Alice Longbottom

Yesterday, we received a rather remarkable gift.

It has been a challenge, cobbling together our store of magical knowledge from old textbooks, the occasional bookstore, and memory. When I opened the crate and saw so many lovely books and materials covering all range of subjects, it was very nearly overwhelming. We feel quite rich indeed.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

We'll put the books and notes to good use. The memories Laura and I have of Astronomy and Arithmancy respectively may be quite rusty (and Frank and Jacinda didn't go past OWLs), but Regina has pounced on your notes with eagerness, and has already started pulling and prodding us into filling in the gaps in our knowledge. Fu, Pilar, and Danny have taken it upon themselves to survey for the best place to set up the telescopes, and by summer, we'll have taken our first much-needed steps into integrating those areas into our existing coursework. (Pilar is the most eager by far. She was in utter raptures at your lecture, Siz.) And the other books will be much used and loved as well, I can assure you!

Arca, I'll be passing along some feedback about your programming. It all looks quite solid, and I am very pleased. Initial distribution of the pamphlets will be a bit of a challenge, of course, but well worth our while in the long run, I think. The international sports programme sounds like it'd be just perfect. There might be a little politicking that may need to be done in Aldrich, only because it's important they're fully behind any new initiatives as well, and they're hesitant about devoting airtime to our target demographic, but I think you've made a convincing argument for our need.

I am pleased and honoured to welcome four new members to the Order: Wayne Hopkins, Robert Stebbins, Katrina Bundy, and Artemus Ross. Remus and I have spent the last week talking and meeting with all of them, and we're happy to announce that all four were formally sworn in this afternoon. Thank you to Justin, Susan, Evelyn, Neville, and Ron for all your hard work in bringing them to this point. The entire Hogwarts contingent deserves an incredible amount of credit for their efforts in finding good people for our cause.

Wayne Hopkins is working as a courier, which gives him the cover and ability to travel widely. He'll work with Lee Jordan to provide much-needed support running supplies and assisting with the transport of non-magical people from our free zone areas.

Bobby Stebbins is a dock supervisor in Bath, and Remus has already been talking to him about how we might take advantage of his position for our shipments from Laszlo's. Having his capable eyes and ears at one of our major ports will be of great use.

Both Wayne and Bobby will be training further with Severus and Frank in the coming months in preparation for more extensive involvement in our work, and I look forward to their contributions.

Katrina and Artemus are ready and willing to support their fellow Order members at Hogwarts, and we've talked about the incredible work that their classmates have been able to do while still in school, and what they might work towards in the coming months. Given Hogwarts' changes in staffing, their help will be much needed and appreciated, I am sure. Katrina's strengths are Transfiguration and Defence, and she has been looking into internships at the Ministry after she leaves Hogwarts. (Bill, Jeremy, perhaps you might have some words of advice for her on that front.) Artemus is focusing on his Charms work in particular, and also has an affinity for Runes -- his ability to look up resources for Cecelia and help her in her research from afar will be quite the boon.

I know that this summer was one of loss and difficult changes, but I believe we have a firm footing and a clear vision of what is necessary to move forward as we start this next term. These four brave young people give me great hope for our future. They've all shown incredible courage and strength of character in joining us, and we will be a better and stronger group thanks to them.

Our summer is progressing quite nicely. We're in full harvest, and thanks to Regina and Lisa's tireless work, have quite a bounty. Sherwood, Aldrich, Bedford, and Saltash are likewise thankful for their efforts. We've had to make several supply runs to supplement everyone's current canning materials (which were considerable to begin with), and Victor's been making the rounds to pass along his expertise. It's a trickier process in Saltash, because proper sterilising is difficult to do without magic and it's not easy to bring the entire operation down to the caves, but they have been working on a set-up that should suffice.

