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Dec. 19th, 2014 04:14 pmWe have experienced deep and profound loss this past week, on the heels of several other difficult losses in this past year. We are bruised and mourning, and several of us are now facing a radical change of scene.
This is the time of year when things seem darkest and coldest. It can be hard to keep the candle burning in the window. When we were at our lowest and most fragile point so many years ago, it was as if we were utterly alone and facing an impossible task – there were barely more than a dozen of us, more than half of us fugitives, and it felt like the entire country had gone mad and turned against reason and decency. Any notion of a hopeful future seemed utterly impossible.
In the last few years, though, so much has changed. Several of us are in a position of great risk, and we have lost good people along the way, but at the same time, we are closer than we ever have been to creating real, lasting change in a way that I could only dream of for the longest time.
We are not alone. We have more than doubled our immediate circle of members, and have cultivated allies whose numbers are growing every day – people from nearly every imaginable background and species who are ready and willing to work together.
We have freed hundreds of people who have established their own self-governing and sustainable communities, confirming that it is possible for magical and non-magical people live side by side as equals.
We are reaching thousands more people through the radio, the button network, and our other propaganda efforts, and they are listening.
We are working steadily to gain control of the warding system, are inches (frustrating although it may be) away from determining how to wake the Sleepers, have discovered how to cheat Voldemort at his attempts of immortality, and continue to work from within the regime in key tactical positions.
This is something that we can do. It is massive, and overwhelming, but it is possible in a way it has never been before.
Remus and I have been meeting regularly with Davidson, and we have put together a rather ambitious plan that I believe we can move forward with as soon as September. It will take an enormous amount of work between now and then to pull it off, but it is within our reach and will turn the tide. In the mean time, we must continue our vital research work, feed and arm ourselves, and hold the ground we have fought and bled for. Despite recent setbacks, we are still more than capable of achieving our goals.
I have a few things that require our immediate attention. First, we are planning our break-in at Azkaban to take place between Christmas and New Years, which is fast approaching. We’ve been testing (and re-testing) our planned method of entry, and paying close attention to the weather. We’ll need strong fliers who can take a rider with them, and who can cast a full Patronus. We’re also working on bottling as many Patronuses as we can, on the off-chance it’ll give us an advantage in a pinch – thanks to Molly for supplying the extra glass jars. Anyone interested in taking part can meet for a debriefing and planning session on the evening of the 23rd. We’ll be tentatively having our holiday party at Grimmauld on Boxing day.
Harry, Draco, Hermione, I'd like you to put your heads together about the possibility of Harry’s scoping out Buckingham, the Tower, and other places he may have greater access to than most in case a Horcrux turns up. The device Dumbledore passed along may prove useful.
Likewise, it is absolutely vital we track down wherever Dolores Umbridge's plate has ended up, as she may have one in her possession. Justin, you’re particularly close to Dolohov, if you could try to make progress on that front, it would be much appreciated. I also want to talk with you about our options regarding your Mr Pontner and his knowledge of Prince William, and how we might move forward given our proposed timeline.
I understand that several of you are continuing to identify potential recruits, and will be working towards that over hols among other things. Thank you. If any of you who are leaving Hogwarts this upcoming spring wish to discuss what sort of work would be useful over the summer months and beyond, you are more than welcome to stop by and chat about it. We’ll also be offering regular training sessions in Occlumency and Defence for anyone who wants to brush up on skills.
Keep the candle burning, all.
This is the time of year when things seem darkest and coldest. It can be hard to keep the candle burning in the window. When we were at our lowest and most fragile point so many years ago, it was as if we were utterly alone and facing an impossible task – there were barely more than a dozen of us, more than half of us fugitives, and it felt like the entire country had gone mad and turned against reason and decency. Any notion of a hopeful future seemed utterly impossible.
In the last few years, though, so much has changed. Several of us are in a position of great risk, and we have lost good people along the way, but at the same time, we are closer than we ever have been to creating real, lasting change in a way that I could only dream of for the longest time.
We are not alone. We have more than doubled our immediate circle of members, and have cultivated allies whose numbers are growing every day – people from nearly every imaginable background and species who are ready and willing to work together.
We have freed hundreds of people who have established their own self-governing and sustainable communities, confirming that it is possible for magical and non-magical people live side by side as equals.
We are reaching thousands more people through the radio, the button network, and our other propaganda efforts, and they are listening.
We are working steadily to gain control of the warding system, are inches (frustrating although it may be) away from determining how to wake the Sleepers, have discovered how to cheat Voldemort at his attempts of immortality, and continue to work from within the regime in key tactical positions.
This is something that we can do. It is massive, and overwhelming, but it is possible in a way it has never been before.
Remus and I have been meeting regularly with Davidson, and we have put together a rather ambitious plan that I believe we can move forward with as soon as September. It will take an enormous amount of work between now and then to pull it off, but it is within our reach and will turn the tide. In the mean time, we must continue our vital research work, feed and arm ourselves, and hold the ground we have fought and bled for. Despite recent setbacks, we are still more than capable of achieving our goals.
I have a few things that require our immediate attention. First, we are planning our break-in at Azkaban to take place between Christmas and New Years, which is fast approaching. We’ve been testing (and re-testing) our planned method of entry, and paying close attention to the weather. We’ll need strong fliers who can take a rider with them, and who can cast a full Patronus. We’re also working on bottling as many Patronuses as we can, on the off-chance it’ll give us an advantage in a pinch – thanks to Molly for supplying the extra glass jars. Anyone interested in taking part can meet for a debriefing and planning session on the evening of the 23rd. We’ll be tentatively having our holiday party at Grimmauld on Boxing day.
Harry, Draco, Hermione, I'd like you to put your heads together about the possibility of Harry’s scoping out Buckingham, the Tower, and other places he may have greater access to than most in case a Horcrux turns up. The device Dumbledore passed along may prove useful.
Likewise, it is absolutely vital we track down wherever Dolores Umbridge's plate has ended up, as she may have one in her possession. Justin, you’re particularly close to Dolohov, if you could try to make progress on that front, it would be much appreciated. I also want to talk with you about our options regarding your Mr Pontner and his knowledge of Prince William, and how we might move forward given our proposed timeline.
I understand that several of you are continuing to identify potential recruits, and will be working towards that over hols among other things. Thank you. If any of you who are leaving Hogwarts this upcoming spring wish to discuss what sort of work would be useful over the summer months and beyond, you are more than welcome to stop by and chat about it. We’ll also be offering regular training sessions in Occlumency and Defence for anyone who wants to brush up on skills.
Keep the candle burning, all.
