Absit Omen RPG

The theme music begins to play again, marking a transition from the advertisements back to the programme.

Hedgerow: Welcome back. This is the Auror Files and I am your host Mia Hedgerow. Nathan Briggs has just revealed to Aurors that it was his employer, local apothecary Rafe Sellaphix who was the source of the cured Runespoor venom. And Nathan was ready to provide even more names in exchange for a deal.

As for Tawse? Nathan told Aurors the former Death Eather convict wasn't involved at all.

Bailey: He could have been protecting him, but after looking to Sellaphix we didn't find any connections. That was when we removed Tawse from our list of suspects.

Hedgerow: Tawse was, of course, now wanted for kidnapping Maggie Groust that night and has been on the run ever since. As for Rafe Sellaphix, he was arrested and charged, and convicted to seven years in Azkaban.  Briggs? Well, he got his deal. Got off way too easy, some say. But the information he provided lead to several other arrests in connection with the Runespoor black market.

Bailey: In a perfect world, people like Tawse and Briggs wouldn't be allowed to run off into the night. But it's not a perfect world. There are Dark Artists operating all over Britain and sometimes we have to make compromises. But that's the job. And this time, the streets are just a little bit safer.

Hedgerow: Join us next time for more in the Auror Files.

The programme returns, the theme music plays and then fades.

Hedgerow: Welcome back. This is the Auror Files and I am your host Mia Hedgerow. It's the 14th of October 2008 and a side alley in Knockturn is in shambles, having been rocked by an explosion caused by cured Runespoor Venom. Suspect and convict Cináed Tawse is nowhere to be found and victim Margaret Groust is recovering from a kidnapping and burns. Apothecary employee and suspect Nathan Briggs is being questioned by Aurors.

Bailey: Mr. Briggs was identified by Miss Groust, and suffering from cured Runespoor venon burns when he was arrested the morning after the explosion.

Hedgerow: The charges? Possession, unsafe transportation, and disposal of prohibited substances, destruction to property, and endangerment the public causing bodily harm of persons and other creatures. The Black Chimaera pub was half blown apart, Miss Groust would likely have scars for the rest of her life, and a dog severely injured. If convinced, Mr. Briggs woud face Azkaban.

Bailey: At first he didn't give anything away, but he seemed surprised we know as much as we did, thanks to Miss Groust. While he was in our custody he did receive care of a Healer who told us in the time between the explosion and the arrest, he'd somehow already received care for his burns.

Hedgerow: Who could have treated Nathan's burns? Another witness? Or an accomplice, perhaps? What about his wife, Dazmond Wiedman? She had been on the scene right after the explosion, after all.

Bailey: Faced with the evidence, Briggs confessed he had been moving the venom, but wouldn't admit he knew what it was. Eleor, he's what we call a closer. He knows how to get suspects to trust him. Briggs was small-time with minor charges as a teenager. We began operating under the presumption that Mr. Briggs was part of something bigger - if we could flip him, maybe we'd find the top of the supply chain.

Hedgerow: And possibly bring down the entire illegal Runespoor trade.

Bailey: He did eventually give us a name. Rafe Sellaphix.

Hedgerow: Rafe Sellaphix was Nathan's employer and owner of Sellaphix Apothecary. It had been a staple of Knockturn Alley for years. A clean operation by anyone's guess. Was it possible they were a link in the Runespoor trade chain?

In the course of his confession, Briggs claimed that Tawse and Groust were both bystanders, and it was his own wand that had fired a spell inadvertently. He claimed it was Rafe Sellaphix who directed him to dispose of the cured Runespoor venom. But that wasn't all. According to Nathan Briggs, Rafe Sellaphix was into far more than just cured Runespoor venom.

Next, the Auror Files reveals the results of the investigation.

The Auror Files theme fades in, then is covered over by an ad.

This programme is brought to you in part by Pilpher & Stride's Private Investigations. When needs must and conventional methods leave you lacking, Pilpher and Stride will find a way. Every nook, every cranny. Pilpher & Stride's Private Investigations.

Following messages from WWN's sponsors, the Auror Files theme music returns.

Hedgerow: Welcome back to the Auror Files. I am Mia Hedgerow. Before the break: explosion in Knockturn Alley, and a tense hostage situation. The scene of the explosion was quickly secured, but the MLE's first priority was to rescue freelance journalist Maggie Groust. She'd been taken from the scene by convict Cináed Tawse right in front of Aurors' eyes.