We have four new wand-holders this year, Franklin, Melissa, Lucy, and Sarah. They've all been adjusting rather well -- Franklin held off for a year to work more on his diction (and we thought it'd be best to let him settle a little), and it seems to have paid off rather well for him. Alec has decided to join his brother at Sherwood, which means that Katherine and Ian are utterly despondent -- Laura was worried they'd both run off and join him immediately, but I believe we've convinced them to wait until they can Apparate and have developed their defensive skills more. Laura's still rather furious about the whole idea, though.

Our relationship with the centaurs continue to progress smoothly -- thanks to Charlie and Fu Lee, we've got our hands on some needed materials, and they have a supply of iron-tipped arrows and some custom made iron and leather front panels. They were rather adamant about not allowing anyone of-age into the Forest, which excludes Neville right out, and we've got to train up some of our younger Moddey Dhoo members more before they'd be ready, but Colin, Luna, and Evelyn certainly have things in hand for the time being.

We've a few short weeks of summer left before the Autumn term starts at Hogwarts -- I'm hoping we'll have a safehouse ready for our galleon holders by next week at the latest, so that you'll have time to show them the location before the term begins.

I'm sure we have no end of things to wrap up before the term begins properly -- if there's anything time-sensitive that needs our attention, please don't hesitate to speak up about it.

First of all, thank you to everyone who was able to make it out to celebrate Terry's adoption. It meant a lot to all of us.

According to the report from Bill, the earliest point by which the archival spells could be completed are fast approaching -- by his accounting, the 25th of this month. Therefore, we must assume that after the 25th, private messages will no longer be secure. They've managed to keep a rather tight lid on the archive even within MLE, so I doubt very much we'll know for certain when they've got a fully functional operation. Still. Hydra, Ron, Rachel, let us know if you hear anything.

We've already started to make announcements through the Free Radio Hour and the button network (thank you, Tim), and I'm sure our Galleon associates would appreciate an advanced warning as well, if one of our Hogwarts contingent could take responsibility for that. If you decide to spread the news to wider circles of Hogwarts students, I trust your judgement, but it would probably be best in that case to treat it as an overheard rumour rather than a stated fact.

Remus, Tonks, I'm assuming you've got a handle on the clientele at Laszlo's and Beth's network. Rachel, as a courtesy, we might keep Ridley informed, and Sarah, please let your brother know as well.

I'm also wondering about considerations for our non-Order galleon members in terms of safety this upcoming term, especially given our new Headmaster and the general lack of support we'll have at Hogwarts. It would be practical, for instance, to have a safehouse under Fidelius that is designated for this group, with a fellow student as secret-keeper. If there are no strong objections, Draco, might you work on that? And while we're thinking about it, what do you all think about showing them the Shack and the tunnel to Honeyduke's? Are there any other things we can do to prepare for the upcoming term in this regard?

Ginny dear, I was wondering if you'd be available this afternoon to come over to Moddey for tea and a chat? I can come fetch you from the Burrow, that wouldn't be a problem in the least.

How is Flynn?

It's an awful thing to say, but I'm almost relieved that things have sorted out the way they have. It will still end in death, but a far kinder death than we'd thought it would have to be.

Cold comfort, that.

I've a feeling I'll get an earful at Saturday's meeting. I don't want to tell my children what we Undoubtedly, those who were least involved in the planning of it will find it the easiest to pass judgement, and will insist that there were alternatives that would leave a lighter conscience and cleaner hands.

But I see the crushing guilt and fear that consumes Draco and the close scrutiny that Harry is under and I know that this is the best of a series of awful choices. Thank Merlin for Rachel. Thank Merlin for you, Severus. And Frank, thank you for helping to bear this burden and this responsibility. You are my strength.

I've been sitting at my desk for the past hour staring at my journal. There's not a chance I'm getting any sleep tonight, so I might as well make use of it and help keep watch. I'll be there in a few with a thermos.

Draco --

We ought to get together to discuss our current ideas regarding how to best handle your father's current situation. Severus, I would want you to be a part of that conversation as well.

