oth believed to have been traveling with Tonks； Cresswell； and Gornuk； may have escaped。 If Dean is listening； or if anyone has any knowledge of his whereabouts； his parents and sisters are desperate for news。
〃Meanwhile； in Gaddley； a Muggle family of five has been found dead in their home。 Muggle authorities are attributing their deaths to a gas leak； but members of the Order of the Phoenix inform me that it was the Killing Curse a150a150 more evidence； as if it were needed； of the fact that Muggle slaughter is being little more than a recreational sport under the new regime。
〃Finally； we regret to inform our listeners that the remains of Bathilda Bagshot have been discovered in Godric's Hollow。 The evidence is that she died several months ago。 The Order of the Phoenix informs us that her body showed unmistakable signs of injuries inflicted by Dark Magic。
〃Listeners； I'd like to invite you now to join us in a minute's silence in memory of Ted Tonks； Dirk Cresswell； Bathilda Bagshot； Gornuk； and the unnamed； but no less regretted； Muggles murdered by the Death Eaters。〃
Silence fell； and Harry； Ron； and Hermione did not speak。 Half of Harry yearned to hear more； half of him was afraid of what might e next。 It was the first time he had felt fully connected to the outside world for a long time。
〃Thank you；〃 said Lee's voice。 〃And now we can return to regular contributor Royal； for an update on how the new Wizarding order is affecting the Muggle world。〃
〃Thanks； River；〃 said an unmistakable voice； deep； measured； reassuring。
〃Kingsley！〃 burst out Ron。
〃We know！〃 said Hermione； hushing him。
〃Muggles remain ignorant of the source of their suffering as they continue to sustain heavy casualties；〃 said Kingsley。 〃However； we continue to hear truly inspirational stories of wizards and witches risking their own safety to protect Muggle friends and neighbors； often without the Muggles' knowledge。 I'd like to appeal to all our listeners to emulate their example； perhaps by casting a protective charm over any Muggle dwellings in your street。 Many lives could be saved if such simple measures are taken。〃
〃And what would you say； Royal； to those listeners who reply that in these dangerous times； it should be 'Wizards first'？ asked Lee。
〃I'd say that it's one short step from 'Wizards first' to 'Purebloods first；' and then to 'Death Eaters；'〃 replied Kingsley。 〃We're all human； aren't we？ Every human life is worth the same； and worth saving。〃
〃Excellently put； Royal； and you've got my vote for Minister of Magic if we ever get out of this mess；〃 said Lee。 〃And now； over to Romulus for our popular feature 'Pals of Potter。'〃
〃Thanks； River；〃 said another very familiar voice。 Ron started to speak； but Hermione forestalled him in a whisper。
i〃We know it's Lupin！〃i
〃Romulus； do you maintain； as you have every time you've appeared on our program； that Harry Potter is still alive？〃
〃I do；〃 said Lupin firmly。 〃There is no doubt at all in my mind that his death would be proclaimed as widely as possible by the Death Eaters if it had happened； because it would strike a deadly blow at the morale of those resisting the new regime。 'The Boy Who Lived' remains a symbol of everything for which we are fighting： the triumph of good； the power of innocence； the need to keep resisting。〃
A mixture of gratitude and shame welled up in Harry。 Had Lupin forgiven him； then； for the terrible things he had said when they had last met？
〃And what would you say to Harry if you knew he was listening； Romulus？〃
〃I'd tell him we're all with him in spirit；〃 said Lupin； then hesitated slightly； 〃And I'd tell him to follow his instincts； which are good and nearly always right。〃
Harry looked at Hermione； whose eyes were full of tears。
〃Nearly always right；〃 she repeated。
〃Oh； didn't I tell you？〃 said Ron in surprise。 〃Bill told me Lupin's living with Tonks again！ And apparently she's getting pretty big tooa133〃
〃a133and our usual update on those friends of Harry Potter's who are suffering for their allegiance？〃 Lee was saying。
〃Well； as regular listeners will know； several of the more outspoken supporters of Harry Potter have now been imprisoned； including Xenophilius Lovegood； erstwhile editor of iThe Quibbleri；〃 said Lupin。
〃At least he's still alive！〃 muttered Ron。
〃We have also heard within the last few hours that Rubeus Hagrid〃 … all three of them gasped； and so nearly missed the rest of the sentence a150a150 〃well…known gamekeeper at Hogwarts School； has narrowly escaped arrest within the grounds of Hogwarts； where he is rumored to have hosted a 'Support Harry Potter' party in his house。 However； Hagrid was not taken into custody； and is； we believe； on the run。〃
〃I suppose it helps； when escaping from Death Eaters； if you've got a sixteen…foot…high half brother？〃 asked Lee。
〃It would tend to give you an edge；〃 agreed Lupin gravely。 〃May I just add that while we here at iPotterwatchi applaud Hagrid's spirit； we would urge even the most devoted of Harry's supporters against following Hagrid's lead。 'Support Harry Potter' parties are unwise in the present climate。〃
〃Indeed they are； Romulus；〃 said Lee； 〃so we suggest that you continue to show your devotion to the man with the lightning scar by listening to iPotterwatchi！ And now let's move to news concerning the wizard who is proving just as elusive as Harry Potter。 We like to refer to him as the Chief Death Eater； and here to give his views on some of the more insane rumors circulating about him； I'd like to introduce a new correspondent。 Rodent？〃
〃'iRodenti'？〃 said yet another familiar voice； and Harry； Ron； and Hermione cried out together：
〃Fred！〃
〃No … is it George？〃
〃It's Fred； I think；〃 said Ron； leaning in closer； as whichever twin it was said；
〃I'm not being 'Rodent；' no way； I told you I wanted to be 'Rapier'！〃
〃Oh； all right then； 'Rapier；' could you please give us your take on the various stories we've been hearing about the Chief Death Eater？〃
〃Yes； River； I can；〃 said Fred。 〃As our listeners will know； unless they've taken refuge at the bottom of a garden pond or somewhere similar； You…Know…Who's strategy of remaining in the shadows is creating a nice little climate of panic。 Mind you； if all the alleged sightings of him are genuine； we must have a good nineteen You…Know…Whos running around the place。〃
〃Which suits him； of course；〃 said Kingsley。 〃The air of mystery is creating more terror than actually showing himself。〃
〃Agreed；〃 said Fred。 〃So； people； let's try and calm down a bit。 Things are bad enough without inventing stuff as well。 For instance； this new idea that You…Know…Who can kill people with a single glance from his eyes。 That's a ibasiliski； listeners。 One simple test： Check whether the thing that's glaring at you has got legs。 If it has； it's safe to look into its eyes； although if it really is You…Know…Who； that's still likely to be the last thing you ever do。〃
For the first time in weeks and weeks； Harry was laughing： He could feel the weight of tension leaving him。
〃And the rumors that he keeps being sighted abroad？〃 asked Lee。
〃Well； who wouldn't want a nice little holiday after all the hard work he's been putting in？〃 asked Fred。 〃Point is； p