Order Only Private Message to the Juniors

[alt_ron]

So. Right. Guess we're not expecting MLE to come crashing in here tonight, then.

Not sure we can assume there's no chance of it, though, either.

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Do you think we ought to remind them we went there about a hundred times to appreciate tea?

I mean, lots of people went there. Some of them weren't even traitors. But.

[alt_ron]

Ha. No.

If they haven't thought about that yet, let's not remind them.

I wonder how long it'll take Mrs Lestrange to remember Hydra went there for tea with loads of friends.

[alt_sally_anne]

I'm sure she'll think about it by morning.

[alt_hydra]

But Mummy had to take me to the shop first to make sure that it met with her approval, which I suppose it did, since she never stopped me going there.

[alt_harry]

Let's be sure to point that out to her. I think that'll go over really well.

[alt_hydra]

I was already planning on it. She may well be in a lot of trouble right now, since Sirius escaped again and the shop that she herself cased out, which was also operated by her niece, turned out to be harbouring him.

[alt_sally_anne]

Not to worry, though, they'll be sure to get the children out if there's any cause to worry!

[alt_ron]

Yeah. That.

Gag.

[alt_justin]

Ron,

No. I say, it's bally well awful about Ellie. And I'm well relieved Sirius is all right.

But--dash it, one can't help feeling as if we've too much invested in our work here to give it all up. Obviously, if it's necessary, it can't be helped, what. It's jolly well sobering, isn't it, though, to think how close we might be to being discovered.

-Justin

Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah this is why I went back to wearing my ring. Even though it didn't work for Hermione anyway

[alt_sally_anne]

But yeah. I don't want to have to run. I'd rather run away than get killed, obviously, but if I run, that'll be it for finding a Healing apprenticeship (other than with Madam Pomfrey, when she's on hols and has time) -- I mean, I'm sure they'd find a use for me but I will be MORE useful if I can AVOID having to run away.

[alt_daphne]

If we ran, we'd just end up hiding like the adults, wouldn't we? Taking care of babies.

I mean, I know it wouldn't be that dire.

[alt_draco]

I have never once taken care of a baby, thank you very much.

[alt_terry]

Sometimes running away means you can more openly fight another day.

But I agree that Sally-Anne'd be most useful to us as a Healer. Which means avoiding running, if she can.

[alt_neville]

I don't think that's a fair thing to say at all.

Private message to Daphne Greengrass

[alt_neville]

My Dad may have changed plenty of baby nappies, but he was nearly killed in Ireland. AND he lost his magic for almost an entire YEAR to save all the people at Saltash. And my Mum changes nappies, but she's running the bloody Order.

I'm sick of hearing people rag on the adults like they're cowards. Remus and Sirius and Tonks almost got killed tonight. So maybe you could be a little less disdainful.

Re: Private message to Daphne Greengrass

[alt_daphne]

I'm sorry, Neville. I don't mean to be so dismissive, or to diminish what the adults do, but for many of us, going into hiding would be devastating. Has been devastating, though I realise Draco doesn't need me to speak for him. You'd be reunited with your parents and brother so it may not appear entirely unappealing to you. And for some, like Terry and Hermione, it's been positively liberating.

But do you honestly believe that the Ponds are going to be happy about being fugitives now? I'm certain that they'll manage, but it will be a blow, surely.

Re: Private message to Daphne Greengrass

[alt_neville]

It was devastating for my parents, too, don't forget. They lost everything. Their home. Their careers. And they gave up me and Evelyn to my Gran, and I know that just about killed them to have to do that. And it was even worse back then, because there was no network. Just about EVERYONE they trusted was on the run at the same time. There were no safe houses for them to retreat to.

But they've done a bloody amazing job in the fifteen or so years since. No, of course the Ponds can't be happy about it. But they'll be all right because of all those people out there hiding, who've been through it, too, who will help them. And they'll show them that no matter what they've lost, they still have the brains and wands that can help.

