Harry Potter Murder Mystery: Annual Hogwarts Alumni Gala

Murder at the Annual Hogwarts Alumni Gala

Game Instructions - How to play the murder mystery
Character List - All available characters for the game
Clues - Evidence and documents for investigation

Story Overview

Augustus Thornwick, the ambitious Deputy Minister for Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, has been found dead at the annual Annual Hogwarts Alumni Gala. The crusading reformer was investigating a corruption scandal involving misappropriated funds for magical creature welfare when he met his untimely end.

Initially appearing to be poisoned by a doctored glass of Firewhisky, magical examination reveals Augustus actually died from a rare delayed-action curse. Someone at this elegant gathering is a murderer - and they may not be working alone.

Game Schedule

Phase 1: Cocktail Hour & Murder (15 minutes)

Guests mingle and work on their character objectives
Environmental clues can be discovered by searching
Character interaction clues revealed through specific conversations
THE MURDER occurs at the end of Phase 1 - Augustus pretends to have a heart attack

Phase 2: Investigation Begins (15 minutes)

Guests begin investigating and sharing information
Environmental clues can be discovered by searching
Character interaction clues revealed through specific conversations

Phase 3: Final Investigation (30 minutes)

Clue #5 (Coroner’s Report) delivered by “owl” (host)
Reveals death was by delayed curse, not poison
Deeper investigation and evidence sharing
Guests work to piece together the full solution
Final Accusations - Each guest makes their accusation, and majority decides who is accused
If the murderer is discovered, guests win! If the murderer is not guessed, the murderer and accomplices win!

Clues

Evidence and documents available during the investigation:

Daily Prophet Newspaper - Report on surprise audits at the Ministry
Investigation Note - Note found on Augustus’s body
Embezzlement Note - Note about embezzled Ministry funds
Coroner’s Report - Official report revealing the cause of death
Widow’s Bane Poison Reference - Historical reference on rare magical poisons

Characters

Essential Characters

These characters have crucial information, clues, or direct involvement in the murder plot:

Augustus Thornwick - Deputy Minister (The Victim) A crusading reformer investigating corruption in magical creature welfare funds who has made dangerous enemies.

Cornelius Pemberton - Senior Ministry Treasurer (The Murderer) Augustus’s former Hogwarts roommate with massive gambling debts and access to embezzled funds.

Lady Cordelia Blackthorne - Wealthy Socialite (Criminal Accomplice) Secret operator of illegal magical creature trades and Cornelius’s criminal partner.

Vivienne Roseheart - High-End Fashion Designer Business partner of Minerva who can reveal crucial information about gambling at Griffin’s Gambit.

Lavender Grimwald - Magical Creature Reserve Owner One of four people who knows the Arresto Incantum spell and witnessed Cornelius’s gambling losses.

Seraphina Moonwhisper - Exclusive Catering Company Owner Lady Cordelia’s exclusive caterer who unknowingly enabled the murder through her color-changing charms.

Professor Aldric Spellsworth - Retired Hogwarts Headmaster The inventor of Arresto Incantum who taught the spell to only five trusted students.

Captain Magnus Thornfield - War Hero & Security Consultant Tonight’s security provider investigating recent break-ins related to the corruption scheme.

Minister Octavius Goldenheart - Current Minister of Magic Augustus’s mentor facing re-election pressures and concerned about Ministry stability.

Minerva Goldstein - Diagon Alley Supply Chain Owner Vivienne’s business partner who witnessed Cornelius’s gambling losses firsthand.

Madam Penelope Quillfeather - Head of Magical Accidents Department Augustus’s mentor investigating delayed-action prank spells around London.

Lady Alice Ashworth - Pure-Blood Matriarch Major Ministry donor whose family donations are under Augustus’s investigation.

Auror Commander Lysander Stone - Head of the Auror Office Investigating break-ins that may connect to Augustus’s corruption case.

Additional Characters (Optional)

Nigel Crimplebottom - Ministry Accountant (Embezzlement Accomplice) Nervous accountant who has been cooking the books for Cornelius’s gambling addiction.

Prudence Wickerham - Senior Undersecretary Lady Evangeline Ashworth - Charitable Committee Chair Sebastian Ravencrest - Wealthy Businessman Ophelia Ravencrest - Distinguished Educator Madam Isadora Nightingale - Renowned St. Mungo’s Healer Cordelia Silvermoon - Magical Portrait Artist