ORDER ONLY: Hols

[alt_hermione]

Well there isn't that much to report from the hols because I mostly spent them trying to make the Lord Protector not notice me. Which worked, mainly, although he did so stare at supper when I had to stand behind Harry's chair and serve him. But I made friends with the house-elves! They're much less friendly than the ones at Hogwarts and more meek, they said that it wasn't so much the Lord Protector as his friends who mistreats them, only I think their definition of mistreats is different than mine. But none of them would ever disobey him directly of course, but I did find out that they'd do it indirectly, like doing anything they don't have specific orders against, but I didn't have time to coax them into telling me their standing orders.

And then He wanted Harry with him all the time, it was rather creepy, and Harry told me that he didn't usually do that, and also that he felt like he wasn't even there sometimes, he had to sit in on so many boring things. Only I think he forgot how I had to be there with him!

About the only good thing is that they got me new robes that look like livery, and they're green and black and ever so lovely, but I'm only to wear them at Buckingham as they're too fine for every day, so they said. Which is silly, but then Harry had to dress up when he saw his Father too, which is just strange. Because I mean he's his father; surely he's seen him out of dress robes before!

My candle is going out so more later -

Comments

[alt_poppy]

Yes, I imagine that it will be of great interest to some of our number, but I think you should also say a bit more, if you're willing, about how it felt to you when the Lord Protector stared at you, as you say here. I think we need to give some thought as to how we might best prepare you for returning to Buckingham; I find this very concerning.

[alt_hermione]

Well I don't KNOW why he was looking at me, he was just looking at me! I think maybe it had to do with the livery, like I said, maybe he wants more Mudblood servants? It wasn't any creepier than when say Professor Carrow stares at you, not really awful even like that, it was more like I was a piece of the furniture and I was just going to get stared at when he was losing track of what was going on in the discussion, only he never lost track of what was going on. And he tried to get me to make eye contact with him maybe, or I don't know, because I never did - I just looked down whenever he started staring, but I think he liked making me uncomfortable, he did it with other people too, not just me. When we were in meetings if he was meeting with someone who wasn't very important and was very subservant then he would sometimes ignore him, but the rest of the time he would just stare and stare, and they got terrified.

[alt_poppy]

You were quite right to keep your eyes averted, but that would hardly be enough to protect you should the Lord Protector wish to read your thoughts. Perhaps, as you say, he has no more interest in you than he would in a piece of furniture, but I hardly think we can rely on that.

Minerva, you have more experience of this than I, but I do think we must take seriously that Miss Granger's changed circumstances have put her and us in extreme peril by placing her so directly under his scrutiny.


I'm not sure what's to be done, but something must be!

[alt_mcgonagall]

I shall be speaking with Miss Granger, but her description does not cause me to believe that the Lord Protector was seeking to Legilimise her. I am certainly concerned, but I have it on excellent word - his own - that he believes it to be polluting to enter the mind of a Mudblood.

Nevertheless - well, I am concerned. Miss Granger - if you were to be found in great danger, would you be willing to undergo Obliviation? It might be the only way to ensure your, and our, safety in the face of Legilimency.