Bailey: Apparition is impossible to trace.[1] Tawse could have taken her anywhere. We checked his home, last known associates, and put out an alert for both Miss Groust and Tawse. We even consulted Ministry Seers.[2] Ultimately, we just got lucky.

Hedgerow: Only hours after the kidnapping, Maggie Groust simply turned up at St. Mungo's. She'd been found in a farm field by strangers. She was shaken but Tawse had not harmed her. All of her injuries were results of the explosion.

Bailey: Interviewing victims of a crime is a very delicate process. They've been through an ordeal, a trauma, and too many questions too soon can be overwhelming and illicit possibly inaccurate answers. Miss Groust was nothing but cooperative, extremely helpful to the investigation.

Hedgerow: Maggie was able to tell the MLE the cause of the explosion. Cured Runespoor venom. But what is cured Runespoor venom? Here is potions expert Mal Mendez:[/b].

Mendez:: Runespoor are highly dangerous magical creatures - massive three-headed serpents - prized by Dark Artists for their highly volatile venom. It's primarily used to increase the power of some potions and is most potent when cured.

Hedgerow: Cured Runespoor venom has a unique property - it explodes when exposed to magic spells. Any magical spell at all. It did not take long for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement investigators to confirm that, in fact, this was a cured Runespoor venom explosion.

Bailey: Our investigators found traces of several dozen bottles of cured Runespoor venom in the side ally. It was all over the ground and the walls, still sizzling. We weren't able to determine exactly what magic was cast nearby to set it off, but with so much venom there, it could have been anything. There were several spells cast by several different wands.

Hedgerow: But why was the cured Runespoor venom in the ally? Who did it belong to? And what was it being used for? Was the explosion accidental or could it have been to settle a grudge between Knockturn Alley's most dangerous criminals? Aurors began their investigation in earnest to prevent another explosion and find the source of the dangerous materials.

Let's review the suspects.

Bailey: Our primary suspect was Cináed Tawse. He was at the scene, the explosion took place behind a business he owns, and he had just finished serving time for activities with Death Eaters. That, and he fled Aurors, kidnapping a witness in the process. Clearly he had something to hide.

We also suspected Dazmond Wiedman to be involved. She was also at the scene and lived nearby. Mrs Wiedman was a potion-maker and a known associate of Tawse. Even if she wasn't involved, she had to know something - she even claimed to know how to recover Miss Groust, although ultimately she did not assist in that rescue. Damning for Wiedman was her association with another suspect.

Hedgerow: The third suspect was a wizard later identified by Maggie Groust as not only being at the scene, but the one responsible for the explosion. His name? Nathan Briggs, the husband of Dazmond Wiedman. He was an employee at Sellaphix Apothecary - a potential source for potion-making reagents. According to Miss Groust, Briggs was in possession of the cured Runespoor Venom and that he was attempting to dispose of it when an argument ensued. A wand went off, causing the explosion.

Bailey: Without knowing where to find Tawse, and not enough evidence on Wiedman, we didn't arrest them at that time. But Briggs we did arrest. Surprisingly, we found him at home just down the road.

Hedgerow: Auror Adon Eleor and Hitwizard Jacob Clayton went to the Shodding Arms Hotel later that morning and arrested Nathan Briggs. He was brought to Auror Headquarters for questioning.

Bailey: At first, he denied he even was Nathan Briggs. Obviously he was. He was covered in burns from the explosion.

Hedgerow: Damning evidence for Mr. Briggs. And painful. Here is Bartholomew Castowitz of St. Mungo's department of Potions and Plant Poisoning.

Castowitz:: Cured Runespoor venom is really very caustic, and causes painful burns on human skin. The cured venom adheres to the skin and is very difficult to remove. Any magic spells cast on the patient will react with the venom, causing more damage. If it isn't removed promptly it can get into the blood causing psychosis.

Hedgerow: If not present at explosion, where else could Mr. Briggs have been injured? That wasn't the only question investigators had for him. When we come back, the story from Nathan Briggs and a surprising new lead.

This is the Auror Files: Runespoor Venom Explosion. But now, a word from our sponsors.

The theme music begins to play again, marking a transition from the programme to advertisements.

