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A voiceover begins with stock footage of a castle in the northern Highlands. “ Not many people knew what Hogwarts was until a few months ago. But those who did held it in high esteem. Located deep within the Scottish Highlands, the exclusive and elusive boarding school is in a castle far removed from outside influences. The nearest village, Hogsmeade, is a good half hour away on foot.”
The distinguished school taught some of the brightest and most influential people you’ve never heard of. Prince Charles and our current PM may have met as young boys at Eton, but the people who actually run the economy and government of the UK were taught here. Hogwarts is where the private elite send their children to be educated, and the name rarely escapes from these circles, unless of course, you are one of the chosen few outsiders that are granted a seat.
Scene cuts to a young teenage girl with bushy brown hair, wearing a pink jumper. The name Hermione Granger flashes at the bottom of the screen.
“I first heard of Hogwarts when I was ten. I took a placement exam to be accepted into my local grammar school. A few months after I received my results, a letter arrived in the mail from the school. They were impressed by my scores and offered me a position.
“I never heard of the school, and neither did my parents. They assumed it was spam, and told me to ignore it. A few weeks after that, another letter arrived, along with an offer to attend an accepted students dinner where we could meet some of the staff and alumni, along with other prospective students. My parents tentatively agreed to go, and they were surprised to see our local House of Lords member in attendance.”
The voiceover continues. “Hogwarts was founded in 1012, almost 1000 years ago. Although it was originally open only to young men in the uppermost crust of society, its numbers gradually grew over the centuries. Girls were first allowed to attend in the 1750s, albeit in a different area on campus. According to school records, this building was located where the greenhouses on campus currently stand today. And pupils began being accepted for their intelligence instead of who their relations were in the 1850s. Originally, these “muggleborns”, a term for those born without a legacy status at the school, were handpicked by alumni from the wisest children in their towns. With the advent of placement tests for grammar schools, however, that became the preferred method for finding new students.
“The school, which stood for almost a millennium with no scandals, is now shuttered due to an ongoing governmental investigation. But what could have possibly led to its closure? Come with us as we take a deep dive into the tragic event that ended the 1991-92 school year, leading to the school’s closure, multiple arrests, and inquiries about corruption in education in both houses of Parliament.
“I’m Rita Skeeter, and you’re watching Crimewatch.”
Intro music plays.
A slight woman with blonde hair in an elaborate updo stands in front of a castle. “Hello, I’m your host, Rita Skeeter, and welcome to tonight’s episode. I’m here at Hogwarts School, where tragedy struck one night in June 1991. Come with me as we explore both the grounds, and the disturbing events that led to Harry Potter’s death.”
Rita turns around and begins walking towards the entrance as her voiceover begins. “ Harry James Potter was born July 31st, 1980 to James and Lily Potter in Godric’s Hollow. They were a happy family, by all accounts. Despite being a Lord, James preferred to work in a local police department. Lily, meanwhile, was a stay-at-home mum while studying part time to become a nurse. Alas, this arrangement wasn’t meant to last, as both James and Lily were murdered in a burglary gone wrong on Halloween, 1981.”
Newspaper articles about the event appear on the screen before fading out. Now, there is a woman in her mid thirties with short, artfully curled black hair. She wears a string of pearls and a fashionable green sundress. The name Petunia Dursley appears at the bottom of the screen.
“I hadn’t spoken to my sister since her wedding two years prior when she died. I regret not reaching out to her every day.” Petunia pauses to dab at her red eyes with a tissue before continuing. “I took Harry in as soon as I heard about his existence. Someone tried to give Harry to one of James’s friends to raise, but the court ruled in my favor since I’m his aunt. He lived with us until he went to Hogwarts.
“I regret letting him attend every day.”
The scene cuts back to Rita, who is standing next to a spiral staircase. “Up these stairs is the Headmaster’s Office. Before the school was shut down, Albus Dumbledore was the headmaster, having moved up the ranks from English professor to head of house to headmaster throughout most of the 20th century. We reached out to him for comment, but his lawyer refused, citing that his client was under oath not to speak to anyone regarding Hogwarts or Harry Potter.”
Skeeter starts walking down the hall. “One interesting thing that I noticed while investigating Hogwarts is their hiring practices. All teachers, whom the pupils refer to as “Professors,” are former students themselves. The Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, graduated from Hogwarts in 1944, and the chemistry instructor, Severus Snape, graduated in 1978. In fact, he was in the same class as Harry’s parents.”
