A full transcript will be available later today.

 
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Drake at Press Conference

DENVER, Colo- In disturbing news from our nation’s capital, Simon Drake has announced his candidacy to become President of the United States. While public opinion on Drake’s intentions with Wizarding government remains polarized, one cannot help but question why he is also attempting to gain the most powerful office in the Muggle world. Secretary of Magic, Polonius Aberfoyle, could not be reached for comment.  His administration has released a statement saying that Secretary Aberfoyle will address the magical nation about the situation soon.

“Wizards and witches are supposed to use their power responsibly,” says Auror Brian O’Donnel, head of the Las Vegas operation. “However, when you have two dozen masters of divination working with each other, what you end up with is a muggle debacle.”

Every Auror that has been selected has gone through a rigorous six week training, learning the muggle card games, plus attempting to learn how muggles ‘cheat’ at these games. Mr O’Donnel goes on to explain, “It’s hard when you have a witch who just places her hand on the card and can see how they’ll lay out, and we have to explain to the muggle managers that she was counting cards, or that she was wearing a mirrored ring that allowed her to see the underside of the cards. I tell you, for not being able to do magic, these muggles are amazing at finding loopholes in these games.”

The Morning Oracle attempted to reach Secretary of Magic Polonius Aberfoyle, or his Vice Secretary Oswald Kensingon. Though they were unavailable for an interview, the Office of the Wizarding Secretary has issued the following statement: Responsible use of magic should be utmost in the thoughts of all Wizards and Witches. This irresponsible use of their abilities is not only despicable, but it places the Statue of Secrecy in jeopardy. We can assure you that any wizard or witch found utilizing their abilities this way will face harsh penalties, and we advise any member of the wizarding community who is currently engaged in this activity to stop immediately.

“I call upon our entire wizarding government to come together under a common banner,” Aberfoyle announced. Legislators, he said, must “speak against Drake’s poison with one voice.”

An unnamed House of Warlocks representative from the Progressive Wizards’ Party, who requested anonymity in order to avoid angering party leadership, was unimpressed, even angered, by the announcement. “[Secretary Aberfoyle] has only been awake for less than 48 hours. He doesn’t know what Kensington’s done in his name. Kensington should be locked up in Alcatraz, not given the Vice-Secretaryship and a cabinet position.”

Kensington, with his new authority, immediately promoted Captain Anton Tovoretski to Chief Auror, with orders to arrest his predecessor, Miles Beauregard. When asked later about the move, Kensington said, “He [Beauregard] was either complicit in the infiltration of his force by Simon Drake’s followers, or incompetent in preventing it from occurring. Captain Tovoretski showed immense bravery facing Drake and his own turncoat subordinates, and I have every confidence that he is on the correct side in this war.”

In another surprising move, continuing his theme of promoting unity throughout the wizarding community, Aberfoyle then re-appointed Clark Dowling to the Auror Force, promoting him to full Commander at Kensington’s urging. Dowling left the Aurors’ Department in protest of the Department’s policies several years ago to form his own vigilante squad, the Dark Hunters. Aberfoyle himself was long rumored to be a member of the group, but has not publicly admitted such.

Dowling accepted the commission on the condition that he be permitted to name his own deputies. Dowling’s choices (so far) are Avistrum Deputy Headmaster Aleator Boudreaux and ex-convict Scorpio Douglas. Dowling also made an offer to embattled Avistrum Divination professor Kraven Bloodthorne, but the latter declined, instead announcing his resignation from the academy in order to go and rebuild the Timmernak School for Boys.

Bloodthorne was convicted and later pardoned of a role in the destruction of the school in 2006, and initially protested his innocence, but has since admitted a role while under the Imperius Curse. Bloodthorne has been the target of the new group P.A.L.M. (Parents Against Lawless Magic), which has called for his removal from Avistrum. Bloodthorne stated that he hoped his overtures in rebuilding Timmernak will help mollify the protest group. Bloodthorne will be joined in his efforts by Avistrum professor Audrey Deserand, who also resigned from the school.

P.A.L.M. representatives refused to comment immediately on the appointments or on Bloodthorne’s overtures, promising a separate press release within the next few days.

With the lockdown in place, several of Drake’s Regulators entered the school, searching for some unknown item. Drake allegedly admitted to abducting several of the school’s prefects – Ophelia Aaron, Victoria Navidson, and Jakall Davante. He also implied that he had tortured and killed Aaron, saying, “I thought I made it perfectly clear what happened to her,” showing the faculty a singed and tattered Enigmus house scarf fragment matching the one Aaron reportedly owned. Earlier in the day, Headmistress Sachiko Kobiyashi had received a package, allegedly from Drake, containing Aaron’s prefect badge and a similar scarf fragment.

Drake then summoned a dark creature, rumored to be the Boogeyman, which tortured several of the school’s faculty and visitors, including Secretary of Magic Polonius Aberfoyle and Senator Oswald Kensington (GOM-PA). Long-time readers of the Oracle will remember that the Boogeyman was apprehended and incarcerated by Avistrum Professor and former Headmaster Clark Dowling. If this creature was the Boogeyman, it is unclear how and when it escaped imprisonment in Alcatraz Prison. All of the victims are reported to be unharmed.

After searching the school and finding a few papers that were apparently the impetus for the incursion, Drake, his Regulators, and all of the Aurors except for Captain Tovoretski fled the school. Drake reportedly warned the students and faculty, along with Aberfoyle and Kensington, before his departure that they have one year to join his side or “the decimation of this Academy and all its inhabitants will be the last thing any of you live to regret.”