The Auror Files is sponsored in part by Pandora's Attic. Find exactly what you weren't looking for at Diagon Alley's most ecclectic junk shop. The clutter will overcome you, the shelves will swallow you, come in and never leave - without a treasured find. Beware the bargains at Pandora's Attic.

1.	Forensic Magic
2.	Forensic Magic: Divination

The Auror Files theme begins to play, an eerie tune with a hastening tempo. It fades behind as a grave voice begins narration, setting the scene.

Mia Hedgerow: Knockturn Alley: one of London's oldest Wizarding neighborhoods. Located only a few paces away from historic Diagon Alley, a bustling commerce district and haven for magical families. There lies the entrance to the infamous haunting and dangerous warren. In October 2008, the uneasy silence of Knockturn Alley was broken by a devastating explosion.

This is the case of the Knockturn Alley Explosion. Welcome, listener, to the Auror Files. Wherever danger wields its wand, the Auror Corps is there to find the truth. I am your host Mia Hedgerow from the Wizaring Wireles Network.

Now the full theme swells up again, guiding listeners back in time to the night of the explosion.

Hedgerow: When Aurors arrived at the scene, they found catastrophic destruction. The majority of the damage was bourne by the Black Chimaera pub, a popular haunt for former Azkaban prisoners, or Ex-Azzies as they are known to call themselves. An entire exterior wall collapsed to rubble.

Veteran Auror Adon Eleor was the first to respond, followed by senior Auror Archer Radley and chief of the Auror Corps Tamis Raynor. They found three individuals standing admist the destrcution:  two witches and a wizard. There was a dog, as well, who was much worse off.

One of the witches was Margaret Groust. Maggie, as she was known to her friends, was a freelance journalist. The other witch was local potion-maker Dazmond Wiedman.

The wizard, well, he was more interesting to the MLE. Here's Auror Dean Bailey.

Bailey: It was Cináed Tawse, who was well-known to us. At that time, he'd just finished an Azkaban sentence of something close to seven years. He's a Death Eater - former Death Eater. At the time, he was our primary suspect.

Hedgerow: But why would Tawse destroy his own business? The Aurors had their theories.

Bailey: It could have been an accident. But explosions don't just happen in the course of a normal day. Something sinister had to have been going on.

Hedgerow: But the damage to the pub became the least of Tawse's problems.

MLE records indicate a stand-off ensued, with Tawse holding Maggie with a knife claiming innocence.  Auror Eleor demanded her release. But Tawse, apparently fearing being blamed for the explosion refused. Without warning, Tawse Apparated away, taking Maggie with him.

But Tawse wasn't the Aurors' only suspect.

Bailey: Wiedman and Tawse were known associates, both residents of Knockturn Alley. It was entirely possible they were working together. With her background in potions, it seemed likely to us it could have been a brew gone wrong.

Hedgerow: Unlike Tawse, Dazmond offered to help find Maggie. When we return, Aurors discover the cause of the explosion.

The theme music begins to play again, marking a transition from the programme to advertisements.

This program is sponsored in part by Hopwarts Brewing Company, a magical craft brewery located in Bermondsey in London. Leave the mundane behind and enjoy our four house-brewed beers and seasonal releases in a casual community atmosphere. Hopworts: beyond the pale.

Thursday nights at 7pm is the broadcast hour of The Omen, the WWN’s politics and issues programmes hosted by Tanis Quickwood.

TQ: Welcome to The Omen. I’m Tanis Quickwood. Today I interview Maya Irene-Strangely, perhaps the most storied and controversial werewolf scholars alive today. We’ll discuss the recent werewolf-related violence and the status of the Werewolf Registry.

Madam Irene-Strangely, welcome.

MIS: Thank you for having me.

TQ: Let’s begin by putting recent events into context. Last full moon, January 2012, there was an attack at a Ministry werewolf safe house in Dumfriesshire in Scotland. An intruder impersonated an attendant, attacked both attendants, and then proceeded to check-in all of the werewolf guests.[1] Aurors say the intruder brutally killed two of the werewolves now identified as Robert and Richard Dunnigan. Put that into context for us. How does this fit into other werewolf-related violence in the past few years?

MIS: I believe that starting in 2008, Britain has entered a new period in anti-werewolf violence. The attempted assassination of Greyfriar by Cinead Tawse -[2]

TQ: Knox Greyfriar, a Wizengamot Elder.