Just like Draco's discovering, I guess.

[alt_ron]

I know. This totally mucks everything up if we have to run off to Moddey or Sherwood or wherever and hide.

[alt_justin]

Sally-Anne,

Yes, that's just it. Do you know, it's rather odd: Professor Sandoval accused me of being 'churlish' to soften my duel against Finnigan on Monday, what, but one feels far more 'churlish' hoping that our adult colleagues in the Order don't do anything to cause any more of us to have to run, like Draco and Hermione. We've spent loads of time building up our relationships with Death Eaters, some of us, only to have to throw that work away.

I say, I think I know how they feel when we've done something that jeopardises their safety, what.

-Justin

[alt_ron]

Did they do something to bring this on, d'you think?

I was thinking it could've been because Fawcett's brother went there when he was running from MLE. But they took their time going to investigate, if that's what it was.

[alt_justin]

It could have been, yes. Something sent that Enforcer nosing about. So he was either looking for them or looking for someone else, what, but he certainly found something.

I wonder what message he sent, before Sirius cut him off.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Well, it's certainly not churlish to hope our adult colleagues don't get themselves into dreadful trouble. That's both considerate and sensible.

If you TELL them you want them staying out of trouble because you'd really prefer not to have to go on the run till you've learned all you can from Professor Dolohov, that would be less 'churlish' and more 'unnecessarily honest.'

Private Message to Justin and Sally Anne

[alt_ron]

So have you stopped into the trophy room to see what Dumbledore did with the portkey we're meant to use? It's a trophy to old Phineas Nigellus Black. Looks dead old. Like it's been there forever.

I'm with you, though, I want us to hold out as long as possible and not run unless it's absolutely necessary.

Re: Private Message to Justin and Sally Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah, pretty much as soon as they told us where to look I went to be sure I'd know where to find it.

It's a good spot, I'm sure I'll be able to find that trophy again, and if we have to get out we'll be able to get out. I really hope we don't need it, though.

[alt_harry]

Draco always told me to disavow people when this sort of thing happened.

I'm not going to do it. (Sorry, Draco. At least you won't get in trouble this time.)

[alt_ron]

You mean make a public statement about the Ponds?

Ugh.

[alt_draco]

Hey, do what you want mate. But what if Auntie Bella decides to legilimise you?

Then again, she left you alone even though you were best mates with a blood traitor and unnaturally friendly with your muggleborn servant.

[alt_harry]

Never mind Auntie Bella, Voldemort might decide some day to drop by and have a look in my head.

I guess I'll just keep hoping he doesn't.

[alt_draco]

Bloody strange that he never has, isn't it?

I wonder... I mean, it's really strange. Got to wonder if it means something. Though I have no idea what.

[alt_harry]

Mostly he just takes no notice of me. When he does, it's never good.

Honestly he may well have legilimised me back when I was younger, and I just never even knew.

[alt_neville]

Ron,

Am up in the room, had just gone to bed when I checked my journal. Don't see the point in making Seamus wonder by getting up and going down to the common room after saying I was about to turn in.

Bloody hell, that was brave of Ellie. And quick thinking.

I hope I could do that well, if it comes to it.

[alt_sally_anne]

Neville, I know I make a lot of jokes about hiding behind the Gryffindors, but I really don't ever want you to take the killing curse for me, just to make that really clear. If Bellatrix is ever pointing her wand at me, by all means feel free to throw any curse you can think of at Bellatrix but don't, you know, jump between us, okay?

[alt_neville]

Well, I suppose she made a calculation: who could do more for the cause, her or Sirius. Ron's always going on about how you have to make sacrifices in chess, yeah? But it wasn't just that, it was that she had the brains to throw up the Dark Mark. So she maybe saved loads of other people, too.

I don't want to sacrifice myself if I can see another way out, honest. But I suppose MLE is very good at not giving you the time to size up all the chess possibilities.

