Millicent Bagnold's Tour of Britain and Ireland

In 1988, Minister for Magic Millicent Bagnold conducted a two-month tour of Wizarding Britain, ostensibly so officials of the Ministry of Magic could gain a clear and up-to-date perspective on the lives of British and Irish wizards (and, to a lesser extent, Muggles).

Participants

Ministry Delegation:

• Millicent Bagnold, Minister for Magic
• Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot
• Cornelius Fudge, Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes
• Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
• Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office
• Eleanor Chamberlain, Head of the Muggle Liaison Office
• Anthony Mumfort, Chief Officer of the Floo Network Authority
• Dolores Umbridge, Junior Undersecretary to the Minister
• Tiberius Ogden, Senior Wizengamot Elder

Bodyguards:

• Mortin Goodwin, Auror
• Jason MacDonell, Auror
• Riley O'Connor, Auror
• Kingsley Shacklebolt, Auror

The delegation was also accompanied by Barnabas Cuffe, Senior Ministry Correspondent, reporting for the Daily Prophet.

Minerva McGonagall served as acting Headmistress of Hogwarts in Dumbledore's absence. Despite being Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Bartemius Crouch, Sr., was not asked to be part of the delegation.

Destinations

Bagnold's tour included the following stops:

• Diagon Alley
  • Gringott's Bank
• Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
• Hogsmeade Village
• Ottery St. Catchpole
• Upper Flagley
• Godric's Hollow
• Tinworth
• Muggle London
  • The Office of the Prime Minister of Muggles
• Killimor
• Rathvilly
• Muggle Dublin

In addition, Bagnold's delegation attended two professional Quidditch matches:

• The Holyhead Harpies vs. the Chudley Cannons (290 to 10)
• Puddlemere United vs. the Montrose Magpies (130 to 260)

And returned to Hogwarts for the 1988 Inter-House Quidditch Cup:

• Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw (320 to 180)

Reactions and Aftermath

Bagnold herself considered the tour an immense success, and the delegation was received fairly well at each of its stops. It also seems to have provided an importantly broad view of the Wizarding and Muggle communities; no fewer than three future Ministers for Magic were among Bagnold's delegation.

The Daily Prophet portrayed the tour in a positive light. Barnabas Cuffe had been invited specifically due to the machinations of Horace Slughorn, and his in-depth reporting and personal access to senior Ministry officials (and the consequent ability to report their thoughts and views to the Prophet) led to him being appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Prophet not long after.

Several notable pure-blood wizards, including Lucius Malfoy, criticized Bagnold's decision to tour Muggle areas, calling it "irrelevant to the interests and unbefitting the pride of wizards".