Order Only - this morning's events

[alt_hydra]

To all the adults in the Order -

We know you have a lot of questions about what's happened this morning at school. We will give you the details very soon, but before that happens, we all need a place to talk together, just those of us who are school-aged, or very recently school-aged. So if you could please not respond to this entry, and wait a while longer, we would very much appreciate it. All details will be provided soon.

Thank you for understanding.

Comments

[alt_hydra]

This was my letter.

Dear Hydra,

Please accept this pin with my most sincere compliments. It is, as you know, Our Lord's emblem. Wear it boldly and with pride.

You are receiving this gift because I have added your name to a very select list of candidates for Our Lord's favour. You might like to know that you were among the first chosen and that you are the youngest of those nominated for this honour--the only one from your year.

I want you to know I am quite sincere in putting you forward for consideration. I believe you are uniquely placed and uniquely gifted to join the highest ranks of those who serve Him.

Know, however, that this opportunity comes couched as a competition. I believe it will not surprise you to learn that those wishing to present their gifts in service to Our Lord must first earn His approval and His Mark. Not everyone tapped to compete will be chosen, but I have no doubt in your abilities and I have every expectation that I will be able to welcome you to our number on the Council very soon.

In the days ahead, I advise four things: Use your natural abilities to full advantage. Expect to be challenged. Prepare to be ruthless. Give quarter to no one.

Congratulations and best wishes,

Lana Sandoval-Pennifold

[alt_draco]

You got Lana, and I got her wife. How charming.

It almost sounds like she chose you first, before Padma - and you know she had to be the one to choose Padma.

That line about "natural abilities..." You've surely noticed that everyone in school is talking about your being a legilimens. I don't see how that could have already reached Lana Sandoval-Pennifold's ears, but it makes me wonder.

[alt_sally_anne]

I'd pick Hydra before I picked Padma.

Especially if they were going in turns. Who else would choose Padma? Other than Ned, if Lana told him to.

[alt_hydra]

I wonder what Padma would think of that.

Yes, I've noticed. Maybe it was Padma that Lana heard it from. They're close, I think.

[alt_sally_anne]

Padma would probably say that Lana picked you first to please Auror Lestrange, since she's Auror Lestrange's protege.

And she'd say you were every bit as worthy as anyone else even though she wouldn't mean it.

[alt_hydra]

Yes, and I'd be able to tell she didn't mean it.

Oh - I shouldn't talk like that, though.

[alt_draco]

Yes you should. Now's the time to use your gift to your advantage. Lana S-P is right about that.

If you're still uncomfortable about it, remember that you'll be doing it, in part, to help out me, Pansy, and Ron.

[alt_pansy]

For what it's worth, I'm glad you're on our side, Hydra. Merlin. I would've had to avoid eye contact with you for the rest of my time at Hogwarts otherwise.

And those idiots don't know thing one about who you really are.

[alt_hydra]

Oh, I don't really need eye, yes, but I wish they didn't know that I was a legilimens, now. Now I suppose everyone will dash off to learn occlumency.

Though it will be very difficult for them to learn properly without a legilimens to work with.

[alt_sally_anne]

Huh.

Maybe you'll spot some people we ought to recruit. As they try desperately not to think about pink elephants, or their secret desire to murder the Lord Protector and free the muggle masses.

[alt_pansy]

I was actually just thinking the same thing.

[alt_sally_anne]

Of course some of them will probably be thinking about the worst possible thing just because they know Hydra might be reading their mind, which means it might not be something they actually believe. Like everyone does when they're around Bellatrix, apparently (which is a good thing for us, it means that we're less likely to give everything away if we walk past her on the street).

[alt_hydra]

When I was little and Mummy questioned me about something, I would try to outsmart her by thinking of something completely inconspicuous, like sweets, or the latest book I was reading. She could tell I was trying to avoid her, though. She would say "Your thoughts are unusually tidy tonight, Hydra." Because a person's thoughts aren't tidy. They're every which way, until that moment when they try to force themselves to think about something.

