Order Only

[alt_lupin]

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.

Comments

[alt_sirius]

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.

[alt_macnair]

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.

[alt_alice]

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.