MIS: Yes, the attack a deliberate loosing of a werewolf. Then the Ides of March[3] incident where the Ministry’s Wolfsbane Potion supply chain was tainted. And we cannot forget the emergence of Direwolves and the deliberate attacks that year as well. Ira Almasy’s werewolf pit fighting and kidnappings.[4] The last there years have been momentous, unprecedented. However this month’s infiltration of a safe house could devastate our entire system.

TQ: Tell us, how so?

MIS: Werewolf registration in Britain is predicated on a sacred oath from the Ministry of Magic to British werewolves. ‘Reveal yourselves,’ they say, ‘come out from the shadows, expose yourself to the dangers of being known and we will protect you.’ With registration comes the opening of the gates the Ministry has shut. Access to Wolfsbane Potion is under lock and key, and the sanctioning of safe houses for secure transformation on full moons. Now that this safe house invasion has occured, that oath has been shattered. Now that this has happened, how can the Ministry be trusted?

TQ: But this seems like an extraordinary circumstance. A depraved act, surely, but unprecedented. No system can be perfect -

MIS: Dozens of witches and wizards sit in Azkaban today but for 'extraordinary circumstances'. The system is imperfect, but werewolves are not allowed to be imperfect. A layered tragedy of this event will be the penalties endured by those who can no longer entrust their safety to the Ministry. A promise destroyed. There are layers of betrayal here and the consequences for werewolves are catastrophic.

TQ: What, if anything, can be done to repair that? In your opinion, what could salvage that trust?

MIS: I think the British werewolf registry will not survive in its current form, not now. Its infallibility has been tested and broken. Other than  the racket  that is Ministry-controlled access to Wolfsbane Potion, safe transformation has been the only compelling incentive to participate in werewolf registration. That is now gone.

TQ: What about increased security at the safe houses? If the Ministry can show they’re taking measures...?

MIS: Attacks upon law-abiding werewolves is now part of the vocabulary of destabilizing criminal actors. Further security measures by the Ministry of Magic will be countered, I believe.

TQ: I know you’re not saying the Ministry should do nothing -

MIS: Of course not. The Ministry must ensure the safety of werewolves at safe houses, they must make good on the promise because werewolves have no choice in the matter. But they must also understand that as a result of this attack, we will see more and more werewolves declining to register and I think we’ll see registered werewolves ceasing compliance.

TQ: You think registered werewolves will, what, stop using Wolfsbane Potion, stop using safe houses?

MIS: No. But they may take their survival into their own hands. There are underground networks that attempt to offer the same supports. My estimate is that there are at least a hundred werewolves in Britain who have not registered and they are more at risk than ever.

TQ: At risk of what?

MIS: Well, targeting by these terrorists, of course. But without access to Wolfsbane Potion, safe houses, medical care -

TQ: Medical care? Explain?

MIS: The Ministry of Magic requires St. Mungo’s report unregistered werewolves. My research has shown this policy has directly contributed to death and injury to werewolves and without the proven increase in registrations. The policy is only effective in deterring werewolves from seeking treatment they need.

TQ: We have interviewed St. Mungo’s healers, and former healers. Some find a way to turn a blind eye.

MIS: Yes.

TQ: But to your point -

MIS: Yes, in addition to the current material risks unregistered werewolves face, we are beginning to see an increase in anti-werewolf discrimination. Interpersonal violence, in the workplace, and in the zealous over-prosecution of werewolves not in compliance.

TQ: And the murder of Alec Carter,[5] that’s been attributed to a werewolf attack.

MIS: Yes, this was an orchestrated werewolf attack. It was no accident, it was the work of Purist terrorists.

TQ: So what is to be done?

MIS: The Ministry must dismantle the Werewolf Registry completely, release Wolfsbane Potion, and provide special social protection of werewolves.

TQ: You’d abolish the Werewolf Registry.

MIS: I would. It must go.  The beneficial support services can still exist in a Werewolf Wing, but the registry, the criminal penalties, they serve only to put witches and wizards of this country in lethal danger. We are forcing them back into the shadows.

TQ: But in the past you’ve been a vocal supporter of registration.

