Portkeys

[alt_selwyn]

For your safety and security, all portkeys will need to be turned in for inspection. If you are presently at the Faire, a new one will promptly be issued -- or, if you can take the floo home or apparate, the Department of Magical Transportation will be offering a voucher good for Γ3 of the food or drink of your choice as an apology for the inconvenience.

In the meantime, please keep all portkeys out of the hands of your younger children. The only people carrying portkeys should also be carrying wands. There may be some further announcements tomorrow; if you are currently at home, please do not attempt to use your portkeys (even Ministry-issued portkeys) to travel.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Comments

Private message to Solana James

[alt_selwyn]

I gather you're the one tasked with the scramble to replace the malfunctioning portkeys. Thanks so much for dropping everything to do this; I don't blame you, of course. It was Director O'Connor's responsibility to see to this -- or at least to communicate with the rest of you.

Let me assure you that outstanding performance under such extreme circumstances will be remembered, and rewarded. I know it's rather a lot to ask, but it has struck me that this disaster may be an excellent opportunity to take steps to reel in the many unregistered portkeys in circulation. Please ensure that your staff registers the new ones as they're handed out, and rather than fixing the current problem so that every existing portkey directs to its original destination, I'm thinking we may simply want to direct them all to a single, safe location. For now, just focus on making the new (registered) ones, please.

Re: Private message to Solana James

[alt_selwyn]

All right, then. I've discussed with MLE.

We'd like all the old portkeys to redirect to a single location -- it's a secure one within MLE. This provides a number of advantages, including guaranteeing the safety of any misplaced children. (I have to say, the most nervewracking thing about this whole problem is that portkeys are one of the preferred ways to transport small children.) At any rate, I'll get you the precise coordinates in a bit.

So -- all old portkeys to MLE, all new portkeys to be registered. As poor as this timing was, I think this will actually be a significant improvement to the system in the end.