February 21, 1996
President Cunningham,
As instructed I have assumed the office of Diplomatic Representative of MACUSA in the United Kingdom, though united is not the word I would use to describe these people. The words of one Harry Potter have ripped these people to shreds. Madam President, we both know necromancy is an imaginary art practiced by those delusional enough to believe it would work. Atticus Graves has given many lectures on the matter to student Aurors over the years. If Potter is correct in Voldemort rising from the dead, Atticus Graves will have to consider changing the whole course of discussion on his famous lecture.
I am sure we will all hear him complain about it.
I will continue to monitor the situation and maintain our relationship here with the local government. My opinions and reports on those dealings should follow over the coming weeks.
Now onto a personal note. Astrid, with regards to the current election, you know I must maintain loyalty to the office and not the person in it. The office of the president is an ideal and the most direct representation of the people's will as a whole on the world stage. Though, personally, I find you to be the most reasonable of the presented options and if things get … strange here, I trust you to be more astute than Jack Graves or Ismelda Wolfe. I find Wolfe to be generally vacant of mind at best and openly self serving at worst. I cannot say the same of Graves, who is famous for his binders of policy notes and too charismatic to be labeled as self-serving by the public. He is the real threat from the Virtus Party and with this country potentially going to open conflict before the election; it would throw him directly into power. Please be proactive, I had the pleasure of Senator Graves' eldest daughter interning with me last year and if he is half as smart as Audrey, then you are in real danger of losing your seat.
Best Regards,
Elihu Weathers
Oo0Oo0
March 13, 1996
President Cunningham,
I write to you to report that the Potter situation has taken an interesting turn, enclosed is an article from the local, conspiracy rag known as the Quibbler featuring an interview with one Harry Potter about what happened in his own words. It took me a long time to get my hands on a copy, it's been selling so quickly I had to pay two galleons to get a copy secondhand.
Astrid, I implore you to read this. I believe the situation here in the United Kingdom is going to shift dramatically over the coming weeks, Minister Fudge has continued to write off Potter, claiming the boy is a liar. Richard Upton and I have had a series of long talks before he left for his beachfront retirement in Florida and I have read the reports he has left on file. I have discussed my opinions on the Minister in previous reports to your office and I will not reiterate them in detail. I will say that my opinion of the Minister as a fool continues to be well-founded and evidence supported.
Please inform Head Auror McGrew that I greatly enjoy his staff contributions to the embassy. Auror Laurent is a charming young man, despite his unfortunate relationship with Senator Jack Graves. One would hardly know the senator is his uncle, I forget it on occasion due to how much I enjoy his company. His little girlfriend, sorry fiancee, Auror Barebone is a calming influence on him and has an alarming gift for intelligence work. Most men marry out of their league, and in that regard Auror Laurent has done his duty.
I am also very impressed with their mentors, Auror Onacona Mankiller is far more pacifistic than I would have anticipated, though he has uttered the phrase "Wand nonsense," after most of the meetings I ask him to attend with me. He's not wrong. There is a lack of diversity in this government that he and I both find alarming and concerning. Magical creatures of human intelligence are not provided seats in government, even in advisory roles. Many department heads that I have met with come from money, means and family connections that make the process of bartering and diplomacy between them borderline homogenous. There is no diversity of thought or opinion from what I can see and Mankiller has assured me that I am not crazy for thinking so.
The Chief Auror provided for the post is a wonder, Temperance Hanlon is strict, uncompromising and is very good at getting the best from her team. While she rides Auror Laurent quite hard at points, she plainly views him as her favorite mentee. She and Mankiller have clearly guided Laurent and Barebone into the early stages of being the fine Aurors they are quickly becoming and I hope their respective partnerships continue to be advantageous and fruitful to their careers.
I eagerly await the arrival of Auror Jenkins in the coming weeks to round out the team. Mankiller speaks well of him (he says they are hunting buddies) and I think a bit of Texas spirit would round out the embassy nicely in the days to come. Mankiller tells me Jenkins makes a marvelous brisket which I am excited to sample.
