| Private Message to Dux |
[May. 28th, 2012|06:53 pm] |
Hullo, you.
Well, I say, that turned out to be a little easier than I thought it would be. He was prepared to make a strong argument, I think, but it turned out my first line of defence was the only one I needed.
L'amour, c'est tout, I said.
It was well difficult not to laugh at the way his face changed. Une fille anglaise? he asked. Luckily he didn't ask who or it might get back to your family, what? I just nodded and shrugged.
It's well amazing what a Frenchman can make of a shrug.
He did say something about how affection can change quickly at our age and then I'd be here for no reason but I could tell his heart wasn't in it. I listened and nodded and shrugged again. Then I asked, very quietly and respectfully, whether he wouldn't rather stay here if Madame Froissart decided she didn't want to go back to France.
Enfin! Je ne sais rien, entendez?, he said. Then he said, Allez, sortez! and waved me out. Somewhat impatiently, I should think. I say, I hope I didn't hit a little too close to home, what?
But it doesn't matter. He certainly won't object to my going back with him if things don't work out but I think that's the last he'll try to convince me not to stay.
I just wish I'd hear back from Mr Rosier's office.
-Justin |
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| I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good |
[May. 28th, 2012|04:10 pm] |
Whoever arranged to send me that last letter with Pig, thank you so much! It made me so happy, and I'll do exactly what it says.
This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth. There are  comments on this post, which can be read here. |
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| Private Message to Barty Crouch, Jr. |
[May. 28th, 2012|02:15 pm] |
Have you reached a place in all your reports where you can take lunches again?
We ought to meet. That is, I'd like to see you. To talk. Perhaps to satisfy myself that your prolonged service left no lasting trauma.
I've just made arrangements for tomorrow, but - Wednesday? Tulips? (Not our usual fare, I know, but we should know no one there.)
Or.
I suppose it doesn't matter where. It might be wiser to go somewhere familiar. |
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| Private Message to Isobel Sandoval and Nicola Burdett-Coutts |
[May. 28th, 2012|12:00 pm] |
Isobel, have yours returned home yet? Lucius had estimated he'd be done yesterday morning but it was closer to seven in the evening before he emerged from the Ministry.
Meanwhile, I've heard from more than one source that your Lana conducted herself quite well in this entire affair. In fact, I've been to Buckingham this morning along with Lucius to discuss appropriate recognition of the contributions of several key Aurors, your daughter among them.
It's been decided that a ceremony on Saturday evening would be the best opportunity to present their commendations. Nicola, would that give you and Gabriel sufficient time to prepare? Isobel, I was hoping you'd speak to Inigo about assisting with the supply for the reception to follow that night.
Our Lord wishes as well to extend generosity to the loyal citizens who have endured in the face of the Dogstar's perfidy. Nicola, I'm sure you have ideas for some sort of impromptu carnival - perhaps as simple as complimentary refreshments at several stations along the Thames? Well, you'll think of something astonishing, you always do.
I've got to run for now but shall we get together tomorrow to discuss the matter in more detail? I can have Mariposa reserve a room at Alhambra so we can plan in peace and privacy. Isobel, do say you'll join us? |
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| I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good |
[May. 27th, 2012|03:48 pm] |
Listen. Thanks, Pans. For what you did. Writing in public about us.
That was-
yeah.
And I know I wasn't making sense earlier when we were talking about it. It's just-
I don't know what I think. I don't know-
See, the thing is, I don't understand this Dogstar lot.
Oh, I get that they didn't do all the bollocks the Prophet says they did or planned to do--I mean, starting another epidemic? or somehow making all the dragons break out and attack us? probably not--but they did some of it, for dead sure. And some of it looks like stuff they really might try to do. Like bomb the Third Task. Or put poison in pumpkin juice. I mean, how can you tell what they'd do or wouldn't.
Pansy's right. They bombed the World Cup. And they hurt loads and loads of people. And they've done other stuff, too, that hurt just as many regular people as camp enforcers or Ministry people or whoever they were meant to be targeting.
And I don't understand what they mean to do. Do they want to make things better for the Muggles? or for us? or just make things a mess so the Ministry look like fools?
Because, have they done any of that very well? I mean, MLE don't look very foolish today. And the Ministry can tell the Prophet to print whatever it wants, yeah? Like that rubbish about Neville's parents.
Or that business about Mrs Brownmiller at the Ministry. You know, I met her when I went to work with my dad that time. They're on committees together, I think, and he's a liaison to her department. And she was really nice. I know dad likes her. Only, see. What they said- what Mr Deverill said about always thinking she was a bloodtraitor and too soft on muggles and all. He could be saying the same about my dad.
