"We're getting reports of another surge. Harry's off pursuing a possible lead on The Unforgivable, but given its focus on the events of the 1994 Triwizard Tournament, it's safe to assume that he's influencing the Calamity."
"What a relief. I'm not sure I have the energy to deal with a Dark surge in addition to our investigation into how Kit Gerrard ended up in a portrait at Hogwarts."
"Agreed, though I'm more concerned about who sealed him in there. His memories have been completely Obliviated, just like the informant who warned us about The Unforgivable. Could they have been responsible for the disappearance of the London Five too?"
" Sorry to interrupt, but it's an emergency. A major Muggle news outlet just published the first in a series of exposés that threaten to reveal the existence of magic. Since the reporter, Brice Badeaux, documented Calamity activity, the French Ministry is asking for your cooperation in handling the incident."
"I suppose my questions about Kit Gerrard's disappearance will have to wait. Right now our focus must be on ending this surge and stopping these exposés before the International Statute of Secrecy is breached any further."
Owned by the late Alastor Moody, this prominent prosthesis gave Moody his trademark "Mad Eye" moniker. A striking electric blue in colour, it was able to rotate a full three hundred and sixty degrees in any direction. Capable of seeing through anything - ever invisibility cloaks, if legends are to be believed - any who wielded it would become a force to be reckoned with.
"I'm not mad at the reporter for trying to expose the existence of magic. If I were a Muggle who'd just spotted a fire-breathing chicken trying to eat a prosthetic eye, I'd want to write about it too. This is strictly off the record, but sometimes I wonder if we should continue to keep the existence of magic a secret from Muggles. Don't misunderstand, I would never intentionally violate the Statute of Secrecy. But Muggles have come a long way since the witch-hunts. Is it wrong for me to want us to all live together?"
Little is known about the Goblet of Fire, but it appears ancient. Carved from wood and powerfully enchanted, it was used to select the competitors for the 1994 Triwizard Tournament. When not in use, the goblet is stored in a jewelled casket, further adding to its intrigue.
"Among other "anomalies", Badeaux describes seeing "little blue monsters" flying around a "wooden goblet that, despite being lit with blue flame, never burns." He even has the pictures to prove it. It's funny... The SOS Task Force has kept the Calamity out of the Muggle eye so well all this time, I suppose I grew complacent that a Statute of Secrecy breach of this magnitude wouldn't happen."
"That's understandable, isn't it? Especially considering that between The Unforgivable and the rise of Adversaries, we've had arguably more important things to worry about."
"I had the opportunity to interview one of the agents in Badeaux's pictures. He insisted he had no idea how a Muggle was able to photograph him returning a Foundable without him noticing. He assured me he took all the proper protocols to prevent detection, but admitted to a colleague, in French, that he couldn't remember if he'd cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm around the Trace. Those French lessons I took from Fleur are really paying off, aren't they?"
"Explain something to me, Edward. The French Ministry know the reporter's name, where he works, and, presumably, where he lives. Why don't they just show up at his door, erase his memory of magic, and put an end to all this?"
Viktor Krum was a student at Durmstrang Institute. Despite the fame and renown his position as the Bulgarian National Quidditch team's star Seeker earned him, Viktor was quiet and not overly fond of the attention. Fierce and determined, he valiantly represented his school during the 1994 Triwizard Tournament. Viktor has often been called aggressively loyal to those he cares for and surprisingly kind.
"Admittedly, when I first met Viktor, I pegged him as a bit of a brute. But the more I got to know him, the more I realised how kind and captivating he could be. We even attended the Yule Ball together."
"The team's done a good job getting this surge under control while we do damage control. But it won't mean much if we can't track Brice Badeaux down and erase those memories."
"Yes, but plenty do believe his claims, more than enough to pose a serious risk to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. Not to mention that others may be persuaded the more evidence he releases."
"Harry will be back soon. So will the surge, for that matter. We should use this lull between waves to increase our search for the reporter. It's odd that, despite being pursued by both the British and French Ministries, he's still managed to elude us..."
"No, unfortunately that tip about suspected cabal activity in Warsaw turned out to be a dead end. What about you? Have you and Hermione made any progress towards figuring out how Kit Gerrard was imprisoned in a portrait at Hogwarts?"
