Atticus "so did not kiss Aeneas" Avery

[Private to Inner Circle, minus Severus]
In light of his silence and our inability to contact him, it is becoming increasingly difficult to doubt the veracity of Severus's words.

If the Dark Lord is truly dead, I fear we do not have much time before chaos begins to spread through the ranks. Something must be done. A plan must be formed, and quickly, so that we might bring an end to matters once and for all before things become any worse, although I am starting to wonder if they possibly could.

Amycus has informed me that there are apparently ongoing efforts to arm Hogwarts, although the level of detail that I was able to obtain was only that they are planting things in the ground that are presumably not plants and there is running and swimming. Truly, he is ever so helpful. Regardless, it seems that is where at least some number of the vigilantes will be found. How long would we require to prepare for an assault on the castle?

[Private to Death Eaters and Dark Army]
In light of the riots that have besieged Ottery St Catchpole over the course of the last few days and the resulting situation that can only be described generously as a debacle, we must take immediate action to ensure that the civil unrest does not continue to spread through society.

For all intents and purposes, control of Ottery St Catchpole is lost. I do not believe there is anything to be done for the time being but to isolate the remaining inhabitants of the village and leave the wolves to clean up the mess they have created.

We must turn our attention to those areas that are still within our control before the plague of dissent and disobedience has spread through all of wizarding society. The employees of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement are clearly unable to maintain law and order on their own and so each of you will take two eight hour shifts daily and station yourself in either Tinworth, Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. Your presence is to be a deterrent to unrest and force shall only be used when absolutely necessary.

Should I see any of your faces on posters depicting anything that might be construed by the masses as excessive violence, I shall be severely displeased. There are several lessons we might take from this weekend's events but for your purposes, I suggest considering the value of killing the photographers first. And some of you would do well to remember that you will be alongside DMLE employees who may not share your appreciation for wanton destruction.

I expect each and every one of you to acknowledge this message and reply with your intended shifts and location. Mornings will be six until two; afternoons are two until ten; and nights are ten until six. If you are unable to work this out amongst yourselves, you will be assigned but quite frankly at the moment I have far better things to do with my time so I would be appreciative if you would endeavour towards some measure of competence.

[Private to Inner Circle]
I would greatly appreciate it if someone might attempt to remind me that I am a reasonable man and the use of fiendfyre upon all of Ottery St Catchpole would undoubtedly be an excessive response. Particularly if I did so without allowing the werewolves to escape the area first.

[Private to Inner Circle]
I will preface this with an acknowledgement that the idea I am about to present is both highly distasteful and quite unconventional. However under the circumstances, I believe it may be the best way to irrefutably contradict the Quibbler's article.

Although there were no July births within our own society that we might hold up as proof for our claims that there were no pregnancies terminated at the Foundation, there were still children born in the month. Muggle children. Although I do not know precisely how, it cannot be too difficult to locate a few Muggle infants who were born during the month, take them from their parents and give them to women who reported to the Foundation to present as their own. Not to the pureblood and fullblood women, for obvious reasons, but a few Muggleborn and half blood women stepping forward with their newborns and their stories of the excellent care they received at the Foundation to refute the Quibbler (and I never thought I would see the day where such a thing might be necessary) would be exceedingly difficult to argue against. The children can then be dealt with once this crisis has passed.

In addition, there were at least two women who were made to believe that their children died shortly after childbirth due to natural causes. They too might be an asset if they can be compelled to rail against the Quibbler for daring to use their personal tragedy in such a painful manner. The image of a grieving mother is powerful and one that we should use in our favour before our opponents find the means to do likewise.

[Private to Inner Circle]
I have received word from his sister that Gaius Travers has been taken captive by James Potter who has, for those who may not yet be aware, quite obviously faltered in his rehabilitation and I presume has returned to his wife and former friends. Miss Travers was, unfortunately, quite unable to provide much in the way of details regarding the situation.

At the moment the only course of action I can think of is to contact Mr Potter and determine if he has any particular demands. Whether we wish to meet those demands is a matter for future discussion, but it might at least give us some understanding of his intentions. Unless any of you have other thoughts on the matter?

