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Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Aug. 29th, 2015 05:34 pmI just had the strangest conversation with Sirius.
Are you going to Penzance tonight?
Are you going to Penzance tonight?
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Aug. 28th, 2015 10:28 amYou heard about Honoria? It's so sad.
I'm packing us up. Do you want that red jumper or was it meant for the donation bin? It's got a small hole in, so probably you meant to donate, but it was in the cupboard after the last laundering.
Pansy and Sally-Anne have a plan to put together a sort of neighbourhood. Sort of all clustered together like the Victory Village in those Pure Hunger books. They asked if we want to go in with them--well, I mean, they came round to a load of us yesterday, after Ernie's announcement, and were asking. Pansy and George, and Fred and Sally-Anne thinks maybe Terry, and her and Ron, of course, and they asked Hydra about her and Justin, and then there's us and Susan.
Well, I said I'd talk with you about it. If we're all in different houses, maybe. But I did like that cottage you found. In Strathglass.
But anyway, the thing is, I started packing this morning, because we're going to have to either go where the rest go or take the place in Strathglass, but either way we won't be here after the weekend. And about a half-hour ago, a house-elf came and asked me to go down to the Staff Lounge.
Professor Slughorn was there, with Master Gimlet and Headmistress Vector. I got really nervous all of a sudden, because I couldn't imagine what I'd done to have to report to all three of them! But then Professor Slughorn started talking, you know, and he said that they'd been wanting to talk to me for a while. He and Master Gimlet had been watching all summer, he said. Well, you know, for Mastery, usually one has to sit an oral defence and prepare a load of potions and present one's notebooks and--well, it's a process, you understand.
But Professor Slughorn said they'd been just about to arrange for me to sit with them when that attack happened. And since then they were waiting to make sure everything was all right, that my injuries didn't incapacitate me as far as my Potioneering was concerned. Master Gimlet said that they'd been 'completely satisfied' when they saw me this week, because remember I told you about the modifications to the Sleeper potion, and then there was nearly an outbreak at Dumfries but one of the Healers caught it early so we just put on a few cauldrons to make a replenishment draught, I mean they're really simple, after all, and well, the point is that Master Gimlet said that it completely satisfied him, and--and they've sent in the parchmentwork to the Guild.
I'm a Potions Mistress.
And then the Headmistress said that since Professor Slughorn still wanted to retire, and they need a qualified professor, I could start this term, if I wanted. He said that he'd be willing to stay on for one term if it would help get my feet under me. I mean, the Sleeper project really only has another month or two to go, and so it's probably not strictly necessary that I stay on it full-time.
They told me to think about it today and let Professor Vector know as soon as possible.
What do you think? I-- It's not really what I planned on doing, I mean, there's loads of research I'd like to do and there are things other than Potions, I mean, it's not the only form of magic that interests me. But I'd be here where there's a massive library at my disposal. I don't know how much time I'd really have, though. And teaching, I don't know. I don't think I'd be very good at it.
But I don't want to decide without us discussing it first, at least.
Oh, and I really do want to know if you still want this jumper.
I'm packing us up. Do you want that red jumper or was it meant for the donation bin? It's got a small hole in, so probably you meant to donate, but it was in the cupboard after the last laundering.
Pansy and Sally-Anne have a plan to put together a sort of neighbourhood. Sort of all clustered together like the Victory Village in those Pure Hunger books. They asked if we want to go in with them--well, I mean, they came round to a load of us yesterday, after Ernie's announcement, and were asking. Pansy and George, and Fred and Sally-Anne thinks maybe Terry, and her and Ron, of course, and they asked Hydra about her and Justin, and then there's us and Susan.
Well, I said I'd talk with you about it. If we're all in different houses, maybe. But I did like that cottage you found. In Strathglass.
But anyway, the thing is, I started packing this morning, because we're going to have to either go where the rest go or take the place in Strathglass, but either way we won't be here after the weekend. And about a half-hour ago, a house-elf came and asked me to go down to the Staff Lounge.
