Order only: cruciatus

[alt_hermione]

I just found out I'm to be cruciated as punishment for Harry doing everything that we all did. Draco is too.

I don't think he means anything else by it, but I don't know, and I can't get out of it, and I don't know what to do, except think innocent.

Comments

[alt_sirius]

What?!

That slimy -

When do you go?

Minerva, can we get her anything to dull the pain?

Merlin, what if he uses legilimency?

[alt_bill]

You mean...in front of Him?! They're hauling you in front of Him to do it?

Shite!

[alt_bill]

When? When is this supposed to happen, Hermione. Do you know?

[alt_hermione]

I don't. I don't even know if it'll be at the same time as Draco, or if it'll be soon or anything. He didn't say, but it can't be too long from now - Harry doesn't think so anyway.

[alt_sirius]

Bill, do you think we could give her some sort of occlumency talisman? I dunno - a bead or a quill, something she could keep on her, that would help protect her from someone penetrating her thoughts?

Hermione - has he ever tried to probe your mind before?

[alt_hermione]

He hasn't. I think he doesn't think it's worth it. I don't know though, he's gotten very strange, and Harry is worried too and he says he doesn't think he'll try to legilimise me but he can't know for sure...

[alt_frank]

don't think anything like that exists, least not that I've heard.

you're not going to like this idea, but I'm going to see if Snape has any thoughts about it.

[alt_sirius]

I'd be surprised if something did exist. But it should be possible to rig something.

[alt_frank]

I agree. worth it to check out all our options. and kingsley knows a little, but snape knows more.

[alt_kingsley]

You'd better tell me that both of them are sleeping right now, if you and Sirius are busy writing in your journals at the same time.

[alt_sirius]

Yes, they're both kipped.

Well. They were. Frank's rousing Snape.

[alt_frank]

one of us should stay behind and watch macnair while the other two see if snape knows anything.

[alt_sirius]

That'd be me, I suppose.

[alt_frank]

right.

[alt_kingsley]

Do you want me to call in Benjy or Caradoc as reinforcements? Because I can, you know. Or we could get one of Turner's people in.

[alt_frank]

macnair's still sleeping, and we'll still be in earshot if he needs any help.

[alt_sirius]

I thought we didn't want to introduce them to anyone else just yet?

[alt_hermione]

That's what I meant by 'think innocent.'

[alt_sirius]

It might not be that simple.

Besides, it's harder than you'd think, to keep your thoughts focused while you're being tortured.

And yes, he can do both at the same time.

Private message to Sirius Black

[alt_bill]

There's another thing...Hermione's own Unbreakable Vow. If he breaks her mind open, she would be, in fact, revealing information about the Order. Could the vow then could kill her right there, even if it wasn't voluntary on her part?

Re: Private message to Sirius Black

[alt_sirius]

Circe. You're simply full of uplifting revelations, Bill.


Morgana, I want a toke.

Re: Private message to Sirius Black

[alt_bill]

Yeah, well, if I had one, I'd give it to Hermione instead, for when Voldemort's through with her. She's the one who has to go through this.

Bugger.

[alt_molly]

Oh, Hermione!

How did you find out, dear? What do you know? Surely..surely we can...I mean, there must be something we can do!

[alt_molly]

Alice, Frank...could Stephen prepare something, some potion, that she could take right beforehand?

[alt_arthur]

Or could Poppy?

[alt_kingsley]

I've never heard of a potion that does much at dulling cruciatus. And if there were one, I'm not sure it would be something that Poppy could brew.

Hermione--I don't even know what to say.

Bloody hell, we did all we could do to prepare Aurors to face that, back when we were doing training. But you're just a kid.

[alt_frank]

I'll check.

dunno if any potion would help against legilimency, but we can get her something for the pain, or to relax her muscles.

maybe

I'll check.

[alt_frank]

she's got her portkey.

cold comfort that.

sorry really doesn't do it justice, kiddo.

damn.

damn.

[alt_bill]

But how could she activate it if--forgive me--she's writhing on the bloody floor? And if he uses legilimacy on top of that...he might crack her open and empty her mind before she could even react. And then it would be too late!

[alt_molly]

Bill, that's just--don't be so cruel as to say such things!

Oh, this is horrible.

[alt_sirius]

Yes, it's horrible, Molly. But it's also - and unfortunately - a real possibility.

Maybe she can avoid it by - I dunno, offering to take some other punishment?

