alt_hydra | Order Only

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I had supper with my family tonight, all of them. Well, not you, Dora (or Bea. Or Sirius). It was Nanella, Pascoal, Uncle Lucius, Aunt Narcissa, Mummy, Daddy, Uncle Raz, Professor Siz, and Draco. It was for my birthday, sort of, only it happened tonight because it was the only evening that everyone was free at the same time.

It was like a lot of family suppers, no one was pretending to be anything they weren't. Well, except for me and for Draco. I tried to pay attention to see if I heard anything that might be useful. I don't know if I did but I'll share it anyway.

First, nobody likes Corax Mulciber. They don't like how he's trying to take control of things, and they also think he's not efficient. Uncle Lucius was able to find out that the man, Boulstridge, that Mr Mulciber called back from his holiday - Mr Mulciber didn't even need him, he just did it because he felt like it, and to show off. Mummy says he's "flashing his cock" instead of doing anything worthwhile.

Mummy also said that Mr Yaxley is unhappy that she and the other Aurors are in charge of monitoring journals now, because he it should be under MLE's control. She said that Yaxley gets more batty every day.

Uncle Lucius was - I think he was panicked, very panicked, when Mr Mulciber tried to take control of the journal monitoring. Mostly because he knew that Mr Mulciber wanted to study Aunt Narcissa's and Draco's journals in particular.

They also talked about Aldrich, a little, because Nanella said something about how she couldn't find any mango stilton (Mummy's favourite) for supper. Mummy wasn't happy that her favourite cheese wasn't served, and it put her in ill spirits. She and Uncle Lucius agreed that the farm must have been taken over by black market opportunists.

And everyone drank a lot of wine.

Well, I don't know if that's helpful, but I thought it might be.

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Seriously, Hydra? It's one thing to report something vital but don't you reckon that the Order lot know that Auntie Bella and my Father don't like Corax Mulciber? Or that they've got theories about Aldrich? Or that Yaxley is coming apart at the seams?

They might suspect but it's not the same as having it verified.

Why are you cross?

Because you're turning our private family moments into theatre for the Order.

You didn't have to make it a story. Or talk about Father's feelings. Just report the facts dispassionately, if you feel you must report them.

And how do you even know Father was panicked, he didn't say -

Ugh, you legilimised him, didn't you?

Not on purpose! Not really, I mean. It just sort of came through.

Don't worry, I won't tell the others that you laughed along with everyone else when Mummy frightened the muggleborn servants from the room.

Of course I laughed. It was such an absurdly predictable spectacle from someone like your mother.

And they were going to read my Private Messages. Really. You're sure of that?

Your father thinks so, anyway.

Why - what would they find? Did you and Harry talk about the way things are before you were under the lock?

Of course we did. And with Hermione, too.

Is your mother going to read them?

I don't know. I can't read her mind to find out.

Because he's been in a strop since your birthday party at Laszlo's.

Haven't you noticed?

But I can't figure out quite why. I mean, he keeps saying it's not whatever I think it might be.

Yes, I've noticed.

Why, what's he saying that it's not?

Oh, it's not just one thing. I asked if he was feeling guilty and he said no, and then I asked he felt uncomfortable because he didn't know people so well and he denied that, too. And then I asked if he was jealous because Harry has Gryffindors to be friends with now, and he got shirty about that.

Only I think he really is jealous, in a way. Like he thinks Harry doesn't need him to be his friend anymore. Which is just silly, you don't stop being one person's friend just because you have others.

What did he say to you about what's bothering him?

He's been odd even before all this. Ever since he broke up with Pansy - maybe even a bit before that. And he's meaner than he used to be, have you noticed?

He might be jealous. He might be a lot of things. Right now he's cross with me for turning our family gatherings into "theatre for the order." And he's upset because now he knows his private messages might be read, and he said things he ought not have, to Harry and to you, too.

It's helpful, Hydra. Cheers.

It's a relief to hear that they blame the black market and not anything more organised.

And I'm sure Bill will be very interested in the news about the journals and who's controlling them now, that there's still something of a power struggle over them. It stands to reason; they do represent a huge resource and whomever controls the access to the private messages has a wealth of information at their wandtip.

