The Daily Prophet
By Special Correspondent: Rita Skeeter
"French Ties and Foreign Loyalties: Is Hogwarts' Newest Governor a Risk to Our Children's Safety?"
"She may have the name of an old British family, but her heart — and education — belong elsewhere."
In a move that has left many in the wizarding community scratching their heads (and a few clutching their tea in outright alarm), Miss Eira White — scarcely of age to order a proper butterbeer in Hogsmeade — has been appointed as a Governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This appointment would be curious enough given her youth, but the facts, dear readers, are far stranger — and, some might say, far more troubling.
Miss White is the current Head of the ancient and noble White family — a position steeped in centuries of tradition, responsibility, and, dare we say, patriotism. Yet in spite of her station, Miss White has never completed a full term of education at our beloved Hogwarts. Indeed, sources confirm she has spent the majority of her magical education abroad, at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in France.
A charming choice for those who fancy delicate pastries and fine ballroom etiquette, perhaps — but for a Governor of Hogwarts? One must ask, how can she possibly understand the needs of British magical youth when she herself has avoided sharing in their formative experiences?
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The post of Hogwarts Governor has traditionally been reserved for witches and wizards steeped in the customs, rivalries, and achievements of our magical heritage. Most have walked its moving staircases, studied by candlelight in the Great Hall, and learned the meaning of house loyalty under its venerable roof. Miss White, however, has not.
While she reportedly completed her first two years at Beauxbatons before transferring briefly to a private tutorship, she has not — and apparently does not intend to — enroll at Hogwarts for the remainder of her studies. "It's simply a matter of preference," an "anonymous acquaintance" of Miss White told me with a sniff. "She likes the French system better. And she says she's 'above' the pettiness of British school politics."
Above, indeed.
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The Meeting That Sparked a Storm
Only days ago, Miss White attended her very first Governors' meeting — a gathering hosted at one of Diagon Alley's grandest hotels, chaired by none other than our tireless Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge. The purpose? To address the urgent threat posed by escaped mass-murderer Sirius Black, a known associate of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
The agenda was simple: consider and approve the Minister's plan to station Dementors — the highly trained, Ministry-controlled guards of Azkaban — at the Hogwarts perimeter to ensure the safety of our children.
It should have been an easy vote. Who, after all, would deny that Black — who murdered twelve Muggles and betrayed the Potters — poses a grave danger? Who would deny our children the protection of the Ministry's most formidable deterrent?
Who, indeed?
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The Voice of Opposition
While most Governors expressed agreement with Minister Fudge's proposal, Miss White rose to her feet and, in a voice witnesses describe as "cool" and "measured," declared her disapproval. "Dementors," she is reported to have said, "are dangerous creatures, unsuitable for an academic environment."
No one disputes that Dementors are unsettling — their very presence can chill the air and dampen the brightest spirits — but as Minister Fudge explained in his own eloquent address, the cost of inaction could be far greater. "If Black should breach the castle's defenses, the boy who lived will be in mortal danger," the Minister warned gravely.
And yet Miss White persisted, ultimately stating, "As a Governor of Hogwarts, I cannot agree to this."
Her refusal, of course, did not carry the day. In a vote of seven to five, the motion passed, ensuring that the Dementors would be stationed at the school. But her dissent — and her foreign background — have raised questions.
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An Outsider's Priorities?
One senior member of the Board, who asked not to be named, muttered darkly as they left the meeting: "We're trying to protect the children, and she's worried about their feelings. Hogwarts isn't a tea party."
Another source — this one claiming to be a "longtime family friend" — suggested that Miss White's priorities might lie elsewhere. "She's more interested in continental politics than Hogwarts affairs. The rivalry between the British and French magical communities runs deep, you know. There are whispers that she sees herself as a bridge between the two. But who does she truly serve?"
It is worth noting that relations between Britain and France's wizarding societies have been… tense, to say the least, in recent decades. Accusations of academic superiority, disputes over international magical law, and the occasional Quidditch scandal have kept the flames alive. In such a climate, some find it troubling that a Hogwarts Governor spends her terms at a French school while presiding over a British institution.
