The Department of Magical Law Enforcement announced early this morning that Mr. Edric Umbridge, 36, will be serving as the new Head Auror following the departure of the former head for unspecified reasons.

The announcement comes in the wake of the mysterious fog that appeared in Irvingly and has since enveloped much of Hogsmeade, prompting many to speculate that the shift in ranks is directly tied to the dire situation. Auror Umbridge has been a member of the Auror Office since 1874, and assisted, among other things, with the magical community's relocation to Hogsmeade in 1877.

The promotion seems questionable to some, given that within the past week Mr. Umbridge was sighted with a nightgown-class Miss Lynch at the Hogsmeade Hospital. He was reportedly hit by a curse while responding to a call of suspicious activity in Bartonburg, after which he found his way into the company of Miss Lynch.

When asked for comments on the rumors, Mr. Umbridge offered the following: "The rumors circulating are outlandish. Miss Lynch acted quickly and commendably to ensure my well-being; to speculate on her morality is criminal in itself." Mr. Umbridge was said to have spent last Thursday night hospitalized after the incident.

In regards to forthcoming changes in the Auror Office, Mr. Umbridge stated, "The goals of the Auror Office remain largely the same: protect our community while minimizing the risk we put our own in. There is nothing good that can come from auror out of commission—especially in times of uncertainty."