The Quality of a Hogwarts Education

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 188210

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Meliss9900 at ... wrote:
Xelina: 
> We  don't know much about
> circumstances of Bones and Vance murders, they could  have been found
> just laying in a street, which would also cause the police  to get
> involved.
 
Melissa:
> We do know of the Bones murder from HBp.  She was found in a room that  was 
> locked from the from the inside.  

Geoff:
I think we pick up a little more than that in the chapter.

As well as her body being found in a locked room, the PM 
comments just prior to that:

'"But that murder was in the newspapers." said the Prime 
Minister, momentarily diverted from his anger. "**Our** 
newspapers. Amelia Bones.... it just said that she was a 
middle-aged woman who lived alone...'"
(HBP "The Other Minister" p.19 UK edition)

She was obviously known - at least slightly - by Muggles, 
as she was apparently living in a Muggle London area.

And when Fudge raises the matter of Emmeline Vance, the 
PM appears to be slightly ruffled and defensive again:

'Fudge sighed... "And then there was Emmeline Vance,
maybe you didn't hear about that one-"
'"Oh yes I did!" said the Prime Minister. "It happened just 
round the corner from here, as a matter of fact. The papers 
had a field day with it: Breakdown of law and order in the 
Prime Minister's back yard-"'
(ibid.)

The implication again that the victim was in a Muggle area.

And, finally, there is circumstantial evidence earlier in the 
chapter. The Prime Minister is contemplating events...

'And how dared anyone suggest that it was lack of policemen 
that had resulted in those two very nasty and well-publicised 
murders?'
(ibid. p.8 UK edition)

You may question whether this refers to the murders 
discussed earlier in my post, but it is interesting that 
the PM knows enough about the two murders Fudge 
mentions to recognise the names and circumstances....

I rest my case.