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I visited Narcissa earlier today to discuss the Board of Governors. Lucius isn't on it anymore; he was formally dismissed when he was sent to Azkaban.
I don't actually know how the Board of Governors is even appointed. Was it some department in the Ministry? Bill, do you know? They're largely Death Eater lackeys but not Death Eaters themselves -- a few might be on our side, or might join our side if they sense that's where the wind is blowing. I also don't know what constitutes a quorum, though who knows, maybe Linus Moon could tell us. (His father's on the Board.)
Also, this is a bit of a side issue, but at this point is there any reason to continue holding Lucius at Saltash or could we shove him and Narcissa through the Dover port and let their relatives in France worry about them from here on out? Could they do us any damage over there?
Anyway, Alice, I'm sorry, working out the situation with who the school formally considers its Head is going to take some time.
I don't actually know how the Board of Governors is even appointed. Was it some department in the Ministry? Bill, do you know? They're largely Death Eater lackeys but not Death Eaters themselves -- a few might be on our side, or might join our side if they sense that's where the wind is blowing. I also don't know what constitutes a quorum, though who knows, maybe Linus Moon could tell us. (His father's on the Board.)
Also, this is a bit of a side issue, but at this point is there any reason to continue holding Lucius at Saltash or could we shove him and Narcissa through the Dover port and let their relatives in France worry about them from here on out? Could they do us any damage over there?
Anyway, Alice, I'm sorry, working out the situation with who the school formally considers its Head is going to take some time.
Private message to Alice, Sirius, Rachel, and Hydra
What if we offered amnesty to one of the other Death Eaters, if they could manage to kill her? Or exile, I suppose.
We could also try to turn one of them to pass us information, but it would be rather an invitation to pass us bad information. I suppose they could polyjuice someone into Bellatrix, murder that person, and present us with the victim's head, but that would require cooperation from Bella that would probably not be forthcoming (I can't imagine she wouldn't be delighted at the opportunity to feed us misleading intelligence.)
Re: Private message to Alice, Sirius, Rachel, and Hydra
Hydra -- would it be temptation enough for any of them to try?
Rachel -- what are the ways this could go sideways on us?
Re: Private message to Alice, Sirius, Rachel, and Hydra
Hydra mentioned recently that Jason Montague can occlude extremely well. He's my trainee -- well, he was. He's the sort of bloke who wants to get out of MEU and into Interrogation, he wouldn't be my first choice of Death Eaters to grant amnesty to, but if the trade were Bellatrix's head I suppose that would be a powerful argument in his favour.
I don't think it'll work. I think if he tries, he'll fail and she'll kill him. But that'll be one fewer Death Eater to worry about.
Re: Private message to Alice, Sirius, Rachel, and Hydra
He's also Daphne's cousin, but I don't know if her murder had any sort of impact on him.
Dolohov and Crouch together might manage it, but one of them would be very likely to die in the process, and they wouldn't be likely to undertake a mission where they knew one of them was likely to die and the other not.
I've lost all my connections so I have no idea what my mother is doing right now. If she's going mad and cruciating the remaining council members, or if she's stepped forward to actually assume leadership. Based on the private messages that have come out, it looks like the latter.
Re: Private message to Alice, Sirius, Rachel, and Hydra
I'm not sure I can wrap my head round any more deep thoughts today, Moony. Between rebuilding the parts of the castle destroyed in the battle and by the earthquake, constantly getting asked to walk down to the gates or to Hogsmeade to meet another parent or volunteer, and ... and everything else, I'm beyond knackered, I'm bloody near incapable of higher function. To say nothing of how much holding the quill hurts, I think some of those wizards were trying to break my hand, the way they were pulling at it.
I'm going up to Poppy to get something for this sore paw, and then I'm crawling into bed. Tomorrow we can decide whether or not to offer ransom for Bella's miserable head. All right?
Re: Private message to Alice, Sirius, Rachel, and Hydra
I'm thinking we'd contact just one. Or two. And see what happened.
You may be right, though. We should probably think it over in the morning. I'm hoping I might sleep a little better tonight.
Private message to Moony
That's if they're tactful.
I kept thinking, 'We're supposed to be gracious and welcoming. I can't punch a witch in the face.'
Come to bed soon? There's a pup needs his fur ruffled.
Re: Private message to Moony
I've -- yeah. I know. I really do know.