Order Only

[alt_sirius]

Frank, tell Neville and Evelyn to be a bit ginger with Allie this morning. She's okay but probably a little, er, slow-moving.

She's on her way back; I made her stay at Grimmauld for fear she'd splinch if she tried returning last night.

We talked, most of the night. Well, I let her talk. Seems like she needed a good crying out.

So I'm just reading through everyone's conversations now but it's rather remarkable how Alice and I covered most of the angles people have discussed.

Except the one about letting Hermione and Terry tell their friends a couple of choice pieces of information. (And I agree with Dora, Moony: You're brilliant.)

But I've been thinking about it, off and on, ever since they all started asking questions and the letters came from more than one or two people and so on. Eventually this lot are likely to all ask for induction into the Order.

And I agree with Poppy that we can't allow them to continue forcing our hands.

In all honesty, I'm more concerned with what happens if they don't come to us about joining. Fred, George, you said before that you didn't think everyone on your lock would be good to add to the Order and not just because of their ages. The thing is, unless we're sure of their intentions, it's an unconscionable risk even to confirm their suspicions about the links they've already made.

However, all that having been said, trust has to start somewhere. I think we might let Hermione and Terry tell them the facts in Moony's proposal but also tell them that we have a message: Good show, you're all very clever, keep sticking together and helping each other, yes, we'll consider new recruits but no, not until you're of age.

That might stave off the uncomfortable conversations for a while, at least.


I also think it's high time we found something to do that would actually move things along a bit. I know we're making progress but it's a bit too slow and incremental for me. At our current rate of smuggling it's going to be another ten years before we have enough of them distributed.

Comments

[alt_pomona]

Remus did have quite the idea, and I think it is the best way forward. But I also agree with you, Sirius, that a clear limit until they're of age may be the most practical. (Are any of us up for this conversation again at irregular intervals? I don't believe so.)

The only thing we might wish to add to it is - well, should there be a crisis, I know Arthur and Molly have spoken to their children about warnings to heed. Could we perhaps come up with some passphrase or other indicator, should the worst happen? We know they suspect Poppy's associations, but not, so far as anyone's mentioned, mine. Having a way to indicate trustworthyness quickly in a crisis might be essential one day.

(And perhaps sooner than later: we still have no idea who we're likely to have join us as Dark Arts professor, after all. Unless Minerva's heard something more recently. Or what else might change.)

[alt_poppy]

Quite agree with you about establishing a secret code to confirm friend not foe.

Afraid I've got no leisure for conversation today, though. Second day at Moray Firth. Awful weather up here, making the seas roil. And my stomach.

[alt_sirius]

Do you need some ginger tea for that, Poppy?

[alt_lupin]

A pass-phrase is an excellent idea. Hermione, Terry, do you have any suggestions? It needs to be something brief, something not revealing of further secrets, but not so obvious that someone might stumble across it ('Grim Truth' is too obvious, as is 'I'm with Sirius Black.' And it can't be 'I'm with the Wand Smugglers,' as then they'd realise that we're on to some of THEIR secrets, which is hardly a way to engender trust.)

[alt_gredforge]

It'll stave off uncomfortable questions for you, maybe. But it might raise some uncomfortable questions for us. If they learn that you're open to recruits when junior auxiliary kids come of age, it might dawn on 'em to wonder whether we've been recruited already. Especially since they suspect mum's involved.

Don't worry, though, we'll lie if we have to.

[alt_lupin]

This is a good point. Would the two of you prefer that we not open that particular door?

Private Message to Moony

[alt_sirius]

I suppose it could simply be 'Good show, now leave us to do the important stuff' but that makes us sound like stodgy grown-ups. I shouldn't like to have been dismissed so easily when we were their age; I can't imagine they'll take kindly to being told to shove off, either.

Merlin, what a mess. It would be easier if we could just accept them all with open arms.