MIS: Yes, but --

TQ: You’ve been quoted in the Daily Prophet as recently as 2008 calling registered werewolves ‘responsible’ implying unregistered werewolves were not. You publicly encouraged all werewolves to register.[6]

MIS: I did, and I did so because my research at that time lead me to --

TQ: You’ve been called a hypocrite for --

MIS: There’s nothing hypocritical about changing a stance based on new evidence. The events of 2008 and 2009 were a catalyst for a new understanding. I believe now the system was flawed then and is flawed now and I have seen the costs are too great for it to continue. It is critical we continually examine our assumptions based on what we learn. And I think we have learned a crucial lesson.

TQ: Well, I want to thank you for joining us today on The Omen.

MIS: Thank you for having me.

TQ: Join us next time when we explore the past and future of squib rights activism in Britain.  I am Tanis Quickwood and this has been The Omen. Good night.

1.	9 Jan 2012 - House of the Rising Moon
2.	Greyfriar the Werewolf
3.	Ides of March Werewolf Attacks
4.	Werewolf Games
5.	10 Jan 2012 - A Statement from the Minister: Death of Alec Carter
6.	4 Oct 2008 - Werewolf Attack in Diagon Alley

With Durmstrang and Salem having finished, we must turn again and check on the sisters from Beauxbaton who face the perils of BEAUTY. 

Last we left them, they were staring down Veelas three after nearly being devoured.  Ah, some words appear to be exchanged and it looks as if we're just in time.  Cecile is making a move for it and she's chosen one of three keys.  I can barely see, but the key is a beautiful thing.  Silver and delicate. 

The Veela let them pass and our magical mirror follows them as they move onward into a new room, through the same doors the Veela emerged from.  And snap my wand if there aren't three more doors here!  The strong choose-your-own-adventure theme continues, dear listeners, but this time it's for keeps!  Who can know what lies beyond the wrong two doors!

The sisters do not hesitate! They've chosen the most beautiful of all, and... and...  they're free of it!  However they chose, they chose well.  They're coming up the tunnel now, back to us here in the Chamber of Secrets.  There are congratulations all around.  They've finished third and you can see the disappointment, but their supporters seem proud just the same. 

But that leaves Hogwarts last.  They can still finish if they hurry, still earn some glory for their house.

Checking in now, they're still tangling with that knight.  Figaro Sellaphix is now on a full run towards the castle, painted in the distance.  And Raine Almasy - watch out! - the knight is gaining on Raine Almasy who's - oh my word!

Listeners, the young witch from Hogwarts must be an Animagus! For those unfamiliar, that is challenging magic indeed!  She's turned fully into some sort of large cat-like creatures.  I'm no magizoologist, so I couldn't tell you for sure, but that is no easy magic.  From the reactions of everyone here, it seems as if Raine's even surprised her own teachers.  This is a strange turn of events indeed!

With the extra speed, Raine has caught up with Figaro and they leave the knight in the dust.  For how long we don't know.

But here in the safety of the keep they're faced with - you guessed it.  Doors!  A choice to be made and if signs tell us right, there is a riddle here in two portraits of kings.  They must know that their time is running short - they'll need to hurry if there's any chance of salvaging this task.

They deliberate.  And ah - ... yes, it seems they've come upon an agreement.  And... and...! 

Yes! They've chosen correctly!  I hear them now! Coming up the tunnel, Hogwarts has finished safely!

Ladies and gentlemen, witches and wizards, and all those listening - the Third Task is complete![/i] And it's there that this broadcast will end.  Stay tuned for a post-Task analysis by Jellico Freedman from the Department of Magical Games and Sports.  We expect the final outcome of the Task to be announced at the fantastic Yule Ball to be held at Hogwarts on the 19th of December.  Sorry, invitation only, but you can count on the Wizarding Wireless Network to always bring you the best coverage of the past, present, and events yet to come!

This is Basil Rathbone.  Thank you for listening.

I absolutely had to bring us back to Durmstrang and the centaur they've come upon.  He really is an impressive beast, but these boys could be in very real danger.  Centaurs are known for their volatility and dislike of we witches and wizards.  Oh, be you careful, boys!  Do they have centaurs near Durmstrang, I wonder?

As we watch in our enchanted mirror, the centaur his making no move to gore the champions with his hooves, instead we can see that he is speaking to them.  The Champions themselves look calm.  What could be happening?

