Brilliant Event: Constance's Lament

Constance's Lament was the name given to an event of the Calamity.

Part I (15-19 November 2021)

Constance has been taken into custody under suspicion of working with The Unforgivable. Is she really an enemy of the Ministry? Or is this all just a big misunderstanding?

Brilliant Gryffindor Boy's Bedroom

"It's been a few weeks since you took Constance into custody, but I still find it hard to believe that she has ties to The Unforgivable. Why would she work so tirelessly alongside us to stop The Unforgivable if she was one of them?"

— Harry Potter

"I don't want to believe it either. But, like it or not, Constance betrayed us. She set us up for an ambush and, thinking I was Grim, tried to abduct me."

— Hermione Granger

"But she denied any involvement with The Unforgivable under Veritaserum! What if this is all a misunderstanding? Constance thought you were walking into a trap, didn't she? Perhaps she used Polyjuice Potion to take your place and gave you the wrong meeting location to keep you safe..."

— Harry Potter

"Oh, come off it, Harry! We both know that isn't true. There are ways she could have circumvented the Truth Serum too. She probably knew that I'd spiked her drink with it before taking a sip and was therefore able to resist its effects.
Like it or not, Constance is our enemy. She probably has been from the very beginning. While you help Ron regain his memories of our sixth year and beyond, I'll prove Constance's duplicity beyond a shadow of a doubt."

— Hermione Granger

Images	Name	Description	Remarks
	Brilliant Quaffle Return To: Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory, Hogwarts Castle	At twelve inches in diameter, the Quaffle is the largest ball in Quidditch. It is the Chasers' job to throw the Quaffle through one of the hoops at the end of the pitch. To aid the Chasers, Quaffles are enchanted to drop to the ground at a reduced speed. Ron Weasley, Gryffindor's Keeper, kept a Quaffle as a reminder of his perfect game against Slytherin during his sixth year at Hogwarts.	Hermione Granger: "Constance, I know you're working with The Unforgivable. You can insist you're innocent all you want, but the truth will come out. I'll make sure of it." Constance Pickering: "I know you will. I realise now that your trust in me is gone and that I'll never be able to get it back, no matter what I say or do. So instead of trying to lie my way out of this, I'm going to be completely honest with you. Hermione, I'm not a member of The Unforgivable. I was never initiated, nor did I make an Unbreakable Vow to protect their secrets." Hermione Granger: "This isn't going to go anywhere, is it?" Constance Pickering: "No, Hermione, you didn't let me finish. I'm not a member of The Unforgivable... but I am their leader. And I promise to tell you anything you want to know." — Discussion
	Brilliant Quidditch Fan Neville Longbottom Return To: Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory, Hogwarts Castle	Despite not showing much aptitude for Quidditch himself, Neville Longbottom is a fervent supporter of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He was a fixture in the stands during his years at Hogwarts, where he'd cheer on his friends and classmates. Even now, as a professor, Neville doesn't hide his support for Gryffindor.	Harry Potter: "Hermione is convinced you're a part of The Unforgivable. I don't want to believe it, but it's hard to understand why you'd deceive Hermione and try to abduct Grim otherwise. You've been our friend and coworker for years now. You at least deserve an opportunity to explain yourself, so I'm giving it to you now." Constance Pickering: "The truth is... Hermione is right. I've been with The Unforgivable for years, since before we even started working together." Harry Potter: "I can't believe I trusted you! I thought you genuinely wanted to help people... How could I have been so daft? To think I even stuck up for you in front of Hermione..." Constance Pickering: "I do want to help people! Believe me, everything I've done, I've done to make the world a better place... You offered me the opportunity earlier to explain myself. If the offer's still on the table, I'd like to take it. By the time I'm finished, I think you'll see that I'm not your enemy." — Discussion
	Brilliant Broken Love-Struck Ron Weasley Return To: Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory, Hogwarts Castle	After unknowingly eating Chocolate Cauldrons infused with love potion that were meant for Harry Potter, Ron Weasley became infatuated with Romilda Vane. The effects of the love potion were so powerful that Ron became insufferable, prompting Harry to turn to Professor Slughorn for an antidote.	Ron Weasley: "I know those Chocolate Cauldrons I ate were spiked with love potion, but I can't believe I actually thought Romilda Vane was my soul mate." Harry Potter: "In your defence, it was a very potent love potion." Ron Weasley: "I don't know what's more embarrassing, the fact that I acted like a love-struck clot or that you told the whole story at my wedding." Harry Potter: "Sorry Ron, I blame the firewhisky... Wait a moment, you remember your wedding day?" Ron Weasley: "I think I do... Which is, coincidentally, what I remember saying to the minister when he asked if I'd take Hermione to be my wife until death did us part." — Discussion
	Brilliant Vial of Felix Felicis Return To: Harry Potter's Pocket	Felix Felicis, known colloquially as Liquid Luck, is a potion that, as the name suggests, grants the drinker immense luck. As such, its use is banned in Quidditch and all other organised competitions. Difficult to brew and dangerous in large doses, Harry Potter was gifted a vial of Liquid Luck after brewing the best Draught of Living Death in Potions. He pretended to use it to boost Ron Weasley's confidence in the Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts. He then went on to use it in earnest to get a memory of Tom Riddle from Professor Slughorn. The rest he gifted to his close friends during the Battle of Hogwarts.	Constance Pickering: "Harry, have I ever told you about my grandfather, Matthias Pickering?" Harry Potter: "Hermione told me he went missing a few years back, but I don't see what he has anything to do with..." Constance Pickering: "Matthias was a cruel and greedy wizard who would turn violent whenever I angered him, which was often. Despite that, my parents always sided with him. He was wealthy and knew a lot of powerful witches and wizards, so my family always did whatever they could to keep him happy." Harry Potter: "I'm sorry. I know what it's like to live with a family that doesn't have your best interests in mind." Constance Pickering: "It's all right. In a way, I'm actually grateful to him. He opened my eyes to all the injustice in the wizarding world. You could say he's why I am the person I am today." — Discussion
	Brilliant Potion Infused Chocolate Cauldrons Return To: Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory, Hogwarts Castle	Romilda Vane gifted Harry Potter these Chocolate Cauldrons, which she had infused with a powerful love potion, during his sixth year in an attempt to seduce him. Her plot went awry when Ron Weasley, mistaking the chocolates for a birthday present, ate half of them himself.	Hermione Granger: "Oh, Ron. Only you would mistake a heart-shaped box of Chocolate Cauldrons for a birthday present." Ron Weasley: "Is it so hard to believe that someone would send me love on my birthday?" Hermione Granger: "They were on the floor." Ron Weasley: "I thought they'd fallen off my bed! And anyway, you know I can't resist Chocolate Cauldrons. Remember that one Christmas Eve when I had too much Butterbeer and ate all of Rose's Chocolate Cauldrons? I had to rush out in the middle of the night to buy more." Hermione Granger: "I'm remember, though I'm surprised you do. that was only a few years ago. At this rate, it won't be long before all your memories have returned!" — Discussion