A man with lanky black hair and a scowl appears on screen. He sits up straight in his chair, but it is obvious he doesn’t wish to be there. Severus Snape, Chemistry Teacher appears on the bottom of the screen. “Yes, I knew the Potters, but I didn’t get along with James. I first met Lily at the local park when we were seven. We became friends. When we were both accepted into Hogwarts, I was ecstatic. Even after we drifted apart, I still kept tabs on her.” Snape spoke in an almost monotone voice while fighting to hold back a grimace.
“I never told Pot– Harry that I was friends with his mother, and he never asked. I assumed his aunt told him all about his mum, they were sisters after all. Besides, that would be crossing a professional boundary, speaking to a student not in my house about a personal matter.”
Petunia Dursley returns in her green dress. “The last time I spoke to or about Severus Snape before Harry’s first year at Hogwarts was when we were both still teenagers. I was angry at him for what he did to Lily and told him I hoped he never spoke with her again. When Harry wrote that Severus was one of his teachers, I advised him to keep his head down and not draw attention to himself.”
Rita Skeeter, off screen. “Did you try to stop Harry from attending?”
Petunia shook her head. “I never told Harry about Hogwarts until his acceptance letter arrived in the mail. I was tempted to hide it from him, but Vernon told me not to. Harry was old enough to decide for himself where he wanted to attend secondary school. I had hoped he would choose a local grammar school. He didn’t appear too fond of the prospect of boarding at school when Dudley, my son, and him visited Smeltings. I hoped that that aspect would deter him.
“Raising Harry, I tried to tell him as much about his parents as possible. Although Lily and I drifted apart as adults, I always had plenty of childhood memories to share. James was more difficult, as his parents were deceased and his friends all disappeared after they died. So most of what I knew about him came from letters that Lily wrote and photographs.
“I tried so hard–” Petunia paused, getting visibility choked up before continuing. “I tried so hard to not let my emotions get the best of me while I explained what Hogwarts was. I didn’t want to influence Harry’s decision. But now, oh how I wish I’d burned that letter. As soon as he heard that his parents attended Hogwarts, I knew Harry would want to go too.”
Shots of a neighborhood of identical houses filled the screen. Rita narrated over them. “ After his parents' untimely deaths, Harry was sent to live with his next closest relatives; his aunt Petunia, his mother’s sister, along with her husband Vernon and son Dudley. He grew up in a lovely upper middle class neighborhood in Surrey, where everyone knew everyone. Some of his favorite activities included visiting the local library, riding his bike, and playing pick up games of footie with his friends. While at Hogwarts, Harry continued playing football. He was the only boy in his year that made it onto his House’s roster.”
The scene returns to an interview with Hermione Granger . “Harry was so proud of himself for making the team. He was the first Year 7 to make a House team in almost a century. At first, he wasn’t going to try out, but when we visited the trophy room, he noticed a plaque with his dad’s name on it celebrating the year they won the Cup.” A video of the trophy room, along with the plaque in question is shown.
“Although I don’t care much for football, or any sport really, I attended each game and cheered Harry, and the rest of the Gryffindor team, towards victory.”
Skeeter’s voiceover provides context . “ Gryffindor is one of the four Houses that students are sorted into. The others are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slyerthin, and appear to be named after the founders of the school. Based on numerous interviews, families tend to be grouped in the same House for generations at a time. When asked how new students with no family history are sorted, the administration refused to reveal its methods.”
A woman wearing tartan head to toe appears on screen. Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House appears at the bottom of the screen. “Harry was a bright young lad, and got along well with his peers. He was always eager to explore and always up for an adventure with his friends.”
“Harry always wanted to explore the castle and grounds when we didn’t have class.” Hermione concurred. “He wanted to discover all of its secrets.”
“Unfortunately, that curiosity got him in trouble numerous times for breaking curfew.”
“Of course, that never stopped him.” Hermione shakes her head. “He thought touring the school in the dark made it more fun. Harry also thought that night is when all the ghosts came out, and he always wanted to talk to one. By Halloween, he stopped trying to leave the dorms most nights.”
