#smokeplot

[softboi-malfoy]

“Of course Church should stay in Azkaban,” Lucius huffed. “Even if he isn’t guilty of collusion, he’s dangerously incompetent and should hardly be in charge of the nation’s children.”

For once, Lucius wasn’t trying to be subtle with his opinion. Alexander Church’s gross ineptitude had allowed the Death Eaters to steal potions ingredients and get up to no end of trouble, and he was a useful scapegoat for many of their current problems. 

“If you ask me, he isn’t the only one who should be on trial. Did you know he’s married to the head of the Auror Department? Most people don’t. It’s only further proof that Moody is suspicious, incompetent, and should have been removed form his position months ago.”

[theprophet-upinsmoke]

                             TURING TRIAL VERDICT: GUILTY

January 11, 1980

Following her flashy arrest at the Yule Ball, Tatienne Turing’s trial was finally held after outcry from pureblood families that accused the Ministry of intentionally attempting to disgrace the woman and turning public opinion against her. Despite these protests about unprofessionalism and an attempt to pander to those of questionable blood status, Miss Turing was brought before the Wizengamot today to face judgement and the matter was over very quickly when she was revealed to be a member of the terrorist group known as the Death Eaters.

Despite her lenient treatment after her arrest, such as being allowed out on a low bail prior to the trial, there isn’t any word on if Miss Turing cooperated with Aurors and provided information on her fellow radicals. The official statement from the Ministry is still that they’re closing on on breaking up the Death Eaters and Miss Turing has been assigned a lifetime sentence in Azkaban. We, the law abiding public, can only hope that others will soon join her there.

@upinsmoke-rp

[theprophet-upinsmoke]

                      UNHOLY DESTRUCTION TAKES PLACE

December 13th

St. Peters church in Godric’s Hollow has long been known as a place of tranquility and peace that holds its doors open to everyone, muggle and wix alike. On what should have been a quiet evening, that peace was shattered as fireworks destroyed the stained glass windows and caught the tapestries on fire, the inside of the church badly damaged.

The fireworks appear to have come from Dr. Filibusters, who has disavowed the attack on the church and claims not to have any involvement or prior knowledge of the event. While there were not many people inside at the time of the attack, some were injured and the identity of those taken to St. Mungoes has been withheld until more about their condition is determined. 

Obliviators were contacted to handle the public and a story has been released to the muggles blaming a gas leak to explain these events. While this has been a severe blow to the community of Godric’s Hollow, those attached to the church seemed determined to clean up and open their doors again as soon as possible and ask for everyone to pray for the success of their Christmas miracle and the well-being of those injured.

@upinsmoke-rp

[smokehqs]

CHAPTER 01: COURT OF OPINION

The highly anticipated trial of Alexander Church had its most dramatic showing today as husband of the defendant and head of the auror department Alastor Moody took the stand as a character witness. While not the first auror to do so in Church’s defense, he is the only family member that has taken the stand for the defense.

His testimony caused massive outcry by many, claiming that his position in the government would help sway the Wizengamot and that his job title should be reconsidered. As questions of Moody’s suitability and mental stability have long floated in the air, there were others that have taken the stance that this trial is turning into a vendetta against him and this view is being widely spread by The Quibbler, which has gained a boost in popularity following their attention to the trial.

During the proceedings, a fight broke out between the two sides, but it was quickly contained thanks to the large DMLE presence and there few few injuries, the most notable happening to Pippa Strout, an American that is expected to take the stand in Church’s defense. The longer the trial goes on, the more dangerous it appears to be for those participating in it, the commotion of it all supposedly leading to the fainting spell of the heavily pregnant Daisy MacNair, who was seen to by Mirek Yaxley.

As the trial continues with Church’s fate hanging in the balance, the Prophet continues to demonize him while the Quibbler calls out the short-sightedness of the largest known wizarding publication in Europe, igniting a fire that will only be quenched if Church’s likability outweighs the wizarding world’s need to see someone punished.

[smokehqs]

CHAPTER 01: COURT OF OPINION

After being left in a desolate cell to rot in Azkaban, the trial for Alexander Church’s freedom has finally begun, but the trial isn’t about him anymore. A professor in handcuffs, Church has turned into a figure for so many things people fear these days.