Professor Slughorn was there, with Master Gimlet and Headmistress Vector. I got really nervous all of a sudden, because I couldn't imagine what I'd done to have to report to all three of them! But then Professor Slughorn started talking, you know, and he said that they'd been wanting to talk to me for a while. He and Master Gimlet had been watching all summer, he said. Well, you know, for Mastery, usually one has to sit an oral defence and prepare a load of potions and present one's notebooks and--well, it's a process, you understand.
But Professor Slughorn said they'd been just about to arrange for me to sit with them when that attack happened. And since then they were waiting to make sure everything was all right, that my injuries didn't incapacitate me as far as my Potioneering was concerned. Master Gimlet said that they'd been 'completely satisfied' when they saw me this week, because remember I told you about the modifications to the Sleeper potion, and then there was nearly an outbreak at Dumfries but one of the Healers caught it early so we just put on a few cauldrons to make a replenishment draught, I mean they're really simple, after all, and well, the point is that Master Gimlet said that it completely satisfied him, and--and they've sent in the parchmentwork to the Guild.
I'm a Potions Mistress.
And then the Headmistress said that since Professor Slughorn still wanted to retire, and they need a qualified professor, I could start this term, if I wanted. He said that he'd be willing to stay on for one term if it would help get my feet under me. I mean, the Sleeper project really only has another month or two to go, and so it's probably not strictly necessary that I stay on it full-time.
They told me to think about it today and let Professor Vector know as soon as possible.
What do you think? I-- It's not really what I planned on doing, I mean, there's loads of research I'd like to do and there are things other than Potions, I mean, it's not the only form of magic that interests me. But I'd be here where there's a massive library at my disposal. I don't know how much time I'd really have, though. And teaching, I don't know. I don't think I'd be very good at it.
But I don't want to decide without us discussing it first, at least.
Oh, and I really do want to know if you still want this jumper.
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Aug. 18th, 2015 01:18 pmWhat's your timetable for the week? I know you told me before but I didn't write it down and now I've forgotten. (And don't worry, Healer Deverill says that it's probably not related to the curse or the trauma, it's not a sign that my memory's gone off or that there's any long-term impact on my recall skills. Just that I've got a lot of things to think about and I still get tired easily, and memory's one of the things that's impacted when one's overtired.)
Anyway, I talked to Professor Slughorn and to Master Gimlet and I'm going back into the field this week. Well, tomorrow, most likely. The thing is that the process has been going all right without me--I mean, Pansy and the others are all doing fine--but I reviewed some of the field notes from the most recent sites and they're not at all precise enough. Plus the production rates are slightly lower than my notes from before the attack on Fradswell.
So I think if I get back to it, we can put everything back on track and I can collect better observations. Also Master Gimlet and I think we can detect a slight migration in the potion, based on the recovery times listed by the field teams, and I've got to figure out which process is being short-cut, or altered, or whatever it is, before it has an adverse effect.
But I wanted to let you know, and to make sure I'm around the next time you've got a free evening, or day, or anything.
I'll be glad when this business is over and I can move on to something else. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's getting tired of making the same potion over and over, but being away from it for a few days really made me start thinking about all the other projectswe I have to take on.
How about you? I expect you're already tired of mixing drinks and serving wretched Death Eaters and their mates.
Anyway, I talked to Professor Slughorn and to Master Gimlet and I'm going back into the field this week. Well, tomorrow, most likely. The thing is that the process has been going all right without me--I mean, Pansy and the others are all doing fine--but I reviewed some of the field notes from the most recent sites and they're not at all precise enough. Plus the production rates are slightly lower than my notes from before the attack on Fradswell.
So I think if I get back to it, we can put everything back on track and I can collect better observations. Also Master Gimlet and I think we can detect a slight migration in the potion, based on the recovery times listed by the field teams, and I've got to figure out which process is being short-cut, or altered, or whatever it is, before it has an adverse effect.
But I wanted to let you know, and to make sure I'm around the next time you've got a free evening, or day, or anything.
I'll be glad when this business is over and I can move on to something else. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's getting tired of making the same potion over and over, but being away from it for a few days really made me start thinking about all the other projects
How about you? I expect you're already tired of mixing drinks and serving wretched Death Eaters and their mates.
Where are you both?
I had--I keep forgetting what happened. Was there--was there a dragon? Something about flying.
