Chapter 666: Fudge’s Decision, the War Has Begun
Harry had mastered Occlumency, a fact that seemed to please everyone—except Snape and Umbridge. The opening dinner ended on a relatively cheerful note, leaving most in high spirits.
However, this pleasant mood shattered the following morning.
During breakfast, Cedric unfolded The Daily Prophet he had ordered, intending to check the front page as usual. But the moment his eyes landed on the headline, he suddenly stood up with a cry of alarm.
It wasn't just Cedric—more and more students began to gasp and exclaim in shock, as if they had seen something horrifying.
"What's going on?" Kanna asked, her voice laced with concern.
Cedric, visibly shaken, spread the newspaper across the table and pointed to the headline and accompanying photos, unable to form words.
The front page featured ten photographs—nine wizards and one witch. Each image seemed to radiate menace: some of the individuals were laughing wildly, while others bore smug, arrogant expressions. Beneath each photograph were their names and crimes, outlined in stark detail:
Antonin Dolohov: Responsible for the brutal murders of Gideon and Fabian Prewett.
Augustus Rookwood: A traitor who leaked Ministry secrets to You-Know-Who.
Bellatrix Lestrange: ...
As the only witch among the group, Bellatrix immediately drew the most attention. Her photo was chilling—her dark, penetrating eyes gleamed with malice, her thin lips twisted in a sneer of contempt, as though even the camera capturing her image was beneath her notice. Her listed crime was the heinous torture of the Longbottoms.