I bet he has done. Told MLE, I mean, that my dad's soft on muggles and muggleborns. And what happened to her? Could happen to my dad. It really could, I think. I mean, I know he's careful. I know he is. But.
And I know he'd never be part of Dogstar, only what do the wand smugglers actually do? You know? I keep thinking-
What would they be willing to do? How different are they? And-
What if they actually are part of Dogstar, y'know? How do I really know they're not? I don't, do I?
This entry was originally posted at http://alt-ron.dreamwidth.org/54806.html. There are  comments on the post. |
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| Order Only: Today's story in the Prophet |
[May. 27th, 2012|11:13 am] |
Well, there's no question now why Norma Brownmiller's office was warded on Friday.
I read the story this morning, a four page spread, and it almost made me physically ill. The paper claims that MLE had known of her involvement for months, and she's been the subject of both a departmental internal investigation and the MLE sting that finally cracked Dogstar. Minerva, we have had an incredibly narrow escape. We'd discussed the idea of approaching her for the Order, but you thought the time wasn't quite right. If I had done so, we could have been implicated in all this.
But on the other hand, if I had approached her, perhaps she never would have become involved with Dogstar in the first place.
She hinted three years ago when James Prescott was arrested that she had suspected he was involved in an illegal operation of some sort. I came away with the impression that she'd let me know if they ever contacted her. But if they did, if Prescott's organization was indeed Dogstar, she kept it to herself when she became involved.
For those of you without access to the paper: it's stated that forty-six separate insurgent cells were crushed in the operation. These cells ranged in size from one to six members. When faced with arrest, the 'miscreants' did all they could to kill the brave enforcers, and rather than be captured, many took their own lives and the lives of their comrades. I note that there isn't any clear count of either the number arrested, or of the dead. Fourteen enforcers were injured in the raids. Most are expected to recover, but Our Lord's loyal people are asked to keep Copernicus Gibbon and Celaeno Painter in mind as they cling to life in St Mungo's.
There's an in-depth piece detailing the people involved in Norma's cell. The leader was an apothecary to one of the Muggle camps: Broxtowe, in Nottinghamshire. There was also a camp requisitions specialist from Erewash, in Derbyshire, a camp labour crew overseer from Manchester, and a muggle labourer from the overseer's crew. As for Norma, they've clearly decided to make dragon food out of her. Her objectionable behaviour at work is strongly implied (like trying to lower muggle maternal deaths, I suppose). A short statement from her supervisor, Cresus Deverill: 'Always suspected her of harbouring blood traitor sentiments' etcetera, etcetera. I'm sure he must be sweating, as it's mentioned that there will of course be a complete investigation of the entire department.
Her fate is unclear, but it does mention that her family is missing, and her husband is wanted for questioning. Any loyal citizen who spots him or might be approached by him must of course promptly contact MLE.
The poor devil.
The reporter does his best to quash any rumours that Sirius Black was somehow involved without actually coming right out and stating what the rumours were. It does say, however, that some Dogstar operatives believed he was alive (and thus reveal themselves to be total fools) and these lies gulled and lured the Dogstar operatives to even greater acts of mayhem and treachery.
Among the other bad news: Frank and Alice, I'm going to be sending you a copy because you need to read it. Your names were also featured quite prominently in the coverage, tying you firmly to the worst acts of torture of Protectorate citizens and multiple murders, although your capture has not been reported. I think you must be very careful not to contact Augusta, Evelyn or Neville for a good long time.
I'm so very sorry.
This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth. There are  comments on this post, which can be read here |
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| I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good |
[May. 27th, 2012|01:21 pm] |
Hullo, all.
I say, the news this morning has been well dire, hasn't it? Well, as Pansy said, everyone's been trying to gather up as much information about it all as possible.
And Neville, I hope you'll accept my sympathies, as well. I didn't know any of you last year, of course, but I can bally well understand how you all must feel today.
But listen, I've got to tell you all - after the YPL presentation yesterday, I don't think any of you noticed but Mr Helpmann spoke to me. He'd been the one organising my visit back at the Quidditch World Cup. At first I thought he simply wanted to say hello, what, but it became clear that Mr Rosier's been talking to him about my letter. He was clearly trying to get me to say something then and there. Which I say, I thought that was bally well cheeky, what, given all the DogStar business Friday!
Well, of course I put him off as politely as I could do, but it just happened at that moment that Professor Froissart saw us talking. He asked to speak to me and led me away from all the others.