I am quite tired of seeing members of society abducted by terrorists. Perhaps we might take inspiration from our opponents and provide portkeys to all within our ranks.

[Private to Severus]
With recent events, I am afraid I have been quite negligent in following through in my promise to answer your questions regarding the law. However as matters appear to have settled down for the time being I am certainly willing to make time for you this week if you are still interested in such a discussion.

[Private to Igor Karkaroff and Severus Snape]
Mr Karkaroff, I should still like to know your progress in dealing with Miss Carlotta Pinkstone.

[Private to Marius Lestrange]
I noted the speed with which you departed from Lestrange Manor after the reading of your father's will and while I am doubtful there is much I can say that will help, I wish to make myself available to you should you want to discuss matters.

[Private to First Generation]
If any of you have not updated your wills in recent memory, I must insist that you do so as I do not ever in my life wish to have a repeat of last Tuesday. Do not think I cannot simply forge an addendum for you if need be.

And at the moment I do not particularly care that it is crass to discuss such things.

( Private to Self )

[Private to Inner Circle]
As much as I expect all of wish that such matters could be put on hold until- some time has passed, there is still the issue of the Dark Lord's charge to us regarding those children who were born in the month of July. All have been dealt with save Lily Potter and likely Alice Longbottom. There is some question as to Mrs Longbottom's status as the hags entrusted to her capture decided instead to eat the woman rather than bring her to the Foundation, but I believe it is fair to assume that had Alice Longbottom been killed, word would have reached us by now.

The rest of the women remain at the Foundation Centre to recover while we determine just what explanations we intend to offer.

[OOC: "First Generation" wards in comments are actually Inner Circle wards. Because I am special.]

[Private to Death Eaters and Dark Army, minus Lestranges]
There are posters in Diagon Alley and I can only presume the other usual locales that must be taken down at once, before they are seen by any of the family.

[/private]

If there has ever been a question as to just what those of us who speak of the need to preserve traditional wizarding values and culture are referring towards, I would offer, first and foremost that we wish to live in a society where it is not considered acceptable to speak ill of the dead or attempt to use the departed as provocation.

[Private to Dark Army and First Generation]
I have received the names of the women who have failed to report to the Foundation Centre for their appointments and now must be brought in. Each of you will locate your assigned target and escort them to the Foundation. We wish for the women to be alive, but you may use what force is necessary to subdue them if they attempt to resist arrest. Please note that there is a difference between what force is necessary and utilising this assignment as an excuse to satisfy your blood lust.

Elizabeth Cornfoot - Andrew Forsythe
Harriet Hornby - Daniel Rourke
Alice Longbottom - Margaret O'Nell and Mary Milligan
Lily Potter - Fenrir Greyback
Margaret Wilson - Tabitha Pryce

[Private to Narcissa Malfoy]
In my haste to see the Foundation implement the programme for those women set to give birth this month, it appears I may have overlooked a rather crucial aspect of our efforts; namely the termination of those pregnancies and determining a palatable means by which to explain our actions to the masses when the inevitable questions arise. As I do not believe any of the ideas I have come up with thus far are particularly suitable, I would certainly be willing to entertain any suggestions you may have.

[Private to First Generation]
I do not suppose any of you have given thought toward creative solutions for the public relations nightmare we will have on our hands when it is discovered that the women reporting to the Foundation Centres are quite suddenly no longer pregnant with no child to show.

The extent of my admittedly poor ideas thus far:
Freak accident
Hags
Defective babies
Defective mothers
Poison
Terrorist attack

On second thought, the last may not be an entirely unworkable solution. If we were to contaminate the Centre's water supply with an abortifacient and pin the action upon the vigilantes, it may at least allow us to deflect the bulk of the public's anger. Your thoughts?

