a lion in the urban jungle

Journal - March 24 - Evening

2008-03-25T03:54:50Z

(Private to self)
I'm amazed the Prophet found out about everything so quickly, although I'm not surprised that the Malfoys are staying quiet about everything. I doubt Draco even remembers what happened!

Today was weird, to say the least. After being bounced between the office and the Ministry for questioning, Bingley told me to come in late this morning. I was only at work for a few hours before he sent me home again- said I needed a bit of a break after yesterday. Still, I think I would have rather been at work- being out of the office just gave me more time to focus on everything, to think.

What would have happened to Malfoy if I hadn't heard him screaming? It horrifies me to think that I could have stood there and watched him being killed. I- I just don't know what to think, right now.

(Private to Remus Lupin)
Professor-

I just wanted to see if you'd had any word on how Draco is doing.

Thanks

-Dean Thomas

(Private to Ginny Weasley)

Ginny-

I just wanted to tell you how amazing you were yesterday. The clinic is a great accomplishment, and I was just blown away by how well you were able to deal with Draco's injuries- you are amazing.

-Dean Thomas

Journal - March 2 - afternooon

2008-03-03T04:44:28Z

Ron-

I just wanted to say sorry again. I know I was out of place, but Hannah was just so upset about the whole thing...

And really, mate? Three girls? All at once? I thought I was having problems, but you have got me beat.

Anyway, the next time I'm being a jerk you have full permission to get one good punch in for free. And I definitely owe you a night out, whenever you've got some free time.

-Dean

Journal - February 4 - 8:30pm

2008-02-05T04:31:01Z

(Private to Friends)

Apparently, I have become a bit of a hermit. Also, apparently, my bosses are of the opinion that if I don't get out of the office once in a while, I am going to drive myself batty.

So, since I do not want to become a nutter quite this early in life- anyone up for a pint or two over at Finnigan's this Friday?

(Private to Hannah)

Hey- I know I have been scarce lately, and I know that I don't have anyone to blame for that other than myself. As I have been forbidden from going into work on Saturdays for the foreseeable future, I was thinking of doing a bit of shopping in Diagon Alley this weekend, and was wondering if you'd like to join me. ~~I'll understand if you don't want to, I've been a right prick lately.~~

Just- think about it, alright?

-Dean

Journal - June 13 - evening

2007-06-14T03:27:51Z

It's been a week since this whole thing started. I can't seem to wrap my head around that- sometimes, it feels like it's been insanely long, and other times, it feels like it all happened in a moment. Yet, life goes back to normal. I go to the office, work gets done, day follows day.

Yet, it's different. We were supposed to meet with Mandy and Zak today, to go over things for the appeal. Now, any hope for an appeal is long gone. I don't understand why they insist on keeping this idiotic registry system, when they have just proven to themselves that it doesn't work. I'd think that if you were going to keep tabs on a werewolf, you would have people checking where they were, especially just before moonrise. Someone isn't where they're supposed to be? Go arrest them! At least if Mandy was in Azkaban, we'd have had a chance of getting her out. But instead, they just ignore what information they have until it suits them to use it. Anyone who ever met Mandy, even for five minutes, would know that she never could have hurt anyone when she was in her right mind. Which she was! And-

It's just all so useless. We did everything we could, legally (and really, even a little illegally, too.) Harry talked to the Minister- and even he couldn't save Mandy.

I know things have to change eventually. I know we can't stop trying to make them change- for Remus, and the rest of the good people that, through no fault of their own, are being treated like animals by their own government.

It's just so bloody frustrating!!!

Journal - June 7 - EARLY morning

2007-06-07T05:05:42Z

Seamus-
Hopefully you're reading this before the Prophet gets a hold of it. You know I've been working on Mandy Brocklehurst's appeal to get off the registry- we got word from Snape that she was missing last night, and the WCU came to their house this morning to inform us that she is being executed tomorrow for murdering Cormac McLaggen. Seamus, she had taken her Wolfsbane- there was no way on earth she would have hurt Cormac. If you have any contacts at the ministry- start pulling strings if you can. I'll have my journal wherever I'm at- let me know if you can find anything out or help at all.

And PLEASE don't tell anyone where you got this information. Officially, we're not allowed to say a word, but Bingley knows we need all the help we can get.