“First, their son defends a murderer by helping Kraven Bloodthorne avoid prosecution. Now, their orphanage is attacked, and they allow the children in their care to help defend it!”, exclaimed Morray. “How did the Boogeyman get on to the premises in the first place? One would think that a place that harbors children would have defenses to ensure that these kinds of things never occur. Apparently, Samuel and Hannah Dowling do not agree!”

Though outwardly angered by the accusation, and clearly looking tired and bedraggled, Samuel Dowling refused this reporter’s request to comment on Morray’s statement.

Hannah Dowling and the children of the orphanage were unavailable for comment. It was unclear if they were still staying at the orphanage or if they had gone into hiding.

Despite what Morray’s words imply, the Auror’s Office has come forward and formally rejected the accusations about the children.

“Rest assured, all persons defending Wendell’s Dwelling were of legal age. Indeed, several defenders were former students of Avistrum Academy of Sorcery, which may have contributed to the confusion of Miss Morray,” stated Captain Anton Tovaretski.

When pressed for details on how, exactly, a gaggle of students and three adults managed to fight off an assault by a small army, Tovaretski declined to elaborate further.

“This was a tragic event, but it is now behind us. There are other things more important that we must now deal with. Our biggest concern is that the Boogeyman is still at large, and that once more, his whereabouts are unknown.”

Former Acting Secretary of Magic Oswald Kensington also issued a short statement in regards to the recent attack on the orphanage: “While the Boogeyman is lost once again, comfort can be found in the fact that there were no casualties sustained during the attack. The defense of the orphanage was stellar, and the home suffered relatively minor damage. Wendell’s Dwelling continues to be a safe haven for children without homes.”

Aberfoyle, a long-time professor of Transfiguration at the school, made the Academy his first stop after his release from the hospital yesterday.

Aberfoyle arrived in a wheelchair, but took his feet with the assistance of a cane to take the oath of office and assume his duties as Secretary of Magic. After lying comatose in a hospital bed for nearly 6 months, the new Secretary appeared extremely weak, but determined to finally begin his term. He addressed the students briefly, thanking them for their support and prayers during his ordeal.

Kensington, who has served as Acting Secretary since the attack, appeared relieved to relinquish the duties of the office, surprising some in the wizarding community. Kensington’s appointment has been called a “coup” by Aberfoyle’s own Progressive Wizards’ Party, and some pundits on the left expected Kensington to attempt to cling to the office even after Aberfoyle’s rehabilitation.

When asked about his time in the hospital, Aberfoyle was fairly circumspect, but described his ordeal in grim terms. “It was like being in a nightmare from which I couldn’t wake up.”

Despite the long convalescence, the Secretary appeared to be tired, with dark circles under his eyes, gaunt features, and pale skin. He had great difficulty walking, using the cane at all times, and needing to sit frequently. Nevertheless, there was a fire in his eyes when he spoke about the need to continue organizing against Simon Drake. “We will not yield our freedoms to his maniacal delusions of grandeur, and we will not allow him to foment war between us and the Muggles. We are going to fight back with every ounce of strength we have!”

When they learned yesterday that the professor would not be removed, P.A.L.M. reacted immediately, moving forward with what could only be described as an angry mob, once again screaming for the immediate removal of Bloodthorne.

To the surprise of many, however, it was Acting Secretary of Magic, Oswald P. Kensington, who stepped up to help defuse the situation and settle the crowds. After he led the initial manhunt against the former fugitives Kraven Bloodthorne and Clark Dowling, P.A.L.M members had expected that Kensington would stand with them in their defense. But it quickly be- came apparent that this would not be the case. Having lost Kensington as an ally, the crowd only seemed more determined that their voices be heard and that Bloodthorne be brought to justice.

Agatha Morray, founder of P.A.L.M., was the first to speak after Kensington initially addressed the crowd. “Simon Drake has stated that Kraven Bloodthorne was involved in the destruction of Timmernak. We demand justice!”

Later, Morray went on to insist that Avistrum Academy, and the government itself, were harboring fugitives, postponing justice for their lost children, and endangering the students of Avistrum.

With the help of the Aurors department, Kensington was finally able to get the mob to disperse peacefully. He insisted that the members of P.A.L.M. take a closer look at Drake’s deception of both Muggles and wizards. He also reminded them of the murder of the dark witch, Persephone.

Thankfully, no one was injured during this most recent demonstration. While P.A.L.M. stepped back when requested, Morray and her higher ups have already started gathering supporters for another protest set to happen early next week.

“Kensington can talk all he wants to about obsolete provisions in the Salem Compact, but the fact is, when Polonius Aberfoyle won the election, Kensington STOLE his job,” Fremingward vehemently exclaimed at a news conference at which the Progressive Wizards Party and representatives of Parents Against Lawless Magic (P.A.L.M.) jointly appeared.

“Kensington can claim that he’s forgiven Bloodthorne, Dowling, and all the rest implicated in the destruction of Timmernak,” Mindra Webswick of P.A.L.M. exclaimed. “But WE haven’t – and a usurper is running the Wizard- ing government! We’ll do whatever it takes to get Bloodthorne punished and lawful government restored. If Simon Drake is the only one who’ll help us, then we’ll go to him.”

A number of P.W.P. representatives present looked uncomfortable at that statement, but none of them spoke out against it before the press conference ended.