Private Message to Bellatrix and Toshenka

[alt_lucius]

Preparing final touches on the report for Our Lord. Plan to send Cadmus to deliver the worst of the news.

Bella, shall you go along or do you prefer to keep the pressure on the perimeter of the affected area? If you wish someone to return to St James' Palace with Rodolphus, Narcissa will keep watch, surely.

Saltash camp: Destroyed. An area approx. 10 acres disappeared under a spell believed to be a variant of Fidelius at seven o'clock this morning. Investigation pending. Area to remain under surveillance by MLE indefinitely.

Casualties: Rufus McLaggen, Councilwizard and former Auror Trainee (by the hand of Frank Longbottom); four MLE personnel (names attached); Camp Administrator Hugh Pendarvis; 15 camp enforcers

Missing, Presumed Dead: Junior Administrator Carter Prentiss (captured within the inaccessible area); further half-dozen camp personnel

Wounded: Crouch, Barty; Lestrange, Rodolphus; Mulciber, Cadmus; Mulciber, Corax; other names (MLE, Camp) attached

Material losses: 2,500 in muggle chattel; approximately 200 head of cattle; twenty fishing boats; Saltash administration buildings and camp facilities. In addition, a further estimate of 1,000 muggle chattels were in the affected area at the time of the alleged Fidelius. See above re: MLE surveillance to capture any refugees leaving said area

Twenty-five prisoners remanded to the custody of MLE for further interrogation.

Of note: Frank Longbottom sighted by several MLE personnel but evaded capture. Witness reported sighting of Sirius Black impostor late in the morning but could not be confirmed

Anything further to add?

Comments

[alt_bellatrix]

If Our Lord requires me I am at His disposal; however, I have hope that we can flush the vermin from their refuge. I shall remain to see to it.

Rodolphus will recover; he needs neither me nor Cissy to watch him do so.

[alt_antonin]

I am working on identifying what spell was used to blank out the area. It is definitely not Fidelius: when one forces oneself to look more closely, the space is present and identifiable as being shielded, simply invisible and impenetrable. (It takes a highly disciplined individual to stare at it for more than a few seconds, but it is actually possible to see through to the other side of the area under the effect, though the view is hazy and indistinct.)

I will keep working on the problem at least until tonight, or unless Our Lord has other instructions.

Barty is awake and about, though thoroughly cranky. I am keeping an eye on him, and have pressed him into service for the analysis of the shielding spell. If you need either of us, we are working on the south side of the missing zone.

(Whatever this is, I will admit it is fascinating. Irritating. But fascinating.)

[alt_antonin]

Also, Auror Lamont suggested Prentiss's actions over the past day or so appear to have been suspicious, whether through incompetence or deliberate sabotage. She was concerned this might reflect poorly upon her, given that she recommended him to you; given how fiercely she has fought and how exceptionally useful she has been today, I reassured her that it is common for young people to make errors in judgement, but if you think I ought keep an eye on her I will.

[alt_lucius]

No need. She did say something last night that suggested she might be regretting her recommendation.

Given that he was believed to be captured in the affected area, it's likely he's dead. In which case, if he was incompetent, it hardly matters.

We ought to examine his actions more carefully, however, to see if there were any cunning in them.

As for Auror Lamont, am confident her services may now return to her primary assignment.

[alt_antonin]

I'll ask around a bit about Prentiss once I've gathered all the data I can use from here. Did try having one of the camp officials apparate in; as I suspected it did not work, and the man didn't return. (No great loss.)

It really is exceptionally fascinating. And it does make one wonder whether the disturbance was planned to give someone access to the camp to cast it. Mind you, I can't think of any reason why Saltash in particular, which does suggest a target of opportunity, but I suspect it might be worth asking some pointed questions.