-Dean

Hannah, if you're reading this before you've seen the Daily Prophet, please sit down and take a deep breath. You know I've been working on Mandy Brocklehurst's appeal to get off the registry- we got word from Snape that she was missing last night, and the WCU came to their house this morning to inform us that she has been accused of murdering Cormac McLaggen. We are doing everything we can to convince the Ministry to hold some sort of trial, but we can use all the support we can get. I'll be in and out of the office, but I let Seamus know- and if I know him, he'll start getting people together as soon as he's awake. PLEASE don't tell anyone else where you got this information. Officially, we're not allowed to say a word, but Bingley knows we need all the help we can get.

Whatever you do, please be careful and stay safe.
- Dean

Journal - February 28 - Mid-morning

2007-03-01T05:14:05Z

(Private to self) Thank Merlin! A job! Bloody owl woke me up, but... still. A proper wizarding job- and, oh, what was it? "opportunities to advance your legal education" - brilliant! The only thing that could make this day better is if I could let Mum and Dad know- (/private to self)

(Private to Seamus) Seamus! You are absolutely brilliant, mate! You are currently reading a message from the newest Legal Assistant at the firm of Thompson, Bingley and Drake. You're the one who gave me the idea in the first place, so I just had to let you know. Will you be in Hogsmeade for Ron's birthday? Hopefully so, and I will see you there. (/private to Seamus)

Journal - February 16 - Afternoon

2007-02-17T03:35:06Z

Well, I've done all that I can do on my end, I guess. Sent off a dozen letters to solicitor's offices in Diagon Alley- now I just have to wait for some replies. Bloody letters took me all week to put together! At least it's the weekend- maybe I'll pop 'round to the Leaky and see if Seamus is around.

"History...is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." - James Joyce

2007-01-28T18:47:34Z

Dean looked up from the Sunday London Times when he heard a familiar tapping on his windowpane. He got up, crossed the few steps across his kitchen and opened the window, allowing a large tawny owl to swoop in and land on the table. The owl dropped the folded-up copy of the Prophet on the table, then looked up at Dean expectantly. Dean reached into a small bag on the counter, and dropped the knuts and sickles into the bag on the bird's leg. After hooting softly, the owl flew back out the window, and Dean returned to his seat. It was strange, really- there were days when Dean forgot about magic completely- he was just your average Londoner, riding the Tube to and from work, stopping in at the corner pub, playing football with the guys who lived upstairs. Every Sunday morning, however, he was brought back into that world he had left. You left for a good reason, he thought to himself. Still, he knew that the wizards who had taken away his family were dead, in Azkaban, or in hiding.

The past few weeks, he had been thinking a lot about the magical world that he had left. He had actually been reading the Prophets that were delivered, instead of just piling them up in a corner (as he had for nearly 6 months). He glanced towards the large trunk that was currently serving as a coffee table in the center of his front room- in it were all the remnants of his old life- his wand, and the few books that had survived the attack on his parents' home. Maybe it's been long enough, he thought as he got out of his chair and moved towards the trunk.

Dean knelt down in front of the trunk, which still bore a few scorch marks from the Death Eaters' attack. He undid the padlock, and peered at the few contents it held. A set of dress robes, ordered by his Mum as a late graduation gift, that were delivered a week after the attack. His Defence, Arithmancy, and Charms books from 7th year- though the Arithmancy book was decidedly black along one edge - and, laying on top, his wand. At the time of the attack, Dean had still been carrying his wand with him at all times, so it was not harmed at all. Dean picked it up, nearly shivering at the magic he felt course through his arm as he did so. Had it always done that? The only other time he could remember was when he had first bought it, as an amazed 11 year old in that strange place called Diagon Alley.

He mimicked the movements of his 11-year old self, when Mr. Ollivander had directed him while searching for a wand. "Just give it a good flick" the elderly man had said. Dean did so, still kneeling in front of the trunk, and smiled when a shower of red and gold sparks erupted from the tip. He looked around the flat- wanting to try out a spell or two, but nothing too big. His eyes fell on a pair of boots near the door, which were caked from tromping through the woods with his brother and sisters last week. He stood up, pointed his wand at the boots, and cried "scourgify!" Before you could blink the boots were as good as new.

He glanced at the boots again, sighed, and set the wand back in the trunk. He was still not one hundred percent sure he wanted to go back to being a wizard, but at least he knew he still could. He closed the trunk, and went back to the table to read the paper.