Post by The Daily Prophet on Feb 4, 2015 5:11:11 GMT
As I sit at my desk to write this, I am haunted by the man who was once one of my greatest friends here at the Prophet. As you are well aware, Henry Jones from Weather was abducted earlier this summer. He was one of many half-blooded wizards and witches to be snatched up by those calling themselves Death Eaters, and by his thankful return to us, we have new insight into the twisted goals of these dark ones.
When I heard of Henry’s return, I was elated - he was always quick with a joke to me in the mornings as we arrived, and I looked forward to resuming our regular tea breaks. The others at the Prophet, knowing our familiarity, asked me to conduct an interview with him, as they assumed I would be able to get what must be a painful story out of him. A friendly face, and all.
But when I went to greet him in the conference room, I was met with fear.
For those who have not met me - I, Serenity Ainsworth, am five feet tall and a hundred pounds soaking wet. I’m a fair witch, but my true skills lie with ink and quill. I had anticipated some change in the man, of course, but I could not have expected this.
“Not her - I can’t be seen with her, d’you know what they’ll do to me?” my dear friend shouted, and luckily one of the junior writers - male, halfblooded - had the sense to get me out and calm him down. He took over the interview, while I, my quill hand shaking, watched and listened from behind the mirrored window.
My friend had dropped at least a stone in weight, and he didn’t have much around the middle to begin with. He was gently urged to tell why he’d responded to me as he had, and my heart nearly broke at the words. “Can’t be around witches like her. Pure and all. Can’t look, can’t be seen, can’t touch.” As he went on, it was obvious that the Death Eaters were not only holding him as a prisoner of war - hoping for a trade from the mysterious “Order of the Sphinx” or the Ministry - but also using whatever they had in their arsenal of tricks to brainwash my friend.
He was terrified and convinced that if anyone found out I had spoken to him, they would take him away again. Torture him for his wrongs. They systematically restructured this happy and confident man into a pawn of self loathing. Their official goal is unknown, but from Henry’s story and others like his, we do know this:
They are taking those of “lesser” blood status.
They may release prisoners back into society, hoping to convince the rest of us that the prisoners’ crippled sense of worth is what we, too, should believe.
We must be vigilant and wary when we are out, and above all kind and understanding to those who have been returned. Keep your wards up, but your hearts open, and hopefully we can not only survive this war but truly return our friends to us.
