Bellatrix Lestrange

Alert from Jennings: Suspicious canine Animagus at Ponds shop, Doughty Conduit.

I'm leaving Buckingham now. Pull Truncheon, Crannock, Fracas, Beaker, Covington, Zuckerman, Painter, and Boyde.

Raz, Tosha -

I'm leaving for Hogwarts within the next quarter hour. Raz, prepare your floo, please. I'll have Delia Forney with me. Do not alert the Headmistress nor anyone else.

-B

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.

As the subject did not come under discussion directly last night, I write here to say that your dedication to your pursuits under the service of our Lord is a credit to you. Do not let the heaps of flowers, the pearl-clutching, and the weepy letters to the Prophet allow you to doubt that.

Also. Good to have you back.

This has been a trying time for all the good people of the Protectorate, but my own feelings are with my family right now, who have been through a trying time but - as always - come through the dark with their dignity and strength, as it will always be.

While I wish I could reply to all correspondance personally, please refer to all my public statements for my stance on the World Cup attack, the related investigation, and, of course, the "reapperance" of Sirius Black.

MLE has seen more than our share of photographs that claim to show Sirius Black alive, and all were carefully studied by experts and determined false. It's a pity that the Prophet is so easily fooled and apparently lacks any sort of investigative skills, even more the pity that they should fail during a time when our people are so ill at ease. On the journals, we have endured enough individuals claiming to be Sirius Black to no longer trust a single one. It is all too regretful that his journal was never found on his body, and that someone was able to recover it and act out a most insidious ruse.

As has already been stated, MLE does not currently feel there is enough evidence to warrant launching further investigation into the impossibility of traitor Black's return.

Rest assured that were he actually alive, we would have figured it out a long, long time ago.

This will be my final word on the matter.

Both fugitives spotted, pursued by dementors, captured, then secured inside an empty tower in the castle.

After making arrangements with Marx for the kiss, we went to the tower to transfer the fugitives. Upon arrival found that they were gone by means unknown.

Dawlish was the one guarding the door. Singh's taking care of the body. Have the report say that Dawlish aided in the fugitives' escape. We still have some questioning to do - more on that in the morning.


One last thing, and I trust that you'll keep this under lock and key. I saw something in the woods tonight. Or someone, rather. He didn't know that I saw him.

Sirius Black is alive.

Today's observation and sparring session was effective, I think, if, as ever, somewhat of a let-down. I remember my own training programme all too well, of course. It took place in the real world, with no instruction beyond what we were willing to teach ourselves and each other, and what we took from the bounty of His teachings. There was no relief from our battle at the end of the day - no celebrations, no "awesome" music, no dancing with ghostly rock-stars. Indeed, there was no end to the day at all. We were fighting for pride and for purity, against an entire system that was bent on protecting muggles first, and wizards last. That we were able to topple it only shows how corrupt and malignant that system was, rotting from within like a stunted tree. To strike it down all of us would have gladly died - gladly! - and to be sure, some did. Those who survived were prepared to protect what we had helped Him to create, and we have done so ever since.

Sometimes, I wonder if a quaint little programme can really teach any of that. Perhaps something far more brutal is in order...something where survival is at stake. Not just your own, but the survival of everything and everyone you hold dear.

I am not sure that the current crop of hopefuls would last in such an environs. Certainly not McLaggen, who is certain to wash out within the coming weeks. Willet shows a shred of promise, if only because he is so very desperate to escape a fate at the Prophet. Desperation certainly helps, though not for very long.

What does not help is a history of having sought out and won my approval. Not unless you have the skill and savvy to show for it. When I attach my name to someone, say a certain Head Girl with aspirations of being an Auror, then I have, in essence, allowed that individual to function as an extension of myself. Any and all extensions of me are enjoying the privilege of my association, and with that privilege comes responsibility. Let me be direct: if you're one of mine, you go above and beyond the call. Anything less is unacceptable. And if my association to you becomes tarnished...then I will remove it, as forcibly as I see fit.

But I'm sure that we all understand that now, don't we?

Travers, Gupta, Yaxley.

Leave your post at Calais and find me at once. We're a few kilometres to the east - I've sent up a signal.

There's been an incident. Zuckerman is down and we need a full sweep.

Keep your books out, it's the fastest way to communicate.

We have less than twenty-four hours.