At dawn, countless owls flapped into Hogwarts' Great Hall, circling above the students eating breakfast before landing beside their recipients to carry out their duties as postmen.
Harry picked up the newspaper an owl had dropped and began reading. Compared with the Daily Prophet Fudge had once controlled, Harry found that he preferred the Daily Prophet under Scrimgeour's control. At the very least, its contents always put him in a good mood.
News that the Ministry of Magic had once again foiled Lord Voldemort's plot a few days ago and successfully killed several Death Eaters had spread throughout Hogwarts. The only person unhappy about it was probably Harry's Slytherin nemesis: Draco Malfoy.
No wonder Malfoy's face had been so gloomy lately it looked ready to drip water. Bellatrix was his relative.
Harry withdrew his gaze, took a sip of Pumpkin Juice, and looked at today's front-page headline. He soon spotted a startling piece of news.
While interviewing the family of someone persecuted by Death Eaters, a reporter had been beaten by the victim's relatives for using overly provocative language. He was currently in hospital with serious injuries.
The Ministry of Magic expressed regret over the incident and had already consoled the victim's family. Minister Scrimgeour stated that they would receive no punishment, because their loved one had died heroically in the recent war.
The Ministry of Magic sternly reminded the public that Little Barty Crouch, whom people had once pitied, was the true culprit behind Lord Voldemort's return. He believed people ought to put away their ridiculous sympathy for Death Eaters and Dark wizards.
"Pfft!"
Harry sprayed out the Pumpkin Juice he had just swallowed. He would bet this had been deliberate. That reporter had probably said something outrageous and thoroughly angered the Ministry, leading Scrimgeour to arrange for him