aunt_lucy

( Private to Self. )

My father is turning 80 at the beginning of July. I believe I've reached the point where contemplating my parents' ages too long is disconcerting.

[Private to Self]

Our job is to take down Dark Wizards, and we are trained well to do so - but coming across a Dark Wizard in an alley does not automatically mean we're going to be attacking them with the Killing Curse. It is a last resort, as was stated when the law passed. It's more of a burden than it is a gift, and just because we have the option does not make it a viable one we are willing to fling about.

Something is always a last resort until it's not. Mr. Wilkes was a child - perhaps he was coerced or intimidated, perhaps not. We won't know now.

[/Private]

[Mightier Quills except Miss Cora Cornerstone]

Should we meet soon?

[/Private]

[Private]

You may not hit your sister-in-law over the head with a vase.

You may not hit your sister-in-law over the head with a vase.

You may not hit your sister-in-law over the head with a vase.


[/Private]

[Warded separately to William Goyle and Antonin Dolohov]

Do you know what 'Mezcal' is?

[Warded to Callista - Added Later]

There was not enough wine at that meeting.

[ Jane Bagnold ]

Why is there a young man in my office? Why did he move my couch?

[Private to Self]

To Do:

- Schedule quarterly meeting with financial manager
- Read through reports for the morning
- Send Desdemona's gift
- Stop by Father's library for more books on non-verbal communication; continue experiments with direct mind speech and easy ways to slip information past Ministry's PAT. (Way to monitor how much is being monitored?)
- Check up further on Moirai situation.
- Schedule whole evening for Ignatius sometime in the next few weeks, with at least 2 back-up dates.

Added Later:

I don't want to read a Muggle book; it's probably some nonsense about space, I am not going to read an entire book to get a joke, and I have a perfectly interesting Wizarding reading list to get through besides.

I also don't want to talk about curtains with Druella any more.

I'm feeling peckish. I need a walk.

[/Private]

My favorite quill has been missing for 2 weeks. I had our elf track down another of the same make, but it isn't quite the same. I've checked around the home and had the elf do the same, so if anyone at the WWN finds my quill, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know. It has a charmed Fwooper feather and a golden-nib.

( Private to Self. )


[Narcissa]

I'm sure you will take care of your sister, but if you need anything in the process of doing so, I am here.

[/Private]

[Bellatrix]

I have no doubt that you have matters well in hand, but if you need anything held onto while the Ministry is its usual intrusive self, I have safe places for use.

[/Private]

[ Mr. Bilius Weasley ]

Tomorrow. 7 PM. Suffolk.

[/Private]

It is perhaps an odd thing to say, but watching one of my co-workers today has made me quite grateful I've never suffered from hay fever.

( Private to Self. )

[Private to Narcissa]

Thank you for showing me your gardens. They were absolutely lovely and I will have to get the name of whomever delivers your plants.

I read the Minister's statement yesterday, and although I wholly agree with the government's policy of not negotiating with terrorists, I do not believe that the entirety of the Minister's statement is accurate. Specifically, I take issue with the latter half of the second paragraph:

This government will not negotiate with terrorists, especially when the actions asked to be taken are imposing and not for the good of the people that we command. We are a body of government. We will not legitimize the methods used of those who seek only to eradicate and take a democracy and twist it into a dictatorship where countless lives will be deemed meaningless and tossed aside. The violence must come to a stop, but only in a way that not only truly bring peace but also keep this political system stable.

One absolutely should not legitimize the activities of vigilantes. However, I question the commitment to democracy from a government which has authorized the invasion of privacy of private citizens by the DMLE through searches and tapping, authorized the use of the Unforgivables in such a way which clearly demonstrates that the government views itself as above the law and subject to exceptions not granted the citizenry, invaded private correspondence, and more. There are claims that everything done is done with safety in mind, but is it worth subjecting ourselves to invasion for? There has also been no release of information showing the effectiveness of these measures: How many incidents have been stopped or vigilantes captured directly as a result of these new laws?

