Chapter 72: Propaganda & Consequences

                                    

                                          





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"Is this really necessary?" Sandy questioned with a wrinkled nose as she stared at Dumbledore in distaste. They were currently bellow the school, in the Chamber of Secrets. Two days after the students had left for Hogwarts, Sandy had ventured to the second floor bathroom. After a short, cordial conversation with the ghost of Myrtle Warren (whom Sandy had informed over her true cause of death), she pulled out her wand and cast the Parseltongue Speech Spell to the snake tap. After voicing out the word 'open', with the aid of a broom, she flew down into the chamber. The spell to release the crowning of a rooster was enough to make it meet it's end. However, to be safe, with the Echolocation Spell, she got close enough to cut it's eyes, and then stab the snake, allowing it's venom to enter the Sword of Gryffindor. Now, Dumbledore had come down (after asking Fawkes to deliver the message that it was done), and so had the house elf Cooky, and the Sorting Hat. 
"To the left!" Said Sorting Hat commanded, indicating to Dumbledore to move so that the Basilisk could be seen better. It was settled over Cooky's head, whom was carrying a camera made by Barty Crouch Jr. Since coloured moving pictures had began to become a normalcy at the Daily Prophet, Dumbledore too wanted the photograph to have colour. 
The headmaster nodded, proceeding to retell his reasoning for the millionth time. "Death Eaters, and all who support Tom Riddle need to know that he is not invincible. And similarly, Tom will be enraged by what we'll show today. Not only have we uncovered the chamber of his ancestor, and slayed his dangerous pet, but you will be showcasing the sword to tempt him. Do make sure it's in clear view, dear." He paused, as he considered his next words. "And by being here together, we're also showing a united front. Not to mention, your involvement, as a sixteen year old who did all of this, will further show his incompetence. At least the illusion of it, to others."
She was still very much against this form of propaganda. To make a creature's corpse seem like a trophy of victory. But, alas, she had made a promise. Sandy would keep her end of the deal, and Dumbledore would too. So, with the sword in hand, she straightened up. It was pointed downwards, as she practically used it as a cane. On her other hand was her wand, gripped tightly. The dead Basilisk laid behind her, as did the stone-carved likeness of Salazar in the background. Dumbledore was further to the left, thankfully not right beside her. It was not something she wanted at that moment, specially with his lack of aid during this particular quest. Fawkes, wanting to comfort Sandy during an event that clearly disturbed her, flew from Dumbledore's shoulder onto her own, taking rest there instead. "Alright. Photo in 3, 2, 1, now!" Under the Sorting Hat's commands, Cooky the house-elf clicked on the camera, and the flash emitted from it. The visit to the Ministry and the Daily Prophet was next. But not before destroying the horcruxes on the chamber.





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The next few days were far from peaceful for Sandy. To begin with, being questioned by reporters, and Ministry workers as she released the most realistic (albeit fake, and pained) smile had been most exhaustive. However, in less than 24 hours, the photograph they had taken in the Chamber of Secrets had reached the cover of the Daily Prophet, along with an article detailing the truth behind Myrtle Warren's death, and Rubeus Hagrid's formal acquittal. It was all practically a jab to Voldemort.