The wizarding world was small. Seven or eight people dying at once was impossible to cover up.
And so, the next day, a report titled "Utterly vicious! Pettigrew blows up eight wizards!" sent shock waves through Britain's wizarding world.
According to the survivors, they had been holding a dinner party at Runcorn's castle that day when a sleazy wizard suddenly barged in. He seized Runcorn and threatened to kill him and their friends unless everyone joined the Death Eaters.
To save Runcorn and their friends, several wizards had been forced to pretend to agree to Peter Pettigrew's demands and let him brand them with the "Dark Mark."
Later, while Pettigrew was distracted branding everyone with the Dark Mark, Auror captain Rasim Selwyn, who had been recuperating from an illness at Runcorn's castle, happened to appear. Since he had not been present earlier, his wand had not been confiscated. To rescue the captive wizards, he attacked Peter Pettigrew, and a fierce battle ensued.
During the melee, Peter Pettigrew used his wand to cause a terrible explosion, killing several upstanding wizards.
Pettigrew and Runcorn, however, were nowhere to be found.
People suspected they might also have died in the explosion, though others believed Pettigrew must have escaped with his hostage.
"Master, do you think this version will do?"
In the Rosier Family's mansion, Murphy listened to Ansetus's report.
The latter had just finished his third interview with Rita Skeeter. The Watchmen and Aurors would be coming to question him later.
"It's a little contrived, but let's leave it at that."
"Should we investigate Pettigrew's whereabouts and kill him? He may be a fugitive, but if the Aurors catch him and discover he never came here, our story won't hold up."
"Pettigrew?"
Murphy shook his head. "No need. There's no way they'll catch