CROUCH JNR COMPLICATES MINISTRY ANTI-CORRUPTION PUSH

In a stunning revelation that sent shockwaves through the wizarding community, Bartemius Crouch Jnr., son of the Ministry’s head of Magical Law Department, was apprehended last night in the company of none other than Bellatrix Lestrange and the infamous Lestrange brothers.

Insiders now speculate that the Lestranges orchestrated the shocking attack on former Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom two years ago. The appearance of the Dark Mark at the scene of the crime reignited fears that had lain dormant since the mysterious downfall of You-Know-Who.

While worries of a repeat performance were never realized, only now that the perpetrators are captured can the wizarding world be assured of the peace long denied.

The Lestranges, no strangers to Death Eater associations, previously faced the Wizengamot in the aftermath of You-Know-Who's disappearance. Astonishingly, they emerged from the trial with nothing more than a mere slap on the wrist. But the Crouch family has maintained a name unsullied by associations with the Dark Arts–until now.

Crouch Jnr. a seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at the time of the attacks, faces mounting challenges to his alibi during the Longbottom tragedy. Despite claiming to be at Hogwarts during the Christmas holiday, eyewitness accounts and sources from the school suggest otherwise. It is reported that Crouch Jnr. departed for Hogsmeade Station alongside his peers and only returned after the holiday recess concluded.

The prolonged evasion of authorities by Crouch Jnr. has ignited widespread speculation, with anonymous Ministry sources hinting at a potential cover-up. "His father was turning a blind eye, he was," asserts one insider. "Everyone knows old Barty believes he and his family are above the law."

The intricate web of deceit is slowly unraveling, leaving the Ministry in disarray and casting doubt on the efficacy of its purported anti-corruption measures.

The timing of Head of Magical Law Department Bartemius Crouch's vocal support for the proposed anti-corruption bill now raises eyebrows. Is it a genuine effort to cleanse the Ministry, or does it serve as a smokescreen for more sinister motives? Uncover the details on page 5.