Order Only: Mysteries

[alt_sirius]

Listen. Remus and I took ourselves on a jaunt last night.

We thought, with the school pretty nearly empty, we could dash in and hide a book in the library stacks. Then when they're back, Fred and George could 'find' the book and use it to work on Occlumency. And boys, if you happened to share some of it with your other friends, well, that would be just fine.

We got up to Hogwarts and used the second-floor tunnel (the one that opens up under the portrait of Maghnus the Munificent) and we were on our way to the library when we saw a door about to open. So we hid.

I'm still not sure I want to contemplate why a witch would be leaving your quarters, Snape, at that hour. But off she went and she wasn't even retching. So maybe you weren't in and she was trying to spy on you. Or 'Milland' as the case may be.

Well, obviously we had to follow her to find out her game. We kept a safe distance and she led us into an office - Alecto Carrow's, but it wasn't Alecto Carrow we were following. But she let herself in and immediately got on the Floo to make a call.

We had to lurk in the corridor - in fact the one time Remus tried creeping closer he nearly got caught - so we could only catch a few phrases. They were dead interesting phrases, though:

'I need more time' (for what?)
'You've no idea the paranoia around here'
'They all support Minerva even if she's a drunkard' (Sorry, Minerva!)
'No, I don't know who's poisoned Alecto' (emphasis mine)


So. Yes, we did something on our own; it was dangerous; we're well chagrined we didn't seek permission or let anyone know. We thought you'd all rather maintain plausible deniability.

The important thing is: You've got a spy at Hogwarts. A female, anyway. Doing something to undermine you, Minerva.

And someone's poisoning Alecto Carrow. Is it too much to hope they'll succeed? Kill the Secret Keeper and that ends the Fidelius. We could get to Terry.

Of course, perhaps whomever's working on her is thinking just that. But who? DogStar? Not sure they'd care about one little muggleborn teenager. Crimson Company? They have a completely different agenda, it's all about reassignment of wealth with them. Merlin knows the Carrows have enough enemies between them, it could be anyone.

And I also find it singularly interesting that our resident spy at Hogwarts, the one who went there on his own authority precisely because he could be so useful, either didn't know any of this - or didn't bother to tell us. Which was it, Severus?

Comments

[alt_macnair]

"They" all support Minerva...

Sounds like someone on staff's been planted as a spy. Who's the newest hire? That woman who teaches Creatures, isn't it?

Must say that it's a daft sort of way to deliver a book. If the twins want to learn occlumency they'd get much further with Snape than with any old book, But maybe you were bored. Should have taken Dora along, she can disguise herself without the waste of polyjuice.

[alt_pomona]

Wilhelmina, yes. But besides the fact I know she's gone this week, I can't imagine it'd be her, given her past.

[alt_macnair]

Why not? What's her past?

Based on the phrases Black reported, it sounds like the spy might be under orders or otherwise coerced, and being known as "gone for the week" actually gives the spy a perfect cover.

Sinistra's another to think about. Made a lot of new friends lately. Who knows what they have her up to.

[alt_pomona]

Wilhelmina? I suppose she and Amelia Bones did keep things rather quiet, but under the circumstances, I would think she'd be a difficult person to coerce reliably and securely. I can't confirm easily right now, without obviously prying, but I could once Susan Bones is back from holiday.

As to Aurora, I'm almost certain she's in New London. Given more than a few things she let slip, I can't imagine she'd travel back so quickly. I can inquire, though, naturally enough, next time we talk.

[alt_macnair]

She'd travel back quickly enough if it were on another's orders.

[alt_sirius]

Too right.

But I don't think it was someone as plump old as that.

[alt_macnair]

I meant Sinistra.

[alt_sirius]

Oh. Yeah. Her, definitely.

Specially as she's all cosy with your former mate Razzer, eh?

[alt_macnair]

When you get in bed with one, you get in bed with them all.

[alt_mcgonagall]

I must agree with you on every point—though I doubt Professor Grubbly-Plank's involvement. But who is beyond suspicion? No one, I suppose, except us.

Mr Black, Mr Lupin—what were you thinking?!