Petunia Dursley is once again being interviewed. Rita Skeeter asks off screen “Did anything happen around Halloween 1991?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Although Harry did write that one of his professors was bit by an animal and was limping. And apparently another professor fainted in the middle of dinner.”
Hermione Granger returns. “Professor Snape was bitten. He came into the Great Hall limping. Professor Quirrell,” she frowns when she says his name, “fainted at the sight of blood. Although, looking back, he was probably faking it.”
“The first letter I received from Harry with concerns about Professor Quirrell came in mid-November. He wrote that Quirrell had been focusing on Harry a lot during PE, always telling him he had to be quicker during drills. I told him that his professor was probably hoping to train him to be a great footballer, but to not let it get to him.
Rita Skeeter is back on screen. The greenhouses and Hogwarts Castle can be seen behind her. “Quirinus Quirrell was a teacher at Hogwarts. He taught three different languages for seven years before taking a year sabbatical in which he traveled the world. When he returned, he wore a turban he claimed to receive from an African prince. He also changed disciplines, and became a PE instructor. How exactly was a foreign language teacher qualified to teach physical education? I do not know. This arrangement is far from the first time the Headmaster made a questionable hiring choice.
“Through police records, it was discovered that at least one professor in the school had a criminal record. Despite being found guilty for felonious assault, Headmaster Dumbledore hired them for a teaching position. A felon was working with children every day. When asked about who this pertained to, both Deputy Headmistress McGonagall and Professor Snape refused to answer the question. When Petunia Dursley and other parents were notified about this, many were understandably upset at the school, Headmaster, and Board of Governors.”
Petunia Dursley is back on screen. “You say this individual was found guilty of assault, a felony, and they received no jail time! And then they were hired to teach children! I always knew there was something fishy about that school! It’s so insular it’s almost cult-like.”
Rita appears back on the screen, this time walking alongside a lake. “Petunia is correct about the Hogwarts community being insular. Graduates tend to stick to themselves and not talk about the school outside of their own networks. The mystery of it all adds to the prestige. And being isolated to the Scottish Highlands means it’s difficult to communicate.”
“There was one phone on campus, and it was in Headmaster Dumbledore’s office.” Hermione Granger states. “We weren’t allowed to use it unless there was an emergency. Instead, we were encouraged to write letters. We were provided with as much paper, envelopes, and stamps we needed to keep in contact with our friends and families.”
Petunia returns to the screen. “It was after the Christmas Hols that I noticed that Harry was writing to us less. At first I thought it was only Vernon and me, but Dudley, my son, told me that Harry hadn’t written to him in three weeks. Usually, Harry wrote at least once a week. I remember writing to him in February, asking if Dudley said something that upset him. But he wrote back that school was busy and he promised that he would write more. And he did.”
“Nothing crazy happened in February that I can remember. Harry was his usual self, although he was writing a lot. He seemed to be writing a letter whenever he had a spare moment.” Hermione says, unknowingly contradicting what Peturnis told the audience.
Rita Skeeter appears in a large hall with four massive tables perpendicular to a raised table the width of the room. “So, who was Harry writing to, and what was he writing about? Sadly, no one would find the contents of these letters until it was too late.
Hermione Granger fidgets with a piece of her hair. “By the time the Easter Holiday arrived, Harry was actively avoiding Professor Quirrell. I didn’t have PE with him, but I heard some of the other boys in my year talking about how Harry would claim to have headaches to avoid going to class. And when he couldn’t get out of it, he would place himself as far away from the professor as possible. I tried to talk about it with Harry, but he told me not to worry, as everything would be resolved at the end of the school year.
“The closer we got towards the end of the year, the lighter Harry appeared. I just thought he was a bit homesick and was excited to see his family again. But then he had a minor breakdown the week after exams in front of our Head of House.”
Minerva McGonagall is back in all her tartan glory. “Mister Potter came to me with two of his friends in tow. He asked if he could meet with Professor Dumbledore, as it was an urgent matter. I told him that the headmaster was in London, but would return the next day. Harry became distraught and asked if there was any way to get a message to him.” Here, McGonagall pauses, collecting herself. “I told him no, and that he should go play outside because it was such a nice day outside. I dismissed him, and his concerns.” She hangs her head. “Maybe things would have been different.” She doesn’t elaborate.
