Order only: a windfall

[alt_sirius]

This morning I received an owl. It wasn't signed, didn't have anything to identify where it came from, but from the narrative I could figure out that it was sent by Theresa Spinnet.

I was a little surprised to hear from her - last I knew, she and Gary had had a little girl - but it sounds like she's had a rough time of it. When the ministry separated pureblood and muggleborn couples, Gary resisted and their daughter got caught in the crossfire. Terrie says she renounced him on the spot, but I gather the damage was done. It also sounds like she later regretted it, though I can't say I blame her, under the circumstances.

Anyway, the reason she wrote is, she's now working as an administrative assistant to the head of one of the camps. She wouldn't say which one, probably because it'd be too easy to find her if the letter had been intercepted. She says she came across a folder in his office with a Department of Mysteries stamp on. Frank, Bill, you know the one I mean: The stamp they put on communications to keep unauthorised personnel from reading or copying what's inside. I guess it took her weeks to work out how to get round the protections to access the file.

Well, she finally managed it not too long ago, and then was faced with the question of what to do with the information she'd found. Not that I disagree with her about not trusting the Ministry, the Prophet or even St Mungo's with the knowledge, but it's a little surprising that she thought of me after over ten years. I suppose she took a chance that an owl could make it through and find me. The poor creature is still fast asleep in my owl rest, by the way; it must have been journeying for a few days to get here.

The important thing is that we now have the proof we were looking for to link the Ministry to the epidemic. I'm writing up the details now; it should be out later today, if I can get it put together quickly enough.

Comments

[alt_arthur]

I don't know a 'Theresa Spinnet.' Bill, do you? I don't have the capability that you have to check the census rolls.

[alt_bill]

I don't know the name, either. Bloody hell, I'd give a cauldron of Galleons to talk to her, if she's really found a way around the Department of Mysteries stamp. I didn't think that was possible.

[alt_kingsley]

Sirius, what if you sent a note back to the woman, using her owl? Maybe she'd be willing to share that trick with us?

[alt_sirius]

Well, when it wakes up, I can try. I don't know, though, Kingsley. Her note reads like she was really frightened when she wrote, almost like she wished she didn't know what she'd learned. But you're right - that's too good a trick to pass up.

[alt_frank]

I'd be careful about sending the owl back. She might've had to steal it, and if it's going back into the camps, there's a fair chance it'll be intercepted. if it's traced back to her, you've lost your source. and if they find out that someone can get through department of mysteries stamp, that's also problematic because they'll change protocol so she won't be able to do it again. so if you do send one back, I'd keep it super simple -- message received, many thanks. and if you can mention the stamp in a real vague sort of way -- "the way you found out your news is very useful. I'd like to know more. how did you manage it?"

course you're a smart sort, you've probably figured on all that already, but it bears repeating for caution's sake.

that's good news though.

they were at Lily and James' wedding, weren't they? Al probably remembers them better.

[alt_sirius]

Yeah, I was thinking about that, myself. I'm not sure what she had to do to get at the information.

She was a chaser, too, but after your time.

[alt_poppy]

Oh, gracious! Frank's right.

I shouldn't think it a good idea to send that owl back to her. If she has escaped detection so far, it would be a terrible thing to bring suspicion down on her for her trouble!


Sirius. You are confident she can be trusted? What if this is not what it appears, this sudden windfall of information from a strange owl. After all, we know that almost every owl in the country is now in the Ministry's control. What if you are being baited? A test to see if an owl sent to someone they suspect is you will produce confirmation by way of a Grim Truth essay?

You've checked the bird for tracking spells?

[alt_sirius]

Yeah, I've checked him, at least as much as I can without waking the poor thing. Frank's also right that she appropriated the bird to send me the letter. She said as much.

There's always a possibility that she's been turned to the Ministry, but I'm certain it's Terrie, at any rate. And if what she told me is true, about little Alicia, then I can understand why she'd want the truth out.

Too many things about her story add up - the dates match Bill's analysis and things I remember seeing in the journals. Umbridge's, Malfoy's, even Scrimgeour's and old Bertram MacMillan's. If they're feeding me the truth to find me, they're taking a big risk of public embarrassment to do it.

[alt_poppy]

You are, of course, the one best placed to judge whether the letter is genuine based on its details. I take it she proved her identity by referring to things only she and you could know? I don't mean to pry or question your judgement, though I suspect it sounds that way, but I suppose I want a bit of reassurance because the more I consider this the more questions the circumstances raise.

I agree, however, that if her information is confirmed by outside sources--if it matches Bill's intelligence and lines up with dates and events mentioned by so many of those involved--that's a good sign. And I suppose that I'll concede at the very least that if they are feeding you this information themselves, the Ministry deserve whatever humiliation comes of having you publish it.

[alt_sirius]

Don't fret, Poppy, I'm not offended. Yes, she had privileged information. Even if people had found out the basics, like Moony did, there were some ... moments ... when no one else would have been able to observe us.

I could do something other than write a column, too, if you think that's better. I could easily copy out the pertinent information and send it back to St Mungo's. If we think they'd actually act on an anonymous tip. In fact, I might do that anyway - just to cover the bases. I don't necessarily know whether the Ministry will respond to public humiliation if it comes from my quill.

[alt_poppy]

To be honest, I rather relish the idea of the whole country reading this from your pen.


I agree, however, that it might be a good idea to copy and send the details to St Mungo's so they have an opportunity to evaluate the evidence themselves whether or not the Ministry bow to pressure and initiate fuller information sharing with the Research Healers themselves.

