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[alt_sirius]

Well, things have been hopping over at Laszlo's Unlimited this weekend! I think everyone who went to the Frost Faire last week instead has been spoiling for an evening out without having to pretend to anything.

It's been the sort of nights where extra hands would have been helpful.

Which is what we'd hoped to talk to you about, Arthur. Beth told Dora that it would go a long way with the authorities in town - to say nothing of making things easier for the Ponds household - if Dora and Junius got themselves a muggleborn.

Arthur, we had in mind that you might be able to help make sure we get someone who'll be trustworthy and not a Ministry plant. But it has to be said that there's a huge amount of risk even in that much. Still, we all somewhat like the idea of being able to help someone get out of the camps with a legitimate excuse - and that it might also help Dora and Remus with their situation at Laszlo's. And then there's the hope that that person would also be able, eventually, to help with all our enterprises.

What does everyone think?

Comments

[alt_alice]

I'm of two minds about it.

On the one hand, I know they would have all sorts of opportunities they wouldn't otherwise. And that their lives would no doubt be better too.

I'm not certain how to say exactly what I'd be worried about, but we'd be putting them in a potentially dangerous position, and they wouldn't have much choice in the matter, would they? I mean to say... well... they couldn't necessarily join up with Sherwood, or leave the country, not really, not without raising suspicion... and if they found out that they were doing something dangerous and didn't want to do it, what would happen then?

I know you have their best interests in mind, but they have so few choices as it is, and I'm just worried about taking advantage.

And would it be hard for you? To always have to worry about being seen by them?

[alt_kingsley]

I think it might be good, Arthur, if you could pinpoint someone who has a relative or other connection with someone in the Sherwood band. Someone who could vouch for them from the outside, if you will. Maybe even someone they've networked with, from within the camps.

[alt_sirius]

That's the sort of thing we were thinking, Kingsley, that with Arthur's help we might be able to find someone inclined to trustworthiness in the first place, who could be given the choice before we commit to having them. I suppose we can always Obliviate if necessary, same as parents who don't consent to sending their kids along to Moddey Dhoo.

[alt_alice]

Yes, I think that'd be best.

[alt_poppy]

Shouldn't we be concerned that any of the Muggleborns in the domestic placement programme will have been thoroughly trained in spying that you couldn't trust their answers? Surely those people live in fear that if they step a foot out line (or are accused of doing so), they or a loved one will be harshly punished.

That said, I very much hope there's a way to safely act on this idea. Even if we never felt we could trust the person with any information about the Order, working for you would save that person from the chance of being sent somewhere awful. Thinking of it from that angle, I wish you were in a position to hire a dozen Muggleborns.

[alt_sirius]

While it's true that the camps no doubt have a thorough indoctrination programme, I think it's going a bit far to say that everyone has been effectively cowed by it. The papers try to bury the reports but reading between the lines, I'd say there are small acts of rebellion all the time. Besides, the whole idea is to locate someone with every reason to want to help - or at least, every reason to trust us above the Ministry.

And another thing: I suppose it's possible that they speak directly to each one before he or she leaves for service but it's also giving the Ministry a fair amount of credit to think they'd train up every one as a spy. Reckon we can't rule that out entirely, of course.

The main thing that worries me about this scheme is that even with Arthur subtly trying to help us, we can't exactly guarantee that we'll wind up with the person we select. Arthur could go to the trouble and risk of pre-screening someone we think would be a likely rescue only to have the camps switch our candidate at the last go. I mean to say, it's not like picking an orange, is it, or even adopting an orphan, where one can pick and choose from the lot. Arthur can nudge things in our direction but I'm just not sure how much he can interfere without attracting notice.

I wasn't around but I don't think you lot personally selected our Hermione, did you? It's worked out and she's a good girl and clever as a kneazle besides, but you could have had a lad like that poor Dennis Creevey. So even if we decide we want X, we might wind up with Y, couldn't we?

[alt_lupin]

That's an excellent idea. Although if it's someone they've networked with, we might not want to pull them out.

Perhaps there's someone in Sherwood who can suggest someone they've known in the past that they think would be trustworthy, and we can see if Arthur can locate them for us?

[alt_kingsley]

I talked with Davidson and he gave us three names to try:

Leonard Link, father-in-law to one of his fighters, Barnabas Sefton. Leonard is in his mid-forties and assigned to the camp at Bassetlaw, but he's been farmed out as a laborer in the market town of Retford. He's worked at an inn there, which means you'd have a good argument for commandeering his services. But more than that, Sefton says he's an amateur cryptographer, made a hobby of it, really, and he might be quite useful for passing along coded messages.

Secondly: Jason Crenshaw. He's actually a half-blood, a long time neighbour of Larry Mason and in fact tried to hide Larry when the muggleborn restrictions were first put in place. When it was discovered he was harboring a muggleborn, though, his wand was snapped and he was busted down to muggleborn status himself. I talked to Larry myself about the case, wondering if Crenshaw might have been embittered by what happened to him, and thus dangerous to approach, but Larry assured us that he would be more than willing to help us, particularly if Larry could send him a message. He's stationed at Derby.

Lastly, Davidson mentioned one more name with a little hesitation, reluctant, I think, to ask it as a personal favour, but it's George Porter, his wife Jackie's brother. He, too, is stationed at Derby. He's thirty-five. She thinks he's assigned to the camp commissary.

[alt_arthur]

Very well. I will see what strings I can pull.

(Sirius, does one of these candidates sound particularly appealing? Do you have any preference for which one I should concentrate on requisitioning?)

[alt_sirius]

I dunno why I was thinking a witch

Er, let us have a chat and get back to you, Arthur.

[alt_kingsley]

I can ask if they have any women to suggest, Sirius, too.