Day of Reckoning
by Calvin Potterson
Prelude
There we go. Had to get that Sonorus Charm to work correctly.
Oh, erm, ah, yes, they can hear me now.
Anyways, welcome back to the Wizarding Wireless Network, I'm Augustus Weatherby and I'll be your commentator today for Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley's motorcade down Hogsmeade. Minister Weasley is preparing for what many expect to be a difficult re-election cycle, with his Phoenix party having lost four seats in the mid-terms and opposition forces beginning to speak of a new electoral alliance to allow them to seize the majority. The Minister is expected to continue through Hogsmeade all the way to Hogwarts, where he'll meet with the school's Headmaster, Harry James Potter, who is the only British citizen in Wizarding history to be awarded three Orders of Merlin, First Class.
As expected, the Weasley faithful are out in full force, waving their magical placards and chanting political fight songs as the Minister's thestral-drawn carriage meanders its way through the winding streets of the Wizarding community's greatest little village. It must be heartening to the Minister, oh look, there he is waving enthusiastically to the crowd, sounds like they're singing the Minister's old campaign song "Weasley Is Our King", bless their hearts.
And of course, the opposition is out as well, all set to dethrone this Minister just as surely as Cornelius Fudge and Rufus Scrimgeour were sacked by the people. You know, I really wish some of them wouldn't wear those long black cloaks, reminds me too much of the second war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and all of his ilk swishing around. You'd think that those folks, the uh, Order of Magical Union, would have some focus groups telling them that.
In any event, the carriage is passing by Madam Puddifoot's now, it'll be approaching the castle gates in a few minutes, so now the pro and anti-Ministry forces are redoubling their shouting. I can't even make out the lyrics of "Weasley Is Our King" anymore, everything's just a dull roar-
What was that?
Dear Merlin! Romulus, quick, pan the televised apparition cameras up there! Oh my God! Oh my dear merciful God!
For those listening only on the wireless, oh Merlin, people are really scattering now. For those who can't get a televised apparition image from their set, somebody just, Merlin! There was a flash of light, and somebody's put the damn Dark Mark in the air! Oh Merlin!
Oh dear heavens above-witches and wizards-there's, dear God, so many flashes of green light right now! It seems to be coming from all directions. Oh dear Merlin! No! The Ministry carriage has been hit! I repeat, the Ministry carriage has been hit! It's toppled over, oh my God, dear Merlin, I've never seen that much fire around it-oh Merlin! Dear God!
Witches and wizards, this is a horrible tragedy, Aurors are now Apparating in, hoping to catch the assassin-or, should I say, assassins…dear Merlin, all that green light! Witches and wizards, this is Augustus Weatherby reporting from Hogsmeade. Dear Merlin! The fire's spreading, the crowd's trying to avoid it-oh my God-witches and wizards, Minister of Magic Arthur Weasley and his wife Molly are, dear Merlin, unless they're able to-oh God, they must be dead. Oh God, oh Merlin, they must be dead.
A/N: Just like to suggest that y'all visit: http://www.xs4all.nl/~myranya/help4free.html, where you can (no strings attached) help charity with a single mouse click, and also my web site, an essay on faith and science: http://www.geocities.com/cal4hobbes. If you have any comments about either, please feel free to e-mail me at RadHobbes@aol.com. Thanks.
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