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.

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.

A note intended to bring you both up to speed -

Hydra, despite your lack of response, I know that you must have received my owl regarding your journal entry. I shall succinctly repeat what I said yet again: such short, childish missives are nothing more than an attempt to clamour for attention. If you feel you have done something truly worthy of boasting, then by all means tell the world in less pitifully obscure language; otherwise, save your triumphant outbursts for your Father, as such a success is more down to his skill at playing the Knight than it is to your own efforts. (Though I should credit your ravenous sweet tooth as well, I suppose.)

Information not in the owl: Hydra, you are to report to Buckingham after breakfast tomorrow. I have petitioned our Lord and He has graciously allowed you the honour of spending the next week with Harry, seeing as Draco is busy with his parents and Harry's mudblood is in disgrace. Feel I have reasonably presented the case to Him that if Harry is to be in female company, better it not be the unclean sort. My hope is that you will take in the business and bustle of Buckingham and find yourself inspired into servitude for our Protectorate, so that you will at last find your calling and rise to fulfill it. If it happens that you remain uninspired, then at least this can be considered good practice for seeing to Harry's needs.

Rodolphus: Have managed to secure a delivery of three male camp prisoners for the re-creation exercise. None are as pure of blood as one would hope, but all match up quite well in height, weight and age. Exercise will commence on Tuesday, once they've been delivered. I don't need to emphasise how important this re-creation is; as such, please keep all interruptions to zero.

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.

Hydra,

It has been decided that you will, per your and Harry's suggestion, be spending a good portion of your Christmas holiday at the castle. You will leave on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow so that you can spend time with your Father and brother in New London. On Sunday evening we will all attend the Christmas Party together. On Monday morning, you will return to Hogwarts with your Uncle Rabastan, who will again bring you back home for Christmas Day, returning to the castle with you when celebrations are over. Of course, we will all be viewing the corpse on the same day that our Lord and Harry view it.

I compliment you in sacrificing the amusements and comforts of your home in favour of assisting Harry while he studies. From his letter, it seems that Harry has come to think of you as an indispensable friend and confident, which is of course key in securing a future alongside him. In truth, I had no idea that he held you in such esteem, and I was pleased to learn it.

Mind that you do not make a great show of your privileged position, or use it to earn extra gifts, sympathy, or other niceties from those who would be inclined to feel sorry for you, up there in cold Scotland instead of playing with your cousins and mates in New London. I think you know exactly who I speak of, hmm?

I will see you in a few days, child.