Chapter 90
Chapter : The Ripple Effect
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Daily Prophet Article
“A Scandalous New Bestseller: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Sparks Debate Across the Wizarding World”
The latest addition to Diagon Alley’s bookshops is stirring up quite a fuss. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, a “fictional” account of The Boy Who Lived’s supposed first year at Hogwarts, has been flying off the shelves. The book, under the guise of a children’s story, raises eyebrows with its depictions of familiar figures.
A fan-favorite character, “Bumblebee,” is clearly inspired by none other than Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, while characters like “Minicat” and “Batshit” seem to reflect Professors McGonagall and Snape, respectively. Bumblebee is portrayed as brilliant but secretive, even manipulative, raising questions about his role in the events surrounding young Harry Potter.
The wizarding community is divided, with some applauding the book’s bold narrative and others calling it a disrespectful work of pure fiction. Yet, with wizarding children captivated by the story and whispers of real-life parallels, it’s no surprise that interest is only growing. Whether fact or fantasy, the book has cast new light on Hogwarts, its staff, and, most notably, Harry Potter himself.
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Quibbler Article
“Truth or Fiction? Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Unmasks Hogwarts’ Secrets!”
Move aside, trolls and Crumple-Horned Snorkacks—there’s a new mystery in town! The Quibbler has uncovered fascinating parallels between the sensational new book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and real events. The book, presented as a children’s tale, explores young Harry’s journey at Hogwarts, but it seems more insightful than whimsical.
There’s a particular plot twist involving a mysterious loyalty potion that has readers questioning our very institutions. What if… could it be possible? The Quibbler invites all wizards and witches to read, question, and join the debate. Are these hidden truths masked as fiction?
As always, we stand with the truth—and encourage our readers to think for themselves. After all, where there’s smoke, there’s often fire.
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Professor Minerva McGonagall’s POV
I scoffed when the owl delivered a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to my desk. There was no shortage of sensationalized “Harry Potter fiction” these days, each claiming to know more about the boy’s life than the last. But a small note caught my eye, tucked into the cover.
This one is different, Professor McGonagall. It will make you see things in a new light.
Curiosity won, and I began to read. At first, I chalked up the events to fantasy. But the more I read, the more unsettled I became.
The descriptions of Harry’s upbringing were painfully vivid, reminding me of the child I’d seen left on the doorstep all those years ago. I’d had my reservations even then, but Dumbledore had insisted the Dursleys were Harry’s best option. Yet this… if even a shred of it were true, then what on earth had we done?
And then came the part about loyalty potions. I stopped, narrowing my eyes. Alchemical loyalty potions are rare, bordering on dark magic. How dare they suggest such a thing could be used on a child!
Unable to hold back my frustration, I stormed toward Dumbledore’s office. He was seated behind his desk, looking up in mild surprise as I entered, the book clenched in my hand.
“Albus, have you read this?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.
He tilted his head, peering at the book. “Ah, the new novel everyone’s been speaking of. I hadn’t thought to give it much mind.”
“Perhaps you should. The portrayal of Harry’s life with those muggles… I knew they were unkind, but this—”
Dumbledore sighed, raising a hand. “Minerva, it’s a fictional work. I am aware that Harry’s time with his relatives is far from ideal, but the wards there are necessary. His safety comes before all else.”
“But to live in such a way?” I pressed. “And this business about loyalty potions! How could something like that even be suggested?”
Dumbledore’s face hardened, and for a moment, he looked almost weary. “I assure you, Minerva, no such thing has been used on Harry. Loyalty potions, especially on children, are strictly forbidden.”
Still, the seeds of doubt remained. How could we be certain of anything anymore? And how many secrets had we kept, trusting in the greater good?
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Staff Meeting - Hogwarts Teachers
The air was thick as we gathered for an impromptu meeting in the staff room. The book had made waves across Hogwarts, and whispers among the students were impossible to ignore. Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, and even Professor Snape looked grim as we assembled.
“It’s madness,” Sprout said, her voice filled with concern. “I had third-years asking me about ‘Bumblebee’s’ supposed manipulations just this morning!”
Flitwick frowned. “Many of the students are starting to question things… How we handled the Philosopher’s Stone, for instance. I can’t say I blame them. It was a considerable risk for everyone involved.”
I nodded, trying to mask my unease. “We must remember, though, that the headmaster had his reasons for each decision. That doesn’t mean we’re beyond criticism, of course, but we need to maintain a sense of order here.”
At that, Snape gave a low, dark chuckle. “Order? This school is hardly a paragon of order, Minerva. We invited children to participate in a game of cat-and-mouse with the Dark Lord, all under the guise of ‘learning experiences.’ How very noble of us.”
I fixed him with a hard stare. “And where exactly were you, Severus, when these matters were discussed? The staff was unanimous in supporting Albus’s decision.”
“Unanimous? Don’t flatter yourself, McGonagall. Some of us have a clearer perspective on Hogwarts’—and Dumbledore’s—priorities.”
The room fell silent. We all knew that no one was without fault in this. But for the sake of the students, we had to remain united.
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Severus Snape’s POV
As I made my way out of the staff room, the echo of their self-righteous chatter followed me. The book had hit a nerve. It was almost laughable, how quickly they leapt to defend themselves, their precious notions of virtue.
Reading it had been surreal. The portrayal of “Batshit”—a character with a penchant for cruelty, always lurking in the shadows—wasn’t subtle in the least. And that was fine by me. I was no fool. The students saw me as their villain, and that was how I preferred it. There was little point in revealing the complexities of one’s soul to those who wouldn’t understand.
But what irked me was the subtle insinuation of Dumbledore’s grand designs. Loyalty potions, indeed. I knew, perhaps better than most, the depths Dumbledore was willing to go to achieve his “greater good.” He had woven his schemes so deeply into Hogwarts that no one could truly untangle them. Not even me.
Yet, despite everything, he still managed to keep people blindly loyal. It was infuriating, and strangely… impressive.