Alice Longbottom

The Retreat is up and mostly running for our less capable Azkaban rescues who were still in need of a permanent facility, and we are slowly beginning the process of acclimating them to their new home. Clara Mouser deserves our thanks for a generous donation of space and resources, as does Cedric, Jeremy, Colin, Lee, and Wayne for putting in some hard labour to get the building in livable condition. Several of the refugees from Erewash volunteered to provide daily care, and Doctor Williams has sorted out a rotating set of shifts from the nurses in training at Saltash, which is quite needed. I anticipate we'll need continued support for our volunteers and the facility in question as we go, but for the time being, what we have will be a great deal more sustainable than the safehouse. Poppy, you've done so much work getting us to this point, I honestly don't know what we would've done without you.

Pansy, Stebs, the shipment of potatoes was much appreciated. I am also grateful we over-stocked this past summer, and that we have several functioning greenhouses; seeing as how Sherwood's supply lines have been severely reduced, and we've several hundred more mouths to feed than expected, it'll be a lean winter to put it mildly. Whatever you can continue to shift our way will be used thoroughly.

Locating the Scepter and identifying it as a likely Horcrux has been a bright spot of good news, as has Draco's recent success with the boxes. Have we arranged for a hand-off at Hogwarts yet? The sooner that happens, the better off we'll be. While we're at it, is there any forward movement on where our elusive plate might've gotten itself to?

I understand things have continued to be a challenge at Hogwarts. Between Glozeman, Desai, and Sandoval-Pennifold, I've no doubt it's been far from pleasant for many of you. You all seem to be handling things admirably from what I can see, but please let us know if more direct intervention or possible extraction of a student in danger is needed.

Lastly, I've been talking with Remus about the possibility of having our safely hidden members without family on the outside engaging with the public more directly on the journals -- Tonks, Remus, Kingsley, Mac, Hermione, Terry, Tim, Finbar, Patty, Lisa, Maureen, and Severus immediately come to mind, and with a few caveats, Evelyn, myself, Frank, and Augusta. Sirius's voice is powerful, and carries a certain degree of weight behind it. But having more people weigh in -- free voices, sane voices, people from a variety of backgrounds speaking truth to power -- I think it could be more than valuable. We have a free radio, but I think it's time we spoke out in other ways too. I don't intend to put undue pressure on any of the people I've listed so you feel as if you're obligated to write openly, only to say that if you do wish to, it's worth considering. And if you need some ideas as to what you might say, there are several people who cannot speak up in this way who might be able to help. At any rate, I thought I'd bring it up to see what you thought about it.

Has Dedalus had any change?

My dearest heart.

It is

It is next to impossible to know what to say, or how to be at times like this.

Loss never gets easier. It always hurts terribly, and never fully heals.

I'm feeling helpless and unmoored right now, but there are some things that I know down to the bottom of my soul.

I know that I love you.

I know that you are my son, as sure as I know anything.

I know that and that right now, more than ever, I want to hold you, Evie, and Kevin close, just to reassure myself that you're still here and safe and whole.

I know just how much joy it gives me to see you sitting across from me at Sunday dinner, and how deeply happy and full of pride I am every time I see you. Every single time.

I know that the sun will insist on coming up tomorrow, just as it has since the beginning of time.

You have a deep sense of honour and duty, love. It's one of the things I admire about you. But sometimes, we need to take our time to mourn, and to take care of ourselves. And when it's too overwhelming, and we can't do as good a job taking care of ourselves as we should, someone else needs to help us. When he lost his magic, Frank needed time to recover his strength. Right now, Draco needs time to rest. Remus is shouldering a great deal of the planning and decisions that have to be made until I can trust my judgment. This is no different.

I must admit, having my dear Professor tucked in under my arm right now would be a great comfort to me. But son, I know that we all have different ways of processing grief and loss, and you've had far more than your share as of late. If you need some time to yourself, I understand. Just make sure to follow Madame Pomfrey's suggestions, my sweet boy. I think talking to a Healer is a very good idea.

