(no subject)

[alt_antonin]

Students: if you have discovered an unexpected addition to your belongings after your trip to Hogsmeade yesterday, please bring it to me, Professor Lestrange, or Headmistress McGonagall as soon as possible. I will be in my office after lunch for that purpose. Alternately, you can give it to any Hogwarts house-elf with instructions to set it into my hands only.

You will not be in any trouble for having it, so long as you turn it in to me as quickly as possible. Please do not discuss the matter with anyone until we are able to determine what has happened and how the false materials were distributed.

Comments

Private message to Barty

[alt_antonin]

One of the children -- the Thomas boy, one of the candidates in this competition -- brought me something this morning he says had been slipped into his belongings at Hogsmeade: a rather-professionally-printed copy of Pure Victory. With, one must observe, an afterword signed by Sirius Black, on behalf of the Order of the Phoenix. It claims the manuscript to be the original version, seized before publication for sedition. Horace, meanwhile, received an identical copy from Mr Zabini (also one of the candidates). I have checked; it is not an element of the competition.

I had a few words with Mr Thomas, trying to reproduce his movements yesterday and see if I could discern anything about how the items were distributed, and am about to ask the same of Mr Zabini to see if there is any similarity in their experiences; I will do the same if any other copies are turned in to me. However, you ought see Black's message; if nothing else, it claims the Order has been active in resistance all along.

I've had some additional news with disturbing implications from Minerva, but that's best passed along in person.

Wearily,
T

[alt_padma]

Professor,

Just to be clear to everyone, you're talking about a specific something, not any old Valentine given by a secret admirer or a boyfriend or anything like that, is that correct?

[alt_antonin]

Yes, Miss Patil; my apologies, I did forget that yesterday was Valentine's Day. Some people have reported that seditious material was placed in their bags by someone at some point yesterday afternoon. I am simply attempting to re-collect it before it can trouble people.

Chocolates, sweets, cards, or similar Valentine's gifts are perfectly fine, although of course if anyone is troubled by something given to them by a secret admirer, I am happy to check it over for them.

private message to Professor Dolohov

[alt_megan]

Do you mean sweets? Because I got a box of sweets. Can sweets be false materials what is a false sweet anyway I think it is from Ernie. Only I cannot ask him if we are not to discuss with anyone. And also if he did not send it then it could be a bit awkward.

Re: private message to Professor Dolohov

[alt_megan]

Oh dear I was writing that before I saw what Padma said and your answer. It is just sweets. I am sure it is Ernie. Besides I had already eaten one and nothing unfortunate seems to have happened yet.

Re: private message to Professor Dolohov

[alt_antonin]

Sweets are fine, Miss Jones. I am looking to collect certain seditious materials that were distributed to at least several students yesterday.

Do enjoy the candy.