Incident Report: Chimaera

Special Investigator Proudmore entered the Hospital Wing. He was greeted with a chorus of groaning children. With a sigh, he shook his head. He had never been good with kids, but the Ministry was understaffed at the moment and sadly, he'd drawn the short straw. Everyone knew what had happened. A Chimaera had gotten out of control, rampaging through Hogwarts. There were also rumours of a suited knight attacking, which meant the situation was sufficiently strange enough that The Ministry couldn't just leave the Hogwarts staff to deal with it. Thus, Proudmore found himself trudging through four feet of snow up to Hogwarts castle.

Forcing down a desire to just turn and leave, he headed into the Hospital Wing. By the looks of it, half of Hogwarts was currently waiting for treatment. He ignored the cries and groans and headed toward the opposite side of the room, where Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Professor Severus Snape and Matron Poppy Pomfrey were waiting.

"Headmaster, The Ministry thanks you for arranging to meet with me on such short notice." Proudmore managed to speak to the legendary man almost completely normally. It had been years since his Hogwarts days, but even so, the man inspired awe in all.

"Please, Mr. Proudmore. You're not a student anymore. Call me Albus." The man looked worn out, as if he'd gone through some serious exhaustion, but still, he spoke in the same kindly voice he always had.

"Alright... A-Albus, I'm here to conduct an investigation into the events that have occurred here on behalf of the Minister himself. By any chance, could I have access to a room that I can use for interviews, along with a Pensive? The Ministry is very interested in having a complete record of what has happened here." Proudmore had never been in love with The Ministry, especially when it was so blatantly obvious that they only wanted all the details in the hopes that they could exercise greater control over Hogwarts as a whole. Still, he had a job to do, and he wasn't looking for a reason to be fired.

"I fail to see why this is necessary. Simply expel Karasu and the rest, and be done with it, Headmaster." The foreboding voice of Severus Snape spoke. While Proudmore had finished his Hogwarts education before Snape's terrifying tenure had began, everyone had heard the horror stories of how he treated his students.

"Now, Severus. Everyone deserves a second chance, and I do not believe Miss Karasu needs to be expelled." Albus turned to placate Snape.

While the two had a silent argument, Proudmore turned to the last adult in the room, Madame Pomfrey. "Madame Pomfrey, could you tell me anything about the kind of injuries you've been treating recently?" She narrowed her eyes at him, and he smiled nervously.

"Proudmore." She said with venom in her voice. "As long as you can avoid sending anyone to me while you're here, I'll tell you."

He laughed, but there was some fear behind his voice. "M-Madame Pomfrey, that was a long time ago! I didn't mean to-"

She cut him off, turning away and beginning to list off injuries while she rummaged through cabinets for some more potions. "There's enough students here that I don't even know what's wrong with all of them. I still need to see to most of them. As a result, I am rather busy, so if you don't mind, I need to go treat my patients."

Without another word, she brushed past him, beginning to administer potions and some basic healing charms to various students. Clearly, she still harboured a grudge against him for that incident in his sixth year. Sighing, Proudmore turned back to Dumbledore and Snape, who appeared to have finished their discussions.

"Mr. Proudmore. It is my understanding that you need to conduct interviews. However, I believe everyone who could give you information is within this room. There is a small room just off of this corridor that should suffice for your needs. If you would like, I can begin sending students to you once they are able to leave the Hospital Wing." Dumbledore had clearly had time to think this out. Proudmore sighed, realising he was going to be stuck here for a while.

"Alright. I'll begin with..." He looked around the room, eventually settling on a student who was holding an ice pack to his arm. He pointed over to him. "Him." He began to leave the room, calling back to the headmaster as he did so. "Send him over as soon as you can, please."

Proudmore quickly found the room he was to use and began placing various privacy and recording charms, ensuring that every conversation would be both confidential and recorded. He conjured a table and two chairs, before dropping down into one of the chairs with a groan. "How the hell did I get roped into this..." He mumbled to himself, before sitting back up and focusing as a knock came on the door. He positioned a piece of parchment and directed the conversation to be recorded onto it. "Come in." He called out.



FOREWORD BY SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR MICHAEL PROUDMORE: An investigation into the incident that occurred at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on the 6th of December, 1986. On the date in question, a Class XXXXX Chimaera escaped from it's sanctuary within The Forbidden Forest and went on a rampage, destroying sections of Hogwarts Castle and injuring several students. Further investigation discovered that the beast may have been freed by the actions of a single student.



Included are the relevant interview logs and Pensive memory accounts regarding what is known as 'The Chimaera Incident'.



POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: ____ _____

Special Investigator (SI) Proudmore: Come in. Have a seat. I've got some questions to ask you, if you don't mind.

____ _____: Tch. Here to tell me I'm just as crazy as my brother? That all this was my fault?

SI Proudmore: No, No. Nothing of the sort. I simply want to gain a more complete understanding of the events that have transpired over the past day.

[____ _____ sits in the chair facing SI Proudmore. He crosses his arms and looks toward the wall.]

____ _____: I don't know what you want me to tell you. I don't know anything.

SI Proudmore: Relax, Kid. The Ministry won't care if you're breaking Hogwarts rules. It ain't a crime if you were out after curfew or whatever. Unless what you were doing is directly responsible for what happened here, you're in the clear. If you refuse to tell me anything, however...Well, I am cleared to find out what happened here by any means necessary.

[SI Proudmore reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small vial of VERITASIUM. He places it on the table.]

____ _____: Fine... If none of my friends are getting in trouble, I'll tell you what you want to know.

SI Proudmore: Good! So, from what we've heard, it's possible that a single student was responsible for the Chimaera's rampage. Can you recount for me what you were doing on that night?

