AN INTERVIEW WITH ARIES LESTRANGE: THE DURMSTRANG CHAMPION

By Rita Skeeter

Saturday, 24th of June saw the end of the Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts, which has gripped the heart of thousands of our readers, all across Britain as well as abroad. Aries Lestrange, the Champion of Durmstrang, appeared on the podium holding the Triwizard Cup and was all but declared the winner by our esteemed Minister, Cornelius Fudge. However, due to technicalities, the tournament has been rescinded. Ministry officials and Dumbledore have declined to comment on the nature of this technicality.

But, don't worry dear readers, as your favourite reporter did not abandon her quest for the truth, and managed to get an interview with the person who was at the centre of the chaos, Aries Lestrange.

R: So, Aries, let's start with the obvious question, what is the reason for rescinding the tournament?

A: Well, Rita, as you're aware the tournament didn't start off with a good start. Harry Potter was forced to compete because of his name coming out of the goblet. It turned out that the person responsible for that had been around to sabotage all three tasks of the tournament. It would have been unfair to consider the results of such tasks valid.

R: And who was this mysterious saboteur?

A: Barty Crouch Junior.

R: Barty Crouch Junior? (gasps) Didn't he die in Azkaban?

A: No, apparently his father had managed to smuggle him out. He had been posturing as Alastor Moody, the Defence teacher at Hogwarts, since September, using Polyjuice potion.

R: Do you mean to say that the students at Hogwarts had been learning Defence Against the Dark Arts, for a whole year, from a death eater? What happened to the real Professor Moody?

A: He was found alive in his own trunk, malnourished and missing chunks of hair from his scalp.

R: No wonder the ministry and Dumbledore weren't too keen on sharing the news. How was this treachery discovered, though?

A: (smirks) He tried to attack my wife. It was his undoing.

R: Oh? Your wife, Louise Lestrange neè Delacour, right? The Beauxbatons Champion?

A: That's her. We got married this Easter.

R: That was a quick wedding. Do we expect some good news?

A: No, nothing like that. We simply fell deeply in love. I also wanted to handover my Wizengamot duties to Louise as soon as possible.

R: Louise will be taking over the Lestrange seat at Wizengamot?

A: Yes, Louise is much more interested in politics than I am. She just needed some time to learn the British proceedings. She'll be taking over after this Summer session.

R: That's interesting. What will be your focus then?

A: I will be working on expanding the family buisnesses. And getting some masteries.

R: I've also heard that you have been investing in some research projects. Specifically, on a study to find the cure for long term exposure to the Cruciatus Curse.

A: That is one of the research projects the I've been funding for a few months now. I believe that magic can only progress if we invest time and money in discovering new things rather than simply learning all the knowledge we have had for centuries.

R: This project must be special, though. Maybe your way for atoning for your parents crimes?

A: I don't need to atone for my parents crimes, Rita. They are doing that all by themselves in Azkaban. Furthermore, any responsibility I had for them as members of House Lestrange was removed when I cast them out of the family in January, after discussion on the matter with Madame Longbottom.

Though, I would like to talk about another research study that interests me.

R: Oh? And what is that?

A: One that proves that Half-bloods are magically stronger than purebloods.

R: That can't be true.

A: It is. The study is in its completion phase. The having a Muggleborn parent increases the magical potential of the child by more than 20 percent as compared to having both Pureblood parent.

R: Is that the reason for you pushing for the laws for earlier detection of Muggleborns, in the Wizengamot?

A: That is one of the reasons. The main reason, however, is maintaining the Statue of Secrecy. Muggles are coming up with better ways of surveillance. It won't be long now before obliviators wouldn't be enough to wipe away any evidence of accidental magic. Informing the Muggleborn children of magic earlier would result in much smaller amount of incidents of accidental magic.

R: Muggleborn children? Not their parents?

A: Their parents too, ofcourse, after signing a magically binding confidentiality agreement. There was a reason for the establishment of the Statue of Secrecy, after all.

R: That is in direct opposition to Albus Dumbledore's speech at the Summer ICW Conference. He argued for further leniency in the Statue of Secrecy, expanding the expansions to include second degree relatives.

A: I'm not trying to move against Dumbledore, if that is what you're implying.

R: It was on your motion of no confidence that Dumbledore was removed from his position of Chief Warlock.

A: A motion that passed, meaning it got more than two-thirds majority. Dumbledore's negligence had cost a man 12 years of his life. Are you saying that his removal from the post of Chief Warlock wasn't justified?

R: I'm not saying that at all. Let's talk about Harry Potter, then. You must have gotten acquainted, being a fellow Champion?

A: Yes, Harry is good friend. He is a remarkable fourteen year old who was brave enough to participate and skilled enough to do well in a tournament designed for adult witches and wizards.

R: What does Harry think of your stance against Dumbledore?

A: I haven't talked much about politics with him. I afraid you'll have to ask him or his gaurdian, Sirius Black. If that is all?

So, that dear readers, was Aries Lestrange, throwing light upon the dirty laundry of Ministry and Albus Dumbledore.