Order only: Smuggling

[alt_sirius]

I've been thinking about the possibility of breaching the wards in the channel. I'm not sure whether it'll work or not, but if it does, we ought to make it pay. Agatha and I talked about it yesterday. She's going to throw together a collection of wands, along with the other contraband you'll need if you're going to start producing Polyjuice in quantities. Besides, no self-respecting magical supplier would be without a small supply of powdered bicorn horn and Boomslang skin.

There's still the matter of a vessel capable of making the trip...and the total uncertainty as to whether it will even work! But it's only a matter of time before you'll need all this stuff. And in a way it might be safer than trying to slip them through the Laszlo packaging, now that we're building a reputation. So we ought to at least research the idea a bit. I don't suppose Charlie could offer any insight to the wards from up on Lewis Isle?

By the way, Molly and Arthur, a funny thing happened this morning. My journal fell off the table and landed open on the 3rd January entries. You may remember that was the day your boys posted about finding the old caretaker's office. I glanced through the list they wrote and it got me thinking.

Er...this may seem a rather odd exercise, but, do you still have that old bit of parchment they sent you? Try tapping it with your wand and saying, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'

If it works, we may have won back a rather helpful tool. If not...well, I said it was a daft idea, didn't I? Don't think I've gone mental.

(In other news, I looked at one of the flats Félice recommended. I'm not so sure; she lives there, for one thing, and she's been a bit, well, clinging for my taste. Difficult to get anything done when there's someone hanging about all the time. Not that I object to company, but I prefer it on my terms.)

Comments

[alt_frank]

Sirius, mate

found a more sizable boat that would work nicely to get us up the channel. it's got a motor-thing on it, and it needs repairs and petrol, but Victor seems to think he can patch it up without too much trouble.

We'll move it to Moddey overnight. might have to transfigure some drifwood so it looks like the boat went to pieces in the last storm -- they've stepped up the patrols around here, so we're being extra careful.

you think the motor-thing would do? I can use a Silencing charm so it won't make noise.

[alt_sirius]

Yeah, good, Frank. Do you mean a motorised propeller? It ought to work fine, if you can find the petrol for it. Though I dunno if it might go a bit wonky as you get closer to the active areas of the wards. I mean, one time on holiday I got away from the house long enough to buy a little remote-controlled car. It worked fine on the square and in the house, but in the Common Room back at school it flipped on its fender and tried to run in reverse up the wall. Eventually it just sort of fired all its pistons at once and ran itself into the fire.

But tell you what, I can probably send you some of the theory behind the spells I used on the bike. They'll need some modification for watercraft but they ought to help the boat keep from tipping you all into the Irish Sea. A silence charm is a smashing idea. I don't think you can do anything about the displacement, or the vibrations from the prop and the wake of the boat, but anything you can think of to stay hidden as long as possible will be essential.

I've still no idea whether we'll be able to penetrate the wards at all, but I think it's likely worth the risk - especially with what Alice has just told us about your new residents. Mayhap a wand in his hand will convince your young Turner that you lot mean to help.

[alt_frank]

you've got a point about Turner. Maybe he'd be more likely to listen if he thought we were all on even footing.

maybe we could work out something where we don't use the motor as we get closer to the wards? like set up a sail or something? and yeah, I'd appreciate the bike schematics. both me and Al did fairly well in Charms, so shouldn't be too much of a leap to figure out what's what.