Justin Finch-Fletchley

Good evening,

I'm sorry not to have written before now but with everything else Saturday night, I didn't wish to add to the trouble. Yesterday we were all looking after Pansy, and I spent the last two evenings after arriving back at school going over Professor Dolohov's pending business, so it's only now that I've had a moment to write.

I was rather hoping that there would be some official reports of Minister Fudge's disappearance before now. That was the reason Professor Dolohov and I were summoned to Court on Saturday, what. Apparently Voldemort wanted a very clear message sent regarding the Ministry's failure to suppress the resistance efforts within the country. I'm sorry, I couldn't find a way to write and tell anyone once we were given the task. We were...a long time about it, what, and by the time we had done, everyone else was focused on George. Quite right, what.

I did hear a very brief mention on the wireless that Minister Fudge had 'fallen ill' and that there would be a formal address tomorrow morning. I can't imagine what will be included in that address, but believe me, this is an illness from which Cornelius Fudge shall never recover.

Lee, I wish I could tell you to confirm that he was assassinated, what, but with the way the Ministry are controlling the news, I believe it's far too risky to broadcast that claim. Even if everyone at the Ministry knows what happened, someone reporting it as fact would either point directly to me (as the only other perpetr eyewitness) or prompt an exhaustive investigation at the Ministry, which might well implicate Bill or Rachel.

Perhaps, though, the radio might speculate strongly as to the cause of his 'illness' and its timing, so close on the heels of Professor Dumbledore's coup at Dover. That may be the best we can do at present.

Before anyone asks--yes, I'm all right. It was grisly and despicable but I shall be fine.

Good morning,

It was Theo Nott, Sr. The target, what. It was Nott.

I say, I believe I impressed them both, though they did not ask me to perform any particularly horrible act. Well, apart from assisting them, of course, but they didn't ask me to cast the killing curse or anything of that nature.

It wasn't an experience I'm keen to relive, what, but I suspect I shall be given the opportunity whether I want it or not. Still, it's a significant step toward earning their trust.

I'm all right. Please tell Mrs Longbottom that I'm fine.

-Justin

Good Afternoon,

I wanted to let you both know that I looked up Bobby Stebbins and Wayne Hopkins at the weekend. They're both quite interested in the resistance, what. I've sent an owl to Sue about meeting the two of them later this week, to talk more about how they can contribute.

Also, my training with Professor Dolohov continues well. I spend Thursday mornings with him, what, and he's invited me to lunch with him once or twice. I say, we've not been to his home as much as I expected, what, but perhaps Cedric has better access there. I'm sure I shall be able to regularly visit the Headmaster's Office once we return to school, however. Last Thursday our topic of conversation turned to next year's course of study, what, and I had a few choice offers to make on the subject of my abject willingness to provide all the services to Mr Finnigan and Miss Patil that I made available last term. If he has not already made his choices about Head Boy and Head Girl, perhaps I've helped sway him against them with my affable assessment of the way they allowed me to do all their homework for them. I say, one hopes it wasn't too late, what, but I didn't want to force the discussion too quickly, if you follow me.

As for my internship, I believe that's going jolly well, indeed. It's a bit boring, what, but I daresay I've made contacts in a number of departments. And I believe it's paying off other dividends.

I say, they've set me to copying many of the owls that Mr Pontner or Mr Helpmann have to send, which has proven quite educational. I did come across one interesting footnote in such a letter: Mr Pontner was writing to someone named Commander Marbury and the address was the HMS Argyll, Stanley, East Falklands, South Argentine Sea. The letter thanked Commander Marbury for his report on His Royal Majesty in Exile, King George VII (I say, I believe that must be the name Prince Andrew took). I made an extra copy of a section near the end for you:

Mr Pontner told Commander Marbury to continue his surveillance. But near the end, he assured the Commander that 'we cannot at this time or any other acknowledge, endorse or accredit the Usurper's claim to a throne to which he is not rightful heir. Even were the Lord Protector not in possession of those rights, privileges and entitlements which had hitherto been demanded by the Usurper's brother, the principle of primogeniture, which forms the basis of the Usurper's claim to that throne, dictates that the Usurper cannot be his brother's heir so long as another exists in the direct line of succession.'

I say. 'Direct line of succession.' That must mean that Prince William is definitely still alive since Harry saw him. But more to the point, I believe Pontner knows something more about his whereabouts.

-Finch-Fletchley