Oh, I wanted to tell Mr Snape, I think there were two potions. That's what's tripped us up, I mean. Two.
For some reason I want some toast. But the Healer says I'm only to have liquids for a while longer. Aspiration. That means choking.
Draco?
I'm really tired.
I had--I keep forgetting what happened. Was there--was there a dragon? Something about flying.
Oh, I wanted to tell Mr Snape, I think there were two potions. That's what's tripped us up, I mean. Two.
For some reason I want some toast. But the Healer says I'm only to have liquids for a while longer. Aspiration. That means choking.
Draco?
I'm really tired.
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Jul. 31st, 2015 09:10 amHow are you today?
I wasn't actually sure whether to write to you today, or if you'd rather not be reminded if you're busy and not thinking about Harry too much. But I didn't want you to think I'm ignoring you, either.
Did I tell you that Hydra talked to me a little while back about how best to acknowledge Harry's birthday? She said she and Justin had been thinking of maybe a candle-lighting or something, you know, a quiet sort of reflection. Solemn, not anything too flashy. But we got to talking about it and it just didn't seem.... I mean, you're in New London and so's Justin still, and everyone's busy and the Longbottoms have their own family to mourn, and it's a blue moon so Mr Lupin was feeling really very awful and so was Luna, and Sirius--well, I could tell Sirius either wanted to run off and remember Harry in his own way, or preferred to focus on Mr Lupin, and so it seemed like as much as we all wanted to do something, no one felt quite ready, either. Certainly not ready enough to organise anything. So in the end we thought, best leave it for now and let everyone observe on our own, and perhaps we'll find the right way to honour him at the one-year anniversary mark. Or his birthday next year. Or something like that.
Still, it seems as though someone ought to make some kind of statement. Maybe I should have asked them to put something on the wireless. Or maybe I'll think of the right words later. Though it's silly to expect they'll come today, when they haven't come in all this time.
Anyway.
Remind me again of your timetable for the next week? We've got a huge warehouse to wake up over the next several days and I ought to check in occasionally, but I can break free if I plan round your schedule. I'd like it if we could spend it not in the castle, either, just the two of us somewhere, maybe. That was good, last time.
Well, I should get back to it, we've set up a brewing lab here on site as part of our attempt to move things out of Hogwarts in preparation for next term. There's talk it might become a permanent installation, too, a sort of...St M's healing research outpost, or something like that.
But I wanted to say--that I'm thinking about you today, especially. And I miss him, too, and that I hope you're all right, or as all right as you can be.
I wasn't actually sure whether to write to you today, or if you'd rather not be reminded if you're busy and not thinking about Harry too much. But I didn't want you to think I'm ignoring you, either.
Did I tell you that Hydra talked to me a little while back about how best to acknowledge Harry's birthday? She said she and Justin had been thinking of maybe a candle-lighting or something, you know, a quiet sort of reflection. Solemn, not anything too flashy. But we got to talking about it and it just didn't seem.... I mean, you're in New London and so's Justin still, and everyone's busy and the Longbottoms have their own family to mourn, and it's a blue moon so Mr Lupin was feeling really very awful and so was Luna, and Sirius--well, I could tell Sirius either wanted to run off and remember Harry in his own way, or preferred to focus on Mr Lupin, and so it seemed like as much as we all wanted to do something, no one felt quite ready, either. Certainly not ready enough to organise anything. So in the end we thought, best leave it for now and let everyone observe on our own, and perhaps we'll find the right way to honour him at the one-year anniversary mark. Or his birthday next year. Or something like that.
Still, it seems as though someone ought to make some kind of statement. Maybe I should have asked them to put something on the wireless. Or maybe I'll think of the right words later. Though it's silly to expect they'll come today, when they haven't come in all this time.
Anyway.
Remind me again of your timetable for the next week? We've got a huge warehouse to wake up over the next several days and I ought to check in occasionally, but I can break free if I plan round your schedule. I'd like it if we could spend it not in the castle, either, just the two of us somewhere, maybe. That was good, last time.
Well, I should get back to it, we've set up a brewing lab here on site as part of our attempt to move things out of Hogwarts in preparation for next term. There's talk it might become a permanent installation, too, a sort of...St M's healing research outpost, or something like that.