[Private to Narcissa Malfoy, Dark Army and First Generation Death Eaters]
Mrs Malfoy, it would be to the benefit of our cause for the Foundation to create a programme for all pregnant witches who are set to give birth by the end of this month. Each of these woman shall report to the Foundation Centre under the guise of receiving medical care for their delicate condition. Determine an appropriate means to detain these women at the Foundation Centre for several days so that they can be appropriately processed.

All those who fail to report for any reason shall be reported to Fenrir Greyback to be collected and brought to the Foundation Centre, by force, if necessary.

[Private to Igor Karkaroff]
Mr Karkaroff, I have received word that you are dissatisfied with your current mentor and wish a new assignment to avoid the appearance of "favouritism." Although I am willing to consider your request, I must first insist that you provide a more compelling argument for the change.

[Private to Gaius Travers and the Inner Circle]
Mr Travers, after giving some consideration to the question of what to do with Miss Hall, we have come to a determination that your proposal for an alternate media publication is a sound one. You will be entrusted with overseeing the creation and management of said publication and we expect you will ensure that the paper is regarded as a credible source of news. The level of your day to day involvement is up to you. If you wish to take on the task of daily management, so long as it does not interfere with your duties at the Rehabilitation Centre, that is acceptable. Otherwise it falls to you to find someone suitable for the task.

Regarding the logistics of the publication, I would advise that the recruitment of additional displaced Prophet employees beyond Miss Hall may add to the credibility of our efforts. Provided they are loyal to the cause, of course. It would be best, I believe, to present the paper as a writers project of sorts, independent from the Ministry and our cause. To mask our own involvement and act as if the project is simply the work of the former Prophet employees banding together to fill the void left by the destruction of their former employer. Financial support will obviously not be an issue, nor will having the news to print as I am certain arrangements can be made with the Ministry's press office.

I believe Marius, Mr Carrow and Mr Gibbon are all currently suffering from an excess of free time and can be called upon to assist however you see fit. The location of office space, securing of printing equipment and materials and recruitment of staff can all be delegated to them to ensure that the publication is up and running sooner rather than later.

[Private to Astra]
Forgive my lapse in memory, but precisely when are you due?


[OOC: All comments are the result of severe sleep deprivation and are not to be taken seriously. Really. Except Astra. She's sane.]

[Private to Male Residents of Lestrange Manor and Corbina]
I do not suppose anyone has an explanation for the rather copious amount of blood now decorating the entry hall?

[Private to Death Eaters, Supporters and the Dark Army]
While I would hope that none of you would dare to be so disrespectful as to speak or write the Dark Lord's name, I offer a warning that should you do so, you will be found and arrested. Do not think to test the strength of our Lord's power as neither your status in society nor your position within his ranks will protect you from the consequences of your actions. You have been warned.

I expect each and every one of you to acknowledge that you have read this entry and are aware of what will befall you should you fail to heed these simple instructions.

[Private to Inner Circle]
I offer a reminder that the strength of the taboo on our Lord's name is enough to bring down even the strongest of wards, both those on our journals and our homes. Should any of you inadvertently destroy the wards on Rodolphus's home in a fit of drunken idiocy (Graley) I do not expect the rest of us will be particularly inclined to mount a rescue.

Journal placeholder for Atticus rambling about how well the Muggleborn trials are going. :)

( Private to Self )

[Private to Death Eaters]
As you have undoubtedly heard, it has been determined that the Wizengamot will revisit the trials of Muggleborns convicted of terrorism. (Although I do find it quite telling that the so-called "Army of Albion" has little to no apparent interest in the fates of the halfbloods and fullbloods who were similarly convicted. Do not think to correct this oversight on their part.) It is imperative to our efforts that we do not allow these trials to descend into a state of chaos. They must be carefully controlled affairs, at the end of which, each and every terrorist will be returned to Azkaban, this time with no question of their guilt.

Every one of us who is capable will be assigned members of the Wizengamot. You will locate your assignment, place them under the imperius curse and ensure that they remain silent during the course of the trials (unless, of course, doing so would be inappropriate) and vote to convict when it is time for deliberations. This is a task that requires a fair degree of judgement and common sense so if for any reason you do not feel yourself capable of the task at hand, I would far prefer you to say as much now. Otherwise I expect each of the following Wizengamot members will be firmly under our control before they are seated for the first trial Monday morning.

