The Dungeons

Dear Director Finch,

It is with some concern that I note the approval for Mr Ronald Weasley to be provided with a computer in his cell at St Mungo's that has been included in the documents filed after the judgement against him yesterday.

I trust it is clear that while Mr Weasley has not been sentenced to Azkaban, as some on the Wizengamot firmly believe should have been the case, that he is nevertheless a murderer and now judged criminally insane.

The decision that he should be allowed "lenient visiting and other privileges" clearly does not include access to the entire world, especially when he is considered a threat to Muggles as well as to the wizarding public. I assure you that some members of the Wizengamot are fully cognisant of what "computers" and "internet access" involve and a separate hearing for such extraordinary privileges will certainly be required.

I will send my personal assistant, Mrs Samantha Calder, to collect the listed equipment and associate paperwork from you first thing Monday morning.

Yours faithfully,
Rufus Scrimgeour

My dear Caduceus,

I apologize for the ostentatious delivery, but I hope that you will forgive me when I assure you that Fawkes has been quite emotional today - I am completely certain you can persuade him to sing to the patients on the locked ward, and I'm nearly certain he will donate a few tears to the hospital apothecary, if Madam Saxifrage will only smile kindly at him and perhaps even tell him what she plans to use them for.

In point of fact I am writing to you today in what might be called an official capacity - indeed, on behalf of the Wizengamot. I know you will have received word of the ruling of the majority, that Mr Ronald Weasley was found to be not guilty by reason of insanity, and remanded into your care for the foreseeable future.

It may not surprise you to learn that the deliberations on this matter were less than completely harmonious, attitudes toward diseases of the brain being what they can, alas, still be, even today. In specific, I consider it possible that my colleague on the court, Mr Scrimgeour, will make you aware of some of his personal feelings and concerns. You will remember how tremendously susceptible to stress Rufus is - I believe you were at Hogwarts at approximately the same time. And the most recent war has left him with such terrible bitterness. You have seen it so often in your work. I am, frankly, concerned about him, but I don't know that there is much I can do for him. He lost his daughter, you know.

At all events, I know that you will be relieved at my assurance that the court does wish to see Mr Weasley rehabilitated rather than punished, and as such that we hope he will have access to whatever visitors or devices might enable him to re-acclimate  to society. Of course as supervisor of medical treatment, the ultimate responsibility for determining the standard of care lies with you. Far be it from the Wizengamot to in any way direct you as the most appropriate course of treatment for the welfare of your patient. But that you are free to promote his psychological health according to your own best judgment, I am happy to assure you.

By the way, I don't know how familiar you are with "computers", but they can provide marvelous opportunities for the elderly or housebound to keep in touch with their loved ones without risk of mishap. An invalid may regain some sense of reality within the perfect safety of home or of a facility designed for their care.

Should you have any further questions, I am, as ever, at your disposal.

Albus WPB Dumbledore