I think it would also be a good idea for you to eventually learn the Fidelius charm, and a few other shielding and defensive spells that you may not have picked up yet. It'll have to be done out-of-doors where we can test it properly, so coming to Moddey would be ideal. You now have access, of course, so can come on your own time. Whenever you're ready, Frank and I will be at your disposal.

Naturally, sorting out the details of the current plan takes priority over learning the Fidelius, as it is time-sensitive.

I imagine the next few days will be trying for those of you at Hogwarts after what has been a difficult week. You've done an incredible job, all of you, and I am in awe of what you've accomplished together just in the last few days alone. Justin, I'm glad to hear your interview was unremarkable, and very much hope that trend will continue.

Bill, Rachel, any chatter you can pass along about the investigations at Hogwarts and the Archives would be much appreciated. Thank you for your efforts with Mulciber's paperwork.

We keep learning as we go, and I suppose if this past year has taught us anything, it's that regardless of what we have in mind, sometimes the rest of the world has other plans -- but that we can meet these challenges with flexibility, communication, and teamwork. We'll be meeting once our Hogwarts contingent is home and safe, so we can gather to mourn the loss of Minerva and discuss where we ought to go from here.

'Happy Birthday' is now officially Kevin's favourite song. He's led a veritable chorus of the younger children in singing it at dinner for the last few nights, and has drawn a dozen pictures of the party which I've promised to send along to Bea at his request. You can tell which one she is because he took a great deal of care colouring in her hair.

In other words, the party was by all accounts a rousing success.

Has Grimmauld recovered yet?

Luna, Ginny, Hydra, I hope your OWLs are going well for you. Best of luck on your remaining exams.

Kingsley, Fred, George, I appreciated your updates on Saltash. It looks like things are progressing rather well on that front thanks to a steady stream of assistance from Aldrich and Bedford. Regina and Lisa are certainly putting in a great deal of work into helping break ground for their summer crops, and I know the people of Saltash appreciate the work you three have been putting in. Any support the rest of you could provide over hols would be welcome as well.

I think the idea of a medical school is quite brilliant. Dr Williams seems quite passionate about training up nurses, and I'm sure there'll be no end of volunteers. I'm so glad they've worked out an exchange with Dr Harris so that he can lend his expertise as a trauma specialist, and their planned set-up for research into combined techniques seemed quite promising. Sally-Anne, Poppy, I have a feeling Drs Williams and Harris will very much want to meet with you come summer.

In camp news, we're continuing our regular deliveries of nutritional supplements, radios, and health pamphlets in coordination with Sherwood's smuggling ring and the press at Aldrich, and the camp button network seems to have taken on quite a life of its own. The set-up they have to pass messages back and forth is quite impressive. Tim, one of ours, works there during the week, and he says that by this point, he can read a message by feel without needing to write the pattern down first. He's also taken to tapping out jokes on the table at Sunday dinner.

Moddey is preparing for our summer crops as well, and is buzzing with activity (and bees). We have three girls who are anxiously awaiting wands, and Arista Selwyn is already quite jealous of them all. Fu continues to work on modifying firearms to take homemade shot, and, as usual, is trying very hard to come up with new ways of blowing things up. Ragnik is still settling in, and now that we've sorted out the particulars regarding his living space and meals, appears to be getting on tolerably well with Melli and Tricia. The three of them tend to spend most of their time holed up in their workshop, but when they do deign to grace us with their presence, they appear to be satisfied with their progress. Melli has been working rather steadily through the materials obtained from her family's shop last year, and several of her wands have already been matched successfully. Ragnik was quite overjoyed to receive not one, but nine acromantula legs to experiment on, and Melli was quite intrigued by the fangs.

It's getting late, and Frank is rather strongly suggesting I put down my quill for the night. Still, I am pleased with the progress we've been making so far this spring, and am looking forward to this summer.