Warmest regards,
Elihu Weathers
Oo0Oo0
April 2, 1996
Astrid,
You'll receive my formal letter tomorrow but I feel you need to know that these fools just tried and failed to arrest Albus Dumbledore!
I dare you to guess how this has occurred. The Minister thought he, two Aurors and a Hogwarts professor could capture this man who defeated Grindelwald in single combat!
Reportedly, Dumbledore has flown away on a phoenix to live a life on the lam.
I am laughing hysterically.
Enclosed is a newspaper article detailing the charges. Supposedly, Dumbledore was building a child army to take control of the Ministry of Magic. Stupid notion. I bet the Minister's little assistant wrote this up, he seems to be a, if you'll pardon the pun, a Weasley sort of fellow.
Anyway, the Ministry has asked us to regard Dumbledore as an enemy of the state. I have told them politely that, from what I have seen of this fine administration, I am sure that the Ministry is fully capable of handling a former Supreme Mugwump.
Idiots.
I'm so glad you sent me here.
Best Regards,
Elihu.
Oo0Oo0
June 13, 1996
Astrid,
Potter was telling the truth! Voldemort has returned, they caught him in the Ministry of Magic with his followers fighting Albus Dumbledore himself!
Fudge will be on his way out of office for this farce.
I'll keep you posted in the meantime.
Elihu
Oo0Oo0
July 9, 1996
President Cunningham,
I am sorry to see you leave the office. You have been a boon to the country and I hate to see a change at the reins of power during a time of such upheaval in England, but at the end of the day we must all respect the will of the American wix. There is great freedom in the people's decision of a leader, though I think there is more freedom to be found in reaching the pinnacle of political power and using that knowledge as a private citizen. I hope that is something you find joy and peace in with your husband and children. I am sure they will be happy to see more of you in the years to come.
I look forward to what the future holds for MACUSA and must reiterate that things in England are changing every day.
Best Regards,
Elihu Weathers
Oo0Oo0
August 3, 1996
President Graves,
You have written to me to inquire about your daughter and her safety in England as more revelations come to light about the mismanagement by the Fudge administration. I can confirm she has formally declined the protection offered by the Secret Service Aurors with the Embassy Office and your reports from your own agents are accurate about being unable to locate her. I assume she has moved to a new location for safety with everything going on as she is still reporting work, if she is not with her relatives, then I am clueless as to her present location.
If I may speak frankly Mr. President, your daughter is remarkably capable and too smart to risk her life doing something stupid or draw unnecessary attention to herself. Having Audrey as an intern for my office was a pleasure and joy and I got to know her quite well from the experience. I think it is a shame that you have had seventeen years to do the same and never took the opportunity to do so.
Sincerely,
Elihu Weathers
Oo0Oo0
August 10, 1996
Dear Astrid,
Now that you are formally out of office, I now get to write to you as an old friend with my every complaint. It is a spark of joy in these dark days.
My letters to you will no longer be strictly of matters politic and embassy gossip, instead I insist we speak of Quadpot, which they do not play in this godforsaken country you saw fit to trap me in. That's why you sent me here isn't it? To hear me complain about the seven hundred senseless rules of Quidditch? I'll save that for the next letter. I have a new topic of choice.
I have enclosed a guidebook sent out by the Ministry of Magic for home defense to all of their citizens. Take a moment to read it. I'll wait…
There is nothing in there above a fourth year qualification! The story I heard from Audrey Graves was that the Defense Against the Dark Arts position is cursed! The teachers never last longer than a year in the position! She also told me that the Ministry has placed a very large order for something called 'Shield Hats' from a new joke novelty shop because half of the staff cannot cast a shield charm. Yes, I did include that in my last letter to the president.
Astrid, these people are fucked.
Perhaps American education is not the joke the rest of the world makes of it.
Please give my regards to Robert along with my intentions to trounce him at cards once more upon my return to the U.S. after the war's end.
Your Friend,
Elihu
Oo0Oo0
Author's Note: I have an interest in international affairs and really wondered what the perception of the rise of Voldemort would be from an outside perspective and on the international stage. Yes, this is a companion piece to 'One for Sorrow, Two for Joy.' I'll add to this as I complete each section of that fic.