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A Controversial Appointment
How did Miss White, barely into her majority, come to hold such a position in the first place? The answer lies in her title. As Head of the White family, she occupies a hereditary seat on the Board — one traditionally held by her predecessors. But where those predecessors were Hogwarts alumni and stalwart defenders of British magical tradition, Miss White brings a decidedly foreign flair.
Her fashion at the meeting — a set of pale-blue Beauxbatons-style robes accented with silver embroidery — did little to dispel the sense that she is, in spirit if not in blood, more French than British. "It was like she'd stepped straight out of a Parisian wizarding salon," one observer remarked. "Beautiful, yes, but hardly in keeping with the gravitas of the moment."
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The Minister Stands Firm
Minister Fudge, for his part, handled the opposition with what this reporter can only describe as admirable patience. "It's the safety of our children at stake," he said. "Every measure must be taken to prevent another tragedy like that of the Potters."
He did not name Miss White directly in his remarks to the press afterward, but his meaning was clear: the Ministry's responsibility is to protect — not to appease foreign sensibilities.
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The Board in Brief
For those unfamiliar, the Hogwarts Board of Governors is composed of twelve members, each representing a major magical family or holding a distinguished place in the wizarding world. They are:
1. Eira White (Head of the White family) — recently appointed, foreign-educated.
2. Eleanor Vance (Ravenclaw) — Retired Unspeakable, academic traditionalist.
3. Barnabas Quill (Hufflepuff) — Herbologist and student welfare advocate.
4. Cassandra Flint (Slytherin) — Matriarch, defender of pure-blood traditions.
5. Horace Diggle (Ravenclaw) — Historian, guardian of Hogwarts' customs.
6. Miriam Chang (Ravenclaw) — Magical law scholar, progressive reformer.
7. Percival Nott (Slytherin) — Ally of the Malfoys, Muggle-born skeptic.
8. Agatha Warrington (Gryffindor) — Quidditch official, sports advocate.
9. Fintan O'Flaherty (Hufflepuff) — Apothecary owner, practical education proponent.
10. Selene Vector (Ravenclaw) — Arithmancy expert, fiscal watchdog.
11. Augusta Longbottom (Gryffindor) — Longbottom family representative.
12. Orian Fawlay (Slytherin) — Influential voice, close Ministry ally.
Of these, only five sided with Miss White's objections. The rest, sensibly in this reporter's opinion, voted for the Minister's proposal.
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Anonymous "Concerns"
A parchment arrived at the Daily Prophet offices yesterday morning bearing no signature but a very distinctive style of handwriting. It claimed to be from a current Hogwarts professor:
"It is deeply concerning when those who have never lived in the castle presume to dictate its safety measures. Hogwarts is not a diplomatic salon. This is a school, and the children's security should come before any Governor's personal feelings about Ministry policy — or their desire to look virtuous in front of foreign allies."
Another owl-delivered note, unsigned but bearing the Pure blood family crest, which we won't reveal, was rather more blunt:
"Eira means well, but she's young. Too young. Her idealism blinds her to danger. Hogwarts needs realists."
And there, dear readers, is the heart of the matter. Idealism is charming in poetry and politics, but in governance it can be dangerous. Sirius Black is out there — somewhere — and every day without the proper protections in place is another day our children are exposed.
Miss White may believe that "constant fear" is harmful to students. But what, I ask, is more harmful than an unguarded gate when a killer comes calling?
Closing Thoughts 💭
No one doubts Miss White's intelligence, her poise, or the glittering promise of her future. But a Hogwarts Governor must be more than promising — they must be practical, loyal, and above all, committed to the safety of those under their care.
Until Miss White proves that her loyalties lie wholly with the British wizarding world — and not divided across the Channel — perhaps it would be wise to watch her decisions closely.
After all, as one Governor (who wisely requested anonymity) said after the meeting: "It's not treachery I suspect — but misplaced priorities can be just as dangerous."
And in times such as these, can Hogwarts afford such a risk?