Sirius Black

Well, that was ... interesting.

Alice, I do think we should perhaps simply meet Ridley for a summit. Too much back and forth is bound to lead to problems. More than a few.

Anyway, she's not half glad to confirm that Bill's a sympathiser, she clearly fancies him more than just as an office mate, and so does he, though I think neither of them are willing to admit it.

Which means I'd be happier if neither of them were directly involved in negotiating. Particularly given how free she is with her affections. And all those middle-of-the-night private messages, if they mean what I think they meant.

She mentioned that it's 'convenient' for the two of them to converse during the day but in their eagerness to please each other we might find ourselves agreeing to something we can't afford.

We'll have to see what Dora thinks. I think she might be willing to jump from DogStar if given the right motivation. But it might be to our advantage to leave her with one foot in each group, too.

Moony, Dora, I'll be home as soon as I can leave; I'm okay, just let me explain.

I went round to Strangeweale's house this afternoon (as you know). It didn't take long for his servant to entice Padfoot inside, since it was a cold, wet evening. I'd planned to see if I could get him complaining again, maybe get more information on the machines or where Strangeweale's holding his prisoners.

My hope was to be able to send one of us round to see him - or better yet, to change into myself right in front of him and offer him the chance to get away from Strangeweale. But before he started up a one-sided conversation, both Mulciber brothers came calling.

He told his furry guest to stay in the kitchen quietly while he went to see to the visitors. Next thing I knew, he dashed off a message to his master and Strangeweale himself came home not five minutes afterward. (They spent that five minutes disagreeing over which tactic to use with him: Corax wanted to ambush the man in his own home and Cadmus thought they could buy his cooperation. In the end they decided that they'd try to make him see the advantages of forming an alliance.)

From where I was in the kitchen with the Muggleborn (I learned later his name is Timothy), I could hear fairly well.

Cadmus Mulciber claims that the potion Strangeweale provided to him, which accounts for his improved health and apparently superabundant magic, is 'wearing off' and he wants more.

Strangeweale told him that he shouldn't need any more - and anyway, that what he has been able to store is for 'Our Lord Protector.'

Corax wanted to know exactly how the potion's made. Strangeweale was cagey about answering, but that's right about when he began to see the light. He told the Mulcibers that he needs a ready supply of muggleborns.

He told them a good deal more about his 'production line,' which I won't go into right now. But they came to a sort of deal: Corax Mulciber will find a way to get him 'more supply' and also use their influence to throw more funding his way in Mysteries' budget. In return Strangeweale will be setting aside more potion for both Cadmus and Corax.

It all makes me wish I'd changed back to a human before they arrived so I could have launched a surprise attack.

As it is, Timothy made his furry friend go into the root cellar so his master won't know there's an unauthorised dinner guest. I don't want to Disapparate away when he doesn't know there's anything special about the dog he's been hosting. So I'll have to wait until he comes back and I can convince him I need to go outdoors.

He's qroqqy grogqy but appears to be healthy.

Currently being crowded by his family - all 70 of them.

More later

We've finished.

Terrie's rounded up everyone and told them they can stay or go, but if they stay they've got to stay within the boundaries of the southwest collective. She'll station herself near the gates so that as the others arrive this morning, she can pick out the ones she thinks are sympathetic and offer them entry. This will be another Aldrich, I think: It's up to them how to self-govern.

Frank, what's your situation? We're bloody exhausted and Jeremy's got to get to work but we'll come out there if you need us.

Sorry for bowing out on the park but I think my staying with Ellie was a good compromise. She really seemed nervous still about being left alone but she's comfortable enough with her trusty guard hound. (Have either of you made any progress figuring out what's been troubling her since Monday? I thought she was feeling better until today's panic attack. Maybe I can get her talking this afternoon.)

Well, anyway. How is Bea enjoying the playground?

If you've got time between pushing her on the swings, you should take a closer look at the Juniors' conversation last night. Not that I would ever dream of barging in to their discussion. They need their space just as much as we do sometimes. But Moony, it'll make you smile.

They're seeing the big picture. They're picking up steam and they're getting their contemporaries to question the regime. And they're doing it in a way that we could never do. It's just beautiful.

Times like this I know we made the right decision to bring them all into the Order. That's our future, right there.

And I never thought I'd say it but bless Dolores Umbridge for being such an evil toad. Between her and the Carrows we barely have to lift a finger to show how oppressive the Protectorate is. Or how hypocritical.

I guess there's a reason that teenagers are always revolutionaries. They're already predisposed to find fault in their elders.

I wish I could report the same success with Richard Marshall as Molly's with Ifan Powys but we'll have to come back another day. Soon, since his mother admitted that he's shown his magic. She was protecting him from the 'black wands' by swapping him round with other babies about the same age. Apparently a few of the mums in Hartlepool have taken to this method to avoid their children being detected or snatched. If strangers are in camp, they make sure the sprog goes to another family until the strangers move on to a different target; then they switch back.

By the time Dora and I finished straightening out that confusion, Mrs Marshall didn't have time to get her son back from his sitters before she had to report to her work assignment. And since Mr Marshall was out of the camp on a labour detail, she wasn't keen to let us go and get the boy before they could both say their goodbyes. She's willing to talk to her husband, though, so the next time we go we should be able to rescue him.

I left her with a few buttons to pass out. She suggested that if we're planning to come, we ought to signal them through the buttons first, so they can be sure to have him ready to go.

Bill, do you think we could reassign the paperwork for Wednesday? Is that too soon? The quicker we get him, the better.

Formulae 1-4 failed.

Of note: iteration four resulted in foaming at step six. Adjusted for viscosity in iteration five; better consistency but turned black just going into step eight, then solidified before steps 9-12.

About to start iteration six. Maybe need an adjustment before adding the powdered beetle horn but after the sliced arrowroot. I'm thinking two drops of salamander oil ought to keep both colour and liquidity. Don't want to use more in case it affects the temperature of the solution.

Will let you know what happens.

I think we ought to go up to the Stretton farm and check things out for ourselves.

Especially if Miss Perks believes she can investigate it on her own.

Thursdays are usually fairly quiet. Right?

So.

We can talk here now. That's good. But you've got your mirror, don't forget. Anytime you need it.

And anytime you want to come over to Grimmauld. It's your house too, in a way. If you like.

How have you been sleeping? I saw Hermione said that it's even less of a picnic now, at Buckingham. So ... Well, as I say, anytime you want to get away, feel free.

All right?

Don't bother to reply, just come quickly, please: Hermione's splinched herself.

We've reattached her foot and we've got plenty of dittany for the wound. I think she'll be all right but

Well. She needs a Healer to look after her properly.