As for Malfoy - sorry, Draco, your father - being worried about the private messages, did he say why he was so worried about your family's in particular? Draco, he hasn't any idea that you, Harry and Hermione used to talk about me, or other things? I can't believe he did or he'd have acted to protect ~~himself~~ all of you long before now.

I really don't know what my Father has any idea of.

Why don't you ask Hydra to legilimise him. And then you'll know more.

Draco!

How could you?

WHAT?

Family affairs are FAIR GAME or haven't you noticed?

Hydra specifically asked us not to say anything!

Honestly what is wrong with you these days? Ever since you broke up with Pansy you've been--and you're just--and I didn't think you were even that upset about breaking up with Pansy!

You're just being deliberately foul and there's no reason for it.

You're right, you're right. I shouldn't have said anything. Blasted fuck. I can't do anything about it now, can I? No.

Hermione, Auntie Bella could read everything. All of our private messages, all the way back...

Well, but really, would she do that? I mean, why would she give that sort of order?

She'd have to think there's something wrong with you or Harry.

Which is another really good reason not to act like a pillock when you're normally not one.

Like going flying today--that was good. And I think you even had fun doing it.

Because she wouldn't be able to resist, or stop herself.

But..you're right. You must be. Harry's the only person, aside from the Lord Protector, that I've never heard her say one bad thing about.

When have I ever not been a pillock? Don't you remember some of the stuff I used to say ~~to you~~ about people like you, about muggleborns?

It's easy not to think when you're flying. That's the good thing about it.

Well, Sirius has already asked so if there's a way to protect the journals, we'll find it.

And if not, you'll just have to make sure that your aunt doesn't think about checking.

Anyway, you said those things before. Before you knew better, I mean.

You're not a pillock to your friends. Usually.

I wasn't just saying those things, I believed them.

I'd better apologise to Hydra.

Er, all right.

Something tells me it's time for Sinbad to make an appearance in the back ....

I'm sorry.

I should have told you. And I would have.

It's all right, kiddo. No one's cross. I can understand why you'd hesitate to admit something like that.

It doesn't make me like ~~Mum~~ my Mother.

Sweetheart, I don't think you could ever be like your mother if you tried.

(Sorry for ever thinking you were.)

I've been thinking about this and I don't think it quite -- you're completely unlike your mother in temperament, that's true enough, and I don't think you ever could have been a second Bella, no matter what unusual talents you possess.

But more than that, you chose the path of compassion toward people born in different circumstances from yourself, and you chose the path of honesty with yourself about what this regime does to people, and you chose the path where you risk your own safety to try to change things.

Everyone -- all of you on the lock made that choice.

And Hydra, that's why we're not worried about you turning into Bella.

Sometimes I worry about it. Not that I really think I will... only I wasn't happy when I found out I was a legilimens. Not at all.

No. I can understand that.

You're clearly afraid that you'll turn into a monster.

As it happens, I do turn into a monster. So I can understand a bit of what you're feeling over this.

(Alas, being able to read minds presumably doesn't vary by the phase of the moon, making it a bit harder to manage simply with detailed planning.)

Yes but then I remind myself that anyone can turn into a monster. It doesn't take a special sort of person to do that.

I think you're a very nice person.

Why, thank you. I think you are also a very nice person.

And you are correct: anyone can turn into a monster. People do every day, in the Protectorate.

Indeed, I'm very interested in the news concerning the journals, although I'm not sure what we can do about it.

Bill, Nick, is there any way to make sure that no one at the Ministry can access Draco's private messages with Hermione and Harry? There's a fair amount of sensitive information they wrote under the assumption that the PM crew were flunkies who'd been instructed to ignore certain VIPs. But now it's anyone's guess whether the Aurors will decide (or Bella might) to snoop even on their own near and dear.

We can't really afford that.

Sirius, I'm not sure there is any way, unfortunately. I need to do some research. I don't think we can go back and put 'Order Only' on those posts retroactively: people have seen the 'Private message' header already, and it would create a whole host of questions if we could make journal entries and comments disappear months later (and I'm not even sure that would work anyway). Unfortunately, I was frozen out of the team at the time that the Private messaging was set up. Massopust was so bloody jealous of me at that point, he didn't want me to get anywhere near the project, for fear I'd get some of the credit. So I wasn't able to put in any of the back door architecture into the spell of the sort that we're using for the Order Only lock.