____ _____: Well, I-

SI Proudmore: Ah, not through words. People lie, or distort the truth. For true accuracy, I'll need the memory.

[SI Proudmore points toward the corner of the room, where a Pensive (later identified as belonging to ALBUS DUMBLEDORE) stands.]

SI Proudmore: Please place your wand to your temple and think hard about the memory you want to show me. Then, pull your wand back and place the strand of memory into the bowl.

[____ _____ does as instructed. After the memory is in the bowl, he sits back down.]

SI Proudmore: Thank you. I might need to call you back in, but for now, you can leave.



PENSIVE LOG: ____ _____

Five figures, identified as ____ _____, Penny Haywood, Rowan Khanna, Tulip Karasu and Barnaby Lee can be seen in a dark hallway.

Tulip Karasu has a disagreement with ____ _____, which is resolved when Rowan Khanna steps between them.

The group continue to walk down the corridor, but Tulip Karasu lags further behind, until she is at the back of the group.

Tulip Karasu suddenly fires a spell, identified as an ALOHAMORA charm down the hallway.

A door at the south end of the hallway opens, and an individual suited in plated armor can be seen running toward the group.

Tulip Karasu, ____ _____, Barnaby Lee, Penny Haywood and Rowan Khanna proceed to run toward the northern end of the corridor.

Upon exiting the corridor, the group splits up in different directions.

____ _____ proceeds toward the west with Penny Haywood and Barnaby Lee accompanying him.

Rowan Khanna begins to move further down the eastern corridor.

Tulip Karasu pauses for a moment upon reaching the intersection. When the individual in plate armour (hereafter referred to as 'The Ice Knight') reaches her, she fires a spell, identified as INCENDIO, at it, before jumping back to avoid a swing of its sword. Tulip Karasu then departs through the western corridor.

The Ice Knight follows Tulip Karasu down the western corridor.



AUDIO LOG: ____ _____

Tulip Karasu: ____, what the hell is wrong with you? Was your brother this much of a pussy?

____ _____: What the hell did you say? Don't you dare talk about my brother!

Rowan Khanna: Guys, we're nearly out of here. If you two get into a fight, we might get caught!

____ _____: Fine. Let's get the hell out of here.

Tulip Karasu: Alohamora!

Barnaby Lee: Is that the-!

Penny Haywood: Later! Run!

____ _____: Shit! [He gestures at the corridors splitting off.] We need to split up!

Penny Haywood: Pick a direction and don't stop! [____, Penny and Barnaby depart through the western corridor.]

Rowan Khanna: [Inarticulate screaming] [Rowan Khanna departs through the eastern corridor.]

Tulip Karasu: Incendio! Whoa! Follow me, big guy! [Tulip departs through the western corridor.]


POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: Penny Haywood

Penny Haywood: Good evening, Sir. I was told you wanted to speak to me?

SI Proudmore: Don't call me Sir. And yes, please sit down. I have some questions about your role in the incident yesterday.

Penny Haywood: Of course.

SI Proudmore: I understand you were injured more severely than most. Are you sure you're alright to do this interview? If you want, I can reschedule you for later and let you go back to the Hospital Wing.

Penny Haywood: No, no. That's alright, I'm fine.

SI Proudmore: Alright, let's start with the big one...

SI Proudmore: Do you think Tulip Karasu acted irrationally and senselessly endangered the lives of everyone at Hogwarts?

Penny Haywood: Well, Sir, while I don't think she should have done it, I also don't think she thought she would get as far as she did.

SI Proudmore: Cut that Sir crap out, I ain't that old. So, you think her actions are...justifiable?

Penny Haywood: She wanted to cause chaos. I think she likes it like that.

SI Proudmore: But-

Penny Haywood: Of course, once she freed the Chimaera, I think things spiralled out of her control.

SI Proudmore: Wait, SHE freed the Chimaera?

Penny Haywood: Yes.

SI Proudmore: Right, well, I'll get to that part in a bit. For now, do you think you could show me what happened after you, ____ _____ and Barnaby Lee went down the western corridor?

Penny Haywood: Certainly...Sir.




EXCERPT FROM PENSIVE MEMORY: Penny Haywood

Penny Haywood, ____ _____ and Barnaby Lee are seen running down the western corridor on the third floor. After approximately six seconds, they come to a halt.

Penny Haywood speaks to ____ _____ but is cut short when Tulip Karasu runs past.

Barnarby Lee points down the corridor in the direction Tulip Karasu came from, and the three turn and begin to run again.

The Ice Knight's sword hits the ground where the three had been standing. It continues to give chase as Tulip Karasu, Penny Haywood, Barnaby Lee and ____ _____ reach a dead end.

____ _____ is seen pointing accusingly at Tulip Karasu.

Tulip Karasu responds before turning and punching the wall.

The wall shifts into an opening leading down.

____ _____, Tulip Karasu, Barnaby Lee and Penny Haywood all proceed into the opening.

The Ice Knight follows.



By this point, the staff had become aware that something had breached containment from one of the long-rumoured Cursed Vaults. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore advised students to head back to their common rooms, assuming that the castle would be safe. Of course, if he'd known what would happen, he might has said something different. - Special Investigator Michael Proudmore.



EXCERPT FROM POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: Rowan Khanna

SI Proudmore: So you went down the eastern corridor?

Rowan Khanna: I want to speak to my lawyer.

SI Proudmore: Kid, how many times do I need to repeat myself? You ain't in trouble. Hell, if anything, you're a victim.

Rowan Khanna: I'm not answering any of your questions without a lawyer present.

