---

"Threescore barrels, laid below  to prove old England's overthrow. May the fires light your way tonight- and welcome to the Haunting Hour, listeners.

I hope you are all safe. Truly. In your homes and offices and hospital rooms. Whatever harm has befallen us this past Guy Fawkes night, we have survived and proven ourselves worthy of rest by those acts of kindness shown in volunteers at the Leaky Cauldron. It is commonly said that our mettle is tested most in the wake of disaster. While this says much of last evening's brave helpers and the tender hands of St. Mungo's steady Healers, it does little to recommend the actions of our Ministry's red robed knights.

But who have we to blame but ourselves?

Is it not us who remain silent and inactive in the face of ineptitude? I put it to you tonight my friends: if ever there was a sign... an omen of the times, these explosions are it. A galvanising force. A call to arms. We have been attacked and our Ministry has been found wanting. An evil prevails. One that has no fear of rearing its ugly head by breaching the comforts of our common, everyday haunts. Where once there was a watering hole there is now only a sense of dread.

Because surely, listeners, like me you have asked yourselves the great and dire question:

What next?

If  this inexcusable crime has been allowed to pass - and received so clumsily - then what else can we expect to happen in the coming months? As always, I ask questions and give no answers. You are the answer. You, who continue to seek the Wireless in these late hours in search of something that our Minister does not provide.

Diagon Alley will reek of charred wood for weeks. Even through Christmas, perhaps, it will endure. I see no reason why any measure of festive cheer should make us neglect this lapse of goodness, of efficiency. Lives have been changed forever. And there is my advice for those listeners casting about for comfort in the dark: do not forget. In forgetting, we risk the opportunity to make a genuine change.

Ah. It is likely that I am preaching to the choir.

Don't drift off just yet. I shall return after these messages, to see if the valiant or victimised have anything to say tonight.

---

The wizard's hands worked diligently at the knobs and dials of his antiquated equipment. Balfour made several minute adjustments as he flipped the switches that would allow callers to contact the broadcast through their landlines or Wireless sets. His eyes flickered only briefly off the display - noting his quiet observer - before returning to accept the first call.

“Hello, this is the host of the Haunting Hour." He reached for a blue enamel box on the desk, lifting the lid to reveal rows of neat Russian cigarettes. "How might I help you this night?”

The voice on the other end was recognisable - and without even having to check, Balfour knew she was calling from the hospital.  "Hello, thank you for taking my call." She pauses, "I'm one of the survivors of the Guy Fawkes explosions. I'd like to discuss some criticisms that I have regarding how the ministry has been handling, well.. The series of large, violent crimes that have been happening over the last year or so."

“Excellent." Balfour lit a cigarette. "Would you like to be identified on air or is this an anonymous call?”
            She laughs wryly, "With my accent? It's hardly anonymous. Maiko Biladeau-Yukawa."

“Thank you. If you’ll hold a moment, we’ll be resuming transmission in three... two...”

---

B. “Good evening and welcome back to the Haunting Hour, listeners. We have with us tonight a survivor from the memorable Guy Fawkes explosions in Diagon Alley. Welcome, Miss Biladeau-Yukawa.”

     M. "Ms." She corrects him gently, "Thank you for having me on your show."

B. “Ms. Biladeau-Yukawa. It is our pleasure, believe me. Would you care to comment on the Ministry’s reactions to what you have been through as a victim of these attacks?” 

    M. "It's disorganized. Horribly disorganized. The rescue teams sent out came in without a set plan. They were trying to do their jobs, I respect that. But they were reckless-- by the time they had arrived on scene a third explosion happened. Whoever caused it had been there at the time. Many aurors got trapped as well." She paused, "But afterwards? I'm not so sure they're going to capture the culprit. Culprits. Look at the werewolf attacks, the dementor problem, the hanging bodies at the theatre. Where the ministry has been disorganized and inept, the criminal underground--  or whatever they call it now-- has been flawlessly organized. If they had been taken seriously before, perhaps things would be different."

B. “You have a marvellous manner of putting this into perspective. Are you accusing the Ministry of not taking these crimes seriously enough?”

     M. "Was that not clear? Yes, yes I am. The ministry of magic has a history of not taking serious crimes seriously enough. Of not taking threats seriously enough. Do I have to remind everyone of the wizarding wars?"

B. “Such a reminder would take more time than we have, I believe. You’re not alone in this view. The Ministry of Magic has failed - time and time again - to wake up to signs of looming threat. What do you fear will happen if it continues as it has?”

     M. "More people will die needless deaths, preventable deaths. More will be hurt in other ways-- physically, psychologically. Our people have been left with enough scars, we shouldn't be adding to them. This-- I don't know what to call it-- apathy? Ineptitude? It is a toxin that's poisoning our ministry."

B. “I couldn't agree more." A beat as he considered the next question, aware of his agenda. "Would you consider yourself a political activist?”

     M. "I've never thought of myself in that way before. But, I suppose I am, in some way. Yes."

B. "And do you think that political activism is one of the ways in which we can incite real change in the Ministry’s behaviour? Or is all lost?”

     M. "Yes, it is. Not all is lost. What we have is still salvageable. But it needs to change. Nonviolent political activism is the best way to approach this."

B. “It’s interesting that you specify nonviolent. Wise of you, in fact. Considering the nature and timing of these recent explosions, would you consider them a form of violent political activism? A nudge to the wizarding world at large?”

     M. "If it's got a political agenda, then it's an act of terrorism. But something tells me that it's more complex than that. There's something more at play. It's like... It's as if the ministry is being toyed with. Like we are being toyed with."

B. "And nobody likes to be toyed with. If that is the case, one might assume a sole proprietor of these criminal acts. Or do you believe, as suggested in our previous broadcasts, that the threat is coming from within?”

     M. "Why can't it be both? Threats from within working with threats from outside? I don't know what it is. But it's foolish to think it could only be one way or the other."

B. “More often than not, it is both, I cannot deny that. But then we must live with the realisation that our enemies surround us - and we do not know what... what they look like. They might be our closest friends. An air of distrust shall persist. Of course, Hogwarts remains untouched thus far Ms. Biladeau-Yukawa. Do you feel safe at the castle?”

     M. "I do feel safe at Hogwarts. The staff is more than competant, the headmistress and the deputy head are strong leaders who know what they are doing, and what is necessary to run a safe, welcome, and high quality school. When dementors showed up on campus-- the staff handled it efficiently and with care. As far as campus and student safety goes... I trust my coworkers whole heartedly."

B. “A bastion of good sense in these uncertain times.”  Balfour glanced at the time. “Is there anything else you would like to say, for the benefit of our listeners this evening?”

     M. "Not at this moment, thank you."

B. “Thank you for your time and words. I can only hope that others feel as passionately as you do about the state of our Ministry, in light of the attacks. A gentle reminder to those of you straddling the fence of political neutrality? We will be back in a moment to wish you good night, ghosts and ghouls.”

---

“... that’s us off the air Ms. Biladeau-Yukawa.” Balfour leaned back in his chair, feeling the tension of the radio persona dissipate ever so slightly.

He was glad this was over with. "Perfect." Maiko responded.  "We'll... See how this goes."
   
“Indeed." He managed in monotone, smiling wearily to himself and hoping that somehow she might be able to hear it in his voice. "Good night and tread safely.”

"You too, dear. Goodnight."

The switches were flicked off. Balfour pinched the bridge of his nose and tried not to think about what they were getting themselves into. But even in spite of that fledgling fear, he hoped they were listening. All of them: the aurors, the Ministry, his peers. They needed to listen before it was too late - even if he felt that maybe that time had already come and gone.