14 November 2009

LONDON - The Department of Magical Law Enforcement's office of the Improper Use of Magic  has leveled charges against a half dozen witches and wizards for alleged acts of muggle-baiting from this last All Hallow's Eve. 

"It's disgraceful that this should still be going on in this day and age," said Knox Greyfriar, Junior Wizengamot Elder.  "It isn't harmless fun, like so many brutes might tell you.  It shows a great societal contempt for our non-magical kin and should not be tolerated.  Halloween is no excuse to revert back to the dim-glowing cruelties of our collective adolescence of the Middle Ages."

"The Office is not pleased by this blatant disregard for the Statute of Secrecy, let alone the discrimination against innocent people be they Muggle or magical folk. I am glad to say we have dealt with this incident in a timely manner in conjunction with the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. We will not be holding back on the severity of the penalties in the aftermath of the incident," said a statement from the head of the Improper Use of Magic Office, Mordecai Hollingbury.

Charges have been filed against Humunculus Bletchley (45), Caroline Stung (19), Niobe Thursby (33), Trevor Smith (25), Harold Smith (26), Karthik Giridharan (21) and Dominik Weidman (30).  Depending on the severity of the charge, each stands to face the possibility of heavy fines and up to a year in Azkaban.

Muggle-baiting has been illegal since 1718 when the sport of the same name was officially banned along with a variety of related offenses.  Enforcement of the law has been, at times, shamefully sketchy, but following the downfall of the Death Eaters, Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt cracked down and the penalties became much more severe. 

Says Edwin Glass, Head of Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes: "The repercussions from a set of ignorant individuals at Halloween led to a swift mobilisation of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. While we are confident that the Muggle witnesses have been accounted for, I will be recommending the cost of the operation be reflected in the fines the Wizengamot award."

Notable, of course, are the changes against the himself-notable Dominik Weidman.  Ex-Death Eater and current title-holder of Quidditch's Most Violent Player.  He was arrested in the act along with the Daily Prophet's Niobe Thursby as they allegedly vandalized Trafalgar Square on broomstick in the presence of at least fifty muggles.