Justin Finch-Fletchley

Good evening,

I'm sorry not to have written before now but with everything else Saturday night, I didn't wish to add to the trouble. Yesterday we were all looking after Pansy, and I spent the last two evenings after arriving back at school going over Professor Dolohov's pending business, so it's only now that I've had a moment to write.

I was rather hoping that there would be some official reports of Minister Fudge's disappearance before now. That was the reason Professor Dolohov and I were summoned to Court on Saturday, what. Apparently Voldemort wanted a very clear message sent regarding the Ministry's failure to suppress the resistance efforts within the country. I'm sorry, I couldn't find a way to write and tell anyone once we were given the task. We were...a long time about it, what, and by the time we had done, everyone else was focused on George. Quite right, what.

I did hear a very brief mention on the wireless that Minister Fudge had 'fallen ill' and that there would be a formal address tomorrow morning. I can't imagine what will be included in that address, but believe me, this is an illness from which Cornelius Fudge shall never recover.

Lee, I wish I could tell you to confirm that he was assassinated, what, but with the way the Ministry are controlling the news, I believe it's far too risky to broadcast that claim. Even if everyone at the Ministry knows what happened, someone reporting it as fact would either point directly to me (as the only other perpetr eyewitness) or prompt an exhaustive investigation at the Ministry, which might well implicate Bill or Rachel.

Perhaps, though, the radio might speculate strongly as to the cause of his 'illness' and its timing, so close on the heels of Professor Dumbledore's coup at Dover. That may be the best we can do at present.

Before anyone asks--yes, I'm all right. It was grisly and despicable but I shall be fine.

Hullo,

Look, there's something I don't think anyone else mentioned before. Pettigrew had a Dark Mark. He mentioned regretting taking it but he admitted he had joined Voldemort. I'm not sure he'll honour his promise. He did offer an Unbreakable but we've never done one before so we told him it would be an Unbreakable soon, what, but I don't trust him not to try to run away before we can make it official.

So, there's one other option we haven't discussed.

I could simply take Pettigrew out onto the grounds somewhere and kill him.

Before you say it's too harsh, I've been thinking about it. It resolves a number of questions. He's confessed to his crimes and it's clear he has nothing of use to offer. We could wait for a chance to smuggle him to the safehouse but there's a risk he'll try to get away, in any case.

If you wanted to handle it that way, Harry needn't know. Ron could get me the cage and I'll simply take care of it. Tonight.

-Justin

Hullo,

I wonder if you are both available for lunch today, if I came round to Doughty or to Grimmauld?

I say, Professor Dolohov's invited me to accompany him and Auror Crouch on what I must assume is an extra-curricular activity. Naturally, I've said yes, what. It may be our best chance yet to find out what they're about.

-Justin

Hello, all,

Ron, Harry, Draco and I went down to the Ministry today to test for our Apparation licences. I say, they were a bit taken aback that Draco and Harry were there, what, but they let them fill out the parchment and pay their application fees without any question.

Harry went first, then Draco, then they called me in and Ron went last of us.

We all passed but one and Ron plans to go back again on Tuesday. (I say, think nothing of it, old man, I quite agree it was bally well ridiculous of them. You've Apparated loads of times, what.)

Congratulations again, Harry and Draco, and Ron, Tuesday's sure to go perfectly.

Sirius, I'm expected with the Jugsons on Sunday but I ought to be able to come by after dinner. Around 7:00? Or is that too close to Bea's bedtime and I should wait?

Sally-Anne, if you want to know more about Professor Dolohov's house before you go, I say, I'm happy to tell. We never did get back to it after that last round of Snap.

-Justin

Hallo,

I've had a letter from the Ministry, inviting me to spend the holidays as an intern in International Magical Relations.

I intend to accept, of course, but wanted to let you know. If there's anything I could do for the Order while I'm in the Ministry, what, I should be pleased to do it. At the very least, I thought it would present an excellent opportunity to meet Bill, Jeremy and Auror Lamont in the context of a workplace.

I say, I don't expect International Magical Relations will be fraught with intrigue but I thought perhaps I might learn more about the warding systems, which might be useful.

Of course, I don't expect to have any reason to go to MLE, but I'm quite confident that my Occlumency would be up to the task if I were to find myself faced with a Legilimens.

If there's any other information you'd like to hear about the internship, I'm happy to oblige.

-Justin

Sirius,

I've been reading back through the Order conversations and I wanted to ask... do you think we might be able to get a message to my mother? Perhaps someone could give a letter to that Aleks chap who meets you at the solstice--I say, that's this Friday, isn't it?--and he might send it through the Muggle post, what? I'd like to let her know that everything's all right.

I'm not going to be allowed to leave the Jugsons' house for a few days (don't worry about it; just a misunderstanding about their servant...and Hydra's cat), but I could certainly send you the letter via owl.

If it's too late to arrange anything of that sort, I'm sure it'll keep. And of course, it goes without saying that if you think it's too dangerous, I'll of course defer to that judgement.

I...know she can't reply, what, but...well, I have quite a lot to tell her. About Hydra and...everything. Which is why I thought handing it across the wards would be the safest way, so it shan't be intercepted.

What do you think?

-Justin

Hallo, Terry,

How are you? I say, we've all descended upon the Weasleys, to do what we can to help them. I do wish we could have everyone together, you and Hermione. I'm sure you'd have liked to come, if it were possible, what?

Ron's holding up, I suppose. It's helped that so many of us are here, though there's a constant stream of well-wishers. And Mr Weasley's lying in state, as it were, and that's a bit, odd, but I suppose one gets used to it.

But then something very curious happened. Hydra's cousin, Mrs Ponds, came to visit with her husband and their daughter. And they brought the family dog along.

