Justin Finch-Fletchley

I hadn't expected this, but he's running for it. Or possibly it was a ruse to draw me, but that hardly matters.

Rachel's gone--she went alone. I say, jolly well ironic, isn't it?

If you see this, come to Penzance, the shoreline near the stone. Bring extra wands, if you can do.

I said I wouldn't seek him out but he'll get away, if he's not bluffing. And Rachel--

Dash it all, Ron's on a detail and can't read his journal; Sirius can't Apparate, he'd be a sitting duck. Draco's on shift as well, by this time.

I've got to go. I can't--she's not a match in his current form. But together, perhaps.


Je t'aime bien, ma chérie. I'll see you again.

-Justin

Hullo,

Draco, how are you settling in to your impersonation?

Gents, Hydra's heard part of this already but: I don't think I'm going to get to Corbyn this way. For one thing he's too careful. Always Apparates directly where he's going, never eats in public restaurants, and when he is in public he's never alone. Moreover I can only maintain surveillance on one location at a time. Now that Draco's at the Elysian, I may change over and find a place to set up outside Ouroboros, instead.

What I think is needed are some good strategies for creating circumstances in which it's possible to take him unawares--well, anyone, really, but in particular Corbyn for right now. I don't want to ask Rachel to commit ever more resources, what, as you and the others all have quite enough to do already. But it's clearly going to be necessary to change one's methods every time, as their people are dashed effective at adapting and tightening security. Not that that's surprising, but it does make things rather inconvenient.

If he lived alone, I'd chance trying to dismantle his wards, or bluff my way in. That might well work for another sort of target. Corbyn has a family, what.

Diversions or commotions requiring them to respond is a trick that can only work so often. Perhaps I should take a leaf out of Draco's book and find a barber, masseuse, aesthetist or other service employee to replace who can get me within arm's length of the chap.

-Justin

Ron,

We're up. I've just spotted Dyson, coming out of the Elysian. I say, it looks like he's decided to walk back toward Westminster.

Can you Apparate to that corner by the embankment? Near the great ugly statue on the park side. If we can cut him off there, we can Apparate away and they might not immediately connect that we picked him up from the club.

Let's see what he can tell us before we do anything else, what.

-Justin

Target acquired. Auror Peel should be on her way out of NL by now (if you're reading this, Ms Peel, do go before it gets too risky to remain, and thank you very much). I'll follow along shortly.

Oh, and....I say, he has a satchel of gold. Should I bring it back or return it to Gringott's on my way?

-F-F

I was recently reminded that there are multiple sides to every story. Nowhere is that more evident than this morning's Prophet, in which Miss Baddock gave a rather redacted account of her ordeal at Hogwarts.

Miss Baddock, rest assured that at least among your fellow students who are also members of the Order of the Phoenix, we have every possible sympathy for the trauma you suffered. I can also assure you that at least three of us who would have been ordered to kill our schoolmates--myself, Hydra, and Ron--had absolutely no intention to do so. In fact, Hydra and I were the ones who recovered everyone's wands and armed the students so they could protect themselves and escape. I'm dreadfully sorry that so many were unable to reach safety.

But that order, when it came, was not from Harry, but Voldemort in Harry's form. The ones who followed it were not members of the Order, but Councilwizards and servants of the Ministry.

I know that many of you who knew me at school may well doubt me. You recall someone who dogged Professor Dolohov's heels, who was perhaps cold or standoffish. I say, I regret that my work for the Order required me at times to behave in a way which is somewhat contrary to my nature.

Perhaps it would help to back up a few steps and remind everyone of the reasons I remained in the Protectorate when the rest of the Beauxbatons delegation returned to France. Most people attributed my decision to my infatuation with Hydra Lestrange. That was and remains undeniably true: I did base a great deal of my decision on an unwillingness to part with her. The other reason I gave my teachers, the Ministry and other sponsors of my transfer of citizenship was also true, only not in the way they were given to think. I said in my letter of intent (nearly three years ago): 'I look forward to realising the rights, privileges and duties incumbent on all Citizens to ensure our future by securing our present.'

I already knew at that time that I was including all citizens, Muggle, Squib, Muggleborn, Halfblood and Pureblood.

I already was acquainted with members of the Order of the Phoenix, actually before I ever even began school at Beauxbatons. When I came here for the Quidditch World Cup, I was already thinking of ways to aid their cause.

When I met Hydra, I say, I fancied her nearly from the first, before I even knew who her parents were. When I found out, I tried to tell myself how foolish it was to pursue her. Only, by then, I'd begun to learn who she was, and to see that she bore very, very little in common with her parents. Gradually, we grew closer, and the closer we grew, the more I could not imagine any course but remaining to be near to her.

Anyone who is familiar with the Lestranges must understand that they had quite specific expectations of their daughter. Often these were not only in conflict with what she wanted for her own life, they actually contradicted each other, and even sometimes their own previous instruction. Hydra is one of the most capable, bravest, strongest persons I know, precisely because she grew up learning to navigate her parents' particular brands of abuse, treachery, mixed signals and utter disregard for her own ambitions. She's done so well that I don't think there's anyone on earth who can intimidate, bully, or even unsettle her. I pity anyone who tries to cross her.

