alt_sirius | Order Only: A Curious Communication

Well, we've had an interesting day.

There we were, minding our own business, when there's an almighty pecking at the window. Remus looked up and there was a magpie looking to be let in. Naturally, we ignored it.

About half an hour later it came back, this time through the back garden and pecking at the kitchen windows. Startled Ellie something frightful. But she ignored it, too.

Then, a few minutes after that, the bloody bird flew in through the door as a customer was leaving. As soon as it did, the shop's owl started going mad, flapping about at the other bird like they were about to start a midair duel.

Took us a while to separate them and calm them both down. Of course, there were customers still in the shop at the time. And the birds weren't all that mindful of the teapots Tonks had got in last week. Ruined an entire display.

But the point is that the magpie had a message tied to her leg. Remus finally recognised her, took her into the kitchen, removed the note and had Ellie give the poor thing the leftover biscuit from breakfast.

Then he cleaned up the shop while I slipped back to the kitchen to have a look.

It was Ridley's magpie, sure enough. She addressed a message - Alice, it was addressed thus:

To Frank Longbottom, if he live, or Sirius Black, if Longbottom be indisposed

Long message short: She wants to know how we protected Saltash. She says she got a report that we cast a 'Fidelius-like spell' and that somehow it's 'cut off communication' with an operative she had on the inside. Well, that would be Prentiss, of course, but I'm sure she didn't want to name him in case the bird was intercepted. (I'll note she didn't care about naming Frank or me but then we've hardly made our loyalties secret.)

She wanted to know all the details: Could the denizens inside see out, how long it lasts, whether the ~~people~~ wizardfolk inside are alive and safe or if they've been put into some kind of stasis - anything we're willing to tell her, really. Also if we would be willing to take a message to Prentiss (well, 'our operative' but she means Prentiss, obviously).

So.

I'm inclined to tell her the cost on the theory she'll bugger off without further discussion but ... it's got me thinking. Is there a way we could explain it to her that would tempt them to cast it somewhere where it would temporarily debilitate a whole load of Voldemort's servants? And would that be worth the price of doing further business with DogStar?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

alt_lupin

I'd been thinking about this spell as an imperfect and inconvenient Fidelius, but we should consider thinking of it as a weapon. What would the ramifications be if it were cast on the Ministry?

Or Buckingham?

~~I wouldn't like to pay the cost~~

I'm not sure if trying to collaborate with Dogstar is worth it, or not.

From:

alt_sirius

Well, that's just my point. But more importantly is there a way we could sell them on the idea of using it as a weapon? (And if so, where would they most likely deploy it?)

From:

alt_lupin

This is what makes me nervous. Wasn't it Dogstar that blew up the QWC? I'm not just being confused by Ministry propaganda?

On one hand, I think if they work WITH us on this, we could use it as a weapon -- usefully. Without killing loads of innocent bystanders.

I'm not sure we can trust them to do that. What is the absolute worst possible thing we can imagine them doing with it, and under what circumstances would they use it that way?

From:

alt_kingsley

I don't trust them, either. They've shown they're not particularly picky about minimising loss of life.

From:

alt_alice

No. They most certainly are not.

From:

alt_nymphadora

It's a good question. You know, the more I think over what she said and didn't... I don't think she knows what that spell does. I mean to say, I don't think she realises it neutralises magic on the inside.

So, then, what she imagines her lot might do with it is probably different than what we think it's good for and not. Now that we've seen it inside and out.

I reckon she thinks it's a defensive tool, which is what we wanted it for at first. She was interested in how we'd cast it during a battle, and I get the idea she's thinking it could be set up and used a shield so the people protected by it could have a safe vantage for sniping.

But what would she make of it if she knew it keeps anyone inside from casting any magic?

From:

alt_sally_anne

Well she wants us to carry a message to Mr Prentiss so probably he's stayed in.

Which is sort of odd when you think about it. Our people have slipped in and out again so he COULD do, if he wanted, and instead he's staying in there with no magic...

Anyway I'm sure you're right that she doesn't know about what's inside.

From:

alt_nymphadora

Prentiss is a dodgy character. And his motives for staying inside there are muddy.

It's not because he got what he thought he should by staying in, either. He doesn't seem to have any notions about helping the muggles there or about building up a safe haven out of reach of MLE. I think he assumed he'd be made head of the operation inside since he'd been camp admin, but the muggles weren't taking his orders, funnily enough.

I'd guess he knows he's got a target painted on his back that both MLE and Dogstar will be aiming for if he puts his nose out. And I'd guess Ridley's wanting to send him a message is mostly a gambit to find out if he's still alive. Because if he is, she won't want him slipping out unnoticed.

From:

alt_bill

I think it says something about us that we didn't quite see how it could be a weapon until now.

