Order Only: How are you all?

[alt_sirius]

Moony, is Nymphadora all right? Only that, you know, the full moon's tonight. Have you a way to see she's tended to if she needs it?

Bill? What's been happening? Did you talk to your department head on Friday?

Alice, feeling better? How's Colin bearing up?

I'm sure I sound like a nervous auntie, but give us a clue, will you?

Me, I'm rustling up more supplies for you, paying Sabola and keeping tabs on that situation. It sounds like Remus' owl order business is doing well, so I doubt the wisdom of pulling out from Sabola's operations, at least right away. Clarriker over at Folkestone and a few of the other imports houses have also been in contact through the Calais-Dover channels (by which I mean, Marguerite, who has been invaluable in keeping the home Floo open while I've been filling the larders). It seems that with the restrictions and all, many people are asking for imported goods over domestic. I guess it makes sense that imported substances are less likely to bring in contagion. Odd, since usually it's the other way round in epidemics!

Anyway, I'm doing well. Haven't heard from Harry, but I suppose that's not surprising, given the quarantine. I gather owls are hard to come by.

I just hate waiting for news as much as the next wizard, I suppose.

Comments

[alt_lupin]

She's at St Mungo's. She has the sickness.

[alt_sirius]

Merlin and Morgana.

How bad? Do they - Is - What happened?

[alt_lupin]

I thought I'd better check on her, after she wrote that slightly odd note yesterday. She was obviously ill, running a temperature, and she said she just ached all over. She was sure it was just flu, but I thought it best not to take any chances just now and insisted on taking her in to St Mungo's.

They admitted her straight away, and the night staff were very helpful, but I wanted to wait and speak to the day shift healer. I rather stupidly forgot to take my journal, or I would've updated from the hospital itself. Anyway, the day shift healer came over as soon as she arrived and confirmed it's the sickness.

She seemed to think that we'd caught it relatively early, which I suppose is better than too late, but until they find a cure, it's still very worrying news.

She's still conscious and moving, but the healer seemed to think it was only a matter of time before the paralysis started to hit, and then the coma. I stayed for a while, but she was exhausted and needed to rest, so I thought it best to come back here for a while, to pick up some things she might need before heading back.

I'm going to go now, actually. She shouldn't be alone.

[alt_alice]

Oh dear. I'm so sorry, love.

Please keep us informed as you find out more.

And be careful you don't get sick yourself.

And Remus, if she's still feverish, she might get delirious and say things. Just to warn you, you may have to watch her to make sure she doesn't say anything suspicious sounding.

[alt_sirius]

I doubt Remus will be susceptible to the disease, Allie. Especially at this time of the month.

The more worrisome problem is what will happen when the mediwitches make him leave for fear of infection. Let's just hope she doesn't say anything compromising - or if she does, that she can say it was all fever-dreams later.

Moony, they're not buying into the line about purebloods being immune, are they?

Hm. I'm of two minds about informing Narcissa. On the one hand, if anyone can make sure Dora gets a cure quickly, it's the Malfoys. On the other, I hardly think Moony needs them descending on him!

[alt_alice]

I believe they'll stay fairly far away. All Remus would need to do is drop her mother's name and they'll connect the dots at St Mungo's well enough. That should be enough to ensure she gets the care she needs.

[alt_lupin]

We'll keep a close eye, Alice, don't worry. I doubt any of the staff here will have a spare moment to sit and listen to the feverish ramblings of the patients though - they're rushed off their feet.

If I thought they'd accept it, I'd offer to pitch in and help, if only just to feel useful. As it is I shall just have to sit here and resist their gentle suggestions that perhaps a ward full of contagious patients isn't the best place to remain for a prolonged period of time.

[alt_sirius]

Mind the time, then. I don't know if St Mungo's still has a secure centre for werewolves, but even if it did, Junius Ponds, Jr certainly can't avail himself of it!

[alt_arthur]

I'm heading to St Mungo's to relieve Remus.

[alt_lupin]

I'll be home before dark, never fear.

[alt_arthur]

Remus, just saw this. I'll come to the hospital to relieve you and sit with her so you can go home to be there at the full moon, but she won't have to be alone, at least not until we get more news. I can also be the one to inform the Malfoys if you like; we can keep Junius Ponds out of it entirely. I'm known to be a friendly acquaintance of hers, and so it shouldn't cause suspicions if I say I popped around the shop to see her and learned that she was ill.

[alt_lupin]

Thanks Arthur. I'm sure she'd really appreciate a visit.

[alt_alice]

Colin will be fine. The plans for the garden have really helped him, I think. It's been a lot for him to process, and he's so very young.

I just was a bit shaken up after Bill's close call. Don't you fret, darling. I'll be fine.

You and I both know that it's twice as hard to handle bad news when you must sit back and wait for it to come for you, and can't do anything to fix it. All of this waiting and hiding can get tiresome after a while.

[alt_sirius]

Right. Waiting does funny things, all right.

Like prompting me to pick quarrels with my brother. Which he wins, seeing as I'm not on my best game with all this going on.

Bugger.

[alt_alice]

Oh, my darling Sirius.

If it makes you feel any better, I believe you are definitively the more handsome Black. And you're certainly my favourite.

[alt_bill]

Went into to talk to my boss, Plympton. I couldn't read much in the way of reaction from him when I offered to provide whatever help possible, but at least he didn't reject the offer out of hand.

I'm sure that Bellatrix Lestrange and her merry band will get around to me eventually.

[alt_molly]

Don't even joke like that.

[alt_bill]

Better to joke then the alternative, Mum.

[alt_molly]

What's the alternative, for Merlin's sake?

[alt_bill]

Dunno, really. Go shouty-crackers, or start popping off hexes, I suppose.

You know, right now I almost envy the twins. They can get into the worst sorts of trouble, and you think they're going to have their hides finally nailed to the wall, but somehow they emerge unscathed every time, cracking jokes. I wish I had their, er...aplomb.

[alt_molly]

Oh, mercy. The thought of those two running afoul of Bellatrix Lestrange...

It's enough to turn my hair grey.

[alt_alice]

We've still got emergency portkeys at the drop point, Bill. You know how they work, and the password hasn't changed. Please, for my state of mind, be sure you have one just in case you need to leave in a hurry.