"It's all starting to make sense. Your grandfather, Matthias Pickering, was the leader of The Unforgivable, wasn't he? But you two didn't get along, so you used Polyjuice Potion to secretly depose him and take his place as "Theus"."

— Harry Potter

"My grandfather was a selfish wizard who founded The Unforgivable to make himself rich and powerful. He recruited only wealthy and influential wizards with the promise of more money and power. They did terrible things to get ahead with no concern for anyone but themselves.
The moment I discovered The Unforgivable existed, I knew I could put the organization and their resources to better use. I knew I could make a difference and help those truly in need. So yes, I made Matthias disappear. But only because it was in everyone's best interests."

— Constance Pickering

"Constance, you and the rest of The Unforgivable have used the Calamity to inflict untold amounts of terror and destruction. You've killed multiple people, including your own grandfather! How can you stand there and act like you're some sort of hero?"

— Hermione Granger

"I never intended for anyone to get hurt, but helping people get what they truly want requires doing some... unforgivable things sometimes. In any case, Matthias isn't dead. He's alive and mostly unharmed inside the big trunk in my room. You'd be surprised what people will overlook if it's hidden in plain sight..."

— Constance Pickering

Part II (29 November - 3 December, 2021)

Constance pleads her case before Harry and Hermione. Meanwhile, the surge themed around Ron's sixth year at Hogwarts restores even more of his adult memories.

Room of Requirement IV

"My Aurors finished searching Constance's flat. Sure enough, they found Matthias Pickering right where she said he'd be, under the effect of a Draught of Living Death, but otherwise unharmed. They also found large quantities of ingredients needed for making Polyjuice Potion."

— Harry Potter

"Don't you think it's odd how forthcoming Constance is being? Why would she willingly incriminate herself by admitting that she overthrew her grandfather and took his place as the leader of a criminal organisation?"

— Hermione Granger

"Perhaps she's genuinely come to terms with the fact that she's reached the end of the road with The Unforgivable and has decided to just come clean?"

— Harry Potter

"Or she's hoping her candor will lure us into a false sense of security. I'd suggest taking everything she says with a grain of salt until we can figure her intentions out.
Fortunately for us, Constance may have unknowingly revealed the location of the last bit of leverage The Unforgivable has over us: Penelope Fawley's location."