"Actually, we've been all wands at the ready over an International Statute of Secrecy breach. A Muggle journalist published an article exposing the existence of magic after stumbling upon Traces and witnessing a SOS Task Force agent returning Foundables. We've had to devote all our resources to locating him, preventing him from exposing any further wizarding secrets, and keeping all traces of your surge away from Muggle eyes..."
"Our elusive reporter has released another exposé. This time he describes witnessing a woman free "a ghostly-looking young girl" from a "gigantic glass jar" with a "magical explosion". And, once again, he has photographic evidence."
"I don't understand. How do trained SOS Task Force agents not notice a Muggle with a camera taking pictures of them? Especially now, when the whole department is on high alert?"
"The witch in the photographs assured us that she took all the necessary precautions before confronting the Trace. But there's always the possibility that, out of fear or shame, she's not being entirely honest..."
The magical map of Hogwarts has changed hands several times since its creation. Originally owned by James Potter, it fell into the possession of Argus Filch. It was then "rescued" by Fred and George Weasley, who used to for mischief, before eventually being gifted to Harry Potter. Only once was it ever used by someone truly "up to no good" - Barty Crouch Junior, disguised as Mad Eye Moody, used it to monitor the goings on of the castle.
"No, though I may have done it subconsciously. Given how strong my connection is to the Calamity, it's not outside the realm of possibility that I could've started a surge without even realising it."
The lavish depiction of a beautiful mermaid calls the Prefects' Bathroom home. When awake, she is known to show off cheerfully to any students that come and go from the bathroom. She is credited with inspiring both Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory to open their Golden eggs under the water during the 1994–1995 Triwizard Tournament, allowing them to hear the siren song properly.
"When I made Hufflepuff HousePrefect, I was thrilled that I'd be able to use the Prefects' Bathroom. I spent the whole summer leading up to my fifth year dreaming of the long, luxurious soaks I'd take come September. Unfortunately I found it impossible to relax with this ethereal beauty snidely staring at me the whole time. I was so self-conscious. It was a nightmare. After that day, I made sure to only bathe while the mermaid was asleep."
Located on the fifth-floor behind the fourth door to the left of a statue of Boris the Bewildered, the lavish Prefects' Bathroom is widely considered one of the greatest perks of being a Prefect. Featuring a swimming pool sized bathtub made of white marble, it could only be accessed by password. Many remark its greatest feature, however, are its enchanted taps. Each runs its own differently coloured and treated bathwater. With multiple fragrances and remedies to choose from, these taps truly allow the bather to soak their stress away.
"At first, I didn't understand why Hermione was so insistent that we stop these exposés as quickly as possible. Now I realise that this Statute of Wizarding Secrecy breach is like a leak in one of these faucets. It may seem insignificant at first, but every drop adds up. Let it go long enough and you're liable to wind up with a serious problem."
The Golden egg was the prize for completing the first task of the 1994 Triwizard Tournament. Won by stealing it from the dragon tasked with guarding it, it contained a riddle sung by merpeople that could only be understood when the egg was submerged in water. All four contestants eventually solved this riddle, leading them to the second task at the Black Lake.
"Good news! French Ministry officials apprehended Brice Badeaux. One of our SOS Task Force agents witnessed a Muggle investigating a Golden EggFoundable in Nice. When she tried to confront him, he fled with the egg. Brice managed to escape, but his curiosity got the better of him and he opened the Golden Egg. The ensuing screech it emitted betrayed his hiding spot and led our agent right to him."
"I had my suspicions when you mentioned the note looked scorched, but now I'm certain. This is the scrap of parchment Barty Crouch Junior used to enter me into the Triwizard Tournament. How did this wind up attached to a Foundable?"
"It's been ages since you competed in the Triwizard Tournament. I doubt many people other than yourself remember that scrap of parchment even exists. Chances are it was probably you who sent it... right?"
"I should be relieved. We Obliviated his memories of magic, penned an article in his name discrediting his previous claims, and confiscated his evidence. But his behaviour while in custody bothers me. The way he acted... it was like he knew he was about to be Obliviated. The Aurors tried to question him, but all he said was "he warned me that you'd try to stop me.""