The Minister and the Headmaster reached the Teacher's table, and stood on the podium side by side. Minister Fudge took the stage and announced that there was an accident in the Forbidden Forest the night before. He didn't go into any details, but he assured everyone that the situation was contained for the moment. The forest was off-limits though to everyone, even the teachers and the Headmaster himself. There would be Aurors stationed at every known entrance to the forest. Anyone attempting to enter the woods would be promptly arrested, regardless of their age. After the Minister, Dumbledore announced that the castle was safe and no body need to worry about their safety. However, there would be new wards placed around the forest itself - mostly detection and containment wards. Students would be expelled if they tried to enter the forest, even as a prank. He stressed the importance of staying away from the forest till the Ministry had declared it safe. With that ominous words, the students were allowed to go their dormitories. Since nobody really got any sleep during the previous night, Dumbledore declared it a free day. Students could sleep in, study in the library or even visit Hogsmeade if they so wished.