The pass phrase might be the key. 'Good show, you're all quite clever. Now we'd like to make sure that you all stay as safe as possible, so please don't ask us more about what it is we're doing. But in the meantime, if we need you to run, someone will contact you with the phrase "Mr Padfoot sends his regards" and you'll know it's important. And if you need to get to safety, Terry or Hermione can get us word.'

Or is that too egotistical?

Re: Private Message to Moony

[alt_lupin]

I'd leave out the 'clever,' it sounds even more like we're stodgy grown-ups.

It probably wouldn't hurt to let them know we're watching out for them, though.

Re: Private Message to Moony

[alt_sirius]

I'm worried about using 'Padfoot' - definitely can't use 'Sinbad,' too many of them know that's the Ponds' dog's name. But even Padfoot is ... well, it's all muddled up together.

Bugger all. We used to be so much better at this.

Oh, I know!

What if we used Prongs, then? Or 'Mr Wormtail was a massive traitor'?

Re: Private Message to Moony

[alt_lupin]

Prongs or Wormtail sounds a bit safer.

I know the Twins had our map. Have any of the others seen it.

Re: Private Message to Moony

[alt_sirius]

We'd have to ask the twins. I think Hermione has it now, though.

[alt_gredforge]

No, we don't think so. We were warned when we joined that we might need to lie to our friends. We might need practice at lying convincingly. Why not practice on our friends? And Sirius is right, it would keep the pressure off you.

Mum might even consider it fitting revenge for the trick we pulled on her to join.

[alt_molly]

She might!

Although seriously, boys, I've found that when it comes to Order business, the more you can avoid lying in the first place, the better.

[alt_lupin]

I don't know as they'll assume you're already members so much as eagerly pass word to let you know that you and Lee could demand to be let in. They'll then ASSUME you're members and if you deny it, they'll wonder what in Merlin's name is wrong with you.

So perhaps you might mull over how you'll deal with THAT dilemma.

It might be better to suggest that they can join once they've completed their NEWTs. Then issue the invitations as appropriate when they come of age.

[alt_gredforge]

Ha. True.

Saying they have to pass NEWTs will delay the question for most people, too.

Better make it that they can petition to join, not that they can join. Don't promise 'em something you might not be willing to grant.

[alt_gredforge]

Oh, and also: does that mean you're gonna delay on adding Lee then? He turns 17 next week and you voted to add him when he became of sge. Will he have to wait until he passes his NEWTs?

We suppose you could tell them they have to wait until they pass NEWTs, but really you could approach them when they turn 17.

[alt_lupin]

I'm thinking more that we'd tell them they had to wait until after NEWTs, mostly to give the three of you some breathing space.

Private Message to Sirius

[alt_alice]

Thank you, love.

I don't know how I would've faced today without a little steadying first.

You are quite wonderful for letting me talk your ear off like that. Well, you're quite wonderful, full stop.

And I'm not just saying that because you're generous with your stash.

I've got all sorts of things to work through with what we've been doing on our end in terms of wand production, and Frank's got an idea or three about making our own inroads to the camps that need to be put down on paper, but my head and heart aren't quite in it right now. Give us a few more days before we're useful again and can poke at it properly, because it really is important to sort out, you're right.

Re: Private Message to Sirius

[alt_sirius]

Anytime, dear heart.

And I'm sorry. Truly I am. If it were just Neville, you know Remus and I would be in favour in a heartbeat. It's just...this Jr Aux. We have so little idea of how many they are, or how trustworthy.

Well, we talked it all out last night, didn't we?

(And you're not kidding about my stash. I thought Aleks's last bag would see me through at least the holidays. I'll just have to be extra-conservative for a while. Not complaining, mind; Moony's tolerant but with the boys and Bea about I ought to cut back even more than I've already done.)

And yeah, I'm glad we'll be putting more together about the ongoing mission. I suppose I'm as much to blame as anyone for not doing more.

Re: Private Message to Sirius

[alt_alice]

Yes. Well.

That was a rather bitter potion to swallow. But it's done now, and we'll manage.

And one of the best ways I can think to manage is to plan for the future rather than dwelling on what can't be changed. So there's that.