Order Only: Incoming Infant

[alt_sirius]

Alice, Dora's heading your way with Mary Ashton, aged all of four months. We actually found her yesterday but it took some legwork. By the time we collected her, Dora had to get back and feed Bea and then, well, with one thing and another, the two of them had a grand time sharing toys and such. Anyway, she's bringing her along now. I think we both would have preferred to take her poor mum along, too. Only 19 herself and stuck in an unlikely corner of Hades.

As for our other local boy, his name's Puneet Kamathali. We found him this afternoon: His parents work at a curry place over on Thornfield Road. We had to order dinner in order to keep talking to them (and Kreacher was none too happy we returned with 'foreign food!' But I digress).

The problem is that Puneet's parents are quite well-treated, from what they told us. Their parents each owned a curry takeaway before the Ministry fell and their 'masters' essentially leave them to run things on their own. While they naturally want their son to have a good life, they didn't see much point to giving him up. Plus Mr Kamathali was extremely concerned that if we took Puneet elsewhere, he might not be raised in their faith, which apparently is not a problem for them in their current circumstances. But would he be around other Indians? Would he know anything about his ancestors? Etc.

We tried to explain the rings and the ways we can allow them to communicate but it was clear they weren't going to go for it. We had to Obliviate them.

Anyone have thoughts about what we might do to convince them on a second go?

Comments

[alt_lupin]

Well, if they're not closely supervised, perhaps we should let them be, for now. How likely is it that their son will manifest magic where a wizard would see?

[alt_sirius]

How likely is it that a customer will notice or lodge a complaint, though?

I agree we've got some time to mull it over but not indefinitely.

Merlin, I keep thinking about Emily Ashton, too. That poor kid.

[alt_poppy]

Where did you find her?

[alt_sirius]

One of those gents' establishments that tries to make itself sound grander than it is. 'Tonsorial Parlour,' if you please.

Tonsils are involved, all right. Can't even remember the name of the place. The neighbourhood folk call it the 'Artful Todger.'

Mary seems all right, though, and Emily was eager to hand her over to someone who could take care of her better than she could do. It's entirely possible the child is really a halfblood, but Moddey's really the best place for her, anyway.

[alt_poppy]

Tonsils, indeed.

Well, I'm glad you've got the child away from there. I wonder if you could hire the mother out of her grim situation?

Risky, I suppose, because it might raise questions in the wrong minds. Pity, though.

[alt_poppy]

Was the child underweight or, well, difficult at all? Did she sleep for you?

[alt_sirius]

A bit underweight, yeah. Seemed to appreciate the attention she was getting, though. There was one tense moment where we thought she might bite but Remus popped a soother into her mouth and she was content enough with that.

I'm not sure Dora was able to pry the little stuffed frog away from her, either, before leaving with her. The crocheted one Emmeline sent for Bea.

[alt_poppy]

Was Bea very attached to it?

Seems a small thing to part with if it gives joy to that unfortunate child. I realise, though, that it may be difficult to explain altruism to one as young as Miss Albia.

Come to think of it, she must be getting on towards a year. When is her day?

[alt_sirius]

To be honest, no, she never did seem taken with the critter. Maybe she found the texture too rough. Mary certainly took a shine to it and you're right, it's not as if Bea has no other toys. She's got all she needs.

It is coming up but not for a bit. I'm always adding a month on, I think, so ... I want to say end of May?

[alt_nymphadora]

30 May.

Mark it down?

[alt_sirius]

Right. That's near the end, innit.

[alt_poppy]

I expect that you told them what will happen if the Ministry catch wind of the child's showing magic, but perhaps you could make it more vivid for them when you return?

[alt_frank]

steve and me got Abby Harrison out of Leeds. her folks were awfully young too. her mum couldn't have been more than sixteen if she was a day. he was young too. they were worried about their parents, I think, but after what happened to the muggle born witches and wizards at the arena, they wanted to keep her safe.

we've got Divyesh with us -- he eats veg, and his folks send him letters about holidays and things. we could have him write a letter, if that'd help.

[alt_sirius]

I'd say it couldn't hurt. And yeah, Poppy, I can lay on the reminder that he'll be taken away and there's no way they'd be able to take part in his religious education - or any other part of his education - when that happens.

[alt_poppy]

Quite true.

[alt_alice]

Jacinda Chadha can write too. I'm fairly sure she's Hindu, and I know that she and Divyesh are quite close.

[alt_alice]

Jack and Branwen are safe and sound from Scarborough, too. Branwen's family are all coal miners, and were incredibly grateful. Apparently, muggle children start working in the mines as young as five.

Five.

Honestly.

I know we don't have the resources, and that we must keep to our mission, but we really need to remember that there are other children out there who are hurting terribly.

It feels like we do so little sometimes.

[alt_poppy]

Did they have other children, that family?

I'm only thinking that it would make us look harsh- no, it would make us look as prejudiced as all the other wizards they've dealt with, seeing that we're only interested in saving children with magical endowments.

It is awful, isn't it? When you think of it in that light.

[alt_alice]

I've raised that point with Minerva before, yes.

Branwen was their second child. And several of our Moddey children have non-magical siblings in the camps as well.