Once we were alone, he demanded to know whether I'd been talking to the Ministry on my own. I said that they approached me, which was the complete truth, what, and then he got very upset. Luckily he was speaking French so I don't think many people would have understood him but--he said I couldn't possibly think of staying, that the patriotic thing to do would be to return to France and explain how badly we need to change things there, instead.
I told him I hadn't made a decision and that if anything, this weekend's news was something to consider seriously. He reminded me that we're leaving in three weeks but he asked me to come and see him on Monday so he could explain why I need to go back with him.
I rather got the impression he thought he'd be blamed for it, if I stay.
But I hadn't even thought that we really shall be leaving in three weeks, if I leave. If Mr Rosier's going to respond and everything's to work out, he'll have to move quickly, what?
I say, I really do mean that this weekend's events give one pause. I'm well certain these DogStar chaps aren't our wand smugglers but...do any of you suppose the smugglers will rethink what they're doing because of the DogStar being routed?
-Justin |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 27th, 2012|11:52 am] |
People have been just glued to the wireless and reading the newspaper around here, trying to get all of the information they can.
The Quidditch World Cup seems like it was a long time ago, but really, it hasn't even been an entire year. It was awful, and I remember being so angry and frightened after. Angry that they were the sort of people who would set off a bomb in a Quidditch stadium, and frightened that they were still out there, bragging about what they'd done and plotting to do more awful things to innocent people.
I'm glad so many of them were caught, and are being held responsible for what they did.
I also know that this weekend is a hard one for many of my friends, because of what happened this time last year at Hogwarts. I'm sorry so many of us are sorting through some difficult memories right now.
But even though this weekend has had its ups and downs, we've got many more weekends to look forward to. I'm very much looking forward to the Third Task, even though it will mean that our visiting friends from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be leaving us soon after, and I'm also looking forward to a lovely summer with my friends.
Sally-Anne, Ron, Nev, are you free? I thought we could maybe take our lunch out of doors. It's a beautiful day, after all.
 To read comments click here: http://alt-pansy.dreamwidth.org/48145.html#comments |
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| Private Message to Patrick Shaughnessy |
[May. 27th, 2012|12:50 am] |
Received your message. Had just been about to retire. Shall return within the half-hour.
Meanwhile, stop blithering and fetch a Pensieve from DoM. Or a better scribe than took down the last one's confession.
Under no circumstances allow the prisoner to rest until he has given his full account. That includes sitting or lying down.
(If we are not to sleep because they break at inconvenient intervals, see no reason they should be allowed any.)
This entry was originally posted at http://alt-lucius.dreamwidth.org/58891.html. Please comment there using OpenID. |
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| Order Only: Ellie and New London |
[May. 26th, 2012|08:45 pm] |
It's been a tense night and day around here, no mistake. So far, the custom hasn't suffered, though like I said last night, it's quite subdued in our little garden compared to out on the streets.
I'm just grabbing a minute or two while Ellie's out in the yard. It's become quite difficult, actually, to stop her trying to keep 'Sinbad' with her at all times.
The good news is that she's been talking to him, when we're alone. Mostly narrating what she's doing but occasionally there's an opinion about Mr or Mrs Ponds thrown in.
Dora, you'll be happy to know that she thinks you walk on water.
Today she's been pretty worried about all this DogStar business. I don't think she knew anyone in the network, from what I've overheard, but she's concerned (as are we all) with what the Ministry will do to find out how many in the company are left, the ones that managed to get away. She seems to be afraid that the few who remain will also do something desperate in their last throes of existence.
Personally, I think it's more likely they'll regroup and start over - although, that said, the papers claimed both that their titular head (my 'lover,' apparently, Remus and I had a good laugh over that one) and their primary recruiter had both been captured.
We've still not seen Beth, either. I suspect she's laying low for now. If she's not in by a week's time, we'll worry.
Oh, and the neighbourhood watch stopped in this evening, again, trying to round up volunteers to brandish their wands along the streets to the west, where 'that element' live. Lucky for us it looks to be a busy night again, so Remus - sorry, Junius - was able to say in all honesty that he thought he'd need to stay behind to give Dora and 'the help' a hand with the crowd, but that they'd be welcome to stop in for a drink afterward. That seemed to placate them.
Remus, I think next time they come calling, busy or not, you'd better go out with them. Or send Dora, depending. I didn't like the way that second bloke looked at you when your back was turned.
Oh, Alice, Frank, before I forget: We can't afford to miss our rendezvous with Aleks this year. I owled him just before Ellie came and sent him the usual requests. Who's going from your end? |
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