Daily Prophet Morning Edition
Date: Monday, 27 August, 2001
Time: Morning Edition
Characters Involved: The Daily Prophet
Rating: G
Creatures at the Circus
by Aidan Rhys
OoC:Written by Kimberly
The full moon may be pretty to look at, but woe to anyone who thinks to watch it from outside. June's full moon saw the gruesome murder of Cormac McLaggen followed by swift action from the Ministry and the execution (some say murder) of Mandy Brockelhurst. July's full moon was uneventful, though August's saw a rally on the steps of the Ministry of Magic itself. As it draws nearer, what will this next full moon hold, I wonder?
Werewolves would have you believe they are just like any other witch or wizard, except during that special night once a month. They would tell you that with the Wolfsbane, they are harmless and that there isn reason to fear them.
Yet, how quickly they forget what their brethren have done. Are we to forget the atrocities as quickly? Can we really be expected to forget that attacks have occurred even since the war ended? That a member of our society was brutally mauled to death by a werewolf even just this summer?
They said that Mandy was murdered by the Ministry, that she was innocent and had taken the Wolfsbane potion that day. If that is true, are we then to wonder if the potion was effective? Was it poorly made? Is it possible that she did in fact take the potion and still used the form, willingly no less, to destroy this wizard? The collars track their movements and their magic. We trust them to keep us safe, to keep us informed, and yet, the collar did neither for Cormac. The collars do nothing to report savage behaviour by werewolves, nor do they report if a werewolf has taken the potion or not. Can we really trust the Registry to protect us if it cannot prevent a werewolf attack? If all it can do is prove post facto where a werewolf was and if they used wand magic?
Speaking of wands. What are werewolves? Are they witches and wizards? Or, are they, as we have always classified them, magical creatures? Either they are or they are not. But we must be careful! How we classify them defines how we treat them. They say that Mandy did not receive a trial. She was a magical creature under the law.Defining werewolves as such has always protected us. Yet, we give them wands. No other magical creature is allowed such an honor. We have always held that only wizards and witches are allowed wands.So, what is safest for our society? To welcome these creatures as full wizards and witches? To allow them wands and all rights and privileges that come with such status? Or should we continue to classify them as magical creatures, to confiscate their wands and to monitor them as we have always done?
We know which they would prefer. Yet, even if this small group of werewolves would abide by societal rules, we know the larger society won't. We know that to no longer turn werewolves would be to allow themselves to become extinct, and no creature, nor any witch or wizard, wants to see their line die out. These "kindly werewolves" in this "pack" want us to believe they would be willing to let werewolves in general die out?
Should we call the undertaker now? Is this an invitation to martyrdom or to genocide?
Perhaps this circus we call the Registry has given us a false sense of security? Or is it that we're too lenient in the collars these werewolves wear?
Perhaps we need to decide once and for all, if what we always knew is in fact true. Are they creatures or are they witches and wizards who are terminally ill?
Time: Morning Edition
Characters Involved: The Daily Prophet
Rating: G
Creatures at the Circus
by Aidan Rhys
OoC:Written by Kimberly
The full moon may be pretty to look at, but woe to anyone who thinks to watch it from outside. June's full moon saw the gruesome murder of Cormac McLaggen followed by swift action from the Ministry and the execution (some say murder) of Mandy Brockelhurst. July's full moon was uneventful, though August's saw a rally on the steps of the Ministry of Magic itself. As it draws nearer, what will this next full moon hold, I wonder?
Werewolves would have you believe they are just like any other witch or wizard, except during that special night once a month. They would tell you that with the Wolfsbane, they are harmless and that there isn reason to fear them.
Yet, how quickly they forget what their brethren have done. Are we to forget the atrocities as quickly? Can we really be expected to forget that attacks have occurred even since the war ended? That a member of our society was brutally mauled to death by a werewolf even just this summer?
They said that Mandy was murdered by the Ministry, that she was innocent and had taken the Wolfsbane potion that day. If that is true, are we then to wonder if the potion was effective? Was it poorly made? Is it possible that she did in fact take the potion and still used the form, willingly no less, to destroy this wizard? The collars track their movements and their magic. We trust them to keep us safe, to keep us informed, and yet, the collar did neither for Cormac. The collars do nothing to report savage behaviour by werewolves, nor do they report if a werewolf has taken the potion or not. Can we really trust the Registry to protect us if it cannot prevent a werewolf attack? If all it can do is prove post facto where a werewolf was and if they used wand magic?
Speaking of wands. What are werewolves? Are they witches and wizards? Or, are they, as we have always classified them, magical creatures? Either they are or they are not. But we must be careful! How we classify them defines how we treat them. They say that Mandy did not receive a trial. She was a magical creature under the law.Defining werewolves as such has always protected us. Yet, we give them wands. No other magical creature is allowed such an honor. We have always held that only wizards and witches are allowed wands.So, what is safest for our society? To welcome these creatures as full wizards and witches? To allow them wands and all rights and privileges that come with such status? Or should we continue to classify them as magical creatures, to confiscate their wands and to monitor them as we have always done?
We know which they would prefer. Yet, even if this small group of werewolves would abide by societal rules, we know the larger society won't. We know that to no longer turn werewolves would be to allow themselves to become extinct, and no creature, nor any witch or wizard, wants to see their line die out. These "kindly werewolves" in this "pack" want us to believe they would be willing to let werewolves in general die out?
Should we call the undertaker now? Is this an invitation to martyrdom or to genocide?
Perhaps this circus we call the Registry has given us a false sense of security? Or is it that we're too lenient in the collars these werewolves wear?
Perhaps we need to decide once and for all, if what we always knew is in fact true. Are they creatures or are they witches and wizards who are terminally ill?