SI Proudmore: Oh for- Look, [SI Proudmore glances down at his notes.] Khanna, I just want to know what happened to you after you ran down the eastern corridor. It's necessary to build a complete sequence of events.

Rowan Khanna: I know my ri-

SI Proudmore: I'm authorized to use Veritasium if you're being uncooperative.

Rowan Khanna: Okay, so I ran down the eastern corridor, and-

SI Proudmore: [SI Proudmore points at the Pensive.] Into the bowl, kid.



PENSIVE LOG: Rowan Khanna
Rowan Khanna reaches the Grand Staircase leading down from the third floor. At a sprint, he proceeds down the staircase.

A group of other students are also present at the staircase. Rowan Khanna runs directly into them as he proceeds down the staircase, causing them to fall down the stairs.

Rowan Khanna proceeds to the ground floor and out of the castle's main doors. He freezes at the sight of the Chimaera, charging toward the castle.

The Chimaera is about to barge into Rowan Khanna when ____ _____ pulls him out of the way.

The Chimaera roars and forces its way into the entrance hall. Structural damage is done to the castle doors and some of the surrounding brickwork. On its back, Tulip Karasu can be seen.

Rowan Khanna and ____ _____ converse for approximately thirty seconds before running into the entrance hall.



AUDIO LOG: Rowan Khanna

Rowan Khanna: [Incoherent screams]

Hufflepuff Student: H-Hey, what's that noise?

Rowan Khanna: OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD IT'S COMING IT'S GONNA KILL ME I DON'T WANNA DIE FUCK FUCK FUCK RUN RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

Ravenclaw Student: Hey, are you ok-Oof! [Rowan Khanna barges into the students, knocking them down the stairs.]

Gryffindor Student: Ah! My arm! I think it's broken! H-Hey, you're bleeding!

Rowan Khanna: RUN FOR IT! [Rowan Khanna reaches the ground floor and runs out the castle doors.]

Rowan Khanna: WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!

____ _____: Rowan, get the hell out of the way! [____ _____ tackles Rowan Khanna to the ground, knocking him out of the path of the Chimaera.]

Tulip Karasu: WHOOOOOO! GIDDY UP, BOY! [The Chimaera roars and charges through the open doors into the entrance hall.]

____ _____: Shit. Rowan, we've gotta stop that thing.

Rowan Khanna: THAT'S A FUCKING Chimaera! WHY THE HELL IS THERE A Chimaera LOOSE? AND WHY THE HELL IS Tulip RIDING IT?!

____ _____: ROWAN! Calm down and listen to me. Barnaby and Penny are injured back there. [____ _____ points in the direction of the Care of Magical Creatures paddock.] Kettleburn is with them, so we need to do something about Tulip.

Rowan Khanna: I thought this was supposed to be an easy adventure! [Rowan Khanna and ____ _____ run back into the entrance hall.]



At this point, things had gotten out of control. Already, several students were injured, the Ice Knight had disappeared in the chaos, and an extremely dangerous magical creature had gotten loose inside the castle. At this time of day, students were finishing off their dinner and simply milling about, increasing the risk of casualties. Were it not for the actions of several students and teachers, it is likely that we would be facing more than just injuries. - Headmaster Dumbledore



EXCERPT FROM POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: ARGUS FILCH

SI Proudmore: Do you think that the students involved in this incident should be punished?

Argus Filch: Oh yes, most certainly. Hang them up by their thumbs in the dungeons, just like the old days.

SI Proudmore: You don't think that's a bit excessi-

Argus Filch: I still keep the chains nice and oiled, just in case the headmaster sees reason and brings back capital punishment.

SI Proudmore: Mr. Filch, I don't thi-

Argus Filch: I'd hang that Haywood girl up by her stupid braids, see how long she can go without crying.

SI Proudmore: I think I've heard enough from yo-

Argus Filch: I'll tie that _____ boy up and set Mrs Norris on him, she still wants revenge for what he did to her!

SI Proudmore: ...

Argus Filch: Yes, I often spend time thinking about how I'd punish those filthy brats...

SI Proudmore: Alright, I think this interview is over.

Argus Filch: Interview? You mean, this is being recorded?

SI Proudmore: Yes, it is.

Argus Filch: ...Well, good. Maybe someone at The Ministry will see reason.

SI Proudmore: Somehow, I doubt that.



PENSIVE LOG: Barnaby Lee

Four figures, identified as Tulip Karasu, ____ _____, Barnaby Lee and Penny Haywood proceed through the secret passage.

The Ice Knight follows, with its sword raised.

Tulip Karasu has a verbal exchange with ____ _____, Barnaby Lee and Penny Haywood.

Barnaby Lee turns and kicks open a door, running through with the others.

The group is seen arriving on the first floor. Tulip Karasu points toward a disused classroom, before running inside. ____ _____, Penny Haywood and Barnaby Lee follow.

Approximately five seconds later, The Ice Knight enters the room.

Tulip Karasu laughs, before pointing her wand at the classroom wall and casting a spell, identified as BOMBARDA. Severe structural damage is done, resulting in a large hole in the classroom wall. Outside, the castle grounds can be seen.

As The Ice Knight enters the room, Tulip Karasu can be seen casting another spell at the ground below the hole in the wall. This spell is identified as a cushioning charm. Tulip Karasu speaks to ____ _____, Barnaby Lee and Penny Haywood, before all four jump through the hole.

The Ice Knight swings its sword but misses as the four jump. It stands still for approximately three seconds, before walking off the ledge through the hole in the wall.



AUDIO LOG: Barnaby Lee

Penny Haywood: I-It's still chasing us!