But I wanted to say--that I'm thinking about you today, especially. And I miss him, too, and that I hope you're all right, or as all right as you can be.
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
May. 28th, 2015 11:23 pmYou're quite popular tonight.
What does Finnigan want? I hope you told him to sod off and you've not given him another thought.
I'm tired but I've still got an hour to go on this potion before I can leave it.
Were you going to meditate tonight? You could keep me company if you're not.
What does Finnigan want? I hope you told him to sod off and you've not given him another thought.
I'm tired but I've still got an hour to go on this potion before I can leave it.
Were you going to meditate tonight? You could keep me company if you're not.
Order Only: Umbridge's House
Mar. 30th, 2015 03:35 pmDraco and I finally went to Dolores Umbridge's house to look for the diadem. That was an experience I don't think either of us wants to repeat--ever. It wasn't particularly dangerous--well, apart from one room that locked Draco in for a while, and I couldn't hear him calling--but anything you lot have been imagining about what her home must have been like, let me assure you, it was worse.
Only there weren't any cat or kitten things anywhere, which I thought was surprising. I mean, you know how when someone likes cats they often get given things with cats on, and she had nothing of the kind. And we still can't understand why she'd have a self-locking room with soundproofing spells, either, unless she shut herself in there from time to time to have screaming fits, and had some way of getting out that we couldn't duplicate.
In any case, we didn't find the diadem, obviously, or anything that even seemed like a horcrux. I did find all sorts of ledgers that were simply filled with notes on co-workers and professors and really almost anyone she knew, it looked like. Mainly she seemed to jot down ways in which she could do a better job. (Mr Snape, you'll be amused that one of the Hogwarts notebooks includes some observations on Milland's cleaning routines. Did she happen to ever suggest an alternative to Madam Skower's? Because it's in here. If you care, which I'm sure you don't, but there it is, anyway.)
By the way, I think she must have been raised by her father, because there were loads of photos of her as a girl and the same older wizard, but none of a mother.
Oh, and Sally-Anne, Draco was apparently looking for ways to get out of that bedroom and found the socks you knitted. We brought them back because we thought, you never know, they might make another excellent gift for someone. Professor Sandoval-Pennifold, maybe.
Only there weren't any cat or kitten things anywhere, which I thought was surprising. I mean, you know how when someone likes cats they often get given things with cats on, and she had nothing of the kind. And we still can't understand why she'd have a self-locking room with soundproofing spells, either, unless she shut herself in there from time to time to have screaming fits, and had some way of getting out that we couldn't duplicate.
In any case, we didn't find the diadem, obviously, or anything that even seemed like a horcrux. I did find all sorts of ledgers that were simply filled with notes on co-workers and professors and really almost anyone she knew, it looked like. Mainly she seemed to jot down ways in which she could do a better job. (Mr Snape, you'll be amused that one of the Hogwarts notebooks includes some observations on Milland's cleaning routines. Did she happen to ever suggest an alternative to Madam Skower's? Because it's in here. If you care, which I'm sure you don't, but there it is, anyway.)
By the way, I think she must have been raised by her father, because there were loads of photos of her as a girl and the same older wizard, but none of a mother.
Oh, and Sally-Anne, Draco was apparently looking for ways to get out of that bedroom and found the socks you knitted. We brought them back because we thought, you never know, they might make another excellent gift for someone. Professor Sandoval-Pennifold, maybe.
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Mar. 29th, 2015 10:02 pmAre you about done upstairs? I've finished in the kitchen and there's definitely nothing here. Well, apart from the profusion of pink.
Anyway, I'm getting hungry. And tired. It was a lovely day, but we probably shouldn't have spent so long at the shore before looking for the house.
Anyway, I'm getting hungry. And tired. It was a lovely day, but we probably shouldn't have spent so long at the shore before looking for the house.
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Mar. 22nd, 2015 10:52 pmDraco,
We might be a few days working on things for the potion. Maybe longer, so it means you'd be going to Moddey alone to see Ragnik on Thursday. I mean, I might be able to go with you but probably not, I'd plan on going alone if I were you. All right? We've still got time and we're not even going to get the other goblins to help before Mrs Longbottom and Remus have their argument-thing with them.