— Hermione Granger

Images	Name	Description	Remarks
	Vanishing Cabinet Return To: Room of Requirement, Hogwarts Castle	Vanishing Cabinets are enchanted to allow passage of both items and people between Cabinets. They were popular during the First Wizarding War as a means of escaping Death Eaters. Draco Malfoy, however, used it for the opposite effect during his sixth year at Hogwarts. In an attempt to assassinate Albus Dumbledore, Draco repaired Hogwarts' broken cabinet. This allowed Death Eaters to use its sister Cabinet in Borgin and Burkes to infiltrate the school.	Constance Pickering: "Well? Did you find Matthias?" Hermione Granger: "Yes, he was exactly where you said he'd be. The Ministry has taken him into custody, where we've already corroborated some of your claims against him. It appears you were actually telling the truth." Constance Pickering: "You find my honesty suspicious, don't you? I don't need Legilimency to see that." Hermione Granger: "Frankly, yes. I think you have an ulterior motive for telling us all this. Am I wrong?" Constance Pickering: "No. As usual, Hermione, you're spot on. The truth is that I want you on my side. And deep down, I think you want to be on mine, too." — Discussion
	Brilliant Portrait of Albus Dumbledore Return To: Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts Castle	Often remembered as one of the greatest wizards of all time, former Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore lived a storied life. Perhaps motivated by the death of his younger sister, Ariana, and his relationship with the infamous Dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, Albus devoted himself to the fight against Voldemort. Ultimately he gave his life for the cause during what would come to be known as the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.	Harry Potter: "You promised you'd tell me anything I wanted to know, so tell me this. You avoided Hermione's trap, so you must have known she was going to use Veritaserum to expose the identity of The Unforgivable's mole. So why didn't you warn Gareth Greengrass? I understand that you didn't want him to know you were Theus. But I'm sure you could have found a way to discreetly tip him off. So why didn't you? Why did you let another member of The Unforgivable fall into our hands?" Constance Pickering: "Because I knew you could do what I couldn't: get Cereus the treatment she needed for her blood malediction. But Gareth was too stubborn and angry at the Ministry to realise that himself, so..." Harry Potter: "So you let things play out and manipulated Gareth and I into reaching an understanding. You encouraged me to empathise with Gareth, knowing that I'd end up wanting to help Cereus. You set us both up!" Constance Pickering: "And Dumbledore set you up to face Voldemort, knowing full well that meant sending you to your death. He understood that you have to do some bad things for the greater good. I'm sorry for manipulating you, but because I did, Cereus is finally getting the attention she should have gotten years ago. And that's what really matters, isn't it?" — Discussion
	Regulus Black's Locket Return To: Seaside Cave, England	Death Eater defector Regulus Black swapped this Black family heirloom for Salazar Slytherin's locket in an attempt to thwart his former master. Regulus had also intended to destroy the real Horcrux and thereby chip away at Voldemort's power, but was killed before he could.	Hermione Granger: "I found her, Harry! I found Penelope Fawley!" Harry Potter: "You did? I've had my Aurors out searching for Penelope ever since Grim announced that The Unforgivable were holding her hostage, but they never found dragon hide nor unicorn hair of her. Where was she?" Hermione Granger: "On Constance's desk. The portrait Gareth Greengrass trapped her in had been Transfigured into a paperweight. Constance's earlier comment about why she hid her grandfather in plain sight got me thinking the same was probably true for Penelope." Harry Potter: "To think Penelope was right under our noses this entire time and we never noticed... I must have searched her office ten times. Never once did it occur to me that the paperweight might be anything other than a paperweight." Hermione Granger: "Don't beat yourself up over it. The only one who should feel guilty is Constance. Fortunately Penelope is safe now and we're one step closer to ending both The Unforgivable and the Calamity for good." — Discussion
	Poisoned Oak Matured Mead Return To: Slughorn's Office, Hogwarts Castle	Draco Malfoy bewitched Madam Rosmerta into delivering this bottle of poisoned mead to Horace Slughorn, thinking he would then gift it to Albus Dumbledore for Christmas. But Draco's assassination attempt did not go as planned, as the Potions professor held onto it instead. Not knowing that it had been poisoned, Slughorn then served it to Ron Weasley in an attempt to help him recover from the effects of a powerful love potion. Thankfully, Harry Potter managed to save Ron's life by shoving a bezoar down his throat.	Ron Weasley: "Some kids get brooms for their seventeenth birthdays. I got a near-death experience." Harry Potter: "Not one of your better birthdays, was it?" Ron Weasley: "No, but surprisingly not the worst either. That honour belongs to the time George tricked me into eating the extra strength Puking Pastille he was developing." Harry Potter: "I remember that. We were celebrating your birthday at Brews and Stews. The servers had just lit the candles on your cake and were in the middle of singing "Happy Birthday" when you projectile-vomited all over them. That was pretty bad, but at least it seems you've gotten more of your adult memories back?" Ron Weasley: "True, and now I finally understand why Hermione never wants to eat out." — Discussion
	Conspiring Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape Return To: Corridor, Hogwarts Castle	Voldemort gave Draco Malfoy the mission of assassinating Headmaster Albus Dumbledore the summer before the Slytherin's sixth year at Hogwarts. Narcissa Malfoy, worried about what would happen to her son should he fail, enlisted Potions Professor Severus Snape to protect him. Snape made an Unbreakable Vow to watch over Draco and complete Voldemort's assignment should Draco fail, a Vow Snape kept by killing Dumbledore later that school year.	Harry Potter: "You're a talented and passionate witch, Constance. You could have had a long career at the Ministry, where you'd have actually been able to make a difference and create the sort of the change you keep insisting you want to see. So why did you throw that all away?" Constance Pickering: "Don't fool yourself, Harry. I know you've seen the limits of what the Ministry can do and how many people fall through the bureaucratic cracks. Just look at what happened to Gareth and Cereus Greengrass." Harry Potter: "The Ministry isn't perfect, but think of all the good we've done since the Second Wizarding War ended. Werewolves used to be ostracised and discriminated against. But thanks to our outreach program, attitudes are changing. The wizarding community is becoming more inclusive." Constance Pickering: "I'm not discounting the progress you've made, but didn't your original proposal include providing free Wolfsbane Potions to any werewolf who wanted them? Politics and protocols prevented you from making the kind of change that would have done the most good. I know you're trying your hardest, Harry. But at its best, the Ministry is ineffective. At its worst, it's dangerous. You can try to change it, but there will always be things the Ministry simply can't do." — Discussion

