Order Only: Stevenage

[alt_sirius]

Moony, sorry about the weekend. I forget that the equinoctial moons are always worse than usual. I shouldn't have told Terrie I'd come see her until after.

Well, anyway, here I am, though, and I had to report that there was quite a stir over that 'Grim Truth' that appeared on Saturday. Birchmore called in all the staff, including the main office, and pulled every single muggle and muggleborn out into the square while he read out the post and then the dispatch that came out - apparently it went out from MLE to all the camp directors - telling of the perpetrator's immediate arrest, and going on in rather grisly detail about what would happen should anyone try to follow the poor fellow's advice.

If there's one good outcome from this mess it's that I've never seen Terrie quite so fired up. She promised that we could have any sort of blank forms we want, Bill, so give me a list and she'll smuggle them home under the guise of working overtime. Plus she told me that since last time I visited, she's been talking very quietly with some of the witches she thinks she can trust, both staffers in the camp and outside, in town, about how to help extract people, especially families with children, from the camps. We've been discussing her ideas. They're half-formed at the moment, and I'm not sure about the end point, because currently, the only places I know to send refugees are Moddey Dhoo or Sherwood. But then I thought about how we - Dora and I, that is - imagined that Laszlo's might make a good stop on any sort of underground railroad we could put together, while we arrange to get another load of people out at solstice, if we can find ways to get them to the ward lines. Turns out Terrie was thinking along similar lines, remembering that's how I made it back in.

Well. After Saturday, Terrie convinced two witches she knows to offer their cellars if we can work out a credible way to get some families out. I think we can forge up the forms, create some kind of project for which families are requested, and get them out - only small groups, understand, one or two at a time, but we'd have the travel papers so they could ride the train to London, get to Laszlo - it still needs a load of work, as I said, but I think it's a strong possibility.

Kingsley, Arthur - what do you think? I'm going to owl Turner, as well. I know he has been working on similar networks in his region; it would be something if we could link them up.

I don't mind saying that Terrie was pretty upset by the message in that Grim Truth itself, though. She's worried that too many muggles and muggleborn will take it to heart and grow more violent toward wizards, even ones who want to help. She was also upset on my behalf, which I suppose I can understand but I had to laugh. I mean, yeah, it's counterproductive, everyone and his uncle using 'Grim Truth' to send out conflicting and confusing messages. But when does it simply become noise? Of course I really wish I could write a real one, but I know that's impossible. At least people's insistence on using it (and me) as a rally point is good for something: It keeps the scowl on Crouch's face and puts knots in his lacy knickers. And that's a great comfort.

Comments

[alt_poppy]

I didn't realise you'd had such a close view of Crouch's knickers.

Lace ones, though. My.


Honestly, though, Sirius. That's a major endeavour. Is there really time to manage it before the solstice? You're surely talking about more than a boat or two this time. And who will coordinate things on the other side?

And I confess I mislike the idea of your using Laszlo this way now there'll be an infant on the premises.

[alt_sirius]

He's always struck me as the type who secretly wants to wear a frilly pinny and carry a feather duster while his leather-clad mistress makes him lick her boots. Pillock. That girlfriend of his probably has a large collection of whips and chains. Then again, he gets loads of practice toadying to Voldemort.

Anyway, your question. Well, if we start working on it now, aiming to try a pilot programme ... we've got three months. And I'm not actually suggesting an exodus, either. But. Families like the Lees, or Sara Cullinane, with lots of immediate family who don't want to be broken apart - there's got to be a better alternative for them than living rough in the forest. And Moddey can't take them all or it'll fill to bursting.

There's another piece that we haven't worked out yet and that's where to take them. I don't like the news in the papers about the French measures going into place. It's a mixed blessing, as Aleks has been having an easier time shipping supplies, but the crackdowns on muggleborns are troubling to say the least. If we smuggled them through, I think they'd have a better chance emigrating to Spain or Portugal.

As for Bump, I don't see that his (or her) presence changes anything. I mean to say, that's really up to Remus and Dora.

[alt_poppy]

Well, yes. And I should think, honestly, that it's enough simply to get the refuge-seekers through the wards, if we can do it. Beyond that, it's their lookout where they go on to.

But can we gather boats enough in France and here? Isn't that likely to attract notice on one side or the other?

Before you say it, I do see the other argument, as well.

We lose opportunities if we don't try. And there may be only the one chance, if this attempt draws notice. So then we'd do best to send as many people as we can sa transport. I nearly said 'safely', but of course there's nothing safe about it, and that's the point.

So, yes, I know you are right to try and arrange it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And, of course, there may be no way to avoid losses in these ventures.

Just--do have a care for the wee sprog. As I'm sure you will do.


All right, then. I've finished clucking. For now.

[alt_lupin]

It's all right. It's good that you went to see Terrie. And I don't mean because she's useful to the cause. Although there is that too.

[alt_sirius]

Stop that, you. No matchmaking just because you've jumped a broom.

[alt_lupin]

Surely it's rather too far into proceedings for matchmaking.

[alt_nymphadora]

Sounds great to me!

[alt_lupin]

Great..

Perhaps we could have a chat about this?

[alt_nymphadora]

Of course, my darling. I shall count down the seconds.

[alt_bill]

I'll send you a list of the forms that would be more useful. And perhaps she might have forms that she knows about and can get her hands on that she might suggest we use. After all, I can't possibly know every possible parchmentwork chain throughout the regime, but as a camp administrator, she'll be familiar with many I don't work with ordinarily. I'm really grateful for this, Sirius. Assuming she doesn't get caught (and I'm sure you'll give her lots of advice that will help keep her self safe), this will be an invaluable contact for us.

[alt_kingsley]

I like the way the lady thinks. We can certainly use more locations for an underground railroad than the one that Remus and Tonks can provide. Turner and Davidson will be interested, too. They're also continually expanding the locations and travel routes they're working with, to move people and supplies around, so we should definitely pool our information there. I'll also have the Players talk over the contacts we've made in the past few years, and we'll probably come us with some other good possibilities, too.

[alt_arthur]

Excellent news, Sirius. Hmm. Forged identity parchmentwork, travel passes, safe shelter for sleeping, supplies, possibly wands...well, it's a tall order, but worth it, I think. I'll do whatever I can to help.

[alt_molly]

We can use the barter network for at least some of the supplies.

[alt_frank]

sounds like a plan, mate.

but we might want to hold off on moving forward til the heat turns down a little, right?