Oh, meanwhile, though, I left a book for you on the landing. It's about lock-picking. Just in case they say no, even after Remus and Mrs Longbottom make the case.
We might be a few days working on things for the potion. Maybe longer, so it means you'd be going to Moddey alone to see Ragnik on Thursday. I mean, I might be able to go with you but probably not, I'd plan on going alone if I were you. All right? We've still got time and we're not even going to get the other goblins to help before Mrs Longbottom and Remus have their argument-thing with them.
Oh, meanwhile, though, I left a book for you on the landing. It's about lock-picking. Just in case they say no, even after Remus and Mrs Longbottom make the case.
Sally-Anne says that maybe Professor Dolohov figured out that Justin and Hydra are still in love and so he's letting Justin sit by Hydra's bedside out of kindness and he's not in trouble.
Do any of you believe that for a moment?
Do any of you believe that for a moment?
Hey, how was your boys' get-together at the safehouse?
Bea gave us all Valentines and somehow got Kreacher to make cupcakes. Then she got frosting in her hair.
It was quite an exciting day.
Bea gave us all Valentines and somehow got Kreacher to make cupcakes. Then she got frosting in her hair.
It was quite an exciting day.
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Feb. 4th, 2015 10:07 pmWe should talk to the goblin at Moddey. What's his name? Ragnok. Ragnik.
About the bank, I mean.
About the bank, I mean.
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Jan. 26th, 2015 03:51 pmSo. I know we haven't actually seen much of each other, these last few days. Between your working on the boxes and my work with Mr Snape on the Sleeper research, it's really surprising how time goes. Are you going to spend much time at Grimmauld in the next day or two? I was thinking of giving Bea one more tea party before Tonks has her baby, just to take a bit of a break from it all.
I was also thinking...you told your father you'd visit. And you haven't yet. It's not the most pleasant way to spend time, I know, but...if you wanted me to go with you, and wait on the ground floor or something, I'd make time for that.
Unless you'd rather go with Sarah. Or maybe you were lying, I mean, just telling him that to keep him complacent, and you don't want to see him at all. Which makes sense, if it's too painful.I mean, I don't ever want to see
But if you wanted someone to go with you, for moral support, I could do that.
I was also thinking...you told your father you'd visit. And you haven't yet. It's not the most pleasant way to spend time, I know, but...if you wanted me to go with you, and wait on the ground floor or something, I'd make time for that.
Unless you'd rather go with Sarah. Or maybe you were lying, I mean, just telling him that to keep him complacent, and you don't want to see him at all. Which makes sense, if it's too painful.
But if you wanted someone to go with you, for moral support, I could do that.
This afternoon I had probably my longest conversation with Sarah Fawcett. Apparently, Mr Malfoy asked to see Draco (I think they're going to take him to Saltash soon, if they haven't already). And while he was there, Sarah came in to visit as well. Well, you know that look Mr Malfoy can get when he doesn't want to be disturbed? Apparently he can still do that, the Dementors didn't scare that out of him. But it did scare Sarah, so she scarpered.
Here's the thing, though, she doesn't want Draco to know it, but she's actually really quite worried that Mr Malfoy will somehow re-condition Draco so he'll be bigoted again. And I tried to tell her that really there's no way Draco will go back--I mean, once he started to see what was wrong with his parents' ideals, he changed his own opinions, and that's not going to just go away because he can talk to his father now. I mean, if anything, I think it'll help, because he can talk to him honestly about things, without being worried that his father will disown him or curse him or do something equally horrid. And just maybe, Draco can reach his father even if no one else can.
Oh, and I think the fact that he wanted to see Draco at all, and especially that she said he was 'clutching' Draco's hand when she walked in, is a really, really good sign. Don't you? Because if he knew Draco had betrayed him but he could still care about whether Draco lives or is going to be okay, then it means he's more likely to listen. Not to like what he hears, surely, but at least to give Draco a chance to explain.
Though it's rather a lot to put on Draco. And it got me to thinking: Do you think anyone else in the Order is worried that he'll recant?
I mean, they've worried about similar things before. I just don't want to see anyone go after him or accuse him of potentially double-crossing the Order because it's simply not going to happen. The double-crossing, that is, not people thinking he might.
