Order Only: Private message to Dora and Sirius

[alt_lupin]

I'm thinking that for the Full Moon it'll be easiest to tell Ellie I'm going off on some sort of stock-buying trip and will be back in a day or two. And then go to 12GP for the duration.

I've grown rather accustomed to having Sirius around when I transform. Ellie, however, has grown rather accustomed to having the dog around pretty much all the time. I'm a bit worried that taking him away from her will go over about as well as taking that singing rabbit toy away from Bea would. Dora, will managing Ellie and the beer garden and all the rest without Sirius be too much? Sirius, just how dependent on you is she?

Comments

[alt_nymphadora]

If she's solicitous of Mr Ponds in his private chamber at half-four in the morning, I think his wife ought to know about it.

And I do think that if one of us feels poorly, we should be able to expect the help to give us whatever privacy we say we require. If she needs reminding, she might find that Sinbad's fiercely protective of his master and thinks Junius takes priority over her. (Sinbad's right about that.)

I think it's better Ellie learns boundaries (reinforced by growling if necessary) than that she be left alone to see to Bea in the early hours.

I'm not sure what help Kreacher could be. In the evening? And where would Ellie think that nasty elf was taking Bea off to?

By the way, Beth says she wanted to check on us and be sure we're all well. (And not arrested, she means.) Says she's going to slip off early and we might not see her again for a while. Just as well it wasn't tomorrow she showed up. She'd have worried about Mr Ponds, for certain.

[alt_sirius]

I'm not worried about half-four, I'm worried about half-ten when we've closed down the garden.

And why would she know Kreacher's even been there?

But all right. You've convinced me. We'll work on it from the perspective of shaking her reliance on Sinbad.

When was Beth in? I missed her.

[alt_nymphadora]

Beth was here just for a minute or two. Talked to me while I was washing glasses.

I don't think she wanted to be seen, really.

She sounded frustrated more than anything. Said they've got people they're ready to 'move', who are really anxious to go because things have got so much more dangerous. Only that's exactly why they can't go just now. They've all got to sit tight and wait.

[alt_lupin]

Well, here's the thing about me staying at the flat.

We've got Ellie downstairs, me upstairs, Bea in her room. Sirius has to play guard dog to be sure that Ellie doesn't wander in and discover me (I think you're right she wouldn't, but we can't be positive) AND he has to mind Bea. If Bea wakes up and cries, I think Ellie's quite likely to assume that I don't want to be disturbed (what with my sick headache) and come upstairs and discover Sirius, who can't very well rock Bea back to sleep when he's being Sinbad.

I suggest that we tell Ellie I'm going on a short buying trip and will be taking Bea with me, along with the dog -- the dog because he's good at sniffing out people trying to cheat me, and Bea because Dora has to go to work and we don't yet trust Ellie to care for her all night. Then the lot of us can go to 12GP for the duration. We'll have Kreacher to help us with Bea, but in any case there's no danger of Ellie stumbling into any family secrets while trying to be helpful in the night.

If she's proved herself in a month or two we can say that Mr. Ponds has to go on another buying trip, and THIS time he'll leave Bea behind and it will be up to Ellie to take care of her.

At some point she'll notice my buying trips are always during the full moon, but perhaps I'm actually gathering some magical fungus that's at its most potent when gathered at full moon. Or perhaps we'll be able to trust her with the truth, by then.

[alt_nymphadora]

I think that's just the thing. It solves the problem, doesn't it.

And I agree, we're going to have trust Ellie sooner or later. I'm just not willing to have leaving Bea alone with her in the night as the first test.

Sorry. I know that's inconvenient.

Perhaps I should be the one who plays ill--from work. I could ask off and tell Ellie it's because you have to be away. And then Bea could stay home with us, and you wouldn't have to worry with her.

[alt_lupin]

Why? She'll be fine at 12GP. We'll have Kreacher, and Sirius can go to her without having to worry about anyone seeing him.

Are you worried we'll hurt Ellie's feelings? She's said herself (to Arthur) we don't trust her yet with the baby.

[alt_nymphadora]

No. I just-

don't want Bea to be a bother to Sirius when he's wanting to see to you.

I wasn't thinking of Ellie's feelings at all, except how her skittishness makes it difficult to think about leaving her in charge in the night.

[alt_sirius]

Bea shouldn't be any trouble. Not like when she was waking three times a night, anyway. It's only in case something should happen, which it shan't. And anyway, I think Kreacher'd be able to intervene if there's any immediate need. I'd only be a minute or two behind him, at the outside.

[alt_nymphadora]

Well, that settles it, then.

Now we'll just have to think what 'orders' Mr Ponds will have placed and what goods should arrive in a fortnight or two as a result.

What's Aleks sending this time? Do you know?

[alt_sirius]

I don't fancy the idea of your requesting time off now, especially if things are so tense. We'd best not give them any excuse to doubt your loyalties.

We can take Bea along. It does solve everything.

[alt_nymphadora]

Thanks, you.