Sorry, Bill, I should have been clearer. I wasn't suggesting locking the posts so that they disappear; I was suggesting tampering with the appearance of their private entries so that they are unreadable. I was thinking along the lines of someone metaphorically spilling ink all over any page that starts off with a Private Message heading, so that it's there, but no one looking at it would be able to read what it says.

I'm also aware that it would require a certain amount of skullduggery and sneaking about. But otherwise we have no way to excise what they've written and no guarantee someone on the Auror squad won't arbitrarily decide to find out what the Lord Protector's son and his best friend and servant have to say to one another that's so fascinating it needs all those messages.

Hullo, love,

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. I suppose I can understand Draco worrying about those messages--I say, you'd think Hermione would have known better, what?--but I'm not sure what he was thinking, blurting out your legilimency like that.

Has he apologised?

I hope you enjoyed yourself a little, at least. I'm well sorry it's so difficult to be round that sort of thing now.

-Justin

No, he hasn't. He probably will.

It wasn't terribly enjoyable. I left a lot of things out. Like how Mummy was appalled to see that Nanella has muggleborn servants now, so she terrified them so they'd leave, and then everyone laughed about it. She also has a new shiny silver finger that she keeps tapping on the table and on her wine glass. It's not a nice sound.

And there was more, besides. But I'm rather tired now, and I think I'd rather see you and tell you in person.

Yes, of course. Whenever you can manage it. Tomorrow?

I know we were prepared not to see as much of each other over the summer but I say, it's less often than I'd hoped.

Do you think we'll ever...I mean to say, she's still utterly convinced you'll marry Harry, what?

-Justin

Oh, yes, she mentioned that. Because Nanella said I was going to start catching boys' eyes sooner or later. And then Daddy said "much later" and reached out to touch those unicorn earrings, which I was wearing because I knew he expected it. And Auntie Narcissa said boys would be falling all over me, or some such, and Mummy said "so long as they roll over when it's time for her to unite with Harry." But everyone looked exasperated when she said that.

I'm sorry we have to be sneaky. Sort of.

Your family, I say. At least we may be grateful no one but your mother seems to cling to her fantasy.

Well, you're right: it's late and we should sleep.

Though I wish--dash it, that's not helpful at all. We just have to sneak about for a little while longer, I suppose. (Though I do agree, there's a certain appeal to sneaking, what!)

I'm sorry. About them. Come tomorrow, can you? And you can tell me all about it and we'll shudder over it together.

Sweet dreams, dearest.

-J

How are you today?

I hope we didn't make you wish you hadn't written here. What you told us is really very helpful. It's too bad it's not the sort of family that has this sort of family supper very often. (Must say, though, I don't at all wish I were ever invited!)

Listen, though. I was wondering if you'd like to have supper just the two of us sometime. I understand if that seems too difficult to arrange. I'd say we could make it lunch, but I'm usually either sleeping then or if I'm not, I'm not very brilliant company because I should be. I don't suppose you wake up early in the mornings? We could have breakfast sometime if you do, but I don't think I was ever willingly awake at half-seven when I was in my teens, so I'll be surprised if you say yes to that!

No, nobody made me wish that. I only wish I could have found out more.

I don't mind getting up early; I'm used to not sleeping very much. Only I'll have to think of where to say I'm going - Auntie Narcissa gave me a very smart touring broom for my birthday, so I could always say I was going for an early fly. It would be rude, after all, to not put her gift to good use.

Sounds perfect to me.

I'm off work at half-seven weekdays. We shouldn't go anywhere near the Ministry, of course, but I was thinking if we had a nice morning, we could meet up Primrose Hill. There's a pasty kiosk up there, and the view's incredible.

Or we could meet in a restaurant if you'd rather.

Would Monday suit you? Around eight?

I think so, and I'll let you know if it won't work. I'm looking forward to it!

Odd to think of myself and Bellatrix Lestrange being on the same side of any question. But it sounds as if we're in agreement that Corax Mulciber is a total arse.

(I have to admit I laughed aloud at your mum's rather...earthy description of his behaviour.)

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