Here's the thing, though, she doesn't want Draco to know it, but she's actually really quite worried that Mr Malfoy will somehow re-condition Draco so he'll be bigoted again. And I tried to tell her that really there's no way Draco will go back--I mean, once he started to see what was wrong with his parents' ideals, he changed his own opinions, and that's not going to just go away because he can talk to his father now. I mean, if anything, I think it'll help, because he can talk to him honestly about things, without being worried that his father will disown him or curse him or do something equally horrid. And just maybe, Draco can reach his father even if no one else can.
Oh, and I think the fact that he wanted to see Draco at all, and especially that she said he was 'clutching' Draco's hand when she walked in, is a really, really good sign. Don't you? Because if he knew Draco had betrayed him but he could still care about whether Draco lives or is going to be okay, then it means he's more likely to listen. Not to like what he hears, surely, but at least to give Draco a chance to explain.
Though it's rather a lot to put on Draco. And it got me to thinking: Do you think anyone else in the Order is worried that he'll recant?
I mean, they've worried about similar things before. I just don't want to see anyone go after him or accuse him of potentially double-crossing the Order because it's simply not going to happen. The double-crossing, that is, not people thinking he might.
Order Only: The Letter
Sep. 30th, 2014 09:50 pmWe reconstructed the letter, we think. Draco and Mr Snape and a little help from Sirius. Anything in brackets was something we decided from context, but there are places we just couldn't make out what it said.
We're still working on it but that's at least enough to figure out what the letter was about. I've never heard of anyone named Mercre, though. Maybe it was Mercure? But that doesn't make any better sense.
Father,
I don't know if [you'll] ever come back, but if you do, I [will] be gone. I [made] a mistake and tried to make Tom (?) love me. But he'll never love [me] the way I love him. I [ ] him about the baby and he [laughed]. LAUGHED. I thought if I [shifted the] (Mr Snape thinks it's lifted) spell, he would remember something of the way [we fell] (? (Sirius thinks it's felt.). But it wasn't [right?]. He doesn't love me.
But you never loved me, either.
You've always wanted the [Grant] line to continue. It will, but it won't be pure. If it's a boy, I'm naming him [Tom Marvolo], to honour our ancestors, but all I'll tell him is about a [muggle] father who had [grateful], and [king], and [winsome]. And he's going to know love.
Don't try to find me. Not that you will.
Mercre (still not sure about that?)
We're still working on it but that's at least enough to figure out what the letter was about. I've never heard of anyone named Mercre, though. Maybe it was Mercure? But that doesn't make any better sense.
Order Only: Private Message to Mr Snape
Sep. 23rd, 2014 11:04 pmYou weren't at supper and I didn't see you downstairs or anything. Have you gone to Moddey? Bea wasn't nearly as temperamental tonight as she was yesterday.
Anyway, Draco and I went back to Greater Hangleton to see what we could find out about M.R., and we found a small building with a bunch of Sleepers in. I think it might have been the constabulary at some point, there were cells with bars and that sort of thing, but also offices and desks and phomes. Caked in dust, all of it.
But they were definitely Sleepers and the thing is, Greater Hangleton itself was more or less deserted. The other day we'd only seen a handful of wizards, all of them very odd. There's obviously not a camp anywhere nearby and the Muggle village itself is all falling apart. So I don't think anyone would notice if we went there to test things.
Once there's anything worth testing, that is.
Anyway, Draco and I went back to Greater Hangleton to see what we could find out about M.R., and we found a small building with a bunch of Sleepers in. I think it might have been the constabulary at some point, there were cells with bars and that sort of thing, but also offices and desks and phomes. Caked in dust, all of it.
But they were definitely Sleepers and the thing is, Greater Hangleton itself was more or less deserted. The other day we'd only seen a handful of wizards, all of them very odd. There's obviously not a camp anywhere nearby and the Muggle village itself is all falling apart. So I don't think anyone would notice if we went there to test things.
Once there's anything worth testing, that is.
Order Only: Little Hangleton
Sep. 18th, 2014 10:22 pmDraco and I went to Little Hangleton on Tuesday. We're only just reporting about it now because--well, we didn't find much.
