Order Only: I'm Off

Minerva, Poppy, I don't know what to tell you about your Mr Boot. I suppose every silver lining has a cloud, or whatever the muggles say. If there's a way to keep him without naming your spell, I'm sure we'll come up with it. That is, if you get good news about the Carrows this week. Hang in there, Hermione. We'll hex

Meanwhile I've got some news that takes me south. I was making the rounds early this morning and came upon a couple of the enforcers working the Dementors. They were griping, as one might expect. But then one of them said something curious. He said that he needed a respite - that he'd rather transfer to the Catterick Garrison since it was such an easy assignment.

Then his companion said: 'It wouldn't be easy right about now, haven't you heard? Macnair was seen. Plain as day. Northwest edge of the Yorkshire Dales.'

I'm heading down to see what I can find out.

Order Only: That was Close

First off, I doubt anyone really thinks that Grim Truth was me, but it wasn't. Just in case anyone's wondering. I mean to say, I hope mine were better than that - and if that's the best these people can do, perhaps I'd best drop them an owl asking them to just stop helping, thanks.

Second, don't worry. No one suspected that the dog in Catterick Village was me. Though one of the Auror trainees got a bit hexed for his trouble. Apparently Crotch doesn't care for his people to give an innocent dog a bit of a cuddle when he's supposed to be looking for fugitives.

Third, I think I know why the area is both important and yet supposedly a cushy assignment. Place is full of Sleepers.

Barty had a couple Aurors and all the trainees with him.... They split into groups. I followed one and got lucky; one of the blokes took to Padfoot right off. He tried throwing a stick out into the street to distract me. I simply fetched it back. Well, then he gave me a good scratch and started looking for my collar to decide if I belonged to anyone in Catterick. 'We're meant to be looking for Macnair,' said his companion. 'Mr Crouch thinks he's trying to learn about the Sleepers.'

I trotted along behind, for all the world a friendly dog who's found a potential master. The young man didn't mind, though his partner complained. We headed toward the old army barracks. Merlin, if every one of those buildings is filled with Sleepers....

Well, anyway. They fiddled about with some of their equipment - can't tell whether it did them much good - and after a while they decided that the place hadn't been infiltrated. Just before they left they set up a snare cantrip. Looked like they were just going to do the same to the other buildings, so I ran off as we came out and wandered through the base to the village beyond it. There was another pair - both witches - canvassing that area. Neither of them seemed much impressed with me (I know, I know) but I tried approaching them anyway.

'Just because Willett's a pushover for canines, don't think we're going to feed you,' says one of them. I made a show of domestication. They shooed me off, more's the pity, so I had to keep my distance. But I didn't want to leave: They were questioning the villagers. Yes, they'd seen Macnair but he was alone, no sign of Snape. No, they'd been afraid to engage him themselves. It was around dusk yesterday and he was coming out of the Vales toward the barracks.

So. If he's been working with Snape, they've separated again. And if Snape was really stealing polyjuice potion ingredients, sounds like they've run out. Or perhaps he didn't want to share with his fellow playmate.

Anyway, I listened to another few minutes of statements before they wrapped things up and said they were going back to Northallerton to help search there on the theory that he'd've chosen the Muggle town, as it's deserted, for a hiding place. Well, I couldn't very well pop up ten miles down the road as soon as they did, so I let them go and headed out at the trot. By the time I'd got there, the whole bunch of them were combing the town, including the two I'd left at the barracks.

Well, Willett - that's the one who gave me a skritch - he recognises me and thinks I've come following his scent. Not that I'm going to disabuse him, mind, but he clearly thinks more highly of a dog's tracking ability than one might expect, considering that he'd Apparated. I don't think much of his chances with deductive powers like that!

And apparently neither does Crotch, does he, because he saw Willett giving me a friendly pat and without even so much as a warning he aimed a curse at me. I danced out of the way but it grazed Willett's hand. Poor chap. Anyway, after that, I pretty much had to run away or they'd have suspected I wasn't any sort of real dog.

I don't know if they're coming back from the village tonight or they'll stay over. I'm heading up to Darlington, myself, see if I can find out any information the people there didn't want to tell the Aurors. Yes, I'll be careful!