Location: Hogwarts Headmaster’s Office. Present: B. Bode, A. Dumbledore, phoenix (Fawkes). B. Bode holds a DoM file folder. Dumbledore holds a bottle of mead.
DUMBLEDORE: [Pouring a glass of mead for himself] Alright, Bode, let’s hear it quick.
BODE: Right-ho –
1. R. Hagrid will deliver Potter’s Hogwarts letter and remove the boy from the care of his aunt and uncle on 31 July. He will use magic if necessary. A portkey has been created to bring him directly to the boy’s location.
BODE: Complete. Hagrid arrived shortly after midnight of the 31st to the seaside cabin at which the boy and his adoptive family were holidaying. The letter was delivered without significant event. Or, well, er – a muggle boy was apparently exposed to – significant spell damage. Er – clean-up required.
DUMBLEDORE: Dear me. What did the brute do?
BODE: I’m sure you will receive the paperwork.
DUMBLEDORE: Very well. Go on.
2. Hagrid will transfer Potter to London via train to purchase Hogwarts supplies.
BODE: Complete. Potter and Hagrid arrived in London without event. In a, er, interesting twist – they came across Q.
DUMBLEDORE: Is that so? At the Cauldron?
BODE: It appears so.
DUMBLEDORE: What a delight. Any – reactions?
BODE: None reported.
DUMBLEDORE: Hmpf. Continue.
3. Potter will be introduced to L. Malfoy’s son, Draco, to determine Potter’s suitability for sorting into Slytherin House.
BODE: Complete. Potter was left alone with the Malfoy child at Madam Malkin’s for approximately 30 minutes under Department observation. He found the interaction – unfavourable. He seems an unlikely fit for Slytherin House.
DUMBLEDORE: I see. How did the boy perform?
BODE: The Malfoy boy? I haven’t heard the recordings. I suspect, if he’s anything like his father, that his performance was perfectly adequate.
DUMBLEDORE: Ah. Well, I trust your Department’s analysis, I suppose. Send the recording regardless, will you? I’d like to confirm before I make any final decisions.
BODE: I don’t understand – if I may, ask – well – I thought the boy was bound for Gryffindor.
DUMBLEDORE: Yes, that was the plan. It was your Department’s intelligence though, that revealed, hmm, other possibilities.
BODE: Ah, yes. The zoo incident.
DUMBLEDORE: Indeed. Anyway, that fancy appears to be moot. The Lion’s Mane Boosters will be happy to hear it. I’ll have to write them. Though I fear we might fail to meet our annual fundraising goals without an enthusiastic showing from the Heirs Club – but I digress.
BODE: Yes. Our reports determined that the boy was quite – put off by talk of blood purity and whatnot. The analysis suggests we stick to Plan A. Onward, then.
4. Potter will witness a withdrawal from Vault 713, a Department-owned Gringrotts vault currently containing a phosphorescent mineral which he will gradually be led to believe is the ‘Philosopher’s Stone’.
BODE: Complete. After withdrawing funds from the Potter family vault, Potter witnessed Hagrid removing the ‘Stone’ from Vault 713. Hagrid, contrary to previously observed behaviour, revealed no classified information about the ‘Stone’. Potter demonstrated mild curiosity but asked very few questions. More deliberate, er, clues will likely be required to spur – necessary action.
DUMBLEDORE: [sighing] I do fear that the child will be a dunce.
BODE: The genetic material is – well – he seems very much his father’s son.
DUMBLEDORE: At least he has his mother’s eyes.
BODE: Does he?
DUMBLEDORE: Who’s to say he doesn’t? [Sips mead.] Go on.
5. Per DMLE request, Hagrid will purchase for Potter a traceable owl in order to better monitor correspondences.
BODE: Complete. Hagrid purchased the preselected bird from Eeylops, a male snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus).
DUMBLEDORE: I thought it was a female.
BODE: So did Eeylop. I’d thought you both would have a passing familiarity with birds. Cloacal differences aside, any birder worth his salt knows that only the male snowy owl is pure white; the female is mottled black.
DUMBLEDORE: How could I? [To the phoenix] Forgive me, Fawkes. I’ve always fancied us two old queens – but perhaps Broderick will need to take a closer look.
BODE: I – anyway –
6. Potter will be transferred back to Little Whinging via Ministry car driven by DoM staff, disguised as muggle taxicab. Potter will be observed for initial reactions to wizarding acculturation.
DUMBLEDORE: And?
BODE: Complete. Potter slept for most of the drive. Our driver reported nothing significant beyond reasonable exhaustion. And – [looks over report] that’s the whole of it. Ah – one last note. Ollivander reports that –
DUMBLEDORE: Yes, yes. I’ve already received his letter.
BODE: Most intriguing.
DUMBLEDORE: Indeed, indeed. I almost wish – well, none of it, now. All in all! What a delight. Let’s have a toast, Broderick. [He pours Bode a glass of mead.] A happy Lammas Day to you.
next file: MoM ‘pig boy’ memos >>
THE PENSIEVE PAPERS 