We went to the village first, and tested our identities. No one gave us a second glance. But then again, there weren't many people there. What was that odd wizard's name, Draco? I couldn't quite catch whether he said 'Bernard' or 'Herman' and I really didn't want to ask him to say it again. He was so strange. But anyway, he told us that there weren't any important magical artefacts anywhere in the region, so he thought we'd be wasting our time, but he mentioned that there used to be a big house up on the hill, but it wasn't there anymore.
That sounded like someone had set up a Fidelius, so we went to look. We saw the graveyard from your memory, Harry, but right next to it there was a large crater. Like someone had set off a humongous explosion. Which must be why the house isn't there anymore.
And then not too far away there was this shack. It was sort of off in the woods, but not in a clearing the way you'd expect, it was all tangled up in the trees. Someone had been there and torn up the floorboards, so if there had been anything valuable there, it's gone.
It was all filthy and simply covered in grimy dust. Whoever lived there must have been really poor. It looked like no one had cooked a proper meal in years even before they all left or died or whatever. There were three beds, though, so we looked under and around them just to be sure that the robbers hadn't missed anything. On one of them there was a handkerchief embroidered with the initials T.R., and then someone had added (in much, much worse embroidery), M.R. Does anyone know who M.R. was? We think T.R. must have been Tom Riddle but why anyone would have added M.R. above Voldemort's initials is a mystery.
Oh, and we did find a letter, it's really hard to read now, all faded and the parchment's falling apart, but it was pinned inside a cupboard. It looked like no one had ever moved it because the pin was all rusty and nothing in the cupboard had been disturbed in decades.
Anyway, we've been deciphering the letter for a while, all of us here at Grimmauld. Only not tonight because they're celebrating Tonks's birthday, so it's just me and Draco working on it right now, and we realised we hadn't actually reported to everyone else yet.
We went to the village first, and tested our identities. No one gave us a second glance. But then again, there weren't many people there. What was that odd wizard's name, Draco? I couldn't quite catch whether he said 'Bernard' or 'Herman' and I really didn't want to ask him to say it again. He was so strange. But anyway, he told us that there weren't any important magical artefacts anywhere in the region, so he thought we'd be wasting our time, but he mentioned that there used to be a big house up on the hill, but it wasn't there anymore.
That sounded like someone had set up a Fidelius, so we went to look. We saw the graveyard from your memory, Harry, but right next to it there was a large crater. Like someone had set off a humongous explosion. Which must be why the house isn't there anymore.
And then not too far away there was this shack. It was sort of off in the woods, but not in a clearing the way you'd expect, it was all tangled up in the trees. Someone had been there and torn up the floorboards, so if there had been anything valuable there, it's gone.
It was all filthy and simply covered in grimy dust. Whoever lived there must have been really poor. It looked like no one had cooked a proper meal in years even before they all left or died or whatever. There were three beds, though, so we looked under and around them just to be sure that the robbers hadn't missed anything. On one of them there was a handkerchief embroidered with the initials T.R., and then someone had added (in much, much worse embroidery), M.R. Does anyone know who M.R. was? We think T.R. must have been Tom Riddle but why anyone would have added M.R. above Voldemort's initials is a mystery.
Oh, and we did find a letter, it's really hard to read now, all faded and the parchment's falling apart, but it was pinned inside a cupboard. It looked like no one had ever moved it because the pin was all rusty and nothing in the cupboard had been disturbed in decades.
Anyway, we've been deciphering the letter for a while, all of us here at Grimmauld. Only not tonight because they're celebrating Tonks's birthday, so it's just me and Draco working on it right now, and we realised we hadn't actually reported to everyone else yet.
Order Only: Private Message to Draco
Sep. 8th, 2014 11:03 pmIt's so quiet when Mr Lupin's off being a wolf, isn't it?
Have you found a good house yet? I was thinking that we don't want anywhere more than a mile or two outside the village, in case people have trouble Apparating. But far enough away that it's not obvious where we've gone. Maybe we could trek up round Upper Feldring and see what we find?
Oh, and I was reading some of Professor Dumbledore's notes about Tom Riddle. I think we should go to Little Hangleton, you know, just to have a look round and see if we can find anything there of interest.
