Order Only: Curtis Reinman

[alt_sirius]

Curtis Reinman should be happily ensconced at Moddey.

We talked about going yesterday, but then Dora pointed out that today's Molly's birthday - Happy Birthday, Molly! - and decided it might be preferrable to wait until today, so that she could bring a new addition with her to introduce at Molly's birthday supper.

So once Dora woke up this afternoon, she and I went to Ely to collect Curtis Reinman.

It went so quickly that we decided to take a little side jaunt, out to Walsingham to see if we could close in on that device thing.

No guards this time, but it's certainly got about half a dozen different kinds of ward on it. We didn't get too close - you could feel the repelling charms - but we did cast a number of spells to try to determine what sorts of protections were on it.

Besides the repellent, there's an Impervius to protect it from the weather, there's a stablising charm on the base of the menhir and then, the worst one: There's a spell that burns anything attempting to go through it. (I threw a rock and it went through but was considerably charred when it landed.) We could tell there were another few spells as well but couldn't figure out just what without potentially tripping the wards we could detect.

But there's another thing. Dora reported last time that it's on a node of a ley line. There was a sort of ... energy ... emanating from the ring on the top. It radiated in two directions - sort of like a beam of light that gets sent through a focusing lens. I almost felt like we could mount brooms and follow the line. Not the ley line itself, but the energy passing through the ring. (It was running almost exactly northwest-southeast, by the way, almost parallel to the coastline.) So we went north a little bit from the plinth and ... well, there's no other way to put it: Things got rather odd.

Simple spells wouldn't work properly. Complicated spells worked too well. Curtis started kicking and fussing and we noticed that the trees were unusually lush for an area so close to the sea. (Also we both felt considerably twitchy and with Curtis crying, we figured we'd better retreat before someone heard him.)

Still, I think someone should definitely try flying north along that line of vibration and see where it goes.

Comments

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

I'm sure he doesn't mean any of us, but Ron, you're really good at that sort of thing. Are any of your brothers? Like Charlie?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Yeah. Charlie is because dragon handlers have to be natural broomsmen. I mean, you don't get hired if you're not truly flight-tuned. It's not just because you have to fly with dragons and keep your broom even if things get hot, but the ley's wicked rich up there at Stornoway. He'd be a good choice. If I were choosing.

And the twins, y'know, are almost as good on their brooms. I don't know if they're as magically tuned to the rest of the world. Mostly, I think, they're tuned to each other, and flying Quidditch, that's what the side needed. And they're best at noodling with charms, but I reckon they wouldn't be crap at this if they were the ones doing it.

There's Bill, too. I don't know how much he's kept up with flying, but of all of us, he's best at sensing and sorting out magic, so he might be a good one to go. Except, y'know, for the part where it'd be tough to explain to his boss what he was doing if he got caught, and it seems that Mrs Longbottom's put a high priority on his keeping that job.

[alt_alice]

Nicely done, both of you.

It's a shame you couldn't join us for dinner, Sirius, but Curtis is nicely settled and is currently in the process of being thoroughly cuddled by Molly Weasley, who is rather an expert when it comes to that sort of thing.

Private Message to Sirius

[alt_alice]

You're an incredibly stubborn man, you know.

Re: Private Message to Sirius

[alt_sirius]

I prefer 'persistent' but as you wish.

Besides, some superstitions are healthy.

Re: Private Message to Sirius

[alt_alice]

I can't say I understand your reasons entirely, but I'm glad I can come see you at Grimmauld regardless.

And you and Tonks really did a marvellous job today.

[alt_charlie]

I could go back with Tonks and give it a try.

[alt_molly]

No expertise needed, when he's really such a darling baby.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, Sirius. Spending the afternoon and evening at Moddey was just what I needed.

[alt_gredforge]

Think you could use a couple of Gryffindor Beaters along? We could maybe spare a day from charming chocs and filling orders.

[alt_charlie]

Between the two of us, we can probably handle anything that comes up at first, but if things get touchy you'll be the first on the list!

[alt_nymphadora]

Oh, let's!

When could you go?

[alt_charlie]

Monday sound good?

[alt_nymphadora]

Perfect.

Learned any new songs?

[alt_nymphadora]

Say. We could try combining this jaunt with a visit to Armitage camp in the Midlands. There's one of the babies there.

Depends what we find out in Norfolk and how much time that takes, of course.

Have you made a camp visit before? I don't know what we'll find at Armitage. We don't have a contact there yet.

[alt_charlie]

I haven't, no. I'll give it a go, though, if you'll have me along. I think it would help me feel a bit closer to my memories of Dad

I'm off all day Monday, not just working an odd shift, so anytime you could squeeze in is fine.

Private Message to Charlie

[alt_sirius]

Oh, you'll have a go, will you?

Re: Private Message to Charlie

[alt_charlie]

Hush, you.

I have been wanting to pitch in some with the camp visits -- the company's just a nice side benefit. And I thought I warned you about trying to fix us up! Merlin, you lot are nearly as bad as Mum would be.

Re: Private Message to Charlie

[alt_sirius]

I didn't say anything about fixing you up, mate! I know just as well as you do that shagging is nothing like the same thing as proposing marriage or undying devotion.

But you should know better than to expect we'll ever, ever stop giving you a friendly ribbing about it.

Re: Private Message to Charlie

[alt_charlie]

Yeah, I'd've been worried if you'd let that opportunity pass you by, fair enough! I do hope you aren't giving her too much grief, though, she's got enough to deal with. That's part of why we made our plans to run away from home for the day in the first place.