Merlin's bones! Yes!  The centaur has rewarded them with the way through!  All attention has turned away from the mirrors and back towards the mouth of the KNOWLEDGE tunnel.  And there they are!  Applause all around!  They're safe, and more importantly - they're first!  Bravo, Durmstrang!  Bravo!

---

But I cannot neglect what is going on with the lone Salem Champion and as I turn now to the mirror - watch out! Watch out!  Things must have escalated quickly from whatever writing task Mr. Steinbeck had been set to because we now watch in horror as he does battle with a fully armed suit of armor! By my wand! That axe is huge! 

Milton is firing shot after shot, and dear Merlin, the leviathon is relentless!  Behind me the Salem delegation is shouting at the mirror in vain, suggesting spells but moreover that he get the hell out of there! 

Oh my! The lad's attempting some kind of self-transfiguration!  It's gruesome but perhaps it will help him - his arm has taken on the shape of a medieval mace.  A wretched weapon made even more grim by the fact that it's growing out of his own shoulder. 

Dear me, it's not as useful as we all could have hoped.  Run, lad! Run!  Thank Merlin, he's retreated back out of the room back into the main corridor.  And it appears the suit of armor can't or won't pursue. 

Oh! And here he is!  Milton Steinbeck of Salem Witches Institute is alive and has emerged from the WEALTH tunnel!  Who can tell he'll fair considering he lost his partner and he retreated, but he's here and second place will surely bring him some reward. 

Well done, Salem! Well done! You've made it out alive and in your predicament, perhaps that's enough to be thankful for.

We stop in now to check up on the Hogwarts Champions! Last we left them, they were gazing into the Mirror of Erised and it didn't look like we'd see any action from them anytime soon.  But looking in now, they seem to have progressed! And not a moment too soon - they are well behind the others in completing their task.

And we're just catching them now going through a door!  Where did that come from? Clever turnips must have discovered it and revealed it somehow.  Let's watch as we follow them in...

...Ladies and gentlement, this is truly and amazing sight! I wish I could accurately describe what I'm seeing - they've... stepped into a painting!  All around them the world is made of brush strokes on canvas.  Even the two of them look like moving portraits of themselves.  It's astonishing!  Oh, well, looks like their wands won't work in there.  Now that's a bit of trouble the other Champions have not yet faced. 

Ah now, someone's approaching!  It's a knight on horse back.  Well, looks more like I pony, I reckon.  He's brandishing a sword and from the look of him, he's a no-nonsense kind of knight.   They're talking, they're talking...

...oh, well.  That didn't go well!  The knight's engaging them! Making ready to charge! This isn't good - what did they say to set him off, I wonder?  Without their wands they've just started running!  In opposite directions - a good idea if they have a plan. 

Oh bother! We must tear away for a moment for a message from our sponsors.

I'm looking now into the window where Salem Champion Milton Steinbeck has followed a goblin into lovely round chamber.  I see there are three pedastals set up behind with a variety of artefacts displayed as if in a museum.  It's a strange assortment - some paintings, a suit of armor, an axe and a strange little - Merlin what is that thing?

And before Milton himself and the goblin is a table upon which I can see a thick ledger.  The goblin speaks and steps away, leaving Milton with quill to paper.  Ah yes, dear listeners, this task is less about wands than words quite clearly.  The lad is hard in thought.    This could take awhile. 

And so for the moment I shall take us back to Durmstrang in the path of Knowledge.

The lads two look to be in an underground forest - this Chamber is full of secrets! There is a massive gnarled oak and nearby a living campfire giving off many hued smoke.   There's a cauldron nearby as well with something brewing inside.  A far cry from anything we've seen in a Tournament challenge before, wizards and witches listening in, what will the Champions make of this?

After a discussion between the two, a discussion the mirror cannot relay to us, the young wizards from Durmstrang are moving about the clearing searching for something.    Faust has found gigantic snail - and my word! Watch out, lad!  Fyetka Strelnikov is under assault by a nasty bit of shrubbery! Nothing is as it appears, folks!

Faust has grabbed up the snail and thrown it towards the predatory bush.  A bizarre choice when I think any normal person would have gone for their wand but ah - it's working! There must be come ancient feud between shell and shrub and it appears to be helping.