Atticus Avery - Ogden and Merrythought
Rodolphus Lestrange - Marchbanks and Derwent
Walden Macnair - Oliphant and Lynch
Aeneas Nott - Lufkin and Gudgeon
Graley Rosier - Waffling and Bonham
Lucius Malfoy - Tugwood and Spinnet
Severus Snape - Trimble and Whitby

Bartemius Crouch - MacFarlan
Igor Karkaroff - Deverill
Bellatrix Lestrange - Tremlett
Marius Lestrange - Barbary
Rabastan Lestrange - Jorkins
Emory Montague - Bedford
Demetrius Mulciber - Edgecombe
Gaius Travers - Derrick

And if there are any among you with any legal training, or merely a copious amount of free time over the next two days and an ability to comprehend case files, your assistance would be welcomed.

[Private to Inner Circle]
Between those we know are supportive of the cause and those who we will bring under our control, we will have more than enough votes on the Wizengamot to ensure each of the Muggleborns are convicted. Again. But we must also avoid the appearance of a farce, which is why I am working with the Wizengamot Administration Services in their efforts to ensure the Ministry's case will hold under the weight of public scrutiny.

As you can see, I took the liberty of reserving the elders of the Wizengamot for our more capable hands so that we might not only have their votes but also ensure they ask appropriate questions during the trial that would logically lead them and their fellow Wizengamot members to a conviction. Questions that I shall have for you by Sunday evening.

I expect that I shall be in the study that I have claimed as my own for the duration of the weekend. The occasional distraction of a glass of wine or scotch would not be frowned upon, although you may very well find yourself with a stack of files in your lap for your trouble.

[Private to First Generation, minus Iago]
As I am certain you all noticed from Carrow's entry, our situation has clearly escalated. Without knowledge of where the hostages are now being held, I believe it is time that we discuss the possibility of acquiescing to the terrorist demands. I suggest this not with the intention that we truly concede, as I continue to maintain that doing so will only encourage further attacks upon the women of our society, but that we look to see which of their requests we might meet in a manner that will be befitting of our own aims.

Some of their proposals are clearly out of the question. The removal of Aeneas as our Minister would not only damage our hold on the Ministry but potentially destabilise the country as a whole were we to allow terrorists and criminals to vote for his replacement. However, on a cursory examination of their list, it appears that there are some options that if executed properly, would perhaps strengthen our image in the public eye.

The matter of the Muggleborn prisoners is the first that comes to mind. I am confident that with the combination of our people within DMLE, some judicious legal manoeuvring and well-placed influence upon the members of the Wizengamot in the form of the imperius curse, we would be able to stage full, public trials for the Muggleborns that will only result in their return to Azkaban, this time without any question as to their guilt.

The reopening of the borders is another concession we may wish to consider. Not only would it improve our standing with the international community and those within our society who are chafing at the inability to travel, but it would be a simple matter to place restrictions upon those who leave and wish to return. In the name of public safety, of course. Anyone who wishes to leave the country should feel free to do so while those who wish to return would face a simple, yet quiet border inspection that would result in those who may be a threat to our society taken into custody. Perhaps as fodder for the rehabilitation programme.

Your thoughts on the matter would be appreciated. Also, I believe we must consider the possibility that while one or two concessions may be enough to secure the release of the women being held captive, Iago's safe release may be considerably more difficult.

[Private to Death Eaters]
Every one of you is to report to the Foundation Centre immediately. Take the floo to Narcissa Malfoy's private office.

We are ending this now.

[Private to Amycus Carrow and First Generation]
What just happened there?

[Private to Death Eaters]
In response to the hostage situation at the women's centre, it has become clear that we require leverage of our own. Each of you will find yourself paired with one of your fellow Death Eaters and assigned several members of the so-called Army of Albion. The names and last known addresses of their family members are included. Find them, capture them by any means necessary and bring them to the Ministry. This is to be your top priority until either every last family member of a terrorist has been apprehended or the women have been released from the centre.