Mysterious Note

Name	Remarks
1st piece	"Hermione, is it true that one of our volunteers found a note from Grim Fawley after returning a Foundable?" — Harry Potter "A piece of one, yes. We can't be certain it's from Grim just yet, but it seems likely." — Hermione Granger "Grim wouldn't work with us because The Unforgivable had taken Penelope hostage and were threatening to hurt her. Now that she's safe, Grim might finally be open to ending the Calamity." — Harry Potter
5nd piece	"Now that we've managed to recover half of the note, I can confirm that this letter does appear to be from Grim." — Hermione Granger "Well, what does it say? Does Grim seem like he'd be willing to work with us?" — Harry Potter "He did write that he wants to meet now that Penelope is safe and Constance is in custody, but..." — Hermione Granger "But what?" — Harry Potter "I don't know, the note cuts off there. We'll have to find the rest of the missing pieces to get an answer to that." — Hermione Granger
Final piece	"I heard our volunteers were able to recover and reassemble the rest of Grim's note! So? What's his condition for meeting with us?" — Harry Potter "It's Penelope. He won't turn himself in until she's been freed from her portrait." — Hermione Granger "That shouldn't be too difficult. After all, we freed Kit Gerrard from the same curse. I'll get the team of curse-breakers that helped Kit on it right away. Restoring her missing memories will be more difficult, but even that's doable. This might really be it, Hermione. Once we have Grim on our side, we might actually be able to end the Calamity." — Harry Potter "It does feel like this years-long battle is finally drawing to a close, doesn't it? Even so, we shouldn't get complacent. After all, there's no telling what The Unforgivable might do now that they've been backed into a corner." — Hermione Granger

"As promised, I've told you everything you wanted to know about my involvement with The Unforgivable. Now I hope you'll keep your promise and hear me out."

— Constance Pickering

"Harry and I have heard and seen plenty. We know firsthand what happens when you "help people" and what you'll do in pursuit of the "greater good.’ I know I speak for both of us when I say we want no part of it."

— Hermione Granger

"But Hermione, how many times have you wished you could make a real difference without having to navigate petty politics or legal red tape? Or you, Harry. How often have you seen the guilty walk free because they know how to play the system?"

— Constance Pickering

"What exactly is your point, Constance?"

— Harry Potter

"You need someone who can work outside the system to do the things you want to but can't. That's where The Unforgivable come in. We'll get our hands dirty while you keep trying to change things from within. Together we'll be able to make a real difference, starting with revealing magic to Muggles."

— Constance Pickering

Appearances

• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (First appearance)