Order Only: An encouraging owl....

[alt_sirius]

Arthur, I know you see the aftereffects of my occasional Grim Truth columns more than perhaps some of our other members (Kingsley, you might begin to overtake Arthur on that score, I dunno), and thank you for letting me know when they seem to be doing some good. But today I received an owl post that means more to me than all the reports we've had so far.

Harry owled me.

Putting his letter together with Malfoy's recent post, it sounds as if he tried to ask some questions and met with a brick wall. I'm quite sure he knows he's not supposed to write to me; he says as much:

I dont trust you still but you know a lot about my parents or you say you do anyway. And people seem to think you do or else they wouldn't tell me not to talk to you. I know that Father isn't my real Father, I'm not stupid. Or if he is, something really bad happened to my mum, so he wont talk about it. But I saw something and I want to make sure.


He goes on to ask some questions about Lily and James.

Minerva, any idea what he might have found to bring this on? Of course, it could be an elabourate trick of some kind, but somehow I don't think so. Anyway, I'm going to write him back, carefully, of course, using a different owl than the one he sent (she's very distinctive). But I wanted to let you know so that you can watch out for any sign that he's pulling away from that snakepit - or that they're using him to trick me into revealing my location. Don't worry, I've learnt my lesson and I shall go slowly with him. I don't want another four months of stonewalling!

By the way, Agatha also owled: still no sign of Death Eaters at the house, so I'm heading back that way to check on things. Might be the last time for a while, now that we're back in the importation business.

A little snow in Avignon would have been welcome at Christmastime. But the sunshine is much better for riding, anyway.

Oh, and Kingsley - thanks, mate. It's been a while. Looks as if I've some re-reading to do!

Comments

[alt_arthur]

That does sound encouraging. Let us know if he replies to your answer.

[alt_molly]

Oh, the poor boy! I can't help but worry, though, Sirius, how he will react if you answer his questions, no matter how carefully. After all, it is a terrible position that he is in, being raised by his parents' murderer.

What does that monster want with the boy, anyway? That's what I keep coming back to over and over in my own mind. Why on earth did he keep him, instead of killing him, too? I don't believe he did it out of altruism; there isn't a single scrap of kindness in that monster. If he was merely willing to let Harry live, he could have let you raise him, since Lily and James named you as the boy's guardian. Instead he timed his move taking over the Ministry for your guardianship hearing, of all things. Why??

[alt_sirius]

Well, for one thing, I think I'll not belabour the part about being raised by his parents' murderer. We'll get round to that too soon, anyway, I'm sure. I plan only to answer the questions he asks, not the questions I want him to ask. I only hope I can be patient enough to wait for him to ask them.

As for what he wants, damned if I know, Molly. I think he timed the coup because he knew he hadn't a chance of keeping Harry, not in a Ministry court he didn't control. That and he knew Dumbledore would be there - too tempting a target to pass up. Believe me, I've had a lot of time to think about it and I haven't the first idea why Harry's so important to him. I think you're right about one thing, at least, and that's that it wasn't out of kindness or affection, or he wouldn't have fobbed Harry off on Malfoy so often.

Anything else, though, and I'm just spinning in circles. I have to concentrate on bringing the boy round in his own time. One thing we do have on our side is that if Voldemort has troubled to keep Harry alive and, I believe, safe, for so long, he's not going to turn round and harm him on a whim. At least, I hope so. I'm not sure how long Harry will be able to keep talking to me a secret, d'you see, but I'm reasonably certain that if anyone does find out, the most he'll get is a slap on the wrist and a stern 'Don't' from his captors caretakers. Then we'll see what the next move is - his, theirs, and ours.

Oh, it's a chess game, and no mistake. But it's one I've waited 10 years to start playing.

[alt_molly]

I still remember how terrified we were that day, while we desperately waited to learn if you and Dumbledore had escaped.

What do you intend, with your chess game, Sirius? What do you hope to accomplish? I would advise you to think carefully about that, when you frame your response to Harry. Capturing the king, of course--but don't forget the pieces that might have to be sacrificed to accomplish that. Are you willing to have Harry be one of them? If not, be careful.

[alt_mcgonagall]

I haven't the foggiest idea, Sirius. Has he given you any clues beyond what you re-copied? It sounds as if perhaps it was some thing he found. Or perhaps a conversation he overheard. I suppose Godric's Hollow was too well incinerated to know if the Lord Protector took any - prizes, or such. But perhaps it could have been that - a photograph album?