Despite the urgency of the situation, you will proceed discretely. Many of these locations may be outdated and you must be certain that the person you are apprehending is indeed family to a terrorist. If you find yourself in a situation where you have confronted the wrong person, you will identify yourself as a member of the Army of Albion. Those with no connection to the terrorists are not, under any circumstances, to be captured.

Rabastan Lestrange and Igor Karkaroff - Amycus Carrow, Octavius Pepper, and Kingsley Shacklebolt

Marius Lestrange and Gaius Travers - Dedalus Diggle Frank Longbottom, Catalina Proudfoot, and Georgina Smythe (note that the Prewetts, family to Alice Longbottom, are not to be touched.)

Demetrius Mulciber, Conrad Warrington and Ferdinand Gibbon - Rufus Scrimgeour, Alana Fenwick, Samuel Madley, and Gawain Robards

Barty Crouch Jr. and Emory Montague - Finella Abercrombie, Alastor Moody, and Josephine Savage

[OOC: Names and last known addresses from their Ministry files are included, although the information provided for Amycus's family is fake.]

[Private to Bellatrix and Aeneas (added later)]
Bellatrix, I realise you are likely receiving similar questions from Severus, however as I assume he is unaware of your present memory issues and time is clearly of the essence, Aeneas and I were hoping you may be able to shed some light on the wards that you set on the Foundation Centre. We intend to take them down so that those of our ranks who are not on the Foundation's board are able to enter the fifth floor of the building without giving away our position. It would be quite helpful if you have some idea of possible texts that you might have utilised or any other insight on the wards you would be likely to cast.

Of course your assistance in dealing with the wards directly would be appreciated as well.

( Private to Self )

[Private to First Generation]
Rodolphus, as I suspect that you are still considering making a martyr of yourself despite being provided with several excellent reasons that doing so would be an exceedingly poor course of action, I have a further thought on the matter. If you are to insist upon trading yourself, the price must be greater than the hostages alone. See just how much you are worth to them and offer yourself in exchange for both the women and their leader. Or if we can identify someone else within their ranks of some strategic importance. They would be fools to take such an imbalanced offer, but if we first wait them out for a few days they may very well come to the conclusion that this is the only concession they will receive from us. Regardless, at best it would show them that their actions are not without a price of their own to pay and at worst it might buy us a few additional days while they argue among themselves.

This is, of course, still something I do not think should be considered until all other possible courses of action have been exhausted.

[Private to First Generation, minus Rodolphus]
Salazar help us when Rodolphus is the one who must be restrained from acting rashly. I am not above poisoning his soup and locking him in his room should it come to that although I suspect I will need some assistance with the venture.

[Private to Severus]
As I am reminded yet again of our need to keep a stock of basic essentials on hand, I am curious as to whether you have any polyjuice?

[Private to Astra]
I would hope that Marius has already offered similar warnings and the reasoning is quite obvious, but do not leave your house. For any reason.

[Private to Graley]
Severus has delivered the veritaserum antidote to me although you should be warned that due to our time constraints it has not been given the ideal ten days to mature and is somewhat limited in its duration. Mr Carrow will need to consume the antidote no more than six hours prior to the veritaserum being administered for its effectiveness to be assured. Up to ten hours and there will still be some measure of success but that is not a margin of error I am particularly comfortable with under the circumstances.

Do you have a plan in place for the conveyance of the antidote and the requisite instructions to Mr Carrow?

[Private to Severus]
We are in need of an antidote for veritaserum as promptly as you can manage.

[Private to Graley]
I have instructed Severus to begin work on the veritaserum antidote, but if my calculations are correct I can only assume they are likely to have the potion near completion by now. It would be in our best interest to determine a way to enable Mr Carrow's absence from their camp until it is ready. Your thoughts?

[Private to First Generation DEs, minus Rodolphus]
Whether he wishes it or not, I believe Rodolphus could benefit from both our presence and a large quantity of alcohol at breakfast.