Potter accidentally bought a small lion cub instead of a cat and because of his horrible eyesight he couldn’t tell the difference. It was amusing to witness the anamosity Regulus had with the cat, looking at it as if it would claw out his eyes any second.

On an unrelated note, the goblins are working to restore the cottage in Godric’s Hollow.

It has been a truly hectic day, I should get some sleep or else I may have dark circles tomorrow morning.

Signing off.

             Narcissa Malfoy.

28-9-1988

Dear Diary,

       Today I have heard the juiciest gossip that is sure to send Rita Seeker into a frenzy for days!

Hari and Regulus wanted to visit Aunt Walburga’s portrait, Draco wanted to go with Hari - Draco has been ridiculously clingy with Hari, he should honestly give the poor boy some space - and neither Lucius nor I in good conscious could allow three minors to stay unattended, so we all went to Grimmauld Place.

While the children were busy playing games in the backyard. Lucius and I made small talk with Aunt Walburga, it was then we discovered that Hogwarts in Aunt Walburga’s time was vastly different than Hogwarts in our time!

For example, Hogwarts used to teach more than 30 classes but five got scrapped within a decade of Dumbledore becoming headmaster. He later on went to express how little funding Hogwarts had so other classes had to go. This statement is false as multiple families used to - and continue to - donate a large sum of money to keep Hogwarts running. Over the decades, more and more classes were scrapped due to ‘lack of funding’.

One such class was Alchemy. I had no idea Alchemy was part of the elective classes, and that was because it was one of the first classes Dumbledore got rid of. When asked wh,  he said it was far too dangerous and many students had gotten hurt over the years. Aunt Walburga then proceeded to call him a few… unsavory words. There used to be far less alchemy accidents compared to potion accidents and that was only a few cuts and bruises, yet, Dumbledore somehow managed to push his ideology onto the board of Governors.

After hearing such news, Lucius immediately called Rita Seeker who - bless her soul - was not busy and had the entire afternoon free so she could lead an investigation into the matter.

A follow up entry of what will transpire is sure to come.

Signing off

           Narcissa Malfoy

29-9-1988

Has Hogwarts Gone to the Dogs?

My dear readers! Yesterday, I received an anonymous tip about the decrease in the standard of Hogwarts education. Yes, my dear readers! You heard that right! Decrease!

I myself was shocked to hear this. I couldn’t believe my ears! So as a proper journalist, I decided to do a further investigation into this outrageous claim! My dear readers, you will not believe what I’ve found: this individual was absolutely right!

While researching, I found that Hogwarts ranks only 113th world wide and ranks 12th in Europe! I found that the most recently Hogwarts ranked the top school in Europe was fifty years ago, when it was also ranked third worldwide.

After asking around for information, I noticed only a few teachers were mentioned - about a dozen. So I once hit the books (and scrolls) and did some research - but this time, on the numbers. And what I found was very concerning, my dear readers, and once you learn it, you’ll be very concerned as well. I found there were only thirteen teachers and, at any given moment, about eighteen adults in the school, to the few hundred students in the castle each year. 

If I were the headmistress of the school, I would hire more teachers - certified from the ICW - to lighten the load those teachers must bear each year. The deputy headmistress is also the transfiguration teacher, and the headmaster himself has several other jobs and responsibilities - why, the entire castle has one caretaker and a group of house elves! The caretaker, might I add, also restores the paintings. Maybe, my dear readers, if I can be persuaded to, I will write more on the caretaker, but that’s for another time.

How did it come to this? Why did it come to this? What happened to the Hogwarts we should have all known? I don’t know about you my dear readers, but if I had children going to Hogwarts I would immediately have them withdrawn from Hogwarts and enrolled with ICW certified tutors.

Sincerely concerned,

 -Rita Skeeter

2-10-1988

Dear Diary,

        Today I heard the most shocking news!

Allow me to begin from today afternoon.  

The boys and I made our monthly trip to Grimmauld Place - Hari and Regulus are too obsessed with Aunt Walburga for their own sanity - and the six of us -yes, including the portrait- were idly chatting and were making small talk, a few minutes later, Lucius asked the boys how they managed to find Grimmauld Place in the first place, the boys started to talk about their adventurous day in Diagon alley and Gringotts and the day after during their trips on the Knight Bus.

It was then Hari started to talk about a small box filled with letters. He went on and told us about Sirius Black, and that he was NOT the secret keeper and asked when they could meet him. Sirius was a close friend of James Potter, and Regulus would also like to meet the man because Sirius was his uncle.

