January 7, 1997
President Graves,
I can't believe I'm writing this. This is stupid and I refuse to engage with the idea any further after this letter.
No. Audrey is too sensible to stay in this country of lunatics for a boy. Give her some credit. I am not going to ask her on your behalf, I refuse to get involved with her personal life because, much like you, I have no real understanding of teenage girls or their feelings. Maybe if you spent time with your daughter, you would understand that she's not led around by a need for teenage shenanigans or (ugh) hormones. Perhaps she's staying because her father is a nosy man and she's a young woman who likes her privacy?
Why am I giving you parenting advice? I don't even have children!
If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have a nice butterbeer to help me forget this whole string of letters, which may qualify as harassment, I am checking on that. Go sign some legislation, and perhaps embrace the idea of potential grandchildren. I'm sure a couple of babies crawling around your office will improve your mood. Though, that may only happen if you manage to not make your daughter any angrier with you then she already is.
-Embassy Representative Weathers
Oo0Oo0
February 11, 1997
Weathers,
Please ask my daughter, or I will do everything I can to make your job more difficult than it needs to be in three easy steps.
Much like you did to me in December.
I'll let your wild imagination fill in the blanks for you.
-President Graves
Oo0Oo0
February 18, 1997
President Graves,
I hate that you've brought me down to your level. I only did it so I could go back to political reports instead of just gossip about your most competent offspring.
Per your months of pestering requests, I have asked Audrey about this thing you are antagonizing me about. She thinks you're crazy, that I'm nuts by proxy for asking about it and as usual I find her assessment correct. Let it go, Jack. I doubt she'll be back for anything you need her for.
In other news, meaning things that are actually related to my job.
I do not think this war is going well, something that you and I are in agreement about. Scrimgeour was a fine Auror, his strategy is sound, arresting the footsoldiers to try and find a bigger fish is a logical way to look at this puzzle of corruption, but this feels like a groundhog day scenario of people who claim to be under the imperius curse, people who don't know anything, who are schlepping along and no progress or suspects in arresting anyone of note. The more I think about this and how similar political attempts at uprisings have happened back in America, there is always a vocal figurehead, yes, they have that in Voldemort, but often there are others who step out in suspicious ways and I'm not seeing any of that here.
I can't criticize if I am not sure I would not do anything differently than what is being done now. I do not have all the pieces, nor should I. To act without evidence or just cause creates tyrants on both sides, forcing people to choose a jailer.
-Embassy Representative Weathers
P.S.
My staff and I would like a raise.
Oo0Oo0
February 28, 1997
Weathers,
No raises. The budget is frozen and set for through next year. The money set aside for raises for your division is in a new account, plus some extra, in case we need to move you and our expats out quickly.
Essentially you should have bribe money for the border if needed. There is a precedent for this, I asked Cunningham about it. She told me to tell you that your office fireplace has a design flaw that you can use at your discretion.
And thank you for talking to Audrey.
-President Graves
Oo0Oo0
April 4, 1997
President Graves,
Things have been relatively calm here on the expat front, meaning none of our people appear to be dead. Many have stated they have lives here and would like to stick it out as long as they can. Frankly, I would love to leave, but that's just me.
I met the head of the Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement today. His name's Pius Thicknesse, a pleasant enough man. Reminds me of a vampire, but he's not an outwardly charming personality which renders the description moot. I crossed paths with him while waiting for a meeting with the Head of International Magical Cooperation, I think the Minister, and his assistant Weasley by proxy (they seem of one mind on several matters) have gotten sick of my logical commentary on politics and my monopolizing of his secretary. I'd rather waste Audrey's time than deal with the Senior Undersecretary, her giggles make me want to commit crimes and she's a sycophant. I'd rather walk on a bed of nails then deal with her, and that's not just Audrey's opinion talking.
Another encounter I had was with another department head named Arthur Weasley, he's running the Ministry's Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. I feel that is far too long to be an effective department name. Anyway, he's a smart man, knows a lot about No-Majs even if MACUSA would call it patchy knowledge, for a country that writes them off entirely, Weasley is the closest thing to an expert this government has. He misses working strictly in No-Maj objects apparently, we had a long talk about the kind of enchantments used in scam protection charms and I am hoping I can talk him into taking an evening to come talk to the staff about how to spot these things. He did seem agreeable to the idea. I'll send him an invitation shortly.
Oh, congratulations on giving Senator Sallow a spanking. I think we can both agree on it being long deserved.
