Journal Theft

[alt_selwyn]

We had intended to delay this statement until morning, but events make it rather more urgent to communicate the facts of the matter.

MLE swiftly determined that Charlotte Smythe's journal was stolen by a young woman named Margaret Wynn. They quickly determined that she had not acted of her own volition, but was under some sort of coercion -- possibly the Imperius curse, but in this case the curse appeared to be doing additional damage. The message left in the Charlotte journal was not a threat against her safety, as they claim. In fact, what I wrote was an urgent plea to give us information on the spell used on her, so that we could undo it. Tragically (though not surprisingly) they refused, and the damage to young Meg Wynn may now prove irreversible.

We do have some information on the culprit. We believe him to be a male with a scar on his right hand across the knuckles; it is a large, distinctive scar and looks as though he was splashed with a potion and the burn failed to heal properly. It is possible he has additional people working for him -- but it's also possible they may not be doing so willingly, so PLEASE, if you suspect that a friend or relative may have fallen under this dangerous criminal's power, consider coming forward.

This should go without saying: we do not torture innocents. We have many methods at our disposal to allow us to be quite sure that the innocent are swiftly released, the victims given our utmost protection, and the guilty punished. Auror Lestrange, whom they also slandered, is a professional whom I have never known to act with anything other than grace and restraint.

As further information is confirmed, we will share it, in the hopes that this individual is identified. We are offering a substantial reward for information that helps us to bring him to justice.

Grim Truth 4/2/94

[alt_charlotte]

Greetings, Fellow Prisoners!

Surely you're waiting for the next jinx in the duel. You won't hear the Grim Truth from your gaolers! It is left to me, Sirius Black, to expose their infamy.

You'll all be interested to know that your so-called 'Protectors' were quick to assign blame to a scapegoat. Usually it's me, Sirius Black, they blame for actions they have perpetrated. But this time they've descended to new depths. An innocent twenty-year-old, Meg Wynn, was apprehended in connection with my message from earlier this week.

Last night, the journal of Charlotte Smythe received this note from Death Eater of Protectorate Oppression Dominic Selwyn:

What happens to [Meg] now depends on you. If you return the journal to my office within two days, she will be sent to Azkaban. If you fail to return the journal, she will be handed over to Auror Bellatrix Lestrange. Auror Lestrange is perhaps the world's foremost expert on the cruciatus curse, and has personally developed a number of alternative spells and techniques that, while somewhat less excruciating, can be used for longer periods without causing permanent damage. That said, we have no further use for Meg -- so permanent damage is no longer something any of us are particularly concerned about.

See how quickly their benevolence turns to threat! In the face of any freedom of speech, they hide behind the iron grip of censorship, violence and destruction!

I don't know who this young woman is or why she was chosen to stand in for me - probably because they are so incompetent that they have not yet managed to stop me, despite all their professions to the contrary. But I do know that it will take more than one innocent life to bring down the wards. and free us all from this fascist regime.

It's not enough that they subject our children to the likes of the Carrows - they have to torture and imprison our young patriots to make themselves feel secure in their positions of dominance.

I call upon all citizens to demand that the wards be lifted, that we trade freely again with the world. Look around you at the excess of the rich and the squalor of the poor! Look at the atrocious lack of concern in the ruling classes for their oppressed underlings! That is the crime deserving of justice!

I will not stop alerting you all - reminding you all - of the call to arms. I will not be demonised for their cruelty! We must all stand NOW before worse fates are doled out to the masses. Meg Wynn, whether she knows it or not, is a freedom fighter - a warrior, warring against the oppressive dictators who are setting themselves on high while the rest of us live in chains.

Stand Up and Be Counted! Do not let Meg Wynn pay for your complicity! Tell the Ministry you are appalled, as I am, by this heinous act of cowardice!