He’s the threat of foreigners, the worry your kids won’t be protected, the fear of a dangerous poison being slipped inside your drink. The Wizengamot will be voting to determine not only if he gets to regain his freedom, but if he gets to keep his life.

The courtroom will be open, the media present through representatives, and the witness list is long. Statements are desired from everyone that Church has worked with and everyone he’s ever called friend or family in order to answer to his character and extra security is expected to be present at the trial in order to prevent either side of the war from using this as a chance to make a statement.

[theprophet-upinsmoke]

                  Foreign Witch Disappears Without Trace

December 4th, 1979

Victoire Fortescue, 18, has been added as yet another character in the cautionary tale that no one is safe when they come to England, no matter what their blood status or where they're from. Reports say that Fortescue disappeared on her way home from work, her job at a muggle shop possibly helping to paint a target on her back and ensuring that coworkers wouldn't know how to help protect her, although no signs of a fight or abduction have been found.

“I suppose i noticed she was g-gone when she didn’t come home and wasn’t here in the morning. I’m so worried where she could be. I just want her to come home and be safe. Oh I’m sorry i just miss her so much.” Sobs roommate Pandora, the only clear statement we got from her crying.

This is far from the first disappearance case that's occurred lately, but while some of those missing cases have resulted in the victim turning up at some point, it hasn't always been alive. With so few details to go on, it's impossible to speculate what Miss Fortescue's fate may be, and while no one has claimed any responsibility for the disappearance, sources report that she's known for an irreverent attitude that could have easily drawn the ire of the wrong person.

"Of course I'm personally involved in this case due to Victoire being my cousin, but even if she was a stranger I would do everything in my power to find her. We don't pick and choose who we help." Reports Auror Alice Fortescue, who hasn’t seemed to make any progress on the explosion at Thrilling that claimed two lives earlier this week.

It's reassuring to know that the auror department is as useless at finding people when it's personal as they are at any other time. One would think that if a crime occurred, the aurors would be able to find some evidence of it, leading some to theorize that Fortescue wasn't abducted, but perhaps a victim of her own actions. Or, more innocently, that she simply returned to her home of France.

"it's not like her. Victoire can be a little.... Unpredictable, but she's never been gone this long. I'm worried sick - we all are." Says sister Juliette, who has plenty of reason to be worried.

@upinsmoke-rp

[theprophet-upinsmoke]

                              Hanukkah Celebrations Begin

After a long month of trying to recover from the disastrous attempt at festivities for Halloween, the holiday season is officially beginning with the first night of Hanukkah, an event that will last from today until the tenth of this month. Meant to celebrate the rededication of the Holy Temple, Hannukah is marked by the lighting of a candle each night, so expect to see the flickering of flames in windows this week.

While people are already out caroling in the streets, if you hear singing besides the traditional Christmas songs, follow the sound and you might find yourself listening to traditional Hanukkah sounds at The Fountain of Fair Fortune in Horizont Alley, which has been advertising a special for the event.

@upinsmoke-rp

[theprophet-upinsmoke]

                            MUGGLEBORN REGISTRY KIBOSHED

At 3pm this afternoon, an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot met to vote on the matter of whether to institute a Muggleborn Registry through the Ministry of Magic. By a slim margin the bill was not passed into law leaving many to wonder what, if anything, the Ministry is doing to end this terrible war.

The Bill was drafted by long-time Wizengamot member Elgin Gore, who had this to say on the subject: “It would have been for their own protection. A Registry would have allowed us to more carefully monitor Muggleborns and their families, to make sure nothing untoward happened to them. I for one would have felt much safer knowing these people were recorded.”

The emergency meeting also conferred on the issue of whether to instate a curfew (deferred until the next session), and whether to grant Aurors emergency powers including use of Unforgiveable Curses (passed). Senior Department of Law Enforcement representative, Bartemius Crouch, was heard commending the Wizengamot for their decision, insisting that, “harsher regulation and punishment are the keys to our success, not handholding and mollycoddling.”

It remains to be seen what effect these decisions will have on the outcome of the war and the morale of wizardkind in Britain.

@upinsmoke-rp