____ _____: Keep running! This passage has gotta come out somewhere!

Tulip Karasu: Hey, there's a door over there!

____ _____: Barnaby, get that door open! We've gotta get out of here!

Barnaby Lee: Got it! [Barnaby Lee kicks the door open.]

Tulip Karasu: In that classroom!

Penny Haywood: Th-There's no way out of here!

Tulip Karasu: Ahahaha! Yes, there is! Bombarda! [A large portion of the northern wall is blown away.]

____ _____: What?! Tulip, are you insane?!

Barnaby Lee: It's here! [The Ice Knight enters the room.]

____ _____: Tulip, what the hell are you doing?!

Tulip Karasu: Moliare!

Tulip Karasu: If you don't want to get sliced and diced, you'd better jump with me now!

Penny Haywood: Wh-What? Tulip, we're not on the ground floor!

Tulip Karasu: It's a cushioning charm, now come on!

____ _____: Damnit, we've got no choice! Barnaby, Penny, get over here. We'll jump together.

Barnaby Lee: Hey, maybe the Ice Knight just wants help. We should try talking to i-

____ _____: NOT NOW, Barnaby!

Penny Haywood: Ah!

____ _____: JUMP! [Tulip Karasu, ____ _____, Penny Haywood and Barnaby Lee jump from the classroom.]



EXCERPT FROM POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: ____ _____

SI Proudmore: Thank you for coming back. I've got some follow-up questions, now that I've seen some of your friend's accounts.

____ _____: ...Right.

SI Proudmore: So, I know that you were coming back from searching for one of the rumoured Cursed Vaults, and your friend Tulip Karasu freed what is being referred to as an Ice Knight. That about right?

____ _____: Sounds like it.

SI Proudmore: So, could you tell me...where exactly the Ice Knight came from? I don't need a pensive memory for this one, since in the grand scheme of things, it's not THAT important.

____ _____: It was guarding the vault. There was nothing inside...just more questions. We couldn't defeat it, so we managed to pin it down and lock the door behind us as we left.

SI Proudmore: Right, right. And then your friend Karasu unlocked the door.

____ _____: ...Yeah.

SI Proudmore: Alright. Let's move a bit further up in the timeline. So, you and those other three end up jumping out of a classroom on the first floor. Karasu did some heavy damage to that wall, you know.

____ _____: I know, but she did it so we could get out of the classroom.

SI Proudmore: Is that so? Well, whatever. I'll find out at some point. Tell me, after you jumped, what happened?

____ _____: Penny...got injured.



PENSIVE MEMORY: ____ _____

Memory starts immediately after Tulip Karasu, ____ _____, Penny Haywood and Barnaby Lee jump from the first floor. Upon landing, the ground sinks, allowing them to land unharmed.

Tulip Karasu has a verbal exchange with ____ _____, Penny Haywood and Barnaby Lee.

Approximately five seconds later, the Ice Knight lands on the ground. It stands and swings its sword vertically.

Tulip Karasu, Barnaby Lee and ____ _____ jump back.

The sword cuts a large gash across Penny Haywood's left leg. Penny Haywood falls to the ground.

Barnaby Lee pulls her away from the knight, which raises its sword again.

____ _____ and Barnaby Lee each support Penny, pulling her to her feet.

Tulip Karasu raises her wand and fires a spell, identified as DEPULSO at the Ice Knight. It is knocked to the ground.

Tulip Karasu has a verbal exchange with ____ _____ and Barnaby Lee, before pointing in the direction of the Care of Magical Creatures paddock.

The Ice Knight stands back up. Tulip Karasu fires another spell, identified as INCENDIO at it.

Tulip Karasu, ____ _____, Barnaby Lee and Penny Haywood depart in the direction of the Care of Magical Creatures paddock.

The Ice Knight gives chase.



EXCERPT FROM AUDIO LOG: ____ _____

____ _____: P-Penny! Fuck!

Barnaby Lee: I've got her! Here, help me get her up.

Tulip Karasu: Depulso!

____ _____: Penny! Are you okay?!

Penny Haywood: ...Hurts...

____ _____: Fuck! Tulip, this is your damn fault!

Barnaby Lee: We need to get her out of here!

Tulip Karasu: Hey, Care is over there! [Tulip Karasu points toward the south.] Kettleburn's probably still there. I heard they were doing something nocturnal today. [The Ice Knight stands up.]

Tulip Karasu: Incendio! We'd better get moving before it cuts us apart too! [Tulip Karasu begins to depart toward the Care of Magical Creatures paddock.]

____ _____: Damnit, Tulip!

____ _____: C'mon, Barnaby. We need to get Penny somewhere safe. Hopefully Kettleburn can protect us.

Penny Haywood: R-Really...hurts... [____ _____, Barnaby Lee and Penny Haywood follow Tulip Karasu.]



By now, we had an injured student on our hands, an Ice Knight chasing more students down, a blown up wall and another student screaming about how everyone was going to die running through the castle. And this was before things really got bad. -Minerva Mcgonagall



POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: Silvanus Kettleburn

SI Proudmore: Good Evening, Professor Kettleburn.

Silvanus Kettleburn: Evening! I hear you have some questions for me?

SI Proudmore: Yes, I need some information regarding the incident that occurred yesterday.

Silvanus Kettleburn: Of course, of course! I'd be happy to- [Silvanus Kettleburn reaches into his pocket and brings out a small creature, identified as a BOWTRUCKLE.]

Silvanus Kettleburn: How did that get in there?

SI Proudmore: Professor Kettleburn? Do you need a moment? [Silvanus Kettleburn places the creature back in his pocket, closing it.]