I love you.

Poppy is currently investigating whether my son has been taken to the curse ward at St Mungo's or the Vale. He is still alive, and I will not abandon him, but we cannot move forward until we know more, and when we do move, it must be with purpose and strategy.

We must continue with our plans for Azkaban, and may have even greater reason to go there if he has been placed there instead.

We must continue to look forward.

We must.

Remus is right. Our best chance right now is to maintain cover. This can be contained to our family alone. Kitty, Artie, you must be very discreet, but I would like you to work some more on your Occlumency, and discuss possible strategy if you should be questioned. If you need someone to come to you instead, that can be arranged.

Thank you all for your words of support.

I know that my son was not the only one who made a sacrifice yesterday. I cannot fathom what it has cost you, Hydra. This was his choice, of his own free will, and to know his last

It is a gift.

What else is there to say?

We 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.

Pomona's being interviewed in the headmaster's office, and he's just asked Cedric to fetch Bellatrix.

Hydra -- be ready in case she asks for your assistance. This is an evolving situation. We are not certain what's happened, but everyone currently at Hogwarts needs to be prepared if this continues to escalate.

We're having a meeting at Sherwood, working through everyone's reports and sorting out our next steps. We've showed our hand somewhat now that they know some of our weapons capacities, and we'll certainly have to make adjustments. It's quite clear that although the flash-bombs worked to prevent apparation, for instance, they proved equally effective against both sides in active fighting situations, which was a decidedly mixed blessing.

Ron, Hydra, Justin, your reports have proven quite invaluable, and we truly

We're funneling refugees as we receive them, and making sure those helping with the evacuation have some recovery time to keep from splinching. We've got an infirmary set up, and are shuttling supplies and equipment from Moddey.

To our people currently still in the field -- our evacuation is going very well so far, thanks to you. Keep your ears and eyes open for the call to fall back, and stay sharp. Let us know if you or someone in your vicinity needs immediate care, and we'll try to send a team your way.

Severus and Sirius; Divyesh and Jason Crenshaw are doing their best to keep on top of the potions demand, but Divyesh's skills are limited, and they will need assistance once you are able. Please come immediately to Sherwood when you fall back.

Lee, Wayne, Colin, Lisa -- we're working up a list of supplies we'll need from the other free zones, and food, blankets, and bandages are at the top of the list. It can wait until this evening, but I will need your help.

We're in place for the Octoboros event tomorrow. Cecelia and Sarah are camping at the central stone tonight to make the final rune carvings. They've decided to replace the emerald with jet, as it will better serve our purposes. We should find out whether we've been successful with our first phase in a few short hours.

We've had a rather terse message from Beth -- apparently, we're not to use the drop point any more. If there's to be more communication, it'll come at her discretion. I am not sure whether she's been able to give assistance to any of the regulars at Laszlo's who are currently dodging MLE. Rachel, do you have any information from the investigation? What has it been like for those of you who have been questioned so far?

I know tomorrow is going to be a tense day for those of you at Hogwarts. Draco, Hermione, Molly, Rachel, thank you for your help with additional safety measures. Harry, Hydra, Ron, Justin, Daphne, I very much hope everything goes smoothly for you, as well as for the rest of the school.

Poppy -- Severus's Sleepers antidote is now ready to test.

This has not been an easy path to take. Although I am confident that Severus has taken adequate care and caution, and will continue to do so, the bare truth is that we are testing an experimental potion on people that cannot give their consent. Even though we have every intention of providing help for these people as well as an untold number of their fellows, and have taken pains to make this process as safe and humane as possible, there is always a risk of harm. I believe the possible benefits outweigh the risk. I understand if you disagree.

You'll have access to all notes, of course, and we will be sure to keep you informed. Your schedule may make it difficult for you to just slip away whenever you wish, but if you can come up for an hour or two, you would be most welcome.