Ah yes - there's the wandwork! The beastly plant has shriveled to nothing more threatening than a daisy.  As we watch, Heinrich Faust has gone to work, carving something into the tree.  Stars and garters!  The great tree has taken up its roots and walks to the left.  It's revealed a door.   

These two are industrious sorts and Heinrich is the clear leader of the pair.  I would go on but Merlin's Beard if you could see what I see.  There is a centaur.

And we're back!

We now bring our coverage back round to Beauxbatons in the tunnel of Beauty where there's been an interesting development in the last few minutes.  When last we saw them they had entered one of the black pools and the mirror went dark.  But now we can see that they've arrived safely in what looks like a normal room.  The floor looks to be hardwood and there is wallpaper on the walls.

Both Champions are now inspecting a writing desk but something seems to be distracting them.  They're looking all around them.  What could they be hearing? As we observe, they appear to be listening carefully but they don't seem at all worried.  Young Cecile even has a smile on her face...!  Must be lovely whatever they're hearing, or perhaps it's a rare magical siren's ballad which will kill them in moments while they languish in happy delusion.

Basil pauses for effect.

Ah, no.  They're still alive.  I guess we can say that's lucky for them!  And we have some action, it looks like!  Cecile is at the desk and has taken quill to paper.   She's writing something down, but I can't quite make it out from our view.  Oh, but what I can see now - the parchment is going completely black... a new message has appeared as if by magic!

Dear me, they're looking distressed now, looking towards a door in the far wall.  I can see them chattering to each other, looks like they're shouting something.  An answer to a question, perhaps? A riddle's solution?  Looking quite frantic now!  Merlin's bones, what's going on? But now! Merciful Draught of Merciful Notions the doors have opened and look out, girls! Something's coming right at them, horrible creatures! 

Wait, dear listeners, wait... it's Veela!  Oh, I can't tell you my relief.  Whatever the girls have done, they've done it in the nick of time.  The creatures have turned into lovely Veela and quite nude, I must say.  Thank Merlin for the medium of radio during times like this.

But for the moment I must tear us away for something is happening in the Salem tunnel.

For those of you just tuning in, this is our live coverage of the Second Task of the Tetra Wizard Tournament and we're just about to look in on the progress of the Champions from Salem Witches' Institute, Mr. Milton Steinbeck and Miss Louise Parker. 

By now nearly a half hour has elapsed since they all went forth towards their hoped-for victories, so as we look to the mirror set up for a select few spectators down here in the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts, we can see Salem is already engaged in the Task.

I see a well-lit corridor and the two of them standing at a rope blocking their way.  Surely it's a magical rope or they might have hopped it already.  It looks like Louise is returning with a pair of scissors.  Beautiful as they are... oh! Well, fancy that, it's done the job and they're off.

My oh my, is this hallway just bedecked like the British Museum itself.  There are artefacts and treasures lining every inch of the wall.  Louise and Milton seem to be proceeding carefully, not too slowly, not much of a rush...

Blimey! Pardon my language, but a goblin has appeared.  And... and... wait? Where is Louise?  Louise Parker's missing.  She was just there. 

There is a small commotion to be heard in the background and in a moment, Basil Rathbone returns to the microphone.

Well, I'm pleased to say that Louise Parker is alive and well, but sadly for her, she's out of the competition.  It looks like Milton will have to deal with that goblin on his own...  From the looks of it, they're having a discussion.  The goblin seems quite irate, but honestly you can't ever tell with them just by looking.  He's pointing...

Well, I don't know just what was said, but they're off again together. 

And now a short message from our sponsor.

Looking now to the mirror that is showing us the path of KNOWLEDGE, the path chosen by the sons of Durmstrang Fyetka Strelnikov and Heinrich Faust.  My notes tell me both boys are considered what Durmstrang called Oberteil - outstanding in every way! Good for them, I suppose!

Looking in now, this mirror shows us a series of lights... unearthly lights.  But Mr. Faust is carefully inspecting an inscription on the wall.  Well we had to know there'd be a reading in a tunnel called Knowledge...

What are they up to now.  Heinrich Faust is attempting to capture the balls of light with what looks to be a trusty Flame-Freezing Charm!  Careful now! Careful! And Strelnikov to the rescue!

Faust is - yes, Faust is on his feet not to worse for wear from the looks of it.  And it seems that they've made progress - those nasty balls of light have gone.