To say we were shocked was an understatement. Draco quickly filled them in on the fact that Sirius Black was in Azkaban due to murdering James and Lily Potter, Peter Petigrew and 12 other muggles.

The next day, Lucius went to the Ministry: only to find there were no trial transcripts in Sirius Black’s file. This potentially meant that dear old Sirius never received a trial in the first place. As much as it pained us, family is important and what was more important was that the Head of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black never received a trial which was a tragedy in it’s own right. It could also further diminish Dumbledore’s grasp and could chip away a few pieces of Dumbledore’s ‘Grandfather-ly’ persona and let the public view the madness underneath. It may give others a lot to think about.

After all, if Sirius Black, one of Dumbledore’s favourite pawns students never got a trial, who was to say that they could get a trial if the need were to ever arise?

Persuading Fudge was simple, Lucius said it would paint him a hero as he uncovered some filthy plot laid by Dumbledore and Fudge’s predecessor. Uncovering it would increase Fudges status in the wizarding world. In other words: it was all too simple. Fudge was a simple minded individual and only thought of discrediting Dumbledore. He always had a low self-esteem and thought of himself as dirt compared to ‘the high and mighty Albus Dumbledore.’ He was always so afraid Dumbledore would try to run for Minister of Magic.

More information on this matter is sure to come.

Signing off

            Narcissa Malfoy

5-10-1988

SIRIUS BLACK WAS INNOCENT THE ENTIRE TIME!

Yes my dear readers! As shocking as it is, it seems to be true. After receiving a tip from an old friend, our dear minister himself did some investigation, and discovered that despite the fact that Headmaster Dumbledore was in a position to assist the Head of the House of Black, he did nothing!

After some questioning, the minister revealed that he thought the previous minister was also at fault - how else could a trial for the Head of The Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Black have been - to put it simply - canceled?

“After discovering the mistake,” Minister Fudge said, “we immediately went to remedy it.” The minister sent an owl to the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, to see if he could inform her of the error and schedule a trial for the wronged Head of the House of Black.

Within a short time, it was evident that Lord Black was innocent.

 His wand, after testing, showed that he not did not cast a blasting spell, and after questioning credible individuals, it was found that a blasting charm - even one with enough power to blow up a street - would not have left only a finger behind.

This does, of course, put not only the previous minister, but also Headmaster Dumbledore himself into question - and let’s not forget Peter Pettigrew, who was awarded an Order of Merlin, First Class, for his “heroic actions” to stop Lord Black.

We must also note that Bartemius Crouch Sr., was, at the time, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He must have had a part to play in Lord Black’s trial - or lack of, as the case seems to be.

Was he blinded by grief? We do remember that his own son, Bartemius Crouch Jr., was found guilty of torturing Frank and Alice Longbottom, but even so, is that a good enough reason to have not done his job properly? Who knows how many innocent people remain in Azkaban, and who knows how many people have suffered from this oversight.

Of course, I cannot reveal what happened in the trial, but, my dear readers, I can tell you that there was a mountain of evidence proving Lord Black’s innocence.

As of this moment, an official statement is being written for Lord Black, with the sincerity of the entire Ministry of Magic behind it, as an apology for the injustice he suffered.

So, my dear readers, let it be known - Sirius Black is - and always was - an innocent man.

However, my dear readers, this still leaves us with a few questions - why did Headmaster Dumbledore not push for Sirius Black to have a trial? Did the previous minister cancel the trial himself? Where is Peter Pettigrew? How does Bartemius Crouch Sr. fit into all of this?

We, my dear readers, may never know, I’m afraid. 

-Signing off,

Rita Skeeter

15-10-1988

Dear Pandora,

       You may have read Sirius’s innocence from the Daily Prophet and you may be as equally shocked as I am for I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Sirius was innocent all these years and yet he had to endure Azkaban, a place no innocent Mage should go too.

I am writing to you today in hopes of you being able to talk to Sirius, I believe Dumbledore may have used some sort of potion on Sirius or… something.

Lucius tried entering Sirius’s ward a few days ago yet was denied entry by Dumbledore's pawns who were stationed in front of Sirius’s chamber in St Mungos. Lucius had to leave as he was said to have been making ‘a lot of noise which was irritating the patients’.

Hari’s twin, Chandra has not been found yet as Dumbledore may have hidden him using a Fidelius Charm. It is such a shame Hari does not remember his life before the orphanage. 