Silvanus Kettleburn: No, no. It'll be fine. You spend long enough in this field and you eventually figure out what is and isn't dangerous! [Silvanus Kettleburn laughs, raising his prosthetic arm.]

SI Proudmore: Right...So, anyway, I need some information about what you were doing in the time up to and including when Tulip Karasu arrived at the paddock with ____ _____ and Barnaby Lee, who were supporting a wounded Penny Haywood. Specifically, I'm looking for information on how exactly the Chimaera was released.

Silvanus Kettleburn: Ah, yes. Those four. How is miss Haywood, anyway?

SI Proudmore: I spoke to her earlier. She seems to have recovered just fine.

Silvanus Kettleburn: Good, good. I've gotten over sixty probations, but I think if Miss Haywood hadn't recovered, I would have been fired.

SI Proudmore: Sixty...probations? Never mind, not important. Please, if you wouldn't mind. [SI Proudmore motions toward the PENSIVE.]



PENSIVE LOG: Silvanus Kettleburn

Silvanus Kettleburn is seen in the Care of Magical Creatures Paddock. The Chimaera can be seen in a large containment field, held with multiple large poles extending a magical barrier around the creature.

Tulip Karasu, ____ _____ and Barnaby Lee enter. ____ _____ and Barnaby Lee are carrying Penny Haywood.

Tulip Karasu has a verbal exchange with Silvanus Kettleburn.

____ _____ and Barnaby Lee place Penny Haywood in a sitting position on the ground, next to Silvanus Kettleburn.

Silvanus Kettleburn prepares to cast a spell on Penny Haywood. [Post-Incident interview revealed this spell to be EPISKY.]

The Ice Knight enters the paddock. It swings its sword horizontally.

Barnaby Lee's right arm is caught by the sword. He is knocked to the ground by the force.

The Ice Knight raises its sword in the direction of ____ _____.

Tulip Karasu fires a spell at the Ice Knight. It is identified as FLIPENDO. The Ice Knight stumbles, before turning to face Tulip Karasu.

Tulip Karasu jumps back to avoid the Ice Knight's sword. The Ice Knight begins to advance toward her, forcing her to move further back.

Tulip Karasu stands with her back to one of the magical markers holding the Chimaera's containment barrier.

The Ice Knight swings its sword. Tulip Karasu dives to the side.

The Ice Knight's sword embeds itself in one of the poles sustaining the magical barrier. Cracks begin to appear in the pole and the barrier.

Containment field of Class XXXXX Chimaera breached.



EXCERPT FROM POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: Silvanus Kettleburn

SI Proudmore: Why didn't you try to stop the knight from hitting the pole?

Silvanus Kettleburn: Preoccupied, I'm afraid.

SI Proudmore: What do you mean?

Silvanus Kettleburn: While I doubt any of the kids realized, Miss Haywood's femoral artery had been severed. If I hadn't been in the paddock at that time, it's likely she would have died. [Silvanus Kettleburn motions to his missing limbs.] When you've been through as many life-threatening injuries as I have, you have to learn some healing magic. Tools of the trade, you see.



EXCERPT FROM POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: Merula Snyde

Merula Snyde: Karasu betrayed me, in our second year. She spent those first two years getting close to me so she could screw me over.

SI Proudmore: So, you think her actions here should have been expected?

Merula Snyde: I told that idiot, _____. I told him not to trust her because it wouldn't be long before she stabbed him in the back too. Looks like I was right.

SI Proudmore: Would you say you knew Tulip Karasu well, then?

Merula Snyde: Well enough to tell you that your assumptions are probably wrong.

SI Proudmore: What do you mean by that?

Merula Snyde: Let me make a guess. I'll be right, since I'm the smartest witch here.

SI Proudmore: You're the only witch he-

Merula Snyde: You think this was all a set of unfortunate coincidences that resulted in the Chimaera being freed, don't you?

SI Proudmore: Are you saying that it wasn't?

Merula Synde:I was...close...to Karasu for those two years. I learnt how she thinks.

SI Proudmore: Get to the point.

Merula Synde: The best way to describe Tulip Karasu is that she's a wild card. You can't predict what she'll do.

SI Proudmore: So?

Merula Synde: But...that doesn't mean that she does things randomly. It might all seem unplanned and unfocused, but trust me, she knew exactly what she was doing.

SI Proudmore: ...So...you think she...?

Merula Synde: That she planned out every movement she made. She made it look like everything she did was simply because she had no other choice, but in reality, she was simply working toward her ultimate goal.

SI Proudmore: And her goal was?

Merula Snyde: To ride the Chimaera, obviously.



EXCERPT FROM POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: __________ Tonks

__________ Tonks: HOW THE HELL AM I MEANT TO TOP THAT?!



AUDIO LOG: ____ _____

____ _____: Professor! We need help!

Silvanus Kettleburn: Hmm? What are you three doing out at this hour?

Barnaby Lee: She's hurt. [____ _____ and Barnaby Lee place Penny Haywood on the ground.]

Silvanus Kettleburn: Epis- [The Ice Knight enters the clearing.]

Barnaby Lee: Gah!

____ _____: Sh-Shit!

Tulip Karasu: Flipendo!

Tulip Karasu: C'mon, over here, you friggin' troll.

Tulip Karasu: Whoa! [Tulip Karasu jumps back to avoid the Ice Knight's sword.]

____ _____: Tulip, what the hell are you doing?!

____ _____: Sir, we need to stop that knight!

Silvanus Kettleburn: Busy. [Silvanus Kettleburn continues to cast spells on Penny Haywood's leg.]

____ _____: Barnaby, can you fight?

Barnaby Lee: Think...I can see bone...

