Dear Professor Dumbledore

I am so glad that you had no qualms with myself inspecting with Dolores, it has been a very enlightening time for me.

Firstly, Dolores has a dreadful cough! When I asked her about it she said she was quite alright but I have reason to believe otherwise. She needed to cough almost every time she spoke. I am sure she is merely soldiering on in order not to be a burden to others, but she should not worry about that if her health is in question. I would have told her as much but inexplicably seem to lose my eloquence whenever I am in her vicinity. It is quite embarrassing. I did ask Madame Pomfrey about it, but all she did in response was stare blankly. I am slightly worried.

Secondly, Dolores may need some teaching in the field of Inspection. She did an admirable job of writing what she sees in a standard Inspection Clipboard, but she has much to learn in the way of asking pertinent questions and performing standard Inspection Spells.

I will attempt to inform and educate her on this.

And thirdly, though this does not exactly pertain to my time with Dolores, I have been hearing rumors about a new form of punishment being instituted. I do not know much about it as I have only heard it in passing while inspecting the conversations that the students have in class, but what I have heard is very concerning. Apparently this new punishment involves tattooing a students arm.

Of course it could just be rumors, but as per usual I will be inspecting just to be sure. And though I am very sure you yourself would have no idea about this possible punishment, for you would never let something like this happen, I am obliged to ask you if you have any knowledge about this. For formalities sake.

You do not think Mr. Filch could have had something to do with it, do you? I have heard him mutter about the 'Old Ways' quite often. And while it is unnerving, I had assumed it to be harmless.

Cygnus Stixrood, Chief Centennial Inspector, Department For Permits And Filing