Order Only: Planning

[alt_sirius]

Arthur, have you heard anything from Nymphadora? Did Malfoy's manoeuvers help her at all?

If not, I think we may have an option for her.

And Moony - for you, too. Have you given any thought to that proposal of mine? Or are you too buried in nappies, lullabies and pat-a-cakes to earn an honest (well, mostly honest) living?

Reason I'm asking is, Justin received his acceptance to Beauxbatons. And as promised, Laura has come through with a rather sizable donation in thanks. Enough to secure the shop and stock it up with household goods - regular items, I think, to help provide something for the struggling housewitch - and so that I can follow it up within the month with a good shipment of the typical supplies.

We'll need staff. If Moony's there to handle Mundungus and some of our more ... unsavoury clientele, then perhaps my cousin would be useful behind the counter to help present a much more legitimate picture to any Ministry snoops who might come nosing about.

It gives her a source of income, one not dependent on the Ministry's clemency, and it gives Moony ... well, it gives him a way to get back in the game. And it protects them both, if you see what I mean.

Well? Is it brilliant, or is it brilliant?

(Oh, and Minerva? Merlin's beard. I dunno whether to tease you or task you. It's one thing to plumb Malfoy as an ally, but honestly! And ... I'll stop before you hex me all the way from Hogwarts.)

Comments

[alt_mcgonagall]

Not a word, Mr. Black.

[alt_sirius]

Really? Because several of them come to mind....

All right, all right, I promise - not another syllable.

[alt_poppy]

Oh, dear. Sirius.

Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus.

Those are the words that come to my mind at this juncture.

[alt_sirius]

Wait, I know this one:

Per virga punctum is?

[alt_lupin]

I think I could probably stay out here forever, but you're right, it's time to get back into the game. Kevin's doing well, he's grown so much already, but we need to keep working to try and make things better for not just him but his whole generation. I think I could be of more use based in London, and if it helps Arthur's friend too, so much the better.

I don't know about brilliant though. It's very risky. I'm not quite up there at the top of the Most Wanted list with you, but there's a good chance I could be recognised and turned in. We need to give some serious thought to how we're going to ensure the shop's protected, not so much for me, but if we're putting Arthur's friend in the path of danger, we need to do all we can to ensure her wellbeing.

[alt_sirius]

Too right.

Lucky for you, we know a pureblood wizard of impeccable reputation who shan't mind in the least if you use his name. One might say he 'ernestly' offers it. '78, remember - he's been on the shelf since about '80, I think.

That'll help protect you; so will some cosmetic changes to make you look older and less shady.

As for the shop, I agree. We don't want a Ministry-repelling charm, of course, as that'll be a dead giveaway. Plus we want their business. Could you rig a sort of confundus variant, just so they don't notice you too closely?

And one other thing: obviously, my cousin can't know anything about the other items you'd be selling or the supplies I hope to send you for Kingsley and Moddey Dhoo and wherever else we have need. At least, not unless Arthur thinks she should be brought in. So, we'll want to ensure she can function inside whatever safeguards you implement.

[alt_lupin]

How very decent of him, though no less than I expected of such a fine, upstanding citizen.

I have a think about some sort of protection charm. I'll see what Alice and Frank think too. I'm sure between us all, we can come up with something that will hide me but keep your cousin (I'd quite forgotten she was your cousin. Poor girl!) safely unaware. Unless Arthur brings her in on it all, of course.

[alt_sirius]

Oi, she's Andromeda's daughter, and Andy was the best of the lot. Just because nearly all of them are homicidal maniacs it doesn't mean the entire family are off their tree. She's a good girl, you'll like her, I think.

Y'know, as far as our pureblood friend, it might behoove us to check on his esteemed pater, just to make sure that the old boy won't suddenly go into shock on discovering he has a son. Then again, he never seemed to notice back in the day, so perhaps it's no skin off his nose. If he's even still alive, old codger, I've no idea.

[alt_lupin]

I meant poor girl having to be related to you! I'm sure she's perfectly nice. I'll find out soon enough by the sounds of it anyway, or at least our mutual friend will, and I'm sure he'll pass along his thoughts.

You know, I never thought to check on the old chap. I really ought to have done, especially after all the troubles. I can't imagine he went through anything too terrible, being a genuinely upstanding and decent sort, but in those dark days, you never know. I just hope they didn't single him out because of his association with the parents of another of our mutual friends.

We ought to check. Not just because it's the decent thing to do, either - our pureblood friend ought to at the very least know whether his own father is alive or dead, estranged though they might be.

