Bellatrix Lestrange

16 taken into custody; 11 dead; approx 7-8 at large, including Black and the Ponds.

Correction: 12 dead. Forgot about Jennings.

Request clean-up to Doughty Conduit ASAP. Case, Crockford, Holcomb, Laverty, and Pelton.

Send Leonora Dawkins for a sketch at 2300. I should be returned from Buckingham by then. Will distribute priority alert first thing in the AM.

Braithewaite and I standing by with the rest for V5.02-S5 execute in appx. 3 hrs.

Note in preliminary report: Will compare vitals to those of V5.01-S5, taking into account differences in time-line. Subject will be in lupine form when B.C. set to expire at appx. midnight tomorrow.

Tell someone to bring down tea.

Note in finalised records: V4-S5 complete.

Subject expired at 18:00 on yesterday's date.

C.O.D confirmed by Pelton at 13:24 on today's date (report to follow).

No change from previous variables.

Remains prepared for Bale at D.O.M; delivered at 15:36 on today's date.

Variable 4, Step 3: executed and complete.

Have initiated Step 4: Starling's on it. Searching all records for a subject who goes by the name of "Hodge" or "Pudge." Likely a performance name/alias.

Hopkirk: instruct recovery team to prepare for V4-S5. Aiming for execution in a week's time. If it's a wash we move on to V5.

Braithewaite: Lunch at En Plein Air, noon. Sparring after. Bring a third, Travers or Barty.

At Hogwarts for brief fly-over. Dawlish called in rasping about an escaped Hippogriff, a mess of signaling charms, and a possible sighting of one of our Azkaban escapees.

Have taken Singh and Gupta. Have backup standby.

This had better not be a waste of time.

Negligence, Negligence. My own, naturally. Though some might rush to my defence, given that I've an infant, a career, an extended family, and other various and sundry Protectorate business to attend to, there is never good excuse for negligence. And so I write.

On that subject, Hydra Elladora Lestrange, do not think that I've been so busy as to miss that you have decided to Owl your Father this week and not me. I believe I made it plain that I expect at least one Owl a week from you, describing the details of your lessons, your marks thus far, and a transcription of any comments (be it praise or criticism) verbalised to you by a Professor or Prefect. I hoped you had conveyed this information in the Owl to your Father, but when I read it I was greeted with some prattling nonsense about your robe rabbit and an ever-growing collection of sweets and chocolates.

So with your best interests in mind, I have Owled your cousin Draco and instructed him to no longer allow his mudblood to fetch you sweets. Bad enough you borrowed money from him for a trifling toy, but now you abuse the services of his slave, as well.

And Narcissa, please do not send Hydra chocolates out of pity. Or pocket money, for that matter. You may recall that Father rarely gifted me with such luxuries, and I am only better for it. As the eldest, Hydra will learn responsibility and self-sufficiency for her own good, even if you and my husband try to spoil her in secret.

Hydra, if you want pocket money, sell some of those sweets you've collected. Or perhaps the robe pet - they seem to be in demand enough.

I am pleased, however, that you have expressed an interest in becoming an Auror. In fact, it seems that Wright and Gupta made quite an impression on much of the Hogwarts' student body. I myself cannot recommend the career of an Auror enough - nothing compares. Such is why I have continued my field work instead of taking over for old Mafalda, or stepping into Rufus' shoes, for that matter.

Of course, not everyone is cut out for the life of an Auror. See your groundskeeper if you want an example of why.

Professor Sinistra, I've sent you an Owl this morning and I do hope that it has arrived in due course. It mostly includes detailed plans for the project, as well as a copy of the recommendation I penned for you following my observation of your class. Two others that I know of have been recommended for the position as well, but the fact that it is I who am recommending you should put you in good favour, I think. Please look the materials over and do not hesitate to Owl in return if you have any questions.

Along with that business, I've got to meet with Hoppykirk about the changes to the training programme, get her siggy all over everything before passing it on. Harkiss and Dawlish are feeling quite nervous, I believe. As they should be, a pair of lumps like that.

My Lord has asked to be left alone this week. Time spent with the new pet project, no doubt. I only wish to be of service on that count, but if it is solitude He desires, He shall have it. Praise.



Ah, Cissy... we did the charm last week. It's a boy.

Yes, for all of you reading along: I'm pregnant. Almost into the third trimester. All looks safe and well this time, and Hydra is beside herself at the thought of having a brother. A son! I'll have to begin thinking of suitable names right away.

At last, Thicknesse and Scrimgeour have seen the light. What use is being a Legilimens, after all, if one cannot employ their skills in the pursuit of justice and righteousness? Praise our Lord, for I know that He agrees.

Malfalda is quite put out, naturally, as the approved use of Legilimency is something she has fought against for some time. I dare say she might feel differently if she had any Legilimency skills of her own. I also have it on good authority that she is completely unskilled at Occlumency. One wonders how she ascended to her position in the first place.

Thanks to Legilimency, I have discovered that Hydra's tutor, Miss Forney, was not following the cirriculum that I and my husband developed for her. We spent much time on these lessons, formulating just the right balance of dark arts immersion with practice wand-waving and spell incantation. Miss Forney, bless her beating heart, saw fit to slacken the lessons, fearing that their difficulty would send Hydra crying to us for a reprieve.

This itself is proof that she has not learned one damned thing about my daughter in all these months, and for that, Miss Forney was sacked.

That makes nine tutors in the last four years. Until I can find someone suitably skilled and trustworthy, Rodolphus will be in charge of Hydra's education.

I confess I am not entirely pleased with this compromise. Though my husband will stand by the lessons we have developed, he does have a tendency to allow Hydra her own way. Unfortunately, he is not someone I can sack.

Hydra asked to see my journal the other day, as she knows that dear Harry has one, as well as cousin Draco. I wouldn't allow her to handle it, of course. I've glimpsed things upon these pages that I wouldn't dare subject her eyes or mind to. No, not at such a tender age.