Believe me, it hurts my heart to think of.

It's a small comfort to think that the non-magical children would have the support of their parents, for the most part, whereas the magical ones would be taken away by someone with far less charitable thoughts than we.

But to give one child a chance, a life, and a bit of happiness while not extending the same to their brothers and sisters...

you're right. It's the same kind of preferences that are shown by the very people we are fighting against.

[alt_sirius]

We've always said the goal is to reunite them eventually - and sooner, with any luck, through our efforts.

So, have they arrived? Had a chance to look Mary over for yourself? And is Dora on her way back, now, or is she going to visit for a bit first?

[alt_alice]

Yes, they've arrived, and Tonks is staying for a cup of tea before making her way back. She'll be there soon enough.

Mary looks to be a bit on the small side, but she looks otherwise healthy and very much loved.

[alt_nymphadora]

I'm just ready.

We arrived in a bit of a state. Diaper and other upsets.

Bea doesn't like side-along much, either. I suppose it is a jolt.

Think I'll come to Grimmauld unless Remus needs help closing. I'd like to have a look-in at Bea, rather. Or say goodnight if you've not got her down yet.

[alt_sirius]

You come along here and I'll help him clean up, then. He should be just about closing.

[alt_alice]

We'd talked about opening up Moddey to muggle children about a year and a half ago, you know, coming and going from Sherwood before we had our security scare and had to nix it. They don't have many young children

But I do think it's important to keep talking about it, and think of things we could do. Because they are people too.

[alt_sirius]

Davidson'd rather they had no children at all, in fact. Nor anyone else who's not easily moved, hushed or otherwise able to contribute to the whole.

But that's where I think Lucinda's been helping, getting those less suited for the life out to safer locations in the unoccupied villages.

[alt_alice]

And of the children who we've managed to get paperwork for, we've still got Ethan Maxwell left too -- from Brighton.

I see he was born on the 29th of February. Which is... interesting.

He's still so very young regardless, so we might want to give him another two months.

[alt_sirius]

A Leap Baby?

....

Yeah, maybe we had better think on that one for a while.

[alt_frank]

what is there to talk about?

it's a load of superstitious nonsense is what it is.

and you just know that lot of death eaters would have a field day with him once they found out when he was born. might kill him for all we know.

[alt_sirius]

I don't doubt they'd kill him but do you really want that sort of - unpredictability - at Moddey? His first magic could well be undoing the Fidelius or sending up a shower of sparks large enough to be seen from space, let alone Buckingham.

Besides, they're supposed to be near impossible to fit with a wand.

Maybe you'd better rescue him but keep him in one of the safehouses for a while, first.

[alt_frank]

and what? get one of us to watch him twenty four hours a day until he shows? that's not practical, and unless you're volunteering, we've all got better things to do.

he's an infant, not a bomb.

I didn't think you were that big into astrological signs and old witch tales.

[alt_kingsley]

They may be impossible to fit with a wand, but on the other hand, I've heard that they can have a strong knack with wandless magic.

But there haven't been enough born in the last century to say for sure.

[alt_molly]

But it isn't nonsense, Frank! Why do you think midwives help witches do anything to help mothers delay their labour to keep babies from being born on February 29?

Oh, but you're right about what the deatheaters might do.

Ugh, they might give him to Amycus Carrow even.

[alt_arthur]

I say we take him. If the parents will allow it.

[alt_molly]

Oh, dear.

I think you'll need more help in the nursery, Alice.

[alt_bill]

I agree, I think we should take the kid, too.

[alt_kingsley]

You make a fair point, Molly, that Moddey Dhoo is going to need more help in the nursery, with all these new kids.

Alice, do you think you can cover it by reapportioning tasks among your staff there? Or do you need me to check with Davidson's people to see if there's anyone there who might be willing to join you?

[alt_alice]

Well, we've got eleven adults who are old hands at this sort of thing. Our eight new young people have eased all of our burdens extensively, and we also have five other older children who can be given specific responsibilities here, but they're all still learning magic and so we limit how much time they spend in the nurseries. We've got one full time nursery staff, Jacinda, and the rest of us take morning and night shifts. It's an organizational challenge, but Arabella is very good with charts -- the time table we're all on is a bit stretched, though, and I know that our days and nights are quite full with the babies we already have let alone the ones we'll add this year. And the growing ones require attention too -- once they can walk, things get far more interesting.

Newborns especially require such round the clock care, and adding so many more this year, I think we might have to supplement with one or two more adults full-time for nursery duty. Of course, food is always a concern. With the latest smuggling round, though, we have enough staples to last us before the next growing season with room for two more full-grown adults at the table. We'll put in a bit of an extra effort to add to our supplies with regular fishing, and next growing season, we'll plow another field and continue to aggressively breed our goats and chickens to cover everything.

So yes.

I think if Davidson knows two people who are patient and good with children, lots and lots of them, we'd be grateful.

[alt_alice]

We have a lot of people here who have children -- the McGiverns, the Lees, Frank and myself, and Judith, so if it's a family with one or two young children, we could make that work. And although magical ability would make the work lighter, it isn't absolutely necessary.