Something good about us, maybe. But also definitely short-sightedness.

I suppose Fu might have figured it out, eventually, since he studied the history of warfare, but he doesn't know anything about magical theory.

I'm glad this came up. We do need to think about this.

From:

alt_sally_anne

So, sniping.

Could the muggles inside Saltash use guns to shoot out from inside, at the wizards on the outside?

I mean they'd need guns. I don't know where they'd get them. I think they're rather hard to build. But they're not magical, so they'd work just fine.

You can't cast magic through a Fidelius -- can you? I'm pretty sure it won't work but it's not as if I've experimented. And just thinking about how the Fidelius works I would think it would probably bollocks up a gun, if you were trying to aim it....but

Hmm

Can Fu make guns?

From:

alt_kingsley

Fu absolutely has the knowledge to make guns. Remember the reference library we miniaturised and brought with us when we extracted them out of their home? Part of it was Regina's texts on plant and crops, but an even bigger part were all Fu's books about the history of warfare and weapons. Including step by step descriptions on how to make all matter of firearms and other muggle explosive devices. He's shown me a number of them.

I'm not sure about he calls the 'teknology,' the means for making them, you understand, although perhaps magic can help with some of that.

From:

alt_sally_anne

And okay. People have been researching the wards and how they work, could we cast this around some places that make the wards work and bring them down?

What if it was cast around a load of Sleepers, would it wake them up?

If we worked out where the Lord Protector's horcrux was and it was somewhere we couldn't get to, could we destroy it with this ward?

If we cast it around the Ministry, how many things that the Protectorate does would go utterly wrong at once?

From:

alt_sally_anne

Okay I just saw Mrs Longbottom's post.

I guess experimenting is out, then.

From:

alt_poppy

If you could sell Dogstar on using it as a weapon and get them to cast it in locations all over the Protectorate all at once, we might neutralise Dogstar in the process. Sort of a bonus, but I don't imagine we'd succeed in getting them to do anything quite so large in scope as that.

I do wonder about its usefulness as a weapon. It seems to me that it is actually a quite difficult weapon to utilise effectively: if I've understood correctly, it takes quite a lot of planning, ability and coordination to cast it--there's no accident it was Frank whom Albus asked to make the attempt--and then when it takes hold, it's a tool of surprise that provides the advantage of disorientating the enemy, but it strips magic equally from all combatants, so it is really only the element of surprise that we'd gain. And only until our opponents realise they can cross out of the wards and regain the use of their wands.

I'm not saying it's useless, but it's not the Ace of trumps, either.

From:

alt_sally_anne

Are they offering to trade any information?

From:

alt_sirius

This is Ridley; she probably figured we were too kind and soppy to want anything in return.

But I'm sure she won't be surprised if we're unwilling to give something for nothing.

From:

alt_sally_anne

Well we did give her PEPPER FOR HER EGGS, after all. Because we are just that sort of people.

(That was private because I don't want to start a row with Mr Shacklebolt.)

From:

alt_sirius

Yes, see what I mean? Soppy and nice and kind and all those other things we're meant to be.

From:

alt_sally_anne

Do you think I should have kept my gob shut about how the worst thing to do with it would be use at St Mungo's?

Neville and Mrs Weasley seem really bothered.

From:

alt_sirius

Everyone in the Order has a job to do and a way in which they contribute.

Their job is to fret over everything.

Yours is to tell us all how incredibly stupid we are.

Should I mention that Remus and I are merchants? We know how to negotiate a price.

From:

alt_sally_anne

Well alright then, I guess I'll let you handle that part.

From:

alt_sally_anne

I'm not entirely convinced that 'fretting' was one of the jobs that urgently needed to be filled, mind you. By multiple people.

But next time I'm tempted to fret I'll try to remind myself Mrs Weasley's got it covered.

From:

alt_sirius

They're talented enough to do more than one thing at a time.

But yes, often it's a simple matter of throwing out a concept, then sitting back while they fret and fuss and quarrel a little bit and then come in with a sensible solution. There's an art to the timing of it. Come up with a good solution too early and it'll get lost in all the hand-wringing.

From:

alt_kingsley

So, she's still out there somewhere, eh? Looking for ways to rebuild her network and influence, too, it sounds like. What happened at Saltash must have been a helluva surprise for their plans.

I must admit harbouring a bit of a grudge over the manner in which we parted company. Sally-Anne Perks may have the right idea: I'm not too inclined to give information away for free, although I'm not sure what we would want in trade.

From:

alt_sally_anne

Well, we could ask her what she's got to offer.

Then tell her that's not good enough, what ELSE has she got to offer.

And then decide if it's good enough to be worth the risk.

