alt_lupin | Order Only

Order Only

We've been contacted by another resistance group.

I should back up. Dora was approached this evening at the shop by a man claiming to be a runaway muggleborn needing a place to hide. Dora settled him into that building across the way, and minutes later Beth came in -- er, I should add that Beth is a woman we know from the beer garden. A regular, and someone we've known for a while to be sympathetic.

Beth warned us that the man who'd come in earlier was part of a 'sting' operation to trap us into disloyalty. We went across the way and sure enough -- he had a wand, and attacked us the moment we came in. He underestimated Padfoot, fortunately, and we subdued him. We had enough time before his friends arrived to ask him a few questions, and get his confirmation of what Beth had told us.

Fortunately, it wasn't MLE after us -- just that horrid group of vigilantes that call themselves the Watch. We Obliviated the man when we heard them coming, played dumb, and told them he'd asked us for help and we'd done our best to subdue him so that one of us could fetch MLE to turn him in. How fortuitous their arrival! Etc. They took him off, and we went back to the shop for a chat with Beth. Or at least, Dora and I chatted with Beth. Padfoot listened.

She's in a group that's smuggling muggleborns out of the camps and into free settlements. She was hoping we'd be willing to help out with a safe house. We told her yes, of course; we were eager to help. Moreover, we told her we might be able to help with safe houses further along the route -- we'd need to know where she needed them.

We didn't tell her about the Order, we didn't tell her our dog was Sirius Black, and we didn't tell her I'm a werewolf. Although she's clearly rather suspicious that I'm hiding something, she seems to think I might be hiding the fact that I myself am an escaped muggleborn. Oh, she'd also noticed we aren't living at the shop anymore, and thought her people might also be able to help us there.

Her group wants to provide someone to help us with the shop and the beer garden. If we're going to work with these people, we'll need to think about exactly what we're going to tell them, and what we're going to hide. I have to admit we could use a bit of extra help; we get a good crowd most nights. It's difficult to keep up.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's difficult to hire someone whom one can trust to be sympathetic to what we're trying to accomplish with the garden.

On the other hand, how long before that someone figures out where we're living or that I'm not just a lovable pup?

Still, it's the best news we've had an a while. And I wouldn't be surprised if they're connected to the group that Paul and Lucinda are working with, and Mrs Langworthy. Only they work in cells, like the DogStar - oh, Moony didn't say but she obviously thinks about as highly of the DogStar company as we do - so we'll only be a stop on their route.

I think it's one thing to bring someone in to help with the garden, but not the shop.

That's more than I'd trust them with. Yet.

Hmm. I know that you three will be extremely careful in choosing who to trust and how much to reveal. You can't have survived this long without built in foe detectors. But like Bill, I guess I'd like to hear a bit more about why your gut tells you it'd be smart to work with them.

I'd help in the garden if I weren't a fugitive. Would be a waste of polyjuice.

Where are these supposed free settlements? Not in England.

We didn't ask.

The less I know, the less I can tell if I get into trouble at work, you know. Of course, any of us could wind up arrested for any number of things.

Sorry. I suppose I'm thinking too much about that possibility for my own good.

Anywiz, they didn't say and we didn't ask about the destination for this smuggling op. We did say we might be able to help with finding new safe house locations, but didn't volunteer anything. Like Remus said, we've said she'll need to tell us what parts of the country are needed, then we'll see what we can do.

We were being cautious on both sides. Which could mean it all comes to nothing, but I hope not. I hope we can find a way to work together.

I know it's my part to always speak for caution, but I trust your instincts here. And the three of you together balance each other, don't you? I don't see you all three running off to do something rash, so I believe that if you've all agreed that this person, Beth, can be trusted, she probably can be.

Tell Sirius not to die of shock that I'm not fussing at him.

Call the Prophet.

If you think about it, they'll have the same limitations on moving people across the wards as we have. But they might put people in Ireland. Up where it's still not controlled by wizards, perhaps. Either way, there are probably boats involved.

We've got those too.

I know, we oughtn't show our hand right away, but we only really use them two times a year other than the occasional fishing trip.

It's a thought.

Is all she'd need some safe houses? For now?

We've already got one set up as an evacuation point for Moddey Dhoo about twenty miles away from us that could be easily enough converted. We've outgrown it by now, and would need a larger place or connected series of places to fit everyone in case of evacuation anyways. It's got beds, clothing, and food -- we could have it ready to go in a week.

Finding someone to work at the site might be difficult, if they would need to be there full-time. But it's a start, and it's well-warded. Frank saw to that ages ago when we first set it up.

Are you sure she isn't the real sting operation, and this wasn't a test?

I'm sure you all are glad for the help in the beer garden, it does seem like good news, and it looks like it's been doing a good job of making you connections. I just hope they're the right kind.

Right, the idea that this was an elaborate set up was my thought, too. And maybe I'm paranoid, but I'm suspicious of the offer of help.

How long have you known her? You say you know she's sympathetic...how do you know that?

Bill, Beth has been a regular at the garden since summer. You might remember I told you lot about her and Mrs Parsons, back in early September. She was the one who told Mrs P how to get round her landlord (which worked, apparently, as she's not had any more trouble from him since).