Tulip Karasu: Swing the damn sword, fucker!

Tulip Karasu: Yes! [Tulip Karasu dives to the left as the Ice Knight's sword impacts with the pole.]

____ _____: What the hell is that? I-Is that...cracking?

Silvanus Kettleburn: That's not good! ____, get back over here! Cast a shield!

____ _____: B-But, Tu-

Silvanus Kettleburn: Now!



Once the Chimaera was freed, things went from bad to worse. The Ice Knight was bad enough, but at least that's just a single humanoid target. The Chimaera is a big, dangerous beast. They kill humans without a thought. The only reason it was here in the first place was because only Hogwarts had the means to secure it until permanent relocation could happen. Nothing should have been able to break through that barrier. -Silvanus Kettleburn



POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: ____ _____

SI Proudmore: She freed it?

____ _____: It was an accident!

SI Proudmore: Kid, your own memories seem to say that she did it on purpose.

____ _____: But why would she do that?

SI Proudmore: That's what I'm here to find out.

SI Proudmore: Moving on, we're almost back to the start. I've seen how you met your friend, Khanna, back at the castle entrance. Can you recount for me how you got from the paddock to the courtyard?

____ _____: You don't want the memory?

SI Proudmore: Ehh, it don't matter too much. Can't imagine you did much between those two points.

____ _____: Yeah...I suppose.



RECOUNT OF EVENTS: ____ _____

____ _____:The shield broke, and the Chimaera shot out of the enclosure. I-It...it ripped the Ice Knight apart. It didn't stand a chance. Tulip managed to avoid that first charge, since she'd dived out of the way when the knight swung its sword.

SI Proudmore: And you were with Kettleburn, Lee and Haywood?

____ _____: Yeah. Professor Kettleburn told me to put a shield up, I guess in case the Chimaera attacked us.

SI Proudmore: What did Tulip Karasu do then?

____ _____:I couldn't see her while the Chimaera was busy with the knight, but after it threw the pieces away, I saw her. She...was on the Chimaera's back.

SI Proudmore: I imagine the Chimaera didn't take kindly to that.

____ _____: No...it didn't. The snake part, the tail, it tried to hit her off its back.

SI Proudmore: Did it succeed?

____ _____: I think it hit her in the arm, but it didn't knock her off. She managed to grab the snake part and stuck it to the Chimaera's back.

SI Proudmore: She...stuck the body parts together? And it hit her? Those tails are poisonous, how the hell didn't she...?

____ _____: I think she conjured some rope or something, because when the Chimaera began running off, she was holding onto something, so she didn't fall off.

SI Proudmore: And you followed her.

____ _____: Professor Kettleburn said that we needed to stop the Chimaera, and he was busy with Penny and Barnaby. I couldn't just leave Tulip.

SI Proudmore: So, you chased her back to the courtyard?

____ _____: She couldn't get into the courtyard at first, so I managed to get there ahead of her.

SI Proudmore: Good thing, too. Probably saved your friend's life. So, how did she eventually get into the courtyard?

____ _____: She blew up the surrounding wall to make enough space for her, uh, ride.

SI Proudmore: Of course, she did. And then you pulled Rowan Khanna out the way, the Chimaera got into the castle, and the two of you chased after her.

____ _____: Yeah, that's about right.



POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: Merula Snyde

SI Proudmore: When did you become involved in the incident?

Merula Snyde: Probably around the point that a Chimaera almost ran into me in the Entrance Hall.

SI Proudmore: And why didn't you just run?

Merula Snyde: I'm the greatest witch in Hogwarts. Not to mention, if that idiot _____ is involved, I can't let him take all the credit.

SI Proudmore: You risked life and limb to help stop a Chimaera...just to stop someone else from taking full credit?

Merula Snyde: I'll do whatever it takes to prove I'm the strongest. That was nothing.

SI Proudmore: The fact that your entire arm is covered in bandages implies it was more than nothing.

Merula Snyde: It's. Nothing.

SI Proudmore: Right, right. Whatever you say. Show me, then. Everything that happened from when you encountered the Chimaera, if you please.



EXCERPT FROM PENSIVE MEMORY: Merula Snyde

Merula Snyde can be seen leaving the Great Hall.

Class XXXXX Chimaera smashes through the castle doors. Tulip Karasu can be seen on its back. ____ _____ and Rowan Khanna enter the Entrance Hall.

Merula Snyde stumbles back, falling to the floor. Class XXXXX Chimaera raises a claw to attack.

____ _____ raises his wand, firing a spell identified as ACCIO. Merula Snyde slides across the floor. ____ _____ pulls Merula Snyde to her feet.

Class XXXXX Chimaera roars and attempts to run into the Great Hall. It is unable to penetrate due to the ward Albus Dumbledore placed on the entrance.

Tulip Karasu pulls on the makeshift reins attached to the Class XXXXX Chimaera. It turns and runs up the stairs into the Grand Staircase.

____ _____ has a verbal exchange with Merula Snyde while Rowan Khanna examines the Great Hall.



AUDIO LOG: Merula Snyde

Merula Snyde: ...Hundred words more for Snape... [Class XXXXX Chimaera arrives in Entrance Hall.]

Merula Snyde: ...What?

Merula Snyde: AAH! [Merula Snyde falls to the ground. Class XXXXX Chimaera raises its claw.]

____ _____: ACCIO MERULA SNYDE!

Rowan Khanna: Look, Dumbledore sealed the Great Hall! The Chimaera can't get in!

Rowan Khanna: Wait, that means we're stuck out here with it too...

Merula Snyde: Wh-What?! _____, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!

