LONDON - Distinguished news reporter Niobe Thursby is our featured Witch for the waning moon cycle of early November, as she was caught red-handed alongside hunky but brutal Dominik Wiedman this last fortnight, which was Halloween.  Their romantic rendez-vous consisted of a magical broom ride through Muggle London at unlawfully low heights and sans disillusionment (on Dominik Wiedman's official broom stick I might mention), with loads of hunky muscle, and straight-up Muggle Baiting!  (Unfortunately for Thursby, their date also consisted of getting into BIG TROUBLE but let's get to the good stuff, first!)

The Witch, once famous solely for her reliable presence in our Daily Prophet and daring approach to collecting news (she lost a finger to a runespoor serpent last year while reporting on their illegal trade - as always right up front where the action is happening!), is now gaining notoriety as the lately favourite of the infamous Falcons Beater, Dom Wiedman.  The word out of Diagon is that the couple has been spotted together at Calaveras, Muggle London, the grounds at some Quidditch games, and even Daily Prophet Headquarters.  Most interesting of all is that Thursby isn't at all new to Dominik Wiedman.  She was his certified girlfriend back in 2000 - 2002, when he was first establishing himself as the meanest and most talented Beater of his generation.  Former Death Eater and all, he was pretty hot.  He still is!

As everyone ever knows, Dominik Wiedman was supposed to either put up the bat or sign for another contract following the conclusion of his 10-year deal with the Falmouth Falcons last season.  Sending many into fits of excited frenzy, he has indeed signed back on for another season - but he's only on a single season contract, by choice.  This has led some professional Quidditch correspondents to speculate that this will be his last year on the Pitch.  Is he suiting up to settle down?  Witches everywhere Want To Know!  The thirty year old Wizard is ripe for the plucking, and is expected to pass along the Wiedman name to a troupe of brats.  Who wouldn't want to play wifey to that bod?!

Well.  Probably not going to happen any time soon, considering the kind of antics Wiedman pulled on Halloween.  His behaviour would seem to indicate that he's still enjoying his youthful freedoms.

With several charges of Misuse of Magic being cast against them - out of such dirty tricks they put upon unsuspecting Muggles who were only trying to enjoy their Halloween Eves - Dominik Wiedman and Niobe Thursby suffered What Some Would Call lesser consequences than the other five arrested on similar charges this Halloween.  After being processed by the Ministry of Magic and held in the Ministry holding cells for just over a week (Wiedman) and a fortnight (Thursby), the two were given their punishments.  From what we can gather this consisted of individual community service contracts and some very hefty fines, and Thursby is rumoured to have been temporarily suspended from her work at The Daily Prophet. 

Some might question why Wiedman, who one might suspect from his reputation was more responsible for the abuse of power on Halloween night, served half the time as his consort and apparently faces no penalty on the Pitch.  Quidditch correspondents are reporting that Dominik was taken care of more quickly at least in part because of the game he was due to play this Saturday.  Head of Law Enforcement Cameron Rosier denied any such special treatment, remarking, "Dominik Wiedman is a respected member of our community and will be treated as such - I will not be making any further statements in regard to this issue, thank you." 

Wiedman obviously isn't new to the idea of getting into trouble.  But what about Thursby?  She declined to comment on either their relationship or the marring of her once unblemished record, but didn't sound too happy about it.  She's quoted as saying, "Oh bugger off!  That's none of your business, is it? If you want to know what happened, read the Daily Prophet.  Where I still work!"

And, according to The Daily Prophet, Niobe Thursby is in full accord with the law and fulfilling her responsibilities in the aftermath.  Whether or not this little mishap will spell the end for her relationship with Dominik Wiedman remains to be seen.  Wiedman also declined to comment, other than saying, "She's my girl and I love her, and none of that was her fault.  *Censored* leave it alone.  She's an honest Witch - you put that in your bloody paper."  Something tells me this isn't the last we'll see of this exquisitely explosive duo.  Stay tuned for more coverage; it's love gone wrong, in all the right places!