River = Lee

Royal = Kingsley

Romulus = Remus

Rapier = Fred

Rowdier = George

Rawer = Bill

Ridgeback = Hagrid

Rather = McGonagall

Riser = Neville

Ranger = Charlie

Runner = Ginny

Raven = Angelina Johnson

"Phewt… That was something… I hope Rapier is… No! Fred… NO! Wake up! Wake up you git! Don't just give in on us! Fred… Fred...?"

Sobbing…

"Lee… He's gone..."

"NO! He's Fred Weasley! He's not dead! He can have..."

"Lee… Come on..."

"He can't die… Fred Weasley cannot die… He deserves better..."

"I know… I know… Lee… Listen to me… We're getting everyone back to the Great Hall now… Yes, including Fred. Would you lend me a hand?"

Silence. Then whispers, sobbings, groanings.

"Thank you, Lee… Are you still live on the air?

"Do you mind trying some light reporting now? How it felt, what the castle looks like, the casualties… Harry..."

"Er… Right… Sorry Hannah… Sorry…

"Listeners, sorry for the not-so-brief pause of commentating before. We were at war, obviously, and Voldemort ordered ceasefire, as you may have heard. The castle… Is still standing. I guarantee you, it is still standing as I have just arrived at the Great Hall from the seventh floor. It is a mess, though. A wall was gone on the seventh floor, no complete statues or suits of armor could be found in the castle. Most corridors are covered in dust, glass, and… Various liquids. The portraits are mostly unharmed but all the portrait people are here in the Great Hall to get some information. The ghosts are here too. All looking serious and silent. Even peeves. It seems like Hogwarts has never been through an ordeal like this. Salutes to the founders for making it as strong as it is. It is a miracle for not falling down on us today… You were not here.. It was shaking like mad earlier…

"Now onto the casualties… Ladies and Gentlemen, we have suffered gravely tonight. I regret to inform you that Fred Weasley, known to you as Rapier, or Rodent, or another dozen of names, Remus Lupin, known to you as Romolus and one of the best Defence teachers Hogwarts had in the past decade, and his wife, Nymphadora Tonks Lupin are amongst the deceased. With them, we have Sally-Anne Perks, a seventh year Ravenclaw, Sturgis Podmore, a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and Ephias Doge, also a beloved member of the Order. Lavender Brown and Firenze the Centaur are severely injured and require immediate medical attention, which is already covered by Madam Pomfrey. Bodies are still being found and brought into the Great Hall, so are the injured. This is what we have now for the identified… The Weasleys and Hermione Granger are surrounding Fred's body now. All the best to you all, especially you, George. Losing a twin brother just like that… Where is Harry Potter though, he should be here. After all the Weasleys are basically his family... Professor, what time is it?"

"2:37, why?"

"When was the..."

"We still have 23 minutes."

"And has anyone…?"

"No. Keep broadcasting. And ask the Weasleys if you need."

"Professor..."

"Longbottom, Wood, need you two!"

"All right… It's pretty quiet down here, but pretty busy. People are crying… But more are comforting or treating each other. We are a family now. We are all in this together, looking after each other's back. Ahhhh Hestia are you alright?"

"Yes. Thank you, Lee, it's just broken. Poppy will get it soon. There are people much worse off, I'd Lavender Brown yet? Bitten by Greyback. All the bombs and explosions and so… Glad we can have a break. Hope we can get it over with soon and alive."

"Thank you Hestia. Have you seen Harry?"

"Harry? No… Don't you think… No… He wouldn't… Have you talked to the Weasleys yet? They sure would know where he is."

"Thank you again. Oh and we have found another body… Wood, isn't he..."

"Colin Creevey, you're right. Still underage. Must have sneaked back to fight. Poor lad..."

"Colin Creevey… The photographer from Gryffindor, one of the most loyal supporters of Harry Potter… He's been on the run for the year with his brother, Dennis. Dennis, if you are listening… We hope you are still safe… Your brother was a brave man; a hero. We will remember him. He fought a grown man's battle, if no more.

"Mr Weasley… Have you seen Harry?"

"Harry? No… Why…? Don't you think..."

"What's happening? What Harry? Ron? Hermione?"

"What's going on?"

"Harry. Have you seen him?"

"Wait… He was with us coming back from the Shrieking Shack..."

"Snape died."

"We were walking back together… And then..."

"When did you last see him?"

"Walking into the Great Hall. We were together."

"He shouldn't… He's not here… Can you see him?"

"No… He's not here… Not that I can see him… He might have the cloak on, though."

"Why would he have the cloak on in here?"

"Don't know… So that no one sees him?"

"But it doesn't make sense… He doesn't hide from us… Or he shouldn't, I'd say. It's not like we blame him or anything… It's also not like we will give him up easily… We're still here, and we will be here for him until the last second..."

"Thanks, Rawer, for the support. Oh Riser, you look terrible."

"Nah, it's just cuts and bruises. I'll be alright. I just saw Harry."

"You did? Where? When?"

"Less than an hour ago. On the grounds. I was picking up Colin with Wood, Wood said he could do it alone and left, Harry just appeared."

"And then?"

"He told me to kill that snake. What is it, Ron? Hermione?"

"He didn't!"

"He did. He told me he had stuff to do, that only he could do. He wasn't giving himself in though, he said. I told him we are all fighting till the last second."

"He told you he had stuff to do? Alone?"

"What? You guys don't know what it is? What… NO! He didn't!"

"Damn it, that selfless git! Noble prat!"

"Ginny..."

"Don't tell me to watch my mouth! One, it's mine and I can use it whatever way I want, and two it's on my face, I cannot see it, let alone watch it!"

"Oh… Ginny..."

"Hermione… Ron..."

Silence.

"What time is it?"

"3:45"