Pansy and I had never met their dog but we did know this dog.

I say, Terry, old man, when you were learning animagery, did you.... Did you by chance have help from Sirius?

Because we're pretty well certain he's masquerading as the Ponds' dog.

Are we right? Ought we to share it with the others?

I'm sure you have loads of questions as have we but--oh, dash it, I wish you could be here with us all. Not just so we can all talk but for Ron, as well. Do you think it's possible? We could say you're some country cousin no one would be likely to know. No one would think twice, there are so many people about.

Could you come? If not, I hope you can answer, at least.

-Justin

Hermione,

How are you?

I say, thanks again for making it possible to see Sirius. Though I feel sorry you had to spend so much time alone on that hillside, what?

I suppose I was surprised that he looked so...healthy. I mean to say, it's only logical that he has friends who'll help him but somehow I expected he's been living rough more than it appeared. I do wish he'd been a little clearer about the plans he and his allies are making but I can well understand why he might stay cagey about that, what? I'm glad, at least, that he's willing to entertain the idea we'd all join up eventually.

I'm also well glad he finally got a chance to meet Hydra properly! His letters are always careful in what he has to say but I can tell he's been skeptical about her. It's no wonder, what, coming from her family, though he of all people ought to realise that the child need not take after the parents!

We talked a bit about Professor Dolohov but not as long as I'd have liked. I know Sally-Anne's become quite impressed with him in a very short time. I must admit I've a different reaction to his attention. Not as visceral as Neville's perhaps, but then--I think I've more cause, since he will insist on trying to convince me I'm some sort of bally old Dark Arts prodigy. (Which is utter nonsense, it's just a mind-game he's playing at, I'm sure.)

The only thing I regret is not having renewed the warming charms on my cloak and gloves. And I ought to have chosen a warmer hat. It's a good job we got a nice, thick soup for supper this evening, what! I say, I sat as bally well close to the fire as I could get last night, in the common room, and it helped but not nearly enough. I've cast a fresh charm on my jumper, too, but it doesn't seem to make me feel any less shivery.

I say, you'd mentioned that Harry might want to spend some time comparing notes on Sirius and I just wanted to tell you that would be smashing, as far as I'm concerned. Completely at his service, anytime.

-Justin

Hullo, All,

I'm back at the Jugsons' and Remy has been telling Alfie all about our 'adventures,' as he calls them, what. At least he's not well excited about Madam Umbridge coming to Hogwarts to run the YPL. I say, it probably would have been too difficult to hold my tongue if he were.

I was a bit worried at first that Remy would be jealous because I earned two of those bally old awards and he had none. It's odd, though, because he seemed even more proud of them than I am, as if somehow it reflects on him as well. Alfie was more upset by it than Remy, what? I'm not half sure what to make of that.

But at least it's over for the nonce. Although it sounds as if Madam Umbridge has no intention of allowing us to rest during the year, what? I say, I've never been quite so sorry to be right as when we learned she'll be quartered at school.

Speaking of which, when do you lot expect to go to Diagon Alley for your school things? Thankfully, the Jugsons have scheduled no more parties but it should be relatively simple to arrange to meet whenever others are going to New London.

I've been thinking more about Sirius' letter to you, Sally-Anne. In particular about his saying that we should all be talking more with each other about our opinions. I say, I don't know what you asked, apart from what you said, but I think he might mean that if we've already made friends we trust, we ought not to stop trusting them just because we think something different to one another. Or perhaps because we're afraid that those thoughts will end the friendship.

I think the Protectorate wishes us to distrust one another and to think that each of us is alone in any misgivings we might have. I think it works, what? I mean to say, Darius was so upset mainly because he didn't think he could talk to anyone. Luna, that's not your fault, what, nor anyone's in particular, except that no one wished to be the one who stepped forward. Or perhaps no one thought it was his place to do so.

It makes one wonder how many others are foundering in their own doubts, what?

It's got me to thinking about what we can do, as a group. Not bringing more people into the lock, obviously; I'm not going to open up that can of worms again, what!--but perhaps there's something to be done under the guise of something innocuous. What about a club? We could make it invitational and only invite the ones we think are bound to be reasonable. And Lee and the twins could come as well. Perhaps we could create some sort of educational lecture that we could have if we think someone's untrustworthy?

-Justin

Well.

It's no surprise that a few people have had one or two choice things to say about that tripe that appeared on the first night of term.

I'm not sure who he thinks he's defending, what, or where he's getting his information, but the effort's unnecessary and moreover, well unappreciated.

Meanwhile, I should only like to say that I've had nothing but good experiences with Hogwarts' students thus far and I hope to continue this term. I've quite enjoyed getting to know so many people here and seeing what the Protectorate values in its students. The Tri-Wizard activities have been well excellent, particularly the Yule Ball, and I look forward to trying the YPL challenge coming up at the end of the month.

As for the rumours about my troubles with Beauxbatons' students, I mean to say, it's been nothing more than anyone might expect when lads have a few laughs together. I'm sure everyone here has exchanged a few good-natured hexes now and then; mishaps happen, of course, but generally everyone knows there's no harm done. If I had wished to take the offensive, believe me, I should have done long before the 23^rd. I simply found no reason to take such a decision. I'm well sorry, in fact, that M Toubon let his wand run away with him and tried a spell before realising what effect it would have, what? And I was put right quickly enough by the excellent skills of your Madame Pomfrey - so again, no lasting harm.

I don't know whether Madame Maxime will decide in favour of his expulsion but I'm sure she'll take into account what a wizard of his age and experience ought to have known and decide for the best.

But it ought to be said that the so-called Grim Truth only got one thing right, at least as it applies to me: I have been fortunate to make some very good friends.

Humbly,

-Justin Finch-Fletchley