Also, the worst thing I can imagine doing with that spell is to cast it around St Mungo's. You'd kill loads and loads of people. And I could imagine her doing that if Mr Malfoy were being treated at St Mungo's, wasn't he the target at the QWC when she set off a BOMB?

From:

alt_bill

That's sound advice, I think, to beat the Bludger back and ask what she has to offer. For one thing, it'll give us a gauge of how badly she wants the information.

From:

alt_kingsley

Oh, I imagine she wants it pretty badly.

From:

alt_molly

St Mungo's, what a horrible thought.

From:

alt_neville

It really is.

From:

alt_kingsley

It's probably just as well that bird didn't find Frank, because he probably bears a grudge, too, from the last encounter he had with it. He might have been tempted to wring its neck.

From:

alt_alice

I think it is important to carefully consider the possible use of such a spell, both in terms of what Ridley might do with it, as well as how we might use it in the future. And part of that involves taking into account what we know of its effects, both on the area in which its cast, as well as on the caster.

Some of you already know as much, but Frank has completely lost his use of magic. As of now, we are very uncertain whether it will ever return.

There may be different outcomes depending on who casts it and the range that it covers, but for now, what we do know that it has a heavy cost.

From:

alt_sirius

Thank you, Alice, for telling everyone. I was afraid it might come out in the discussion, without the others being prepared for it.

(On another note, I believe I may have gained some ground in Miss Perks' estimation. I'm conservatively optimistic that perhaps she might - just might - have decided I am not the scum of the earth.)

From:

alt_lupin

My goodness. How'd you manage that?

From:

alt_alice

I wish I'd been able to break it more gently to Neville and Evelyn, but what's done is done.

And mercy. I don't know if I'll ever quite be able to pull that miracle off. Well done, you.

From:

alt_molly

Oh, Alice.

From:

alt_ron

Mr Longbottom lost all his magic?

Totally lost it?

Whoa. Did he know that could happen? I mean, I knew he wasn't well, but... that's really bad.

From:

alt_sally_anne

What Mrs Longbottom said right after the Saltash battle was, 'Frank cast the spell with full knowledge of the risks involved.'

Although at the time everyone was afraid he was going to -- I mean, I think he was afraid the spell was going to kill him. And it didn't do that.

~~Neville and Evelyn, you knew already, didn't you? This isn't how your Mum told you~~

From:

alt_ron

Yeah. That's what I thought--they thought he was risking it killing him to cast the spell. But I wonder if he had any idea it could do this.

Only, it's a whole other thing to risk your life but then end up living for the rest of your life with that much- that damaged. If you thought you'd die soon, that'd be worth it, but-

From:

alt_neville

He saved hundreds of people. His life has been worth it and will be worth it, even if he never does another spell.

I don't know if I could ever be that brave.

From:

alt_alice

I wish that we had time enough to sit down and talk over this properly before letting everyone else know, and I'm sorry I haven't said anything until now.

We were hoping

We were thinking that it might be temporary, and he was trying a regimen of potions recommended by Poppy to see if that would have any impact, but it hasn't.

This has been rather difficult for him, which is understandable, but he's alive, and otherwise healthy, and we're working together to figure things out. Part of what we talked about was not keeping what he's going through to ourselves -- that the more we face it for what it is, the better he'll be able to move forward.

I'm sorry.

From:

alt_neville

Oh, Merlin. Mum...

What can we do? Is there anything?

From:

alt_alice

I think that so very much about his life has changed so quickly that it would be good for him to be reminded of what hasn't been lost.

I'm sure he'll want to hear from you both, even if it's just what you've been up to at school. And remember -- he is still very capable of offering advice and guidance, and still very much your father who loves you dearly.

From:

alt_evelyn

I wish we had too. ~~You could have~~ ~~Is he~~ ~~Are you~~

You said to Nev that if we wrote him Private Messages he could still read them.

Is that true?

From:

alt_alice

Yes. It is.

I think he'd appreciate hearing from you.

Evie, I

I suppose I was wishing that your father's situation would change by now and I wouldn't have to face it head on. But we have to lay our cards on the table to know what to do about Ridley. Please forgive me.

From:

alt_neville

Mum, that's the absolute last thing you should be worrying about. You have enough on your plate, between running the Order, Dad, Saltash, Aldrich, Bedford and everything else to fret yourself over how exactly you gave us the news.

We know now, and that's all that matters. Yeah, we'll write to him. And I'm not going to give up hope, but if his magic never comes back, he'll still be our dad, yeah? The best dad any kids could hope for.

From:

alt_sally_anne

That does make it safer to share with Dogstar.

I don't think they'd use it to go after St Mungo's, at that price.

Maybe the Ministry, though.

From:

alt_terry

I've suspected that was it. But last Sunday, he just said he was ordered to rest, and not try any, and so I was hoping....

I'm glad I'll be seeing you both tomorrow night.