-Embassy Representative Weathers
Oo0Oo0
May 18, 1997
President Graves,
On a more serious note, I had an interesting talk with the Minister today. An American, Marcel Whitlock has been arrested for Death Eater activities. Specifically the murder of William Cromwell, an veteran from the war against Grindelwald. Your father might know him, I think Cromwell was mentioned at a lecture of your father's I attended a few years ago. Justice, per the Ministry's definition, works fast these days. Crimes on foreign soil by Americans are under the laws and charges of the sovereign state where the crime is committed. My job is to ensure he can get letters and messages home to family at that point, but the crimes he is accused of are… Well, harrowing. The accusation is for a crime of murder and Whitlock claims he was under the Imperius Curse. I'm not convinced and the British Ministry seems to see no difference at this point.
I have permission to go down to the cells to see Whitlock.
My original intention was to see him deported back to America as we have long been vocal about the Dementors being an inhumane condition of Azkaban. If Whitlock has truly committed this crime of his own volition, then he must suffer the consequences of his actions, but we do not abide our own citizens to suffer in inhumane conditions if we can allow it. Where we do not like Dementors as a punishment, the British Ministry does not like how liberal we apparently are in applying the death penalty. It makes negotiating with them on humanitarian grounds a grueling experience.
Unless the dementors return to Azkaban with apologies to the Ministry, I do not believe we have grounds to plead the case to move Whitlock to MACUSA custody, which was my original intention. I don't believe there is another loophole I can exploit even if you ask me to do so. I could look of course, and I could very well find one under something related to countries at war and war crime trials.
Instead, I offer this proposition.
Allow me to leave Whitlock in Azkaban for a time so I can periodically have a chance to pick his brain. I'm wondering about the psychology of those who follow Voldemort without being controlled if that really is what happened.
-Embassy Representative Weathers
Oo0Oo0
May 19, 1997
Weathers,
You have it.
I have a condition. You need to pry this man for any information he has on other Americans who have decided to join up with Voldemort. Though I am sure you have already thought about that and made the necessary steps to do so. We finally have an in, let's take it.
Regards,
President Graves
P.S. Have you had any word from my son?
Oo0Oo0
May 22, 1997
President Graves,
I'm afraid I've not heard from Alex since he sent me a a letter to reject the protection of the Secret Service Aurors. I think the current rumor is that he's headed into Europe. I'll see if he's checked in at the other offices.
On another note, I pried Whitlock with some low-level Legilimency as I got him talking. Once he lost his temper with me his mind became an open book in many ways. I think that Americans who have decided to come fight for a purist don't need to be openly advertised to the Ministry as it stands now. I confirm nothing as I've never found mind reading reliable that way, the human mind is complex and psychology can make the process more complex than it needs to be.
I do believe there are others like Whitlock. I would like permission to tighten the regulations on those who seek to leave to the US by marriage and other visa opportunities. To have them sit an interview with me and the Chief Auror to make sure they do not have an affiliation with these Death Eaters. I would also like to do this for Americans seeking to return home. I don't think Death Eater sympathizers and our purist groups need to meet and exchange ideas.
-Elihu Weathers
Oo0Oo0
July 1, 1997
President Graves,
Albus Dumbledore is dead.
More to follow.
-Elihu
Oo0Oo0
July 5, 1997
President Graves,
Thank you for being so prompt in arriving for the funeral. It was nice to get some of those people away from me and direct them to you with their silly questions.
I am sending you these clarifications and confirmations for both the records of history and for you to use as you see fit.
Albus Dumbledore died at Hogwarts, much like many expected he would and as reported by various newspapers. He was killed in action when Death Eaters attacked the school, I can assure you that is truly fact and no longer has the needling idea of rumor. One of the guards at the school was savaged by a werewolf, a werewolf who was not transformed and just that overcome by the affliction that the phase of the moon did not matter at all in his savagery. I can't even imagine such a thing but I believe we saw the poor man who survived the attack at the funeral. I had that confirmed by a man who works in the office of magical beasts, he wanted to know if we had similar cases in the States, I told him this was a first for me too and I would make inquiries on his behalf, the first of which I have sent out this morning.
I have added the names of those confirmed to have attacked Hogwarts to the no travel list at the embassy at the Ministry's request. Granted, many were already on the list after the first war, but it's always good to keep that updated. I am sending MACUSA a copy of it as well for us at the Portkey stations. I'm sure portkey security will enjoy having something to do at their jobs for once. Might actually make them work for their pay for once.
I fear that dark days lie ahead here, it was written on the faces of the mourners and the Ministry employees who attended out of obligation if not respect for the man. They say that Dumbledore was the only man Voldemort ever feared. I'm afraid that we are about to find out how true that is.
I doubt there will be a need for you to return to Britain to politic until the war ends unless a new Minister takes office, which is unlikely as Scrimgeour seems committed to seeing out this whole affair.
Regards,
Embassy Representative Weathers
Oo0Oo0
Author's Note: Weathers is not paid enough. He deserves better.
We go into Deathly Hallows next time.