Order Only: Never Rains But it Pours

[alt_sirius]

Bugger all.

Y'know I said not to worry, about the figure I thought I saw on Saturday?

Well, you can start worrying. He was back at today's match. This time I caught him earlier in the day, as I was looking for anything suspicious. He was definitely paying close attention to me in particular, and again, not in an 'I've got to talk to Mr Cullenden' way. Then, just at the end of the post-game, I distinctly saw him raise his left sleeve and grip his left forearm, like he was touching a Dark Mark to report in.

I've told the commissioners here that I think I have a stalker and that I'm going to have to beg off Monday's match. If there's a chance I'm wrong, then I don't want Nigel's cover completely blown, so they're going to give out that I've just got laryngitis and I'll be back for Friday's tournament-closer. But in the meantime, I'll nip back to the homestead to make sure it's still secure.

Oh, I'm also going to dash off contingency orders to Marguerite so that she can help cover my tracks for us. Fatima's pretty close; I can plan a course of action with her on the way back to Monaco. If nothing else, I'll want a ready supply of cash so that they can't track me using Nigel's line of credit, and we'll want to obfuscate his presence on Laszlo's books so as not to mess with the import operation.

Moony, I've not forgot about your potion. There's more on the way - same supplier (so same disguise).

Comments

[alt_alice]

Shit.

Please be careful, Sirius.

[alt_frank]

little pitchers, Al

[alt_alice]

Sorry, Hermione.

But still!

Why must all these things happen at once?

[alt_hermione]

It's all right, I mean, I know I'm not supposed to say it, but I think it an awful lot lately. I promise you haven't rubbed off on me too badly.

[alt_frank]

things have been a little nutty on your side of the pitch, haven't they?

at least you're not in the cross-fire, like last term.

how've you been, kid? haven't heard a lot from you lately. not that it's bad, it's just good to know you're still keeping up.

[alt_hermione]

I've been all right. Harry got worried after everything, because I'm practically the only Mudblood left in the school, so he keeps me with him a lot more than he used to. Which is okay, I mean, I'd rather be with him and safe than maybe getting hurt by whatever is in the castle. But it also means I don't get to spend a lot of time writing on my own and I don't like writing to you all in front of Harry very much. And there doesn't seem to be much to write about otherwise, I mean, people used to get so angry with me for backchat when I wrote.

[alt_frank]

yeah, I figured it was something like that. must be tough without Terry around.

but it's good he's treating you all right, and you're keeping safe and all. and that Malfoy ponce, he isn't running you off your feet too much now that he doesn't have someone all his own to boss around?

[alt_alice]

And you're one to talk.

[alt_frank]

but yeah, watch yourself, mate. leaving in a hurry makes it more likely you'll leave something behind.

I know you're careful, but take the extra minute to look things over before you take off.

[alt_sirius]

Right, Frank.

It's hard to imagine after so many years of being well-buried. I guess once the journals came in it was a matter of time.

I do hope it wasn't anything I said somewhere, tipping them off. Or anyone I've - well, no use worrying about all that. If it's so, it's so.

[alt_frank]

it's worth it to do an additional check for tracking charms on your stuff too.

those little buggers can be on a coin or something. so a quick scan won't do it, and if they can tell where you've gone to, you won't know till they're right there.

[alt_sirius]

Now you tell me.

Right. If I find anything out of place or disturbed, I'll leave it as-is. It'd take too long to go through ten years of accumulated stuff.

[alt_frank]

you can always do a secondary check once you're on the move, just to make sure.

tracking charms activate as soon as you move more than about a kilometre, and if you apparate a long distance, they really go bonkers. but they're not exact, especially if you're walking, so you've got about three minutes give or take.

if I were you, I'd take what matters, apparate somewhere, take two minutes to check over your stuff, and keep moving until you're sure you've checked it all.

and since they're all idiots nowadays, you can always lose them by apparating, walking a little under a kilometre, waiting a minute or two, then walking again. because they're going to think you'll apparate everywhere and won't be looking for someone just walking, and tracking charms don't know how to respond if you move slowly like that. if it's a populated enough area, might be worth a try.

[alt_frank]

if they've got a tracking charm on you, that is.

[alt_frank]

and if you do walk, take some left turns. because most people don't when they have to decide quick where to go.

I'll leave off now, you've got enough to do.

[alt_kingsley]

All good advice.

[alt_frank]

we've certainly spent enough time on both sides of things, haven't we?

funny thing is, I think we'd be better Aurors now than we used to, we've had to come up with so many ways to work around the system the last couple of years.

[alt_lupin]

Thank you. Do be careful, though. This all sounds very worrying.

[alt_poppy]

 
 
 
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[alt_arthur]

Definitely keep us all apprised, Sirius. Good luck.