A true commitment to democracy requires the allowance of discussion, and despite the Minister's stated intent, the policies of the government work to stifle discussion and make those who would criticize the Ministry fearful of being labeled terrorists, to the extent where everything they say may be overheard. If the stability of a political system requires the repression of the people and for them to fear their government, that political system needs to be changed.

If the Minister were truly committed to peace and democracy, she would not condone the maintaining of order through intimidation.

*I would like to end this entry with the disclaimer that my criticism of the Ministry is both a personal opinion and that my misgivings absolutely in no way mean that I support any terrorist action or activity. I simply comment on the Ministry because I feel that the terrorist activities and the absurdity of their demands have already been addressed, while the Minister's statement has not.

( Private to self. )

[Private to Self]

I hate Mothering Sunday.


[Private to the Beech brothers]

Horatio, I am stealing your 'un-Valentine's Day' concept and applying it to today.

[Mr. Dolohov]

I still do not know what 'عرق' is, but I have learned it is not a good idea to mix it with vodka. Just a tidbit of wisdom.

[/Private]


It is very hard to adequately pamper one's mother when she's been whisked off to France for the weekend.

In other news, I picked up a biography on Artemisia Lufkin this week at Flourish and Blott's earlier this week, and it's really quite fascinating. It is a shame that most of us are only taught about her as the first female Minister, when some of her policies and reforms have influences even in the present day. There's so much left off of the common knowledge of her life.

It makes me wonder what a pithy, two-to-three sentence long summary about my own life would consist of and which parts would be remembered.

[Private to Self]

I've stalled on my research into the hijacking and cursing of the wireless. It's frustrating, but I think it's time to set it aside for now.

[Private to Narcissa]

How is your mother faring, dear?

[/Private]

Returning to one's childhood home as an adult is always slightly disorienting. I remember when I came home as a first year for the winter holiday, I felt quite betrayed that anything had the audacity to change in my absence. I always froze my father's house in my mind at the time that I last left. Even now, when I call it to mind, the image is that of the house as it was when I was a girl.

( Private )

I am rather glad to be done of February. Despite my birthday, I've always found it a rather dreary month. Not quite the worst of the year, however. November currently holds that honor. December

( Private to Self. )

( Private to Mightier Quills )

( Private to Mr. Goyle )

Birthdays change as you get older. I find myself with less anticipation but more of an appreciation for them, and each year I'm more grateful for the opportunity to have had another year to live and grow. Today has been an absolutely lovely day, and at the risk of sounding sentimental, it's all been due to my husband and his insistence that I spend the day doing things that I enjoy. A luxury, but a necessary one, especially in times like these.

[Private to Self]

Disgusting.

Have to get that horrible message thing off of the airwaves.

[/Private]



[Private to Hadrian and Horatio Beech]

When you are able, please respond.

[/Private]

I have seen many things throughout my life, and few are as shameful as what I have witnessed today.

( Private to Self. )

It occurs to me that the more outrage is expressed and the more attention given, the more we validate these tactics. It's all a matter of asserting control.

An interesting if transparent effort.

Like children throwing tantrums.

Added Later: This was ill-timed, and I apologize. I will not erase it, as I believe everybody should face the consequences of their words, including myself.

( Private to Self. )

( Private to WWN. )

( Private to Desdemona Goyle. )

( Private to Mr. Ashley Ketteridge. )

This fell off one of my husband's bookshelves today:


( Picture under cut. )

I don't know how a childhood picture of mine ended up between his books and I'm also not certain what prompted him to keep it for all these years.

I thought I would place it here as a piece of history, however small it may be. It is interesting how the passing of time can transform a photograph from a rare commodity to something commonplace.

( Private to Self. )

[Horatio]

I read the article. I need to speak with you.

( Private to Self )

The interesting thing about long periods with very little sleep is that when you do have the opportunity to sleep, you have trouble doing so.

At least judging by how long I'm spending staring at our bedroom ceiling.