Memos to: Sirius Black, Fabian Prewett, Alice Longbottom

[hemhemhemhemhem.livejournal.com]

To: Sirius Black, Fabian Prewett, Alice Longbottom

As you know I've requested a loan of Aurors to find and process the werewolf or werewolves with links to the recent Dementor attacks and your talented names have come up. Over the next few days, your attendance will be expected at several meetings with myself and wizards from the Being division to establish a united approach and to introduce you to the resources at your disposal.

I'm sure we will all get along swimmingly.

Enclosed are my office hours; please see me at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,
Dolores Jane Umbridge
Head of the DRCMC, Being division

Comments

[rathercareless.livejournal.com]

*Fabian, not particularly one for subtlety, reads over his memo with open disgust. He the quickly re-folds it and sends it zinging over to crash into the side of Gideon's head, mouthing 'what the fuck?' once he's got his attention.*

[treefeller.livejournal.com]

OI!

*Gideon seizes the offending memo, unfolding it and smoothing it out on his own desk. He's only halfway through when he starts laughing uproariously, crumpling the paper into a ball and tossing it back.*

Have fun, darling.

And don't drink the tea, whatever you do.

[rathercareless.livejournal.com]

*He catches it, affronted, and on the reflex of a ten-year-old, throws it back harder.*

It's bloody well not funny! Arse! Anyway why me, what'd I do?

[treefeller.livejournal.com]

*Gideon ducks, and the long-suffering memo-ball whizzes by, in the general direction of Black's desk.*

Whatever it was, it must've been bad. Tsk tsk, Fabian.

[rathercareless.livejournal.com]

*Fabian just sulks, with the ineffectual dissatisfaction of those who are angry with very little to be done about it.*

Fuck.

*Scowling, he twists around in his chair and addresses the office at large. Loudly.*

I want a cigarette, can anyone let me bum one? And teach me to smoke?

[gummymummy.livejournal.com]

*Alice stares at the letter, somewhat dumbfounded. She had been following the werewolf accusations in the Prophet and through Frank and still had yet to understand how the intelligence pointed to them. More than that, how had Dolores Umbridge managed to get an Auror squad?

Alice had only heard of her in the Ministry and felt rather sure that they would not 'get along swimmingly'.

She picks up Neville, who clearly does not want to be held at this moment when he is so close to figuring out crawling. Even as he struggles and pushes against her chest, Alice puts her face against his the side of head and sighs.*

It doesn't sound like a choice, Little Man.

*She sits down at the writing desk next to Benedict's perch, weighing the options as she puts Neville back down. While the Ministry does guarantee her more maternity leave, she is dying to get back to the office. However, the office appears to want her to come back only to start this sickening hunt. It goes against her own beliefs and experiences to re-entre in this way. But then, the opportunity to use these extra resources could be great tools for finding the truth and for the Order. And it couldn't hurt to have an Order member in there, since Fabian and Sirius would never do it...

She slumps and lets her head loll back. It might be best to at least have a private meeting, then decide. If anything, she can stop it all by saying she still has a few months left on her leave.

Alice's head turns to the side so she can gather her parchment, quill, and ink, to write:*

Dear Ms. Umbridge,

I am pleased to hear my name has come up in your proceedings. As you know, I am on the Ministry's maternity leave, and should remain as such until this July.

However, I cannot deny my interest in your endeavor. I should like to have a private meeting to discuss it further, so that I may weigh all my options and decide what is best for my family, the Ministry, and myself.

Would tomorrow at eleven o'clock be suitable?

Thank you for your owl,
Alice Longbottom

[hemhemhemhemhem.livejournal.com]

*In her reply, Dolores doesn't say what she'd like to--namely, that it was not a request, that maternity leave is not a right but a privilege, and that in very recent memory witches had to choose between family and career instead of failing at both. Instead, her note is short, the penmanship rather curly as usual.*

Dear Mrs. Longbottom,

Thank you for your prompt reply. Tomorrow at eleven would be more than suitable. I look forward to meeting with you.

Sincerely,
Dolores Jane Umbridge
DRCMC Head, Being division

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

*Sirius reads the memo once, then again, with increasing concern. It can't be a coincidence. Not since accompanying Remus to her office. And there's clearly no way out of it; if she's gotten approval, she's gotten them specifically on order from someone. Maybe even Crouch himself.*

Fucking bitch.

*Two notes, then, one by owl and one by memo.*

Remus,

Your friend from your last visit to the ministry with me is asking for my help on a project. She picked out my role in it specially for me, most likely because we're flatmates and she knows I'm acquainted with the specifics of the work. We'll talk about it later but I thought you should know as her memo has just landed on my desk and I thought you'd be excited to hear the news.

Sirius

*Stuffed in an envelope and sent with a Ministry owl with instructions to wait for a reply if Remus wants to.

The next has rather neater penmanship, but the quill is pressed so hard to the parchment that its back bears little gouges.*

Dear Madame Umbridge,

I'm flattered that my name has come up. However, I don't think I will be suitable to your needs, I have somewhat of a conflict of interest in this area.

If you are available at three o'clock tomorrow, I will be available to discuss this further.

Sincerely,
Sirius Black

[hemhemhemhemhem.livejournal.com]

Dear Mr. Black,

I look forward to hearing any concerns you may have and making sure they are addressed. Three o'clock tomorrow will be perfect.

Sincerely,
Dolores Jane Umbridge
DRCMC Head, Being Division

[looneyloopy.livejournal.com]

*Remus isn't any happier about it than Sirius, but his pragmatic streak runs deep, and it curtails him getting quite as upset. If they can dodge the obvious problem that might crop up - Sirius getting set on him - this might be what they've needed to find out who sent the sheep, who sent Amrita the cherub. The lack of information on that front has been getting to him.

Still. He agrees with Sirius: the assignment is blatantly deliberate, and he has a feeling that more harm than good might come out of this. His note's short, careful - they can get into this later, in person.*

'Excited' is such an interesting word, isn't it? Try not to let your own excitement get the better of you. I'll be here when you get off work.

Remus

[fleasaremurder.livejournal.com]

Remus,

I'll try. I'm housetrained.

Sirius