And of course, as soon as she said that, I'd start to think about what it was I wasn't supposed to think about.

[alt_sally_anne]

Do you think your mum told her you were a legilimens? Or someone else?






Are you going to try to win, or are you going to try to fail?

[alt_hydra]

I don't know. The only person I talked about it to recently was Remy - All I did was tell him that Mummy knew, now, about what I could do. Maybe he told Seamus, and Seamus told Padma, and now everyone knows.

I think it might be time to stop talking to Remy. About anything.

I don't want to win or fail. Neither sound like good options. I'm just not sure if there's room for anything in-between.

[alt_draco]

Here's mine.

Dear Draco,

I do not need to speak to you of the honour that lies in being chosen for Our Lord's service, nor how He chooses the best and the most worthy to call to that honour. His strength grows with each He chooses to be His hands, and He has graced those of us new to His brotherhood with the task of separating the wheat from the chaff.

I send you this Ouroboros pin as a sign that I have chosen you as one of my candidates. Wear it with pride in your wizarding heritage, in determination to showcase your strength of will, and as a symbol of your dedication to Our Lord's cause and His vision.

You will be tested. You will be tried. You will be measured, and I have the utmost faith you will not be found wanting.

If you have questions, ask them; if you need assistance there is no shame in asking me for it. Many of you have been called, but only the best and brightest will be chosen. I have put my trust in you as He puts His trust in us all, to uphold His honour and the pride of wizardkind.

Be worthy.

Yours, in His service,
Ned Pennifold

[alt_pansy]

Mine was from Ned too.

It was a bit different, but didn't say much new. Only that I didn't need a reminder about the glory of submission to Our Lord's will tow row tow row tow row.

I wonder if Ned and Lana have a wager going about Patil and me?

[alt_sally_anne]

So what did Harry's letter say, anyway?

He had a letter but no pin.

[alt_ron]

Mine was from Avery. All very 'you should count yourself lucky any of us noticed you, Weasley'. Frankly, I'd rather they'd overlooked me.

Dear Mr Weasley,

It is my distinct honour to offer you the enclosed emblem to distinguish you as one in whom Our Lord may well take interest. He has tasked several of His loyal followers with a sort of quest: To find among Hogwarts' students worthy candidates for His notice.

This is a singular, unprecedented opportunity to belong among the most elite set you will ever have the pleasure of joining. Not since the days of His ascension has Our Lord offered ones so young the chance to compete for His Mark. I have chosen you as a potential Councilwizard because, of all the Weasleys currently at large, you alone have, I believe, the right combination of wizarding pride and tactical skill required to excel among our number.

Wear this special pin to show your pride as one of the Protectorate's finest young subjects. From time to time, one of our number will set challenges which you and your fellow hopefuls must meet to the best of your abilities. Knowing, as I do, of your success in the CCF and during your recent brief start in MLE's Aurors, I am sure you will find them similar in character to tasks you have already accomplished. Be prepared, however, for the stakes and the prizes to be rather more important than any school exercise.

We will be monitoring your progress--all of you--and others at Hogwarts will periodically report their observations, so be aware that even between the challenges, you are still on trial. At the end of the spring term, we will recommend our top contenders to Our Lord. He has stated his intention to choose among you those He deems best suited to stand as brothers and sisters in His service.

Of course, should you desire any advice, I am very happy to provide it as your sponsor in this healthy, spirited evaluation. There really are no 'rules' apart from the only one that matters: Play to win.

Good luck!

Yours with very best wishes,

Julius Avery

So. Yeah. I've pretty much decided Draco's right. And Sally Anne. I've got to try to throw this, but I'm not sure what that strategy looks like, exactly. It depends how they're really going to test us and what they mean about monitoring what we're doing all the time even between challenges. (And, really, is anyone else thinking that sounds a tiresome lot like Madam Umbridge?)

I reckon I've got an idea now what Harry felt like when his name came out of the Goblet, yeah? Not all that bloody excited to be selected, thanks.

[alt_draco]

The pins - we need to check them. They might be spelled to monitor our conversations, or even project images of our interactions.