____ _____, Me?! I didn't do anything!

Merula Snyde: ONLY SOMEONE WITH LUCK AS BAD AS YOURS COULD ALMOST GET ME KILLED BY A CHIM-

Tulip Karasu: YEEEEEEHAAAAAAWWWWWW!

Merula Snyde: IS THAT FUCKING- [Tulip Karasu steers Class XXXXX Chimaera into the Grand Staircase.]

Merula Snyde: WHAT THE FUCK IS KARASU DOING RIDING A CHIMAERA?!

Rowan Khanna: ____, if we don't do something, it'll destroy half of Hogwarts!

____ _____: Damnit, I know! Merula, we need you-

Merula Snyde: Oh no! No, no, no, NO! I am NOT running off with you two idiots to fight a CHIMAERA!

____ _____: Well, I guess you'll just have to congratulate us when we save the school.

Merula Snyde: Buuuut, on the other hand, I don't think I could stomach it if you two got all the praise.

Rowan Khanna: Hey, there's no one in the Great Hall!

____ _____: That's...bad. Shit, does that mean they're all in the corridors? Who knows how many have been injured by now! [Class XXXXX Chimaera can be heard roaring from the Grand Staircase.]

____ _____: C'mon, let's get moving before it throws Tulip off and seriously hurts her. [____ _____, Merula Snyde and Rowan Khanna run toward the Grand Staircase.]



POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: Tulip Karasu

SI Proudmore: Why?

Tulip Karasu: ...

SI Proudmore: I asked you a question. Answer it. If you don't...I might have to get...insistent.

Tulip Karasu: Why not?

SI Proudmore: What?

Tulip Karasu: Who needs a reason?

SI Proudmore: You caused a huge amount of destruction to the school and injured a large number of students, including yourself AND those you call your friends...for no reason?

Tulip Karasu: No, that's not what I said.

SI Proudmore: You just say that you don't need a reason!

Tulip Karasu: I asked who needs a reason. I never said that I didn't have one.

SI Proudmore: So...what was your reason then?

Tulip Karasu: You tell me. You've been going through all our memories, right?

SI Proudmore: I haven't finished yet.

Tulip Karasu: Really? Who's left, then?

SI Proudmore: You.



PENSIVE LOG: Tulip Karasu

Tulip Karasu is holding onto makeshift reins atop the Class XXXXX Chimaera. It is currently running up the staircases of the Grand Staircase. ____ _____, Merula Snyde and Rowan Khanna can be seen on the ground floor landing.

Several students are injured as Class XXXXX Chimaera charges into them. Tulip Karasu continues to pull on the reins, which apparently stops Class XXXXX Chimaera from directly attacking anyone.

Class XXXXX Chimaera begins to head toward the third-floor landing. Tulip Karasu yells and tugs hard on the reins, forcing the Class XXXXX Chimaera to turn, heading into the third-floor corridor.

____ _____, Merula Snyde and Rowan Khanna pursue approximately twenty seconds later.



EXCERPT FROM POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: ____ _____

____ _____: It was terrifying.

SI Proudmore: I can imagine. Did you know that there's only one person in the world who's ever killed a fully-grown Chimaera?

____ _____: What?! Seriously? They're that powerful?!

SI Proudmore: Yes. The man who killed it died from exhaustion afterward, though.

____ _____: O-Oh...



PENSIVE LOG: Tulip Karasu

Class XXXXX Chimaera enters the third-floor corridor. Tulip Karasu is present on its back.

Class XXXXX Chimaera charges down the corridor, before roaring and slamming itself into a wall. Tulip Karasu incurs several wounds as a result of debris and force from the impact.

Class XXXXX Chimaera begins charging down the corridor again. Tulip Karasu is now holding on with only one hand. Her left arm dangles, apparently damaged beyond use.

Albus Dumbledore, Minerva Mcgonagall and Severus Snape can be seen at the end of the corridor. They are investigating the area that ____ _____, Tulip Karasu, Penny Haywood, Rowan Khanna, Barnaby Lee and the Ice Knight exited from at the beginning of the incident.

Albus Dumbledore looks up and raises his wand. He casts a spell identified as ARRESTO MOMENTUM. Class XXXXX Chimaera is forced to a halt.

Tulip Karasu releases the makeshift rein and falls to the ground, unconscious.



EXCERPT FROM POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: ____ _____

SI Proudmore: So Tulip Karasu was knocked out at this point.

____ _____: Yeah... I don't know what happened.

SI Proudmore: From what I've seen, a combination of the snake's poison finally affecting her and her getting slammed into the wall like that.

____ _____: I-Is she alright?!

SI Proudmore: Relax, Kid. I spoke to her already. She seems to be healing up just fine.

____ _____: Oh...Thank God.

SI Proudmore: Well, since she got knocked out, I'll need your memory to finish this off.

____ _____: Right...



PENSIVE LOG: ____ _____

____ _____, Merula Snyde and Rowan Khanna reach the corridor. After a verbal exchange with the professors, Rowan Khanna summons Tulip Karasu and pulls her body away from Class XXXXX Chimaera.

Merula Snyde and ____ _____ fire spells, identified as DEPULSO, at Class XXXXX Chimaera. It roars and turns to face them.

Class XXXXX Chimaera swipes a claw at ____ _____ and Merula Snyde. ____ _____ rolls out of the way. Merula Snyde does not. Merula Snyde's right sleeve is torn away, along with the majority of skin and muscle of her right arm.

Merula Snyde falls to the floor, screaming.

Minerva Mcgonagall and Severus Snape cast spells identified as INCENDIO. Class XXXXX Chimaera roars and charges toward them.

