Phoenix Radio Who: Lee Jordan, Albus Dumbledore When: Sunday Morning, nine am. Where: Emergency broadcast from the back of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. What: Phoenix Radio Rating: PG-13 for mention of violence, death, etc. Open/Closed: Closed
Lee had been frantically compiling reports since the first one came in. It was a chaotic mess with Order members reporting in, and reports already being released from the Ministry that directly conflicted with the actual information he was getting from the Order.
He'd set up the broadcast hurriedly in the back of the twins' shop, and then had held off for an hour, waiting for his guest start of the night. Whose presence was flustering Lee a little. Not because he wasn't used to seeing Dumbledore about, but because he looked so much older than Lee remembered last seeing him. Or else he'd just hidden it better then.
Lee arranged his hastily jotted cards, and switched on the equipment, taking a deep breath. "Welcome to an emergency broadcast of Phoenix Radio. I'm your host, River, and I've got a lot of bad news to get through, so strap in tight listeners, it's been a bumpy few nights."
Lee flipped to the first card. "You won't be hearing about it in the Prophet, or on the Wireless, but You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters are in control of the Ministry of Magic. Ministry workers staying late this weekend witnessed a large force of Death Eaters, most masked but some not, invade the Ministry. I'll be listing the deaths and injuries in a moment, but Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, is dead, and a good deal of the Auror department is ousted, injured, or dead. The Ministry is issuing official statements that imply accidents, and work-related accidents, or retirements, but the Heads of most Ministry departments are now either confirmed to be taken over by Death Eaters, or believed to be by those who escaped the Ministry attack."
Lee flipped cards quickly. "The Ministry is also promising a good deal of 'reforms', which we believe are going to be sanctioned attacks on muggleborns, and publicly branding those who oppose them as criminals. We expect a lot of lies and tarring and feathering, listeners, so remember to take everything with a grain of salt. Or a whole bloody shaker full."
Lee glanced over at Albus, and went on. "In a moment, I'm going to hand you over to a very special guest, but for now, I'd like to send out my condolences to the families of the dead, and to remind everyone that there's no guarantee of safety, anymore. Be careful, be vigilant, and remember what's happened whenever you start to think you can trust what you're being told."
"Reports are still coming in, but those we've confirmed dead as of this broadcast are the following: Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister for Magic Hilda Vermeer, Department of Magical Transportation Justus Pilliwickle, Jr, Wizengamot Evan Amory, Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures Veronica Ellsbury Gawain Robards, Auror Department Jules Proudfoot, Auror Department Laurence Laurenstine, Auror Department Edwin Goldstein, Magical Games & Sports Francesca Bozo, Wizengamot Griselda Marchbanks, Wizengamot Tiberius Ogden, Wizengamot Elizabeth Dinnet, Wizengamot Jebediah Walter Brown, Department of Ludicrous Patents."
Lee flipped cards again, grimacing and then going on. "We've also had reports of injury to a number of people, and if you're a Healer or handy with a healing spell, then you may be needed. Our list of injured isn't even close to complete, but Edgar Bones, Alice and Frank Longbottom, Remus Lupin, and George Weasley are all dinged up, with more coming in still."
"Confirmed reports of the following Death Eaters being seen at the Ministry, most of them by multiple eye witnesses, because the cocky bloody prats didn't wear a mask, are: Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, Fenrir Greyback, Walden Macnair, Lucius Malfoy, and Demetrius Avery. There were a few dozen more masked, as well."
Lee shuffled through, making sure he'd gotten all the names. "All right, and in our only spot of good news tonight, Poppy Pomfrey, previously reported as missing, has turned back up after being held by Death Eater Antoin Dolohov."
Lee shook his head. "I'll be shutting down as soon as my guest finishes, so this is River, signing off. Password next time will be Hobgoblin. Watch your arses, people, this is going to go from really bad to even worse. And now have a listen to our guest, Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Grand Sorcerer, Supreme Mugwump, and Chocolate Frog Card."
Lee switched off his microphone, and turned on Dumbledore's, giving him the sign to talk and then slouching back on the crate he was perching on to listen.
Albus took the microphone carefully with his good hand, though when he spoke his voice was clear. "Thank you, my boy. It has been many years since we've faced a danger as threatening and powerful as the one we face today. I expect that in the course of the next days, we will be attacked at all sides. My first care is for Hogwarts, and the students therein. This message is for those students, who I know are listening in their Common Rooms right now. And also for their parents and others who are worried for their safety. Hogwarts will protect them. Hogwarts is safe. And, as of today, Hogwarts no longer recognizes the authority of the Ministry of Magic and will allow no representative of that Ministry to cross her boundaries." Albus smiled for a moment weakly, then added, "As for the others, because undoubtedly some of you are listening as well. There have been those who have sought what you seek now. They have never before been met with the type of resistance you will meet. You will be defeated. And, when you've the time, you might tell your Master... I have what he's looking for, and he'll never have his hands on it."
Lee had no idea what that meant, but he didn't take the time to question it, just leaned forward and switched off the charms. "Thanks, Headmaster," he said, a little awkwardly, starting to pack up the broadcast equipment again, eager to go and look in on George and everyone else injured.