#thesacred:plot4

[thesacred-events]

DECEMBER 17, 1978

In Magical Britain, talk of politics is at an all-time high, making it rather difficult for many to enjoy the holiday season. While Lord Voldemort has not attacked in recent weeks, the country seems on the precipice of something its citizens can’t quite define.

Having a Death Eater in power makes things go smoother for the purebloods and though he cannot enact many reforms just yet, Abraxas Malfoy wastes no time using what power he has to help his chosen side move ahead. Acting off of a tip from a Death Eater sympathizer, the interim Minister of Magic Malfoy orders a search of the Weasley home in Devon, though he [along with much of the country] does not expect much to come from it. Still, he expects it to embarrass the Weasley family, which he is always happy to do.

It is surprising to the citizens of magical Britain when the aurors do not return empty-handed.

On December 17, the Daily Prophet announces that Richard Selwyn has been recovered and cleared of all charges by the Ministry of Magic. He is given a handsome reparations package for his false imprisonment in Azkaban. Meanwhile, Arthur Weasley is brought in for questioning as to how a young pureblood heir came to be imprisoned in his basement. Given the closeness between the Prewett and Weasley families, it is not difficult for the papers to make a connection with Percival Prewett’s death and the Weasleys, beloved for their open-mindedness, learn what it is like to be shunned by those they are trying to help.

[thesacred-events]

September 1978

There has been little progress in the search for Percival Prewett. Most of the pureblood elite know the truth - that his body was found on the shore of a Black family summer home property. But even though they may argue amongst themselves, when it comes to others, they are united as one.

A wallet with identification and a strange looking stick washes up on a shore leagues away from where Percival went missing and is found by a muggle child searching for seashells. A squib working in Muggle law enforcement recognizes the Ministry seal on the identification papers and contacts the Ministry of Magic. They swarm the site and with that comes the first hint that Percival did not simply vanish into thin air, that he did not decide to suddenly travel abroad with no communication to another living soul.

Since he was last seen at Sirius Black’s Lammas afterparty, the Ministry of Magic begins bringing people in for questioning, many of them suspected Death Eaters. They all tell the same story: that Percival left the party around midnight and while he seemed slightly intoxicated, none of them thought he was too much so that he would be unable to get home. They say nothing more and pretend to remain fuzzy about the details, not wanting to arouse suspicion.

But arousing suspicion comes anyway.

The impenetrable wall of pureblood loyalty is too much for the Ministry of Magic and even the largest donations from upstanding families are rejected as the government must be seen as doing something by the public. Many more are brought in for questioning and the government begins to apply pressure that the lightest of wizards would find untoward.

Richard Selwyn has always been good at slipping out of trouble but he overplays his hand when brought in for questioning. The interrogator insinuates that Violet Wilkes will be brought in next and Richard sees red. His anger, coupled with his clipped answers, lead the Ministry of Magic to believe he has something to hide. [And he does, though it’s not what they think.] While his dark mark is, thankfully, hidden, he is arrested and taken into custody before eventually being remanded to Azkaban pending his trial.

Richard’s arrest on September 3  is the first time that the Ministry is unable to be bribed and many purebloods feel that their world has shifted on its axis. We can trust no one but ourselves becomes a common phrase whispered in ballrooms and at tea. Even the more liberal purebloods feel the heat, and friendships with muggleborns and halfbloods are put on hold as segregation in the wizarding world grows stronger.

As pureblood elitism slowly falls out of favor, those purebloods in the Wizengamot begin to plan a coup, with the eventual goal being to oust the Minister of Magic in favor of someone who will look the other way as laws are passed to slowly erode at the laws of muggleborns.

You may still roleplay until September 22, 1978. The list of social events can be found here.