[alt_sirius]

Good point!

Besides, it would be good to know. He really was an all right sort, so it'd be a pity if anything had happened to him.

If he is alive, though, 'estranged' might be the best, safest course. And a memory modification, if he is still kicking, would probably be prudent. Unless Arthur thinks the Ministry won't bother with a thorough background check on a nondescript shopwizard like Junior.

[alt_lupin]

It'd be fairly reasonable, I think, for them to be entirely estranged. Junior did, after all, completely fail his NEWTs. Shocking behaviour, especially when everyone had such high hopes for his future.

So if memory modification isn't possible, I think we could get away with it. I doubt they'd be that thorough on some random chap running a shop, although, these days, goodness only knows how much they're spying on us. Better safe than sorry, if we can get to him.

[alt_sirius]

Shocking, indeed! It's a wonder he ever got approved for that security deposit. Must've been to do with the gorgeous redhead distracting the landlord.

I know; I don't like dancing in and mucking with his memories, either. Well, we can always find out a. if he's alive and b. wait to see if anyone comes snooping. It's the sort of thing one could do down the road, no need to jump the gate on it.

[alt_lupin]

She had a great many skills, but that was certainly one of the most amusing to watch.

You're right, we can wait and see how it goes with Senior. Keep a close eye on the old chap, if he's still alive, and do what has to be done as and when it's necessary.

[alt_kingsley]

The Players and I can help you with disguise charms. Makeup, even, if you're willing to mess with that.

(As for the rest of what you two are nattering on about, none of us can make heads nor tails of it.)

[alt_sirius]

Oh, come on, Kingsley, on the contrary, you of all people should realise ... the vital Importance of Being Earnest.

[alt_molly]

Neither can I!

[alt_sirius]

Not to worry, Molly. It's an old alias of mine, but for a while there, Prongs, Moony, Wormtail and I all had the use of the name - and the identity - whenever we needed a convenient fake persona.

In fact, I think James even borrowed it for a while in the run-up before the wedding, to get some relief from that horrid sister of Lily's.

I promise, we'll let you in on the joke.

[alt_lupin]

Thank you, Kingsley. That would be most helpful.

[alt_sirius]

Moony, back when I left, I opened a small vault for Junior, in case I needed him again. There were only a couple Galleons in cash, but much more to the point there should be copies of the transcripts and other sundry things you might need to make his identity more credible. I hid the key in Wormtail's mother's back garden, under the shade elm on the treehouse side. Do you think you could get to it?

If not, or if it's gone for some reason, I daresay Professor Slughorn has a copy of the letter of recommendation he wrote. And Minerva might be surprised to find some of his records in the old school files. We could of course start from scratch if necessary, but why bother if the parchment has already been inked?

[alt_lupin]

Shouldn't be a problem once I'm back on the mainland.

[alt_sirius]

And anywiz, I'm a catch. There's many a girl - and a fair number of blokes - would jump at the chance.... Have, in fact.

Whatever else my parents did wrong, they at least gave me looks. The charm I came by all on my own, I like to think. The brains must've come from you and James, though.

[alt_lupin]

If you say so.

[alt_molly]

My eyes are rolling so hard I think I must have sprained something.

Sirius, you dog.

[alt_sirius]

Woof.

Your point?

[alt_arthur]

Much as I hate to give any credit to Lucius Malfoy, I am happy to say that that girl is back at work. I saw her last time, and mighty pleased I was to see her, too. She's only back two nights a week, however, because the investigation is still termed 'pending.' Not because they have the slightest bit of evidence against her, I don't think, but merely because Internal Affairs wants to frighten her a bit more about stepping out of line.

I was worried as to whether she'd have any lingering resentment toward me, since, after all, it was my asking her to pinch the file that got her into this mess in the first place. But it seems she doesn't hold any grudge at all. She was as friendly as ever when she chatted with me, I'm relieved to say. I think it really helps that she had such a tangible reward for her efforts, in the change in Dean Thomas' status. She said she's been following his story in the news, and it's clear that she--like me--is taking pleasure in his success in stepping into more decent life for himself.

Still, she is still worried about money, since she's only been scheduled part-time, and so I think she might be entirely open to the idea of another part-time job. How should we approach this? Do you want me to mention it to her, possibly saying it's an opportunity I've heard about through Bill?

[alt_sirius]

Well, it's something, anyway.

And yeah, I think 'through Bill' would be the best angle, particularly as it's Bill who found the potential premises in the first place.