Have you found a good house yet? I was thinking that we don't want anywhere more than a mile or two outside the village, in case people have trouble Apparating. But far enough away that it's not obvious where we've gone. Maybe we could trek up round Upper Feldring and see what we find?
Oh, and I was reading some of Professor Dumbledore's notes about Tom Riddle. I think we should go to Little Hangleton, you know, just to have a look round and see if we can find anything there of interest.
Mr Lupin, I saw what you wrote to Mrs Longbottom.
This is one of those times where we're supposed to be happy for people but it's not really all that simple, is it?
I mean, if it makes Terry happy then that's a good thing, I guess. And if it makes the Longbottoms happy then there's no harm in it, surely.
So why do I feel...not happy? I don't know what else to call it. I'm not cross; I'm not upset by it (though...is Sirius a little upset? He seemed a bit, I dunno, false when we were talking about it over breakfast--like he's trying to convince himself that he's happy for them?); anyway, I'm not upset; I'm not jealous or anything like that. (But I wonder if any of the other Moddey children are? I wouldn't be surprised, and I wouldn't blame them if they were.)
I suppose I'm a little puzzled, and a bit...I don't know. I think it's clear that Terry's trying to find a sense of belonging. I mean, that's why he left Moddey for Sherwood, and that's why he's joined the Zulu companies. That's probably why he's doing this, too. And I'm glad that the Longbottoms are so willing to call him one of their own, but I have a feeling that this isn't going to fulfill him any better than anything else.
And I guess that makes me feel really sorry for him. And hate that Carrow did that to him, but that doesn't help, Carrow's dead and the damage was done long before he died, anyway. I guess I just wish Terry didn't need so badly. It makes me wonder if he'll ever really, really be happy, because he keeps looking for his happiness outside of himself.
This is one of those times where we're supposed to be happy for people but it's not really all that simple, is it?
I mean, if it makes Terry happy then that's a good thing, I guess. And if it makes the Longbottoms happy then there's no harm in it, surely.
So why do I feel...not happy? I don't know what else to call it. I'm not cross; I'm not upset by it (though...is Sirius a little upset? He seemed a bit, I dunno, false when we were talking about it over breakfast--like he's trying to convince himself that he's happy for them?); anyway, I'm not upset; I'm not jealous or anything like that. (But I wonder if any of the other Moddey children are? I wouldn't be surprised, and I wouldn't blame them if they were.)
I suppose I'm a little puzzled, and a bit...I don't know. I think it's clear that Terry's trying to find a sense of belonging. I mean, that's why he left Moddey for Sherwood, and that's why he's joined the Zulu companies. That's probably why he's doing this, too. And I'm glad that the Longbottoms are so willing to call him one of their own, but I have a feeling that this isn't going to fulfill him any better than anything else.
And I guess that makes me feel really sorry for him. And hate that Carrow did that to him, but that doesn't help, Carrow's dead and the damage was done long before he died, anyway. I guess I just wish Terry didn't need so badly. It makes me wonder if he'll ever really, really be happy, because he keeps looking for his happiness outside of himself.
Tags:
Harry, how are the trips with Finnigan and Patil going?
I've been thinking about it, a little, and it seems to me that if Draco's idea is to make them think they answer to you, then the best way is probably to do things that they want to do and make them feel important, rather more like allies than like they're servants. If you want them to come to you before anyone else like Professor Dolohov, then they have to like you and trust you.
I mean, if it's going well, then that's one thing. But I have a feeling Draco's approach may make them eventually wind up resenting you rather than looking to you as a benevolent leader. Before that happens, you might consider ways to curry their favour. I mean, not that you would kiss their arses, obviously, just...make them your mates.
I've been thinking about it, a little, and it seems to me that if Draco's idea is to make them think they answer to you, then the best way is probably to do things that they want to do and make them feel important, rather more like allies than like they're servants. If you want them to come to you before anyone else like Professor Dolohov, then they have to like you and trust you.
I mean, if it's going well, then that's one thing. But I have a feeling Draco's approach may make them eventually wind up resenting you rather than looking to you as a benevolent leader. Before that happens, you might consider ways to curry their favour. I mean, not that you would kiss their arses, obviously, just...make them your mates.
