Just as Draco was lost in anticipation for the new school term, the Malfoy family's house-elf, Dobby, entered the room carrying several newspapers in his hands.
Approaching Lucius, Dobby respectfully raised the newspapers above his head and handed them over.
Lucius furrowed his brows, about to speak, but something on the front page caught his eye, causing him to pause. He immediately set down his food and picked up The Daily Prophet from Dobby's hands.
With a casual wave of his hand, he dismissed the elf.
The front page of The Daily Prophet featured a massive photograph—depicting a group of wizards, either kneeling or lying on the ground, surrounded by several Aurors, their wands drawn, standing guard over them.
The article went on to dedicate an entire page to detailing the British Ministry of Magic's carefully orchestrated raid on Hogsmeade, executed under Minister Fudge's command. The operation led to the capture of several dark wizards who had been on the Ministry's wanted list.
The report claimed that this action had been meticulously planned, specifically timed to take place over the Christmas holidays, with the intent of further ensuring the safety of Hogwarts' students and staff.
At the end of the article, a list of dark wizards apprehended during the raid was also included.
Seeing this, Lucius let out a cold chuckle before tossing The Daily Prophet onto the table with apparent disinterest.
Draco, intrigued by his father's reaction, stepped forward, picked up the newspaper, and began reading intently.
After a moment, he spoke, his voice filled with indignation.
"Father, this… this is utterly shameless!"
Lucius instinctively frowned, ready to rebuke his son, but before he could, Narcissa coughed lightly from the side.
Lucius hesitated for a moment before recalling something—his son was now likely a member of the Alliance.
Swallowing his intended reprimand, he remained silent.
Instead, Narcissa smiled and spoke.
"Draco, this just goes to show that power does not equal authority. We all know this was orchestrated by the Alliance, and we know the Alliance is strong. But unfortunately, they do not hold the reins of the wizarding world. Without power over the press, they can't even control the narrative."
Hearing this explanation, Draco nodded thoughtfully and muttered, "Now I understand why the Alliance has always resented the Ministries of Magic across different countries."
Lucius added from the side, "Precisely. If the Alliance truly wants to see its vision realized, it must take control of the wizarding world. Do you understand, Draco?"
Draco, caught off guard by his father's intense gaze, nodded instinctively.
Lucius and Narcissa exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes reflecting an unspoken understanding.
As this edition of The Daily Prophet circulated, the British wizarding community erupted in praise for the Ministry of Magic and Minister Fudge, much to Fudge's delight.
However, his satisfaction was short-lived.
The very next day, The Quibbler published a counter-report, openly refuting The Daily Prophet's claims.
The front page of The Quibbler displayed another photograph—this time showing four individuals walking through the streets of Hogsmeade.
The four figures in the photograph were instantly recognizable. Leading the group was Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, followed closely by the celebrated Hogwarts student, Wentworth. Behind Wentworth were Professors Snape and McGonagall.
This unusual assembly on the cover of The Quibbler immediately captured the attention of the wizarding public.
The article inside declared that The Daily Prophet's report was a blatant attempt by the Ministry to claim undue credit. In reality, the operation that dealt with the dark wizards in Hogsmeade had been led by Hogwarts' own Headmaster and professors. The greatest credit, however, belonged to Wentworth, a student of Hogwarts.
According to The Quibbler, Wentworth, a student much admired by Hogwarts professors, had chosen to remain at school during the Christmas holidays to continue his studies under Dumbledore's guidance.
On the day in question, Dumbledore, wishing to give the diligent Wentworth a brief respite, took him to Hogsmeade for a leisurely visit, accompanied by Professors Snape and McGonagall.
It was there that Wentworth discovered suspicious activity by certain wizards engaged in illegal dealings. Despite his youth, Wentworth was said to possess a strong sense of justice.
At his urging, Dumbledore and the two professors took action, subduing the dark wizards and notifying the Ministry. Little did they expect that the Ministry would attempt to claim the credit for itself!
The Quibbler then launched a scathing critique of the Ministry of Magic, igniting widespread skepticism. Suddenly, all eyes were on Hogsmeade.
The photograph in The Quibbler had, in fact, been taken by a Alliance wizard as Dumbledore and Wentworth were leaving.
The article, on the other hand, was penned by none other than Rita Skeeter, notorious for her ever-shifting allegiances.
Rita had wasted no time after submitting her first report to The Daily Prophet before turning around to write an entirely different account for The Quibbler the very next day.
She found herself increasingly thrilled by the power of manipulating public perception.
As for why The Quibbler had chosen to publish such a report?
Well, aside from the long-standing ties between its editor, Xenophilius Lovegood, and the Alliance, even simply causing trouble for Fudge was an enticing enough reason.
Of course, Fudge and The Daily Prophet were not ones to sit idly by.
Soon, The Daily Prophet published a counter-article, claiming that while the Ministry had indeed received assistance, it was not from Hogwarts staff and students, as The Quibbler suggested, but rather from an independent wizarding organization.
The reason this wizarding group had not been mentioned in the initial report, according to The Daily Prophet, was due to their own humble request—they wished to remain anonymous for their good deeds.
This, the article claimed, was yet more evidence of Minister Fudge's effective leadership, proving that the Ministry had won the trust of the wizarding community and that Britain's magical society was moving toward an even brighter future.
And so, the battle between The Quibbler and The Daily Prophet raged on, captivating the wizarding world.
For those who knew the truth, however, it was nothing short of astonishing.
Wentworth, in particular, found himself speechless as he read The Daily Prophet's description of the Alliance as merely "an independent wizarding organization."
For the first time, he felt a strange sense of admiration for Rita Skeeter—finding such an apt term to disguise the truth was no small feat.
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