Order Only: Hermione

[alt_sirius]

Hermione,

I think you'd better tell the rest of the Order what you told me yesterday. About Voldemort.

In case you can't get to it: She told me he's changing. Physically. I'd like her to elabourate more but I think she's right in guessing he's using progressively Dark spells to change himself. Trouble is I can't tell why. Macnair, you were close to him for a while. What's his purpose? Any idea?

And there's been a shift, she says, in his attitude toward Harry - and that's troubling as well. Well, not because I want the bugger keeping Harry all that close, but because if before he was concerned for Harry's well-being and that's shifting ... then it might signal he's less invested in keeping Harry safe.

Moreover Frank, I've been thinking: Now that you're back I think we ought to try again for Terry. I think we could convince him to come with us given enough time. I definitely want to make sure he's got enough to eat and that he's being looked after. Fancy a short trip next week?

Comments

[alt_macnair]

Like I told you lot when you had the pensieve, for him it's all about immortality. Eternal life. He's been down that path for over a decade and sounds like he's further along than ever.

Take legilimency. Never did consider myself a legilimens. Got no training in it, for one, and even if I've always had a knack for feeling out an animal's mind, I never had the same pull from any person other than him. And that didn't happen till he showed up looking different all those years ago. Not that different, mind, but his face was longer, and the eyes strange. Not quite human. At the time I wondered if he had mastered the animagus transformation, but now I think it's not that he was more animal, but that he was less human. Cos humans die, and he wants to be something that doesn't die.

So whatever he did to change himself back then, he's doing even more of it now. As for the boy, could be that he thinks if he changes enough, the boy won't be essential to his immortality. Or maybe the more he changes, the less able he is to act like a human, with human concerns. Not that his concerns were ever, say, ordinary.

Whatever he's doing, I'd bet he's keeping it secret from everyone, even his closest. The only time he came close to sharing was that Unicorn hunt, so whatever he's doing now, it's probably worse.

[alt_sirius]

Yeah, that's more or less what I thought - the immortality, at any rate. And Dark Arts to get him there. (Exactly which ones, mind, I've no idea.)

If you were right, and Harry's been his key all these years, and now he's discovered something that doesn't require Harry's safety, though, that's what's got me a bit concerned. How long until he decides Harry's expendable?

Do you reckon any of his other close associates can be turned, given how disturbing he's becoming? If he's less predictable, less human - I wonder if there's an opportunity to divide and conquer.

[alt_macnair]

Darks Arts were never my strong point. I have some knowledge of them, but limited practise. Snape would be better at theorising on that.

He at one time at least believed that the boy was his key, and fervently so, at that. If that belief has flagged, then he's either grown confident in his own progress, or the changes have made him incapable of feeling that kind of concern he once had. Or maybe he's received a new prophecy, or something else we've not yet thought of.

I've given much thought to this. Both to his closest followers, and to the everyday sycophants who enjoy the luxurious side of the Protectorate without having to wear his mark. What none of them know is what Snape and myself already know too well. It doesn't matter how safe or favoured they believe they are, he wouldn't hesitate to take what each and every last one of them hold dear, if he had to. If it secured him more power and a longer life. But how to make them realise that?

If he were made paranoid about his own followers and confidants, rather than always looking to the areas where rebellion is expected, like the camps, then those same followers might start to see the downside of living in his glorious protectorate.

[alt_sirius]

That's assuming they don't know it already but they're unwilling to admit their miscalculation - or they're just too accursed afraid to change course.

Who's most vulnerable, then, do you think? Is there someone on the council who can be made to look suspicious?

We'd be condemning the bugger to a nasty end, most like. But bloodless is one thing this war never has been yet.

What about Malfoy - he's got his fingers in everything, as far as I can tell. Any chance Voldemort can be convinced Malfoy's getting too big for his robes?

[alt_sirius]

Or Crouch? If his father sent you your journals then we could surely use that against him somehow.

[alt_macnair]

There's more than a chance. As much as he relies on his followers, Voldemort doesn't really fully trust any of them, not at his core. He has no special confidante, no real friends, much as it might madden your cousin Bellatrix. I think he knows, though, that Bellatrix would drop dead if he asked her to, and that her husband would drop dead if she asked him to. Raz Lestrange has already been near-fatally wounded several times on his behalf, as well, so any Lestrange is probably too big a task. Same with both Carrows. Even if they're loyal to themselves and their special urges, first, I reckon he knows that much by now.

There is Crouch, though I think he's taken pains to let Voldemort know that he's just as loyal as Bellatrix. The ones with the most friends and connections are the ones I'd suggest first. Malfoy, yes, but also Baddock and Selwyn. Maybe Avery, Jugson, and Rosier, too.

[alt_sirius]

I don't know Baddock well, or Jugson. Selwyn - he's in charge of Protectorate Affairs, right? Bill's in that department. I dunno if we ought to risk anything that might trigger a closer investigation into his affairs. It might spill over into all his sub-departments and I don't think Bill ought to have to go through an internal investigation again so soon. That'd be - what? three in two years? Something like that.

Rosier. Evan Rosier's father? He might be a good one, though at this point I doubt it'd be too believable that there's still any grudge over his son dying. Not if he hasn't acted on it in all this time.

Avery I remember. Dangerous and lethal, he was. But not particularly bright.

What's Jugson's story, then? Anything useful? He and Baddock may be the best bets next to Malfoy - and I'm thinking easier targets, perhaps.

[alt_macnair]

Jugson is first cousin of the Lestrange brothers, as their mother was a Jugson, somewhat of an unremarkable pureblood family until they tied in with the Lestranges. Bellatrix was always a little contemptuous of them, seemed to find them too soft for her standards. They've worked hard to climb to the top, but I don't know if all the others consider them as complete equals, if you follow.

Baddock's first wife was martyred in the battle for the Ministry. Quite a hellion, that one. Not sure if his second wife is as much a love match as a vault match, though. He's Malfoy's best mate, always has been. Anything Malfoy's into, Baddock's likely into as well.

[alt_frank]

I'm in. yeah.

[alt_sirius]

Same MO as before?

[alt_frank]

works for me.