[ "YOU CHARMED THE HEART OUT OF ME” BY THE LATE CELESTINA WARBECK IS CUT OFF BY THE BLARING OF THE BREAKING NEWS THEME. ANDY SMUDGLEY BEGINS TO SPEAK AS THE MUSIC TAPERS OFF. HE SOUNDS TENSE, ON EDGE ]
A. SMUDGLEY : WE INTERRUPT THIS BROADCAST TO BRING YOU BREAKING NEWS... at least three are dead and more injured at what was meant to be a routine campaign dinner for ministerial candidate flavia scrimgeour ! our political correspondent, kit gerrard, is on the scene now -
[ KRRZZT — THE SOUND OF THE RADIO CRACKLING ]
A. SMUDGLEY : kit, what can you tell us about what’s happening ?
[ KIT GERRARD IS HEARD, HER VOICE WAVERING, MUTED. A CROWD IS HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND — PANICKED, LOUD, DISORGANISED ]
K. GERRARD : the situation here is chaos, even as campaign officials and aurors struggle to lock down the building. i’m huddled under a table with several guests awaiting further instruction from the auror department. it’s hard to know what happened — ... cloaks and masks... - curses flying everywhere for an eternity - it looked like a dozen people had been hit —
[ ANOTHER CRACKLE, LONGER — KRZZZZTTTT ]
K. GERRARD : flavia scrimgeour — ... dead —
A. SMUDGLEY : kit, are you saying that flavia scrimgeour has been killed ?
K. GERRARD : i think so — i think —
[ ONE FINAL CRACKLE — KRZZT — BEFORE THE LINE GOES DEAD. A BEAT OF SILENCE BEFORE OUR FIRST BROADCASTER SPEAKS AGAIN, PANIC LEAKING INTO HIS VOICE FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT NIGHT ]
A. SMUDGLEY : kit ? kit, can you hear me ?
[ A SILENCE OF AROUND TEN SECONDS, THE ONLY SOUND THE QUICK BREATHS OF THE BROADCASTER AND THE STATIC OF THE RADIO ]
A. SMUDGLEY : we’re going to try and get kit back on the line, but this is a developing story. please, stay tuned for updates — please, get somewhere safe —
[ KRZT — “YOU CHARMED THE HEART RIGHT OUT OF ME” BEGINS TO PLAY FROM WHERE IT LEFT OFF — 🎵 YOU MAY NOT HAVE PLAYED FAIR, BUT FRANKLY I DON'T CARE... 'CAUSE WITHOUT YOU I DESPAIR, LOST IN MISERY... OH, BABE, YOU CHARMED THE HEART RIGHT OUT OF 🎵 — ]
OUT OF CHARACTER :
just after nine pm on the 14th of february, 2022, the wizarding wireless network ( often abbreviated to just the wwn ) made the above emergency announcement. the only people who really heard the original broadcast - and not the tape that’ll be entered into the ministry archives in the not so distant future - were the ones who stayed home to celebrate valentine’s day instead of heading out to one of the many events running across the country. tired parents unwinding after finally getting their kids to sleep / ministry officials only now getting in the door after a painfully long day / older lovers who didn’t need the excitement of amortentia ( or the cosiness of the three broomsticks ) when they had the dulcet tones of celestina warbeck and a candlelit kitchen to slow dance across, instead. it was a mod podge of magical folk if eevr there was one, but the fear was all the same.
it was only five minutes later when teams of aurors began to arrive at the doors of the more publiscised valentine’s events. the overheard lights were thrown on at amortentia and guests of the flint / parkinson engagement party were coralled back into the ballroom with minimal explanation as to why outside of, ‘lockdown, effective immediately.’ the process of placing protective wards around the buildings was a slow one started immediately, and the aurors were given strict instructions that they were intent on following - no one was allowed in, and no one was allowed out. with the situation at flavia scrimgeour’s home deemed dire, there was no way of knowing how much danger was posed to everyone else.
this is a DEVELOPING SITUATION, which means that the only information available to characters right now is the broadcast that the wider wix world has heard in full, but that many of them may not have. that’s not to say you can’t run wild with it, though - you have a full week to enjoy the lockdown portion of this event ( which may involve a few updates along the way... ), and people talk. doing our first plot drop of 2022 this way was intentional : in life, things happen outside of our lives all the time, and drama spreads like wildfire. what you guys choose to do with that is up to you !
if you have ANY questions or concerns, as always, you are welcome to shoot them my way !
SCRIMGEOUR LIVES & ISSUES STATEMENT TO CONCERNED SUPPORTERS & VALENTINE’S EVE ATTACKERS !
speaking from the front steps of st mungo’s hospital, the ministerial hopeful widely rumored to have been tragically KILLED in the attack upon her home late last night had this to say to gathered reporters :
“ first and foremost, i ask for your forgiveness and understanding for my brief silence. last night’s attack at a dinner party i hosted forced me to take pause & evaluate my campaign. we lost several dear staffers and supporters, and we hold their loved ones close to our hearts as they navigate this UNBEARABLE tragedy. for those who are now on the mend from their injuries, we admire your ongoing strength and wish you all the best. i thank the magnificent healers of st mungo’s, who never cease to amaze me with their courage & quick response. no words can do my gratitude justice, however i will be donating a signficant portion of my recent campaign funds to the hospital. i look forward to collaborating with their board on future initiatives to promote safety, health and above all equitable care in our community.
i cannot lie to you all : at the time of the attack, i was frightened. the fear was qucikly followed by worry & sorrow. a cycle of emotions we are all too familiar with. for countless years, we have been forced to live with dark clouds looming over us, dimming the brightest of our days. cowards, who attack during periods of peace and celebrations. BIGOTS, who target school children - the most innocent of our community. they are the lowest of the low, and they simply must go. i feel the sorrow & the worry still. but more than that, i am angry. i am angry at the men before me who let fear decide our fates. we can no longer play nice or play pretend with those who threaten our community. anyone who threatens our democracy, our livelihood, must be eradicated. as your minister of magic, i promise i will not let our lives be ruled by a reign of terror. i will fight back, tooth and nail, until every death eater sympathiser is stripped of their power. i will lock them up and toss away the key. and TOGETHER, we will build a future of clear skies.
i am flavia scrimgeour and i am proud to be in the running to be your minister. i will fight for you, your children, and your children’s children. i will fight to put an end to this cycle of war, despire, intolerance. and with your support, i will WIN. to those who wish me dead - better luck next time. “
