With the start of the week, the loud flapping of hundreds of owl wings can be heard in the Great Hall as owls swoop in with packets from home and copies of the Monday morning Daily Prophet edition. Tired from a week of researching, Rowan isn't even in the mood to grimace. She mechanically feeds herself not even worried if a stray feather or something else strays into her food. The hooting owls drop their letters and packages into the laps of their owners, before eagerly returning to the owlery to sleep.
Without any hesitation, Terry unfurls the Daily Prophet and gawks at the cover of the Daily Prophet. Seeing Terry not move or make his customary commentary, Tiffany tilts her head to the side causing her strawberry blond hair to sway. "You know I think this is the first time I have ever seen Terry too stunned to speak," she remarked with a bit of wonder in her eyes.
"Nonsense," Bethanie shook her head causing her beautiful auburn hair to glint in the morning light. "As we have seen most recently with proper motivation from Sylvia, Terry regularly behaves himself."
"Hey!" Sylvia blustered indignantly as her cheeks delicately flushed a rosy pink. "It's, it's-," she flushed even brighter and fell silent. Her grayish-blue eyes drop into her lap in embarrassment. She had only kissed Terry a couple of times! Okay, maybe, a bit more. But they hadn't done anything that was in appropriate by their parent's standards!
Severus who arrived late to breakfast makes no comment to busy eating. He had several errands to run and he had a very important appointment to keep. He had better things to do than to worry about Terry's shock.
Exasperated Tiffany finally sighs in defeat. "Fine, Terry, please share with us just what has you so much in shock."
Terry hurriedly turns the Daily Prophet front page to face them. The front article reads, "DEATH EATER ATTACK AT GRINGOTTS! GRINGOTTS IS CLOSED FOR BUSINESS! OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEXT GRINGOTTS HEIR! (Turn to page 2!) ARE WE SAFE OR ARE WE NEXT?!"
Even Rowan stops eating at reading the front-page title. "Gringotts is closed for business!" She said both in shock and concern.
"Only temporary," Terry muttered. "They will be holding funerals for the goblins that perished in the Death Eater attack at Gringotts."
Sylvia visibly stiffened at the harsh reminder of the murder and death of her father. Bethanie sends a fierce scowl at Terry, before gently consoling Sylvia. Tiffany rolls her eyes in exasperation at Terry and gestures at him that he will have to make this up to Sylvia.
Terry guiltily flinches and shrinks a bit more in his seat. Before he can fold the paper away, Rowan asks, "What are the casualties, does it say?"
"Two Aurors died," Terry quickly answered. "Gringotts is said to pay for all the funeral costs and provide a stipend to the families. On the bright side, many of the Death Eaters were captured alive. They are to be interrogated and immediately sentenced by the Wizengamont!"
Rowan turns her head in the direction of the head table and finds that Professor Dumbledore is noticeably missing. "I did wonder why Professor Dumbledore wasn't sitting with the staff this morning."
"Professor Dumbledore is the Chief Warlock," Terry grimly answered. "He must be present for any emergency sentencing. I am fairly certain that most of the Death Eaters involved in the attack are headed directly to Azkaban."
"Give that here," Rowan impatiently gestured to Terry, who reluctantly handed over the Daily Prophet to her. She grasps the paper and hurriedly skims through the articles. She pensively pauses over to read the announcement of the next Goblin King. The corner of her lip twitches upward in pleasure and satisfaction at seeing Ragnok announced as the heir to the throne.
Ragnok although stealthy and sly had a better relationship with wizardkind than most goblins. He had always treated Rowan well and beyond normal standards. And he had also done so even in Potter's time if Bill Weasley was anything to go by. That alone spoke volumes of him and could only be a positive factor in helping maintain the relationship between the two species. And for better or for worse this would ensure that the Goblins were firmly on the side of the Ministry of Magic in the battle against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Rowan's eyes naturally drift to the list of Death Eaters to be convicted. She recognizes some and others she simply did not. Her name although does come to a halt upon the name, Garrick Arnold. That name rang familiar, but from where?
"Terry, who is Garrick Arnold? His name sounds vaguely familiar, but I can't quite place him," Rowan inquired returning the newspaper back to Terry.
"Garrick Arnold is on the Board of Hogwarts!" Terry let out a low whistle. "This is definitely going to demolish his entire political career."
"Not unless he claims he was under the Imperius Curse," Rowan drily remarked recalling the same excuse used by various Death Eaters in Potter's time.
"Well," Terry glanced at the Daily Prophet. "In that case, he may receive a lighter sentence. He won't be let off completely unless he sells out his cousin, Quilliam Arnold," his finger came to rest on the name crinkling the paper.
"And," Terry gleefully smirked, "don't forget that Lucius Malfoy is the Chairman of Hogwarts. I heard rumors that Malfoy does not like Arnold in the least bit. I am certain he would be thrilled at finally having an excuse to remove Arnold from the Board. Besides the point, I am certain that many parents especially the pureblood variety will vehemently oppose a known Death Eater having such a powerful influence on their children's education."
Rowan agreed with Terry's statement. The political fallout would be immense. There was bound to be another power shuffle again. Turning back to her plate of food, she stubbornly eats her lukewarm oatmeal. She needed all the calories she could get to muster sufficient energy to get through the day. She had the feeling that the Death Eater attack at Gringotts would be a reminder of the last giant attack and would bring back up plenty of feelings for several of the students. She had best prepare dozens of silk handkerchiefs and be prepared to give out detentions from emotions running high.
The discussions of the Daily Prophet rage all through Hogwarts halls throughout the day. None of the students were related to the two Aurors who perished, but many had friends, family, and relatives that were an Auror. It was just another reminder that they too could lose someone they cared for.
Later that day hundreds of owls left Hogwarts as students wrote to their loved ones to take care and the worry of potential Death Eaters among them. The parents in turn especially certain purebloods were furious that a known Death Eater is on the Hogwarts Board. They all but demanded that Chairman Malfoy remove the rogue Death Eater from the Hogwarts Board.
Furthermore, there would be even more severe and lasting repercussions from the Head of the Arnold family. Without a doubt, Quilliam Arnold would be magically disinherited from the family. And if Garrick Arnold was not, his powers and rights as heir would be revoked and passed down to his unborn son. For the rest of his life, Garrick Arnold would be beholden to his wife and child. The worst kind of punishment for a wizard as proud as Garrick Arnold.