Order Only: Private Message to Alice and Black

Alice: Black and I find ourselves in a quandary.

The latest variation upon the Dark Arts mitigation potion does indeed function to lessen the euphoria provoked by casting Dark spells — or at least, it sufficed with the limited range of spells Black was willing to allow me to cast upon him — but it does not remove the response entirely, nor does the potion's effect last much longer than half an hour or so. Likewise, it must be ingested before the magic is to be cast; ex post facto consumption merely makes the drinker violently ill.

As Mr Weasley's distress at his reactions to using the Dark Arts is considerable, and that distress is undoubtedly exascerbated by the physical and emotional reward mechanism for casting such magic, it might be best to provide him with a supply of this version of the potion for use now with the understanding it is meant as a supplement only. On the other hand, as you have mentioned Weasley has placed a great deal of hope in this venture's success, a partial solution might prove worse than no solution at all, particularly as it might lead him to believe he might cast with impunity — a belief that would no doubt lead to future issues, particularly in one so subject to the Dark allure.

Black and I shall continue to refine the formulation further, in hopes of rendering the issue academic; in the meanwhile, recognising that we ought not keep arguing the question lest tempers become even more engaged, we have agreed to cease debating and allow you to decide the next steps instead.