We tried concealing our regard for one another; that didn't work. We tried separating; that made us miserable. We tried carrying on in secret; that didn't work. Finally we decided that it was pointless and harmful to ourselves to deny our feelings. Even though she was attempting to gain Riddle's notice as a Councilwitch, we remained committed to each other. We told no one outside our circle of friends, most of whom were in the Order along with us and understood completely. We'd all seen how Riddle treated others in his circle when it came to matters of the heart and neither of us were interested in becoming puppets for his amusement. The very same day she was given the Dark Mark, she and I eloped.

I'm ever so proud, pleased and humbled to call Hydra Finch-Fletchley my wife.

Harry, Ron,

Everything going all right? How are you getting on? I say, do not return straight to Gryffindor right away if you've already retrieved the fang. And do not go to the salle, either. Just tell us when you're back in Myrtle's bathroom.

Professor Sandoval-Pennifold just popped in on the salle and has dragged 'Ron' back to the Tower to help tutor younger students. 'Harry' went along as well (because Sally-Anne wasn't about to let Pansy go by herself, what). But it means we've got to smuggle you two back in and them back out of Gryffindor Tower before their potion wears off.

Sally-Anne, Pansy, are you two doing all right? Ginny, you'll help them, I trust. I daresay Sally-Anne's already familiar enough with the Gryffindor boys' dormitory, what!

-Justin

We commandeered a Floo, since we were all too tired to risk Apparating to Hogsmeade. And Professor Desai was badly injured. So we're all back and dispersed from the Headmaster's office. Sally-Anne came back with us, as well, and is assisting her to the Hospital Wing.

Well, I should say everyone's back except Hydra, what. We were about to leave and Bellatrix Lestrange told her she had to stay and help with interrogation. I say, I hope she'll be able to misdirect MLE to some extent.

I...I say, I know I speak for her and for Ron when I can tell you that today was one of our most difficult tasks. Knowing that we had to choose among every person running from the fires and those monsters, whether to let them get away, to risk injuring them and allowing their capture, or to simply kill them so they could not give anything to the enemy. It was especially hard when one could tell they'd just survived a harrowing ordeal with the Inferi, and were fighting to get back to the base camp, what, though that doesn't mean it was any less horrible when they were merely running for their lives.

The last--two hours or so.... I can't even begin to describe how many times one had to suppress every urge to protest. I'm sure it's going to be a long time before any of us get a proper night's sleep.

I'm sorry. For Major Davidson, for everyone at Sherwood, for the citizens of Ollerton.... There's nothing else to say, what. I'm so dashed sorry we had to participate in that charade.

I'm bally well sure some of you may not understand or may want to talk to us about what happened. Mrs Longbottom, we'll try to put together our brief soon, but...please, I beg of you, give us a little time to--recover.


-Finch-Fletchley

Everyone,

We're all back at Hogwarts.

Madam Pomfrey, I'm so terribly sorry about Mr Dearborn. We were all told to be on the lookout especially for anyone who looked like he was setting out a perimeter or casting anything remotely like a Fidelius. Professor Dolohov saw Mr Dearborn and--I say, there was simply no way to intervene.

There was little way to intervene in any of the dashed awful business, what.

At any rate, the Headmaster has recommended that we test our endurance as the potions he gave us leave our systems. I intend to see how long it takes for it to wear off completely; he indicated that we should likely pass out for hours once we're no longer under its influence.

I say, I hope it doesn't take very long. I already feel as if I could sleep through the rest of the week.

We were at least able to keep Finnigan and Patil away while several dozen refugees fled under cover of the smoke. Up until the end, that is. There was one group that ran straight into Patil's path.

We were allowed to stay for the debriefing once the camp residents were subdued. I'll write up a full report, Mrs Longbottom, and send it to you and Mr Lupin once Ron and Hydra and I have all had a chance to talk together without anyone else present. We're all healthy, however, and safe.

-Finch-Fletchley

Good afternoon, all.

How is everyone coping today? I say, Corner and I were up all night brewing. I came back to Hufflepuff at almost four in the morning and was too exhausted not to sleep. I've just woken up about half an hour ago.

Would anyone like to go and work in the salle? I'm going to head up there after I've had a spot of tea and toast. If someone else is using the space, I believe I shall go to the secret room and work there.

Voldemort's a dashed coward. He's jolly well thrashing about looking for someone to blame but just remember, it's like a tiny child having a tantrum. It means he knows he's vulnerable.

I say, we can press our advantage by making sure we're bally well ready to stand up to him next time.

-F-F

Good morning,

It was Theo Nott, Sr. The target, what. It was Nott.

I say, I believe I impressed them both, though they did not ask me to perform any particularly horrible act. Well, apart from assisting them, of course, but they didn't ask me to cast the killing curse or anything of that nature.

It wasn't an experience I'm keen to relive, what, but I suspect I shall be given the opportunity whether I want it or not. Still, it's a significant step toward earning their trust.

I'm all right. Please tell Mrs Longbottom that I'm fine.

-Justin