presents

What was thought to have been a student prank quickly turned into something more sinister on Hallowe'en night as students stumbled upon an ominous sight -- no, the Chamber of Secrets has not been reopened. Shortly after the announcement that Hogwarts would be putting on a theatrical version of Beedle the Bard's "The Fountain of Fair Fortune," students and faculty discovered that a hawk had been painted on the ceiling above the school's primary bulletin board, dripping blood on innocent heads and staining the floor below. At the time, one could only assume the deeper meaning it represented.

Since that night, the purpose of the hawk has become clearer and clearer. Days before the Christmas holiday, Head Girl Kitty Valentine was caught red-handed scrawling the following message on the floor beneath the winged animal: "EXPOSE THE INEQUALITY. END THE STRUGGLE." To add onto the mystery and horror, Valentine had no recollection whatsoever of how she had arrived at the scene or what she had done.

The occurrences related to this matter did not stop there. Student dormitories were ransacked, their belongings thrown about, pillows nothing but feathers, and numerous items stolen. Professors Haraldur Baldvinsson, Laurel Vance, and Camilla Stewart were also targeted as personal items of theirs were replaced with Howlers that criticized them for doing something that "those who struggle" could not and told them to "use [...] magic for good" and reconsider their position and morals. Sets and props made by students for the upcoming play were not safe either, having been recently found destroyed with yet another accusatory Howler waiting to explode.

A number of students were asked to share their thoughts on these concerning events. Fifth year Slytherin Flynn Kowalski is quite sour and hurt about the ordeal, swearing that he "will avenge [his] tea cup." Others such as Zoryn Spinnet, a third year Gryffindor, were quite upfront in stating that "most everyone is terrified." Some believe that Valentine is claiming innocence to guise her ambition of gaining supporters to eradicate the International Statute of Secrecy, whereas others believe she has been used as a puppet and that something more sinister is at work in the shadows.

Headmistress Regina Hawthorne, when asked for a comment, only stated that the faculty and staff of the school are doing everything within their power to protect every student while keeping learning at the forefront of their minds as they contain the situation.

While the investigation continues, many questions have come to the minds of those within the wizarding world: Who is responsible for the red hawk and the events that followed? How long will it be until matters escalate? Are our children truly safe at Hogwarts while fear runs rampant?