We'll have a better idea of what we're doing once we actually know what we're doing.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. Exactly. The pins. I'm going to have Professor Dumbledore check mine tonight.

[alt_ron]

So, number-wise, it's almost all Slytherins, y'know. So that means you'll all be aiming for each other's backs, and making strategic alliances with the few you can trust so you can try to manage the odds against the rest of them.

You and Hydra are obvious, but I reckon you won't want anyone seeing that you're allying with Pansy. And certainly not in the way people expect. Or do you think other people will promise to throw their chance in so they can support someone else in exchange for some kind of favour later on?

Who's going to cozy up with whom, do you think?

[alt_draco]

I've been thinking about this. Not all Slytherins necessarily want to be on the council. I've tried to sort out who really, really wants this, who might want it, and who definitely does not want it.

DEFINITELY WANTS
-Teddy Nott
-Vince Crabbe
-Greg Goyle
-Alfred Montague
-Seamus Finnigan (I'm not positive on this, but that's my feeling)
-Padma Patil (I don't think it was a consideration for her before now, but you know she can't stand to lose)
-Me

MIGHT WANT
-Blaise Zabini (that lazy Euro blood holds him back at times, but he's arrogant enough to make a major play, if he can get motivated)
-Samantha Montgomery (I could tell she was surprised to get a pin - pleasantly so. She's used to being thought of as a siren, and will no doubt see this as a chance to broaden her repertoire)
-Richard Vaisey (likes to do well at everything, but I don't think this was the path he was planning on)
-Lares Tamblyn

DOES NOT WANT
-Pansy
-Ron
-Katie Bell (presumably)
-Lizzie Stevens (she wants to marry Richard and have kids as soon as they're done at school; she went twenty shades of pale when she saw her letter)

I HAVE NO IDEA
-Hydra (still weighing options)
-Dean (any bets on this?)
-Smith (will probably be an idiot and decide that he wants it)
-McLaggen (he probably doesn't want to be on the council, unless it's to forward his own agenda)
-Heph Bobolis (still no idea)
-Linus Moon (will probably also be an idiot, and decide to cut off his robe sleeves, too)

What do you lot think?

[alt_pansy]

Moon might think he wants it, because he thinks it's romantic. He's just not suited for it at all.

Do you think McLaggen isn't keen? He might want to replace his brother.

Who knows about Thomas.

[alt_ron]

So there are seven of you who really want it, but I bet we can get Crabbe and Goyle out of consideration if you try it. We just need to help them look like idiots.

Of course, that would almost be helping the Protector if we made it obvious that they're too dim to be good choices. Maybe we should really want them to make it--help them get chosen, even. Because they'd be easier to fight later. And loads easier for you to manipulate.

That's really it, isn't it? We need to be thinking who you'd do best getting selected with. And who would be most dangerous to you later.

Mind you, I don't think Moon has a chance, though it would be dead useful if he were one of the ones chosen because he'd never stab you in the back. It's easy to see who you want to avoid: McLaggen, Thomas and Smith are definitely in that group.

I'd say it would be good to keep Nott out if you could, but that might be a waste of effort. What do you think about Finnigan? Where does Mr Rosier stand on the Council? Relative to you and your father, I mean. It seems like the most dangerous ones to you are probably the ones with Council connections already, and they'll be hardest to block. Unless their connections have got crosswise with the Protector.

Merlin, this is a slippery fish.

I reckon you could control Zabini. And Patil, most likely. What about Montague?

[alt_sally_anne]

You're probably right he could control Patil. I'm less sure about Zabini. Draco, do you want to ask Daphne if she thinks Zabini really wants to do this, or would it be less awkward to have me ask her that?

I agree that Moon has no chance. He's not cut from the right cloth, I don't know what they were thinking, whoever it was that picked him.

I would expect that Crabbe and Goyle would be easy for Draco to control.

Teddy's not really controllable but he also would be such a dangerous ally that probably no one else is likely to control him in a faction against Draco, either.

[alt_draco]

Teddy's the complete wild-card. He's frequently pleasant to me, even friