Aberforth Dumbledore - he knows everything

[Warded to Beth & Hestia]
Now ladies, I trust I'm fine to do a bit of training and running as long as I stop if I feel strange or out of breath or anything out of the ordinary?

The shortness of breath stopped about four days after I got back here and the excessive tiredness seemed to pass about a day after that.
[/Ward]

My goodness, haven't there been some ructions around the place while I was being drugged out of my mind in the cause of 'rehabilitation'. I had thought that even Purists thought that the lives of children were sacrosanct. I am highly disappointed to find that I am wrong.

I also see that Miss Skeeter has been entertaining herself. My dear, you have a lovely turn of phrase here and there but by and large your efforts are the most appalling and trite kind of purple prose imaginable. Your 'biography' on my brother was most entertaining though. I haven't laughed so much in years. Let us just say that you got some of the particulars correct but when it came to the details you quickly veered off into absolute fantasy. I should know. I was there. But by and large, it was a jolly read. I shall keep it for those times when I'm feeling particularly miserable and want to cheer myself up.

Oh and Travers? I do apologise for not informing you of my medical history, especially in regards to my adverse reactions to certain potions. That was partly due to the fact I have an aversion to organised health care but mostly because no one in your 'rehabilitation' centre actually asked, least of all you. What sort of place are you running when even the most basic of medical questions is not asked before administering potions? But then I suppose medicine and health care is not what you're indulging in, is it?

Oh and by the way, Travers, I am old enough and experienced enough to know that some of those potions you were giving me are rather illegal, even for a hospital. Shame on you, breaking the law in such a disgraceful way. I'd suggest that the Ministry look into that but we all know they won't.

( [Warded Private to Self] )

( [Warded to Alastor Moody & Frank & Alice Longbottom] )

( [Warded to Severus] )

( [Warded to Tabitha MacFusty] )

( [Warded to Doris] )

( [Warded to the Order] )

Apparently I'm dead, killed by terrorists who were attacking the rehabilitation centre. Strange. I feel oddly healthy for a dead man.

[Warded to Moody, Frank & Alice]
It's not a lie that the people who aren't have let me down time and time again. How else would I have landed here?

Is that just a general whine or is James trying to send us a message there? We know that Albion had a rat in their ranks, do we have one as well?
[/Ward]

[Warded to Severus]
We've had something come up that I suspect you're not going to like.

Great Merlin, son, couldn't you have kept your vandalism of the rehabilitation centre a little more subtle?
[/Ward]

( [Warded Private to Self] )


Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech. ~Martin Farquhar Tupper

I quite like how eloquent so many people are being right now. Don't you wish I had been too?

[Warded to the Order]
My, my. Has anyone who has one looked at their ID card of late?

I pulled mine out today with thoughts of voting on that ridiculous Bill and found it has gone the most alarming shade of red. It seems I may have offended someone at some point.

Either that or my ID card is dreadfully embarrassed about something. Possibly Rodolphus Lestrange's dancing. That'd embarrass anyone.
[/Ward]

[Warded to the Order]
I apologise for not speaking to you all earlier but I am sure you will understand that I have had many things to deal with in the aftermath of Albus’ death. I hope all of you enjoyed whatever it was he left to you and please don’t ask me why he made the decisions he did. I did not often know why my brother’s mind worked the way it did.

I know that it seems as thought we have entered dark and difficult times with Albus’ death but he always knew that the Order was more than one man. The Order is each and every one of us and while we live and have hope, determination and stubbornness then the Order still stands. You all have skills, abilities and strengths that will allow us to carry on, to survive and to defeat these usurpers and murders. Do not think that you don’t. Albus believed in you so have the same belief in yourself.

We have suffered some terrible losses and we shall mourn them but we should not use them as an excuse to give up. You are all capable witches and wizards. If you would like help improving something, please feel free to ask me. I am sure Frank and Alice and Alastor would be willing help as well. I cannot promise to be an easy taskmaster but I will help you learn. As I am sure Hestia and Damocles can attest, creativity on the battlefield can often yield some interesting results, both good and bad. I’m sure none of use will forget the sight of Rodolphus Lestrange dancing a merry jig and covered in pretty flowers.

We need time to regroup and heal but then we must continue onwards. If you have ideas or suggestions, please bring them forward. You may do it to the Order as a whole or if you are unsure, please bring them privately to one or more of myself, Frank, Alice or Alastor. We are more than willing to listen to you.
[/Ward]

[Warded Private to Self]
I'm tired but I can't bear to sleep. Damn nightmares. Hardly restful watching Albus fall over and over again or worse seeing him come back as a damn Inferi. That's not going to happen. His grave is well protected and I am the only one who knows where it is. I shall have to resort to Dreamless Sleep soon enough but not yet, not yet. I still have work to do here.

I have no idea what possessed Albus to give the gifts he did. Then again when did I ever really understand how Albus' mind worked?

I miss him.

I miss the annoying, meddling, irritating, pompous, manipulative old twit.

I never wanted to be the last of the Dumbledores.
[/Ward]

[Warded to James]
It has been brought to my attention by a mutual acquaintance that it might be a wise idea to arrange for a small diversion far from the entrance to the tunnel you and the others are preparing when it is time for everyone to escape. It's not a bad idea and we do have people still on the outside.

May I leave this in your capable hands? I shall not be leaving with the rest of you as there is still much to be done to sort out Albus' affairs.
[/Ward]

[Warded to Frank, Alice and Rufus]
I have been to the ramparts and observed the grounds. It seems there has been a changing of the guard outside from entirely Death Eaters to a mix of Death Eaters and what I presume are werewolves, hags and the like.

It seems to me that as long as they believe that we are all here, they will be inclined to stay right where they are. I know that plans are afoot to evacuate people from the castle and do keep up with those plans. I shall be remaining and can provide the illusion of occupancy here.

However it might be wise for everyone to lay low and give the impression over the journals that they are still in Hogwarts until everyone has healed and plans for the future can be made.
[/Ward]

[Warded Private to Self]
Ye gods and little fishes. Was my brother a man or a pack rat? I've never seen so much junk in one room.

I have at least found his will and while I cannot honour all of it due to current circumstances, I can get most of it done though why he wants some of the things sent out that he's designated is beyond me. Still, he usually had his reasons. Not always good ones but who am I to argue? All it's going to cost is the time of an owl.

I need to work out the best way of doing what I want to do and cleaning this place up gives me plenty of opportunity. Frank and Alice have been doing a wonderful job in the last couple of days and I have no desire to usurp them. Should I simply act independently then? I suspect I need to speak with them first and see what they intend to do.

I have seen the Death Eaters outside and I am sorely tempted to try and pick one or two off. I have not always been good at denying temptation.
[/Ward]

How strange that those foreign terrorists would attack the Avery home. Surely they'd be targeting the Minister or the Head of the DMLE or someone far more important than the Head of the International Law office?

Then again maybe there's some new law on the hop that they don't like? Always possible. Politics is always a subject that can get a person's blood up and running and make them do wild things.

Or maybe these foreign terrorists don't like the fact that Avery's daughter married a Frenchman? These foreigners can get some damned funny ideas in their heads sometimes and they have some very strange ideas about purity that make no sense to the average British person. I've been around many places in Europe, especially France, where a man can get disowned for marrying a foreign girl. The families don't like the idea of foreign blood coming into the line. Bad blood, they call it. Dirty blood. If these foreign terrorists think like that... well, oh dear. There could be lots of trouble ahead for any French person who has married someone English.

Or... well, weren't Avery and his son off in some foreign clime when they had been falsely accused of being Death Eaters? Maybe they offended someone while they were there. Doubt they did but one never knows what these foreigners will get in their heads these days. For all we know Aquila Avery could have very politely smiled at some pretty girl he was randomy passing on the street and her brothers and father took it all the wrong way and are now out for blood?

Hmm, would that mean that the destruction in Knockturn and Hogsmeade was completely unrelated? It makes sense when you think about it. Why would people target shops and a home? Unless one group attacked the shops and the home attack was rather... personal, shall we say?

Ah well, I suppose we'll never know. And I think it's time this old man got back to work instead of putting his rambling random thoughts down in this journal.

( [Warded to the Order, Pepper, Severus, Jo] )

I do like to see spring come each year. Old men like me never particularly like winter. The cold is terrible for the joints.

[Warded to Doris]
Care to drop by the Hog's Head?

Seems the Army of Albion has some work for us if you're willing.
[/Ward]

[Warded to Pepper]
My, my, such ructions in Hogsmeade. Break ins, thefts... all suspiciously confined to the purist leaning shops. Oh, the howling and wailing and gnashing of teeth that is going on.



How goes the Army of Albion by the way?
[/Ward]

[Warded Private to Self]
Another one gone. Though at least this time the only mourning I have to do is public and feigned. Though I'd imagine a little private mourning at not having her around to pester and demand and care is worthwhile. I would dearly love to set the Order's minds at ease but it can't be done. Just can't be done. She must be dead and gone for her own safety and the safety of those she cares about.

I must watch over Caradoc to the best of my ability and as much as he will let me. Meaghan would never forgive me if something happened to him and I could have prevented it.

Severus did well and this will help him. What a world he lives in when the way to move up is to brutally murder people. And to think they have the gall to call themselves 'civilised'. Civilised people do not consider murder and torture to be acceptable solutions to any problem.

So what now? Well, first I suppose I ought to 'fess up to Albus. I said I would and better to do it now rather than let things fester for any length of time. I believe I will also float an idea that has been sitting in my mind for some weeks and gain his opinion.
[/Ward]

[Warded to Albus]
I fear I have a confession to make.

And also an idea to discuss with you.
[/Ward]

[Warded to Severus]
I find myself in need of your help, at least as much of it as you can manage.

Can I trouble you for some time?
[/Ward]

[Warded Private to Self]
Dammit. We should have anticipated this. Whether they found out from the DMLE files or in some other way, we should have anticipated that the release of that lot from prison was going to come back and bite us on the arse.
[/Ward]

[Warded to Meaghan McCormack]
My dear, I trust that you are somewhere safe and sound that nobody knows about? Especially anybody associated with the Ministry.
[/Ward]