Order Only: Crouch's alert

[alt_sirius]

Bill? Arthur? Anyone know anything about why Buckingham's on alert?

Merlin, Harry was supposed to go on holiday, but I don't recall if he left today or tomorrow.

Bugger.

Comments

[alt_bill]

Rumour is Snape was sighted nearby. It does seem to have been something that the MLE is taking seriously--enough to call in Dementors. Every source I have indicates that if he really was there, he's slipped the net again.

So far.

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[alt_poppy]

Sirius, what have you been able to discover?

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[alt_sirius]

Well, there are a couple charming young ladies who work in one of the kitchens. They've been good enough to feed scraps to the stray for the past couple meals.

Harry did leave, a little after lunch yesterday - long before they spotted Snape. And I think it was Snape, after all, from the sound of it. They described black hair, crooked teeth...he had a wand from somewhere, one of them said, but he wasn't casting verbally. And he Apparated away. Lots of chatter about it all - but nothing about where Harry had gone away to, blast it.

I did hear one of them say something about it being a pity Harry had to leave Hermione behind. I gather she's been under the weather.

Hermione, are you all right, kiddo?

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[alt_hermione]

Yes, I'm all right. It's just a summer cold, but I couldn't stop sneezing, and everyone said that they'd not want to get sick Mudblood all over them, and anyway did Pepper-Up even work on Mudbloods. So I'm back at Buckingham until they come back.

People mostly are ignoring me.

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[alt_sirius]

Oh, for Merlin's --

Of course Pepper-Up works on mud Muggleborns!

Well, I'm glad you're staying out of the way.

Do you happen to know where they're on holiday? I'd feel better if someone's in the vicinity, in case anything should go wrong.

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[alt_sirius]

Oh, and do you need anything, kiddo?

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[alt_poppy]

They what?!

They left you back at Buckingham? Without Mr Marvolo to keep anyone from meddling with you?

I don't like that at all.

Not one bit.

Oh, mercy!

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[alt_sirius]

She's all right, Poppy. I saw her this morning - she took a chance I might come begging for scraps and was right. She looks okay, maybe a bit puffy round the eyes still, but on the mend.

And she mentioned to the others who were there, cool as you please, how sorry she was she couldn't be with her master up in Aldeburgh.

She said no one's really paying her any mind. She promised she'll keep her head down, too, until Harry gets back and they leave for school. If she keeps to his rooms she should be okay.

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[alt_mcgonagall]

I'll check on her, Sirius. Let me consult my schedule; I shall need a pretext for going to Buckingham, but I imagine I can summon one up without too much trouble.

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[alt_sirius]

That's perfect, Minerva - I didn't want to leave her without anyone to look out for her.

But I don't like Harry being off where we can't check on him, either.

I'll be off, then. D'you suppose it's raining in Suffolk?

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[alt_poppy]

Are you feeling better, dear?

I do hope so, but if there's anything you need, perhaps I could offer... I don't know. Will the elves brew some honey and ginger tea for you if you ask?

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[alt_hermione]

I am feeling much better. The elves gave me Pepper-up and yes, they'd brew me anything I want. They like me an awful lot.

I still have a cold but it isn't so bad.