ORDER ONLY: A message.

[alt_mcgonagall]

I received the following today:

My dear friends,

If you are receiving this, it means that I am dead, likely by my own hand. I have never trusted in my own ability to withstand questioning by the likes of Bellatrix Lestrange -- sooner or later, I fear, I would tell them anything they asked -- so I made provisions that would provide me with a swift exit. A family heirloom passed down from my great-grandfather, my ring was first used for murder, then later to control an inconvenient spouse.  It gave me a certain satisfaction to know I was using it instead to provide for my own escape, if it ever became necessary.

My greatest fear has never been the quiet release of death, you understand, but that I might betray others.

Please keep watch over my family. None of them ever knew of my work, and I hope their innocence will protect them. 

Aloysius

It burned itself as I copied out the last few sentences; so I cannot guarantee that it is perfect.

I remember Aloysius well, and particularly his wife, who was a denizen of Gryffindor house. It is perfectly fitting that he should have the presence of mind to do - well, to do away with himself.

It does not, however, shed any more light on the circumstances of his death, or rather the circumstances that led to his death.

Comments

[alt_molly]

Not very well, Kingsley. We had him come over for dinner last night. We thought that would be all right because it wasn't very different from his usual routine to join us.

[alt_arthur]

I let him spend a couple hours getting thoroughly pissed on the last of my Firewhiskey. Not even Molly objected. But then we gave him the Sober Up and got started on that list of questions you and Emmeline sent with your patronus. Molly was inclined to argue at first--she's even more upset about all this than Bill--but Bill and I think you're quite right. If the MLE are going to question him, they'll strike quickly, while he's still reeling from the news about Archer, so it's important that he be prepared.

He was a bit shaky at first when we practised, but he got firmer and more convincing the longer we went on. I think--I hope he'll be all right.

We also had some serious discussion on the question of, if worst comes to worst, whether he should retreat to Moddey Dhoo. Bill really doesn't want to do it. His position at the Ministry really is critical for our operations, and there's the worry of what would happen to the rest of the family, particularly those at Hogwarts, if he flees. Presumably, he'd then be declared a traitor, and well...I'm sure you can imagine what would come next.