____ _____ begins to move toward the professors. Albus Dumbledore speaks to ____ _____.

____ _____ returns to Merula Snyde, who is screaming in pain. ____ _____ casts a spell identified as STUPEFY, rendering Merula Snyde unconscious.

Albus Dumbledore, Minerva Mcgonagall and Severus Snape all cast STUPEFY at the same time. Class XXXXX Chimaera is unaffected.

Action is repeated, however Albus Dumbledore appears to stumble after casting. Class XXXXX Chimaera collapses.

Albus Dumbledore speaks to ____ _____. Albus Dumbledore levitates the unconscious body of Merula Snyde and heads toward the Hospital Wing.



AUDIO LOG: ____ _____

____ _____: Professors!

Severus Snape: _____! Get out of here, you fool!

Albus Dumbledore: Mr. Khanna, would you kindly take your friend, Miss Karasu, to the Hospital Wing?

Rowan Khanna: R-Right!

Rowan Khanna: Accio Tulip Karasu!

____ _____: W-We can't just leave you here!

Minerva Mcgonagall: Mr. _____, it's our duty as professors of Hogwarts to protect the students of this school.

____ _____: We can help! Please!

Merula Snyde: _____!

____ _____: Right!

Merula Snyde: Depulso!

____ _____: Depulso! [Class XXXXX Chimaera turns to face Merula Snyde and ____ _____.]

____ _____: Sh-Shit! Dodge! [____ _____ rolls out of the way of an attack.]

____ _____: Merula!

Merula Snyde: A-Ah! [Merula Snyde raises her right arm.]

Merula Snyde: AAAAAHHHHHHHH!

Minerva Mcgonagall: Incendio!

Severus Snape: Incendio!

____ _____: Profess-

Albus Dumbledore: Please, Mr. _____. Help your friend. It is our responsibility to take care of this.

____ _____: M-Merula?

Merula Snyde: It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts.

____ _____: Shit, shit, shit. I can't heal this.

____ _____: Merula, I'm gonna knock you out, okay?

Merula Synde: DO SOMETHING YOU IDIOT!

____ _____: Stupefy!

[Albus Dumbledore, Minerva Mcgonagall and Severus Snape successfully incapacitate Class XXXXX Chimaera.]

Albus Dumbledore: Facing something like a Chimaera is not easily done, Mr. _____. [Albus Dumbledore levitates Merula Snyde's body.]

Albus Dumbledore: It is time you and your friends got some much needed rest. [Group departs for the hospital wing.]



POST-INCIDENT INTERVIEW: ____ _____

SI Proudmore: So, that's the whole incident.

SI Proudmore: You did a pretty good job out there, kid.

____ _____: But I let them get injured! Penny, Barnaby...Merula...

SI Proudmore: But they're fine, now. An injury is a hell of a lot better than the alternative, let me tell you.

____ _____: Y-Yeah...

SI Proudmore: Well, that's everything I need from you. The Ministry and I thank you for your cooperation.



"So..." Tulip Karasu said, clearly expecting him to answer. "What do you think?"

Proudmore crossed his arms and regarded the girl in front of him. After reviewing everyone's memories of the incident from start to finish, he still wasn't sure what to think. Her actions were so strange, simply without rhyme or reason. Even knowing that her end goal had been to ride the Chimaera, it just didn't make sense. Did she simply not care? Even though her actions had injured so many?

"Tell me..." He said tentatively. "If you had a choice between sneaking across a bridge or fighting the troll underneath, what would you do?"

Tulip made a movement as if to raise a hand to her head but winced and gave up. Her arm had been mostly repaired, but clearly there was still some lingering pain. "Whichever one is more fun, probably."

Proudmore thought about her answer. He thought about why she had gone through as much trouble as she had. And suddenly, it dawned on him. "Fun..."

Tulip leaned forward in her chair. "Oh?"

"Your reason..." He placed his hands on the table. "That was it, wasn't it? You just wanted to do something fun, no matter how many people it hurt!"

She didn't respond. She simply smiled. It was almost haunting.

"We're done here." Proudmore scowled as she left the room. He deactived the various recording charms he'd used to record the interviews and stood, gathering his materials. Her smile lingered in his mind. It had been almost...predatory. "Freaking psychopath..." He muttered to himself, leaving the room.

He headed back to the hospital wing. The number of patients had begun to wind down, and both Dumbledore and Mcgonagall had left. Proudmore sighed, before heading to Severus Snape, who gave off the distinct vibe that he would rather be anywhere else.

"Finished?" Snape asked in a tone that told him that he would be greatly displeased if the answer was no.

"Yes, I'm all done." Proudmore certainly understood all the horror stories he had heard about Snape. Just standing and talking to the main was unnerving. "I'll take these to the Ministry." He waved his stack of interviews and logs around in his hand. "They'll probably look through them to see if they can use them to kick Dumbledore out of Hogwarts, or at least put him under greater control." Snape's eyebrows arched. "They won't find anything, though. They'll probably just cast them into the bottom of a drawer and forget about them after that."

"I see." Snape turned, beginning to walk out of the hospital wing. "The Headmaster asked me to wait for you, and I've done that. Good evening, Mr. Proudmore."

Proudmore said his goodbyes to Madame Pomfrey, who glared at him. Then he left Hogwarts once more, to head back to the Ministry. He filed his papers and submitted his reports, before retiring back to his small apartment. His mind continued to linger on Tulip Karasu's smile. He'd seen smiles like that before. A smile devoid of any genuine warmth, carefully calculated to give off the exact impression it needed to. Usually, those smiles were done by individuals who had absolute belief that no one mattered but themselves.

Psychopath might have been the right term after all.