alt_mcgonagall

Antosha,

I understand you are but late returned from the glorious Presence of Our Lord.

I long for news of His magnificence. Would you care to enlighten me by joining me for tea in my office - not today, I know how difficult Thursdays are on your timetable. Perhaps tomorrow?

One recalls the blessings He provides and desires to bask again in that light, even if it must be enjoyed as a pale reflection, second-hand. Still, your tales will be fresher than my own.

As you all have seen, things are rather a mess around New London these days.

I do not believe that the minds of the Selwyn conspirators hold anything that could compromise me—not truly. (I might have to dance around the fact that I knew Selwyn's purpose when he asked me to bring him Felix Felicis, but I believe that is more than possible.) Yet they know that I was related, and have tried to contact me—Ursula Avery in particular. Well, and who is Ursula Avery? She would hardly speak to me when I was drying out. She considered herself rather too high in the instep to pay attention to a poor drunk. But now she wishes to discuss her child. By "her child," I assume she means the creeping fear that the Lord Protector knows all about her part in Selwyn's scheme.

Well, I have put her off so far. Part of me wants to speak with her, to speak with everyone who was part of our little cabal, and remind them that the Lord Protector can smell weakness. If they flinch, he will know!

But another part of me says: why endanger yourself more? Why would you link your name to conspirators', when you have no reason to do so? That part is the part I must listen to.

Dyson came to see me this morning, unannounced, so that I had no opportunity to turn him away. Young Malfoy may be interested to know that Dyson is firmly on the side of Nott and the Mulcibers, it seems. He was not in the least bit subtle about the purpose of his visit. He actually said 'Lucius Malfoy is an old friend of yours, I know—but he allowed Madam Umbridge control of Hogwarts." Oh, he couched it in concern for his children, certainly, but what he meant was "when was the last time Malfoy did anything for you?"

I must think carefully on what to do now. I have always considered Lucius Malfoy the most stable of the Death Eaters, the most dedicated to the rule of law, the most reasonable. That is why I have backed him for so long: best to stick with the devil you know and whose actions you can predict. That is also why I felt that Selwyn's plot was necessary: the Lord Protector grows more unbalanced day by day. Now, however, I begin to rethink my strategy.

Is it truly best to have a stable and functional government, if that government is oppressing our people, even if that means it is easier for us to do our work? Didn't Dolores Umbridge do more than anyone to turn people against the MLE? Could it not be the best strategy to play the sides against each other, to destabilize the top, to make it spin more and more wildly and loopily until it can no longer stand?

New London is positively buzzing these days.

Court yesterday was, of course, a much quicker proceeding than we had thought it might be. A few depositions, one statement (ably given by Lucius)—and it quickly became clear that Madam Umbridge has suffered quite a terrible accident.

Septima Vector is an excellent choice for Headmistress to replace Madam Umbridge. However, I am given to understand that it is a temporary appointment. We shall see what comes of this.

All continues well with me.

Severus, by now you surely have winkled every last thing there is to know about the events of last night out of Miss Granger. She has been markedly uncommunicative with me. Under normal circumstances, I would not hesitate to pursue her for information, but she likely knows less than you can find out from Tosha and Poppy.

In short: tell me what has happened.

Child, do you know anything about students in places they should not be? The castle still considers me the Headmistress enough to warn me when students are causing trouble, it seems.

It is too much to hope, I suppose, that it has not told that woman as well.

My greatest appreciation to the ladies of New London, who have been so solicitous in making sure that I am well, safe, and resting.

I realise that I was rather sharp with you all last night. You are, upon reflection, correct that I have been overtired of late. I will certainly submit to whatever you think is best for my recuperation—and I am most sorry to have to send you back the wine. Perhaps I can make it up somehow.

This letter regards the CCF activities that students undertook today, under the direction of Dolores Umbridge.

Students were asked to perform dangerous tasks with little or no security and safety precautions. More than this, the tasks were clearly chosen to create psychological distress for particular students. While I believe, as everyone does, that "stretching" is important in developing students' mental and physical abilities, this afternoon's requirements were utterly unreasonable. What is more, the students were required to be actively cruel to Muggles placed as obstacles in their path. An upright wizard would not beat a horse, a Krup, or any other semi-intelligent animal; Muggles are no different. We degrade our children by asking them to torment uncomprehending living beings, even potentially dangerous beings such as Muggles.

Madam Umbridge refused to explain her plans to any staff members, and her mandate is such that it would have been difficult to moderate her actions in any case.

As Headmistress of this school, I am lodging a formal complaint against Madam Umbridge. I request that her assignment to Hogwarts be reconsidered.

 By now you have no doubt heard about the Hogwarts situation- I was not even informed until this morning. "We didn't wish to worry you, Minerva, with your health so delicate of late." Am fighting to learn more, but no one seems to be at their Floo. Composing Howlers, but how much can they ever do?

Any information that can be uncovered will help me: to be seen as having "little birds" that give me information will only help my reputation, with the Inner Circle. But I must be careful to cast this as anger at La Umbridge's impinging on my territory, not sympathy to traitors.

Oh, if I had my mouth, I would bite!

I have given the matter some more thought, and however negative an effect tobacco-smoking may have on my health, it cannot be as bad as the effects of the Contravinum potion when I absentmindedly reach for a drink.

Therefore, no further discussion of the matter will be necessary.

 Am I correct in thinking that you are set to meet with Madam U. to discuss the CCF soon?

Might I bend your ear, afterwards?

I find I require some help recalling the details of the CCF plans,