1 January 2000–In what is no doubt the most shocking news of the (new) year, disgraced Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt has informed The Daily Prophet as well as each Ministry Department Head that he will be stepping down from his position as Minister effective immediately. Shacklebolt famously took over the crumbling Ministry from the hands of Pius Thicknesse, a wizard not formally recognised as the previous Minister due to being placed under the Imperius Curse during the Second Wizarding War.