[alt_harry]

She did sacrifice herself.

Sirius said she launched herself in the way. That the curse would have killed him if she hadn't.

Maybe she was thinking Sirius could do more for the cause. Or maybe she just acted.

I think she'd have been Sorted into Gryffindor, if she'd had the chance to be Sorted.

[alt_justin]

Oh, I say.

Jolly good show, Ellie. Yes, Sirius must be feeling horribly responsible. Did he say anything different to you, Harry? He simply said to me that he was all right, which was 'more than he could say for the people he abandoned' - his words. I say, I'm sure he was thinking about Ellie, in particular. And everyone else who's been captured tonight as a result, what.

One wonders what else could have been done to help them.

-Justin

[alt_harry]

I asked him if Ellie had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He said -- 'She had a better angle on Bella; I was turning out of a duel with one of the other Enforcers. Ellie - she launched herself into the way. As it was, I barely had time to finish my shot before Bella'd fired at me again, but mine hit her just a split-second before and threw her aim off as she went down. No, Moony's quite right. Ellie's the only reason I'm here to write to you now.'

I don't know what we could have done. If there were more of us maybe we could have gone there, and fought back.

[alt_justin]

Yes, of course. Masked, perhaps, or as we said, we'd have had to plan not to return to Hogwarts.

Have you ever thought about simply giving up the pretence and joining him in a jolly well straightforward fight? Sometimes I--

Well. We all have our roles to play, what.

-Justin

[alt_harry]

Yeah.

Yeah, of course I have.

Private Message to Neville

[alt_ron]

I wonder if she did it on purpose. I mean, did she just happen to move the wrong way or did she throw herself in the way of that curse?

I mean, I know what Remus said, and maybe I shouldn't wonder. Only, things happen so fast in a fight...

Anywiz, it's a terrible thing that happened. And it was dead brave of her if she did jump into the line of Auror Lestrange's wand. Or it's really horrible she was in the wrong spot at just the wrong moment if that's what happened instead. I reckon Sirius feels awful about it.

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_neville]

Well, whether or not she did it on purpose, I hope the Order the Order will honour her like it was on purpose. I don't know if that'll make Sirius feel much better, but she did save him. And she did throw up that Dark Mark, and THAT was on purpose.

I dunno. If you have to die, and you know it, right in that split second right when it happens, maybe it just helps a little if you think it was for something that meant a lot to you. Rather than thinking you've been snuffed out by mistake.

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_ron]

Yeah. That's it. I hope she chose it. And wasn't just that unlucky, y'know?

Because in a fight, unlucky happens a lot. And you'd like to think you'd know it was coming and know you'd done all you could before it does.

Private message to Ron

[alt_draco]

By the way, your brother Charlie is being completely odd with Tonks over here. Hovering around her and being exceptionally attentive and such. You reckon he fancies her?

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_ron]

That what it looks like?

Because that'd be a bit awkward because I'm pretty sure Bill fancied her. Though that was before he and Auror Lamont started seeing each other.

Why's he there, anyway? Charlie.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_draco]

He's here to hover and serve weak tea.

No, I think he was on his way to the beer garden but MLE arrived just before he did, so he dodged them and then he went to 12G to check on Tonks.

Stornoway's a long way to Apparate for a beer.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_ron]

And weak tea.

What's she think of him, then? Can you tell?

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_draco]

She's too busy being a bit weepy for me to tell. I've never seen her be weepy, it's dead strange. But she was close with Ellie so not surprising I guess. She is being a bit weepy on him, though. Charlie, that is.

Hermione's mostly being quiet, though.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_ron]

Sorry. I suppose you're all feeling it with what happened to Ellie.

Had you got to know her very well, then? I only talked to her a few times.

Re: Private message to Ron

[alt_draco]

Hermione knew her better than I, but I talked to her a bit when she came 'round here. She was pleasant, you know, and seemed sharp. I don't know beyond that, though.