A voiceover begins, accompanied by a reenactment. The last few hours of Harry Potter’s life were pieced together based on various interviews and information provided by the police. Some time after 11pm on June 15th, 1991, Harry stuck out of his dormitory. He went to a corridor that had been closed for maintenance since the beginning of the year, and he waited. Professor Quirrell appeared along with an unidentified accomplice. It turns out, Harry figured out that the professor was a burglar, and had stolen many priceless objects throughout his year-long sabbatical.
Harry wished to speak to Dumbledore because he believed that Quirrell planned on selling something that evening. And it turns out, he was correct. Since he was unable to get an audience, he was determined to get the proof himself. So, young Harry hid behind a suit of armor while Quirrell and his accomplice spoke. They disappeared into the room, and then came out by 12:15, as that’s when Harry accidentally made a sound. By 12:20, Deputy Head McGonagall came down to investigate the noise and found a suit of armor on the floor.
She knew that a student was out of bed, and quickly summoned the other heads of
houses. They all did head counts of their students; only Harry was missing. McGonagall began knocking on the other professors doors so they could help with the search. The only one who didn’t answer the knock on their quarters was Quirrell. She went to his office and found the door slightly ajar. When she went inside, she immediately yelled for the school nurse.
Harry Potter laid on the floor, hair matted, pajamas covered in blood, and barely breathing.
Petunia Dursley is back on the screen, eyes shiny from unshed tears. “There was a phone call in the middle of the night. Vernon answered it before calling me over. As soon as I heard the Deputy Head’s voice on the other side, I had this sinking feeling in my chest. The thing about Hogwarts is this: they never call. They give various excuses as to why there are no phones. It’s because they are so remote it’s difficult to get lines up. Or, it’s because they will provide a distraction to our students. All correspondence is done via Royal Mail. So to receive a phone call in itself is shocking. Of course, a call at 2am in the morning is never a good thing.
“The Deputy Head said there had been an incident at the school and I was needed right away. I remember asking if Harry was alright, and she assured me that everything was fine, but I needed to come right away. Vernon drove me to King’s Cross and I caught the next train to Edinburgh. A car met me at the station, and I was driven to Hogwarts.
“Once I arrived, the Deputy Head and the Headmaster met me in the front entrance. I remember asking to see Harry, and the Headmaster just gave a small smile and said ‘All in good time.’ Instead of being taken to my nephew, I was herded into the Headmaster’s office. By now, it was a good 10 hours since the phone call.”
Here, Petunia pauses, taking a few shaky breaths before continuing. “Once we were all seated, the Headmaster told me there was an incident last evening involving a PE teacher and Harry. As soon as Dumbledore said that, I knew. Still, I pressed for details and neither of them would give me any. I asked if Harry was alright and if I could see him, but I was once again denied. It was only after I started begging that the Deputy Head told me that Harry was dead.”
Rita’s voiceover returns as Petunia silently sobs. “ An autopsy conducted two days after Harry James Potter’s untimely death revealed that he died of blunt force trauma to the head. The object was small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand, and smooth. The most likely culprit: a large ruby believed to have been stolen from Ethiopia in November of 1990. Alas, the weapon was never found.”
The reenactment continues. “Harry, however, had a stack of evidence hidden under his mattress at school. This is most likely what he wished to show Headmaster Dumbledore. Police have used this information to connect Quirrell to a larger crime syndicate, and Interpol, along with other international law enforcement agencies, have used it to solve multiple crimes. While we have no photo of Quirrell’s accomplice, who is wanted as an accessory to murder, we do have a sketch of him drawn by Harry.” The sketch is shown on the screen. “ The text in the lower right corner reads. ‘He has a snake face.’ Police are unsure if that is a reference to the suspect’s appearance or hinting that he is a Slytherin alum of Hogwarts.”
Rita Skeeter is standing at the front gates of Hogwarts School. “For now, Hogwarts remains closed as the government continues its inquiry into the school and its administration. The inability for the school to thoroughly vet their instructors, along with their inability to listen to their students directly contributed to the death of a bright young man. Don’t let Harry’s work and death be in vain. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Quirinus Quirrell, his accomplice, or other crimes either may have committed, please contact your local police. You may also leave an anonymous tip on our hotline by calling 01632 960 469.” The number appears at the bottom of the screen.
“I’m Rita Skeeter. Thank you for tuning in to Crimewatch . Goodnight.”