---

Might be a good time now to check in with our home-town champions!  Our Champions from Hogwarts who have chosen Glory.  Glory, indeed.  Now, let's see where they're at...

I'll describe what i'm seeing here, because you may not believe me - it's what looks like a gallery of portraits and Raine Almasy of Gryffindor and Figaro Sellaphix of Hufflepuff seem to me making a careful lap of the room.  Now I can't hear what's going on, but they're looking around them - the portraits all seem to be saying something.  You'd think magic would find a way to get sound from a mirror, but perhaps in the next century?  I'm looking at you, Department of Mysteries!

Ah, there's something else there.  And you know, what is that, then? There's a large piece of furniture there in the middle that's got their attention now.  I can't quite see from this angle. 

A voice can be heard  'off-stage' and Basil has a short side conversation.

Ah ha! My sources here in the Chamber of Secrets inform me that what the Hogwarts Champions are inspecting is a valuable artefact indeed! A true treasure of Hogwarts School known as the Mirror of Erised.  It has the ability, they who have seen it say, to show you your heart's greatest desire.

I wish I had more to report, but both of them seem quite taken with what they're looking at. 

We'll come back to you lot later.  Onto Salem!

If you're just tuning in this is Basil Rathbone with live coverage of the Second Task of the Tetra-Wizard Tournament!  At this point all four sets of champions have branched off into their chosen tunnels and no doubt there will be challenges for them indeed.

Four mirrors have been unveiled and although the view isn't perfect it appears we can see the progress of each duo as they progress.  We'll be watching closely and giving you the up-to-the-minute updates of their accomplishments or accidents!

Let's tune into the sisters of Beauxbatons first who have opted for the path of BEAUTY.  Ah, it's very dark - all the mirrors are still quite dark, but the Fontaine sisters are coming up on some light.  Yes, they've come upon a large chamber and there are pools of water all over.  One of the sisters - Cecile - she's approached on and is looking in.  What could she be seeing? They're both looking around now, looking into the water.  What will they do?

My word!  Merlin's booming voice! Dear listeners, something has happened! Élodie Fontaine is being pulled into the water by a dark tendril!  There is always real danger in these challenges! We can only hope they are prepared for what awaits!  Beautiful! Cecile Fontaine has cast a brilliant spell and freed Elodie. 

We cannot hear a word of what they're saying between them, but it looks as if - yes! They've concocted a plan.  Elodie has cast the Bubblehead Charm, and is preparing to enter one of the pools.  She has and from what we can see something has emerged!  It looks exactly like her but soemthing isn't right - wait!  Cecile is wasting no time and has dove in as well. 

Shock and horror, we can see nothing  in the mirror now!  Perhaps we should turn our attention to another...

And Salem has chosen! The American students will pursue the path of Wealth.  Aand... there they go!  Into the darkness. 

Hogwarts is now left to choose - and if you've been following, they will essentially not only choose their own path, but what option to leave for the witches of Beauxbatons.  Very interesting indeed.  They are conferring and well, that was quick.

Hogwarts will take Glory and that leaves Beauty for the Mesdemoiselles Fontaine!

And the last of the champions disappear into the catacombs and now we are left here in the Chamber of Secrets.  I wonder now how will we be able to follow their progress. Well, it seems that those of us present will be able to view some of the proceedings via four large mirrors.  At this point ... we can see nearly nothing.  Yes, not much at all...

Two long minutes later the crackling static ends with a crackle-snap! and the clean, clear voice of Basil Rathbone returns again.

And we're back.  The Chamber of Secrets has been none too friendly for the Wizarding Wireless Network, but some careful Arithmancy and some charmwork and we are back on the air!  This is Basil Rathbone with the WWN bringing you live coverage of the Second Task of the TetraWizard Tournament, broadcasting now from the Chamber of Secrets.

The champions have just been given their instructions - in their teams of two, they will choose one of four passageways and journey forth together.  They are marked GLORY, WEALTH, KNOWLEDGE, and BEAUTY.  From here, we can hardly see a thing.  The tunnels are either dimly lit or entirely dark.  I'm not sure how the champions will decide, but it looks like Durmstrang is first.

Heinrich Faust is speaking up for Durmstrang and he's chosen... Knowledge!  And now the choice falls to Salem - Milton Steinbeck and Louise Parker.  They seem to be conferring...