Then I suppose a couple weeks after that, she came in one day and asked Dora to hold something for a 'friend.' Only the friend was actually a muggleborn domestic, needed a potion. We wondered at the time if it was a setup or the start of a trap. But we held the parcel for a couple of days, a woman came and got it, and that was the end of that as well.

Since then, she's helped us out a time or two with unruly customers and the like. She and Dora were getting quite chummy, in fact.

Come to think of it, she did disappear for a while, right after Bellatrix came to see Dora. But then she was back before we noticed it much.

Let's see. That was about the time that that trio used our place to plot their escape, wasn't it, Dora?

... And it was just after that that I went up to join Lucinda and John and theirs. And, well, then everything 'round here changed, as you all know. So I suppose we haven't mentioned her much in the last couple of months, but she's been about the place. She's had ample opportunity to lodge a complaint about something or other, if she wanted.

I remember your mentioning her.

it would be a lot of effort to follow up on a slim lead and develop it that long if she were playing for the other team.

they can be persistent, but only for the fish that look really big. and on the surface of things, you don't look big enough to be worth all that trouble.

It was about the same time.

I didn't notice any connection between them and Beth, but if you're saying it could have been a way for Beth to test whether we'd help someone trying to escape, then I guess it's possible.

We've always had pleasant chat, she and I, and she's got connections who are willing to help halfbloods. The business with Mrs Parsons is a good example, but she pointed someone else to a Healer who charges different rates depending on what a person can pay--and when Mary'd been to see him, she told me, he was the nicest professional person she'd ever had to deal with. Didn't treat her like a half-worth, is what she said. Anywiz. Point is, Beth helps. I really do think she's the real thing, only-

It makes me queasy how well she plays her important cards close, you know? But then, I hope I play ours at least that well.

It's really difficult to trust anyone. I don't know how we ever do it.

Possibly, Allie, but it sounds like this organisation moves people mainly on foot. Some side-along apparation but they're assuming that most of the traffic has to be without it. So short distances, frequent stops. I don't know if we'd want to reveal that we can get wands to their refugees, not just yet. See how things go a time or two. But as I said, I'd bet Galleons they're connected in some way to the group Paul and Lucinda are working with in the north.

sounds promising.

we'll work on converting the safe house, and you keep us posted.

Love, I have a question for you.

Merlin.

I'm turning red just thinking about it, but I've got to ask while I've got my nerve up.

Danny Houster, you remember Danny? The little Muggle boy Frank and I found while we were setting up Moddey Dhoo? He was about ten back then, near as we can figure. Regardless, he's not so little any more.

Well. I think he might be in his very first relationship with one of the young people we brought back from the Cup.

Richard.

And I know what sort of talk I'd give if he started seeing Jacinda or Tricia, about how to be safe and responsible, but I have no earthly idea if there's other sorts of things I'd need to talk about now, or whether he'd need a talk at all, but this is very new for him and he's very special to me and he's grown up but in many ways he's got a lot to learn and I don't want to

I was wondering if you could send him an owl?

...

You ...

What?

You might've met him briefly at the holiday parties.

And he was on The Hopeful during one of the runs you were on, I think. He's awfully quiet though, so I'm not sure he made much of an impression and bother. I'm sorry.

I'm just sort of at loose ends.

And I want to do right by him but I've no idea how.

No, it's all right. I know which one he is.

I just ....

Didn't you know? Already?

And

Bloody Erebus, Allie. Me? Why me, of all people? What could I tell him he hasn't already figured out for himself, then?

Sorry.

I don't mind your asking, truly.

I just

I mean to say

I'm not exactly a role-model.

He's always been on the quiet side.

I was telling Frank, I thought he was just shy around girls is all.

I thought

Well, I thought that I didn't know what he'd need, and you might know something more.

That's all.

And he's a Muggle so he can't do any spells or things, but Richard's learning fairly well so he could do enough for the two of them but I don't know if they even need anything like that at all in the same way, and you don't have to pass anything along I just thought if there was anything to pass

Bother.

I'm sorry.

Allie, it's all right. I just thought you'd surely know. It was always a bit obvious to me but it was his business, you know, none of mine.

It's just. He's, what, 21 now? Merlin, I was - well, I'd already been making up for lost time in muggle clubs for nearly four years at that point. And Muggle clubs in the 1970s, well. Protection wasn't really on anyone's mind.

This Richard bloke. D'you reckon he was a virgin before Danny, as well? Or might he already know his way 'round the farm, if you take my meaning.

I know you raised him but he's a man grown, Allie. Bloody awkward way to strike up a conversation: 'Hey, your adoptive mum thinks you need lessons in shirt-lifting.'

Look. You tell him you've asked me and if he or Richard have any questions, they can write to me, all right? No taking the piss, no larking about it, I promise I'll give them real answers. Okay? But I'm not just going to write out of the blue because that'll just traumatise the little ~~poufter~~ blighter.

I'm not sure about Richard. He's the quiet sort too, which is why he hit it off so well with Danny right from the start.

I'll tell him what you said.

Thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Order Only

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black

Re: Private Message to Sirius Black