[alt_frank]

poppy's got a point -- as much as I'd like to hope that she's that good, she would have had to break DoM stamps without her wand, and commandeer an owl, all without raising an alarm. and that's pretty damn hard to do.

maybe they're trying to find out who your contacts are, try and do a sweep. sounds like something they'd do, plant false information and follow the paper trail. and if they know you and her were in school, they could be using her to try and get to you. I hate to say this, but it could extend to passing false intel to bill's people -- if they're trying to find a leak, this would be a pretty tempting story.

do you think she'd be capable? did the letter sound forced? other than her seeming nervous, did anything seem off?

if they are trying to track your connections, you'd head them off by printing it yourself -- although there'd be a chance you'd get mud on your face.

[alt_sirius]

I'm not convinced she got her wand snapped, Frank. Would the camps even let a blood traitor rise to become an assistant to the head administrator? Somehow I don't think so.

You're right, of course, that it could be a false trail, or even that she's working with them. But if I understand Bill correctly, his team's analysis was based on cross-checking the journals, not on intelligence that fell into our laps.

I don't know as we have a choice. I've sent the owl back with an anonymous note for the Head Healer at St Mungo's. We have to hope that it does some good.

As for being mates in school, that was all it was - mates. Even if someone forced their way into her mind with Legilimency, all they'll get is a bit of snog under the mistletoe. Once.

I dunno. We could drive ourselves round the twist analysing and fretting over whether this is real information or a trap. I think it makes too much sense to be deniable.

[alt_frank]

good points all.

I'd say there'd be a fairly small shot someone at st mungo's or the prophet would stick their neck out by running the story, but it's worth a chance.

[alt_sirius]

Bill, you might try Theresa Taylor if Spinnet doesn't get you results. But be careful not to spook her - or anyone who might be watching her. We don't want to tip our hands to either side on this one.

[alt_poppy]

I don't think it's surprising at all that she thought of you. Your Grim Truths have made an impact, Sirius. I should think it was precisely the thought that she might get you this information that drove her to take the risk and to continue making attempts on that seal.

I remember the Spinnet boy; I had to patch him up many times. He was the sort to make up for having been raised in a Muggle home by throwing himself ears over elbows into magic. You must have been here at nearly the same time, yes?

[alt_sirius]

I suppose it's hard for me to tell, out here, just how much the Grim Truths make any sort of dent in people's blinkers. I hope Kingsley's right and she'd be willing to talk directly to Bill or Arthur. I think she'd be an asset. I'm just not sure. She took an awful risk even looking at that file. It might take her a while to work up the nerve for anything else.

Gary was a couple years older. Terrie herself was a year ahead of me and James. She was on the Gryffindor Quidditch side, too - that's mostly how we knew her - but she was also a friend of Lily's.

[alt_poppy]

Tyler, was it? or Taylor? Her surname, I mean. Perhaps that would give Arthur and Bill another angle to pursue if they could look for her through her family.

[alt_sirius]

Taylor, yeah, and good point. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if she went back to her maiden name, for a couple reasons.

[alt_lupin]

Theresa Taylor! Good lord, I haven't thought of her in years. I think she was pregnant the last time I saw her, you know, and so excited about becoming a mother.

You're quite certain it's from her? Did she, perchance, reference a certain Christmas party?

[alt_sirius]

Yeah, she was pregnant at Lily and James' wedding, only they weren't telling anyone yet. I'm one of the only people she did tell that day.

And, er ... yeah. James told you about that, then? I thought we'd managed to keep it quiet.

[alt_lupin]

I must have run into her somewhere else then, after the wedding. I'm sure I remember a bump. Although it's been so long, my mind may be playing tricks.

He mentioned it. You know what he was like, he was just pleased for you. And it's not as though I would've gone around shouting about it. Until now, that is.

[alt_sirius]

Well, it's possible. Lily did keep in touch with her, seeing as how their situations were similar. Family integration and mixed household, that sort of thing.

James was pleased for me because he knew I'd always rather fancied her. And believe me, the closer we got to his wedding the more he seemed to want to pair me off with anyone who'd hold still long enough. I think he'd about given up hope for me, despite my assurances that I was far from rubbish in that department. If he'd thought about it for more than five seconds he'd have realised how daft the whole thing was.

At least he never told Lily, at least as far as I know. She'd have been furious.

[alt_mcgonagall]

Well.

It takes a deal to surprise me; but I must admit that I never had truly believed that we would find this to be true. Not because I would put it past them, but because I find it difficult to believe that the Lord Protector would be so genuinely concerned for young Harry Marvolo's well-being if -

Well, in any case, it has not been spoken of among the Death Eaters. And I can't believe it is widely known among them, that it is being kept from me; but -

Theresa Spinnet was always a steady enough girl; if it is truly her, of course, and not some fabrication. If it is her we can trust this information, I am certain; she had the stable wand-work that always seems to signify a stable mind. But then I have a great deal to think about. A very great deal.

I quite agree with the above suggestions; we mustn't spook her, and we mustn't lead them to her. First do no harm, as they say. Yet we must press a little, and see if she can be of further help. Anyone who can puzzle their way through Ministry documents' wards and seals would be of the greatest use.

[alt_sirius]

Does that mean you think we ought to go public with her information or not?

[alt_mcgonagall]

Yes - I think we must. If nothing else, then I shall be able to raise the topic - determine whether I have been purposely kept in the dark or perhaps compromised.

[alt_sirius]

You got it.