This is the main reason I am calling you today. You were a part of Dumbledore’s order were you not? There is a chance he may tell you where the boy is.

Why am I so obsessed with the boy you ask? Well after Hari and Regulus came to Malfoy Manor, we took them to St Mungo's for a full health checkup as well as getting them vaccinated. It was there we found out that Hari was malnourished and had many broken bones which lasted from the year 1981-1987. The poor boy even had glasses! He started wearing them since 1984 after he got hit over the head with a frying pan!

Lucius suspects whichever hell hole Hari had escaped from, Chandra was there too! There is a decent chance he is still there, you know how my heart throbs whenever I hear such ghastly things being done to children? Especially to a child of high profile such as Chandra Potter.

Let me know if you have any information on the boy’s whereabouts, also, could you please schedule a meeting with me and Sirius if given the chance? It is vital we meet at the first opportunity.

Yours truly,

          Narcissa

22-10-1988

Dear Diary,

       Where do I begin! It seems as if we were wrong about Regulus’s death!

Today we went back to Grimmauld Place - it seems many important revelations happen everytime we go there - and the boys decided to explore the countless rooms Grimmauld had to offer. 

An hour or so had passed and Draco came running towards us and started to talk in a rapid fashion. It took a calming draught for him to stop. When asked he told us that Hari was acting odd and was in a hysterical fit in Regulus Blacks bedroom.

Lucius and I quickly rushed to see what was happening. Indeed what Draco said was true: Hari and Regulus were wrestling and Hari was trying to stab him with a knife. Lucius and I quickly made a decision and stupefied the child. We called in Kreacher to tie up Hari. It was then Draco and Regulus told us what had happened:

They were exploring Grimmauld Place when they found Regulu’s room, there were old trinkets Regulus had kept on the shelves and so the boys decided to investigate them. Hari found a golden locket and was instantly drawn to it like a moth to a flame. After wearing the locket, Hari became aggressive and irritative. In a flash Hari jumped onto Regulus and tried to murder him. Regulus told Draco to bring Lucius and I into the room as fast as he could and the rest is history.

I looked at Hari, indeed the boy was wearing the cursed locket but none of us wanted to touch it in case we were affected by the cursed madness. 

It was then Krecher told us what the locket was and Regulus’s sacrifice. Regulus II told us that the same curse was prevalent in the Pervell heir ring and Hari’s scar - There was no scar on his forehead, it was probably due to the fact that Hari received a few scar removing potions - and that the curse was lifted by the goblins at Gringotts.

The Malfoy’s and the Blacks will forever be thankful to the Gobins for their help in our time of need. Turns out, it was not a curse but rather a… Horcrux. The Locket - which we found out to be Salazar Slytherin’s- remained intact. Because Hari was the heir to the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Slytherin, he was allowed to keep the Locket, however, currently Hari is receiving treatment from healers at St Mungos. 

Lucius on the other hand, made an appointment with Rita and told her about Regulus’s tragic ending, however, Lucius did not tell her that it was a Horcrux, only a very dark object which was important in defeating the Dark Lord.

Signing off

           Narcissa Malfoy

23-10-1988

REGULUS BLACK TRIED TO DEFEAT HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED?

Yes my dear readers! As shocking as it may seem, Regulus Black tried to defeat You-know-who roughly around eight or so years ago . How did he do it?

My sources say that Regulus tried to destroy a cursed dark object which was vital to keeping You-Know-Who alive; unfortunately, Regulus died in his attempt to destroy the object.

‘I knew my brother was a good person in the end.’ Said Sirius Black when I asked him about his brother.

May Regulus’s soul rest in peace in the afterlife, knowing that his story has been told and he will be remembered as one of the greatest heroes for centuries to come. He will be remembered in our hearts as a courageous man who stood up to the Devil himself.

Signing off with a heavy heart,

-Rita Seeker

16-11-1988

REGULUS BLACK TO RECEIVE ORDER OF MERLIN - FIRST CLASS! 

Yes my dear readers! After all that has transpired, how could he not receive an Order of Merlin?

After realizing all that Scion Regulus Black has been through and done, the Minister made the decision to award him with the Order of Merlin, First Class.

“To honor his sacrifice, and apologize for the misconstrued notion that he was a Death Eater.” Said Minister Fudge at the ceremony.

Despite it being a posthumous honor, we hope that Scion Regulus Black is happy we now know the truth, and honor his sacrifice.

Signing off,

-Rita Skeeter

For a full transcript of the award ceremony, turn to page 2