Not that any of them should be punished.

Wait. WHY are you being punished, Hermione? I mean to say, what are they saying you did wrong?

[alt_frank]

or she can get out now and avoid it altogether.

you'd have a place with us, hermione. you'd be safe. and you wouldn't have this sort of thing hanging over your head all the bloody time.

[alt_sirius]

That's what I just said, Frank.

She should leave now.

[alt_sirius]

Because the thing is, why punish them if they don't know that they had anything to do with Snape and Macnair getting away?

And I don't see how they could know that.

They were in the wrong place at the wrong time, is all.

[alt_kingsley]

I'll remind you that you took an unbreakable Vow to keep from hurting Harry Marvolo, didn't you? If you persuade Hermione to disappear now or assist in her getaway, wouldn't that mean a world of trouble for the Marvolo kid? Would your Vow rebound upon YOU if he then gets in further trouble for that?

It's a long causal chain of events I'll admit, my friend. But I'm not in favour of anything that results in you dropping dead.

[alt_frank]

that's pretty tenuous, mate.

what if it's me that persuades her instead?

[alt_sirius]

It's my understanding that Hermione's being cruciated because for whatever reason, Voldemort won't cause physical harm directly to Harry.

So if she disappears, someone else might get hurt on his behalf but he won't suffer any harm himself.

I nominate Lucius Malfoy. Maybe it'll make him think twice about calling in Dementors when there are kids roaming about.

[alt_molly]

Well, I think she should leave by portkey now!

[alt_kingsley]

Merlin knows I don't want Hermione facing cruciatus. But if she does use the portkey, you realise we may never again have another opportunity to place someone so close to the heart of Lord Voldemort's court. It would be a huge loss for our intel.

[alt_bill]

Damn you. Because you're right.

[alt_sirius]

I'm not using a child to get us intelligence. Not like that.

[alt_frank]

agreed. not bloody worth it.

no way.

[alt_nymphadora]

I agree too.

I know you had to think of it Kingsley, and I don't blame you for having to say it, but I don't care two stitches for intelligence.

We have to get Hermione out, because it's not right that she has to go through this!

Private Message to Bill

[alt_frank]

he'd get information out of her, but she might have enough time to get away after.

at this point I'm not looking for her to get out without spilling anything, I'm looking for her to get out alive.

fucking hell, man, I really do not need that image in my head.

Re: Private Message to Bill

[alt_frank]

knowing her, she's too bloody stubborn to just get out now.

goddamn.

Re: Private Message to Bill

[alt_bill]

If he gets anything out of her, even if she escapes by portkey, it could compromise any of our Order operatives that Hermione knows about. And that means Minerva, or Kingsley, or the people at Sherwood. Or dammit, Mum and Dad and me.

Re: Private Message to Bill

[alt_frank]

don't think I don't know that.

[alt_sirius]

Why not just use the portkey at any rate?

There are certainly plenty of other people who could have helped her. They'd never know how to trace it.

[alt_poppy]

What in the name of goodness--

Cruciatus.

There is no potion that can lessen the effects of Cruciatus. Like Avada Kedavra, there's no way to protect against it, save dodging. I confess I don't know whether there are ways to train the mind to be able to fight it once it's cast, but if Kingsley and Frank don't know, then I'd say not. I'd guess it would have been central to Auror training if such a thing were possible. I know your texts gave considerable space to discussing ways of improving one's ability to resist (but not to escape) Imperius. These spells are not unforgivable for no reason. Cruciatus, especially.

If I were there, I could give her something afterwards, but you are all quite right that there is not a thing I know that can help her face the trial unless it were something that would make her lose consciousness pre-emptively and enter a stasis state.

Not that he'd be fooled. He'd know immediately she'd been tampered with and not by another child. And all he'd need do is bide his time and deal with her when she awoke. And in the interval, multiply his plans and will to punish her.

What pray tell did Severus Snape suggest to you? Draught of Living Death? Poison she could hide in her mouth and swallow to end her life if she deemed him likely to read her thoughts?

Casting or dosing with one of the Confunding magics could have a paradoxical effect, heightening rather than lessening both her mental vulnerability and her experience of sensation.

To be honest, I think you ought to use your Portkey, Miss Granger. I cannot counsel you to undergo this 'punishment' because, as all have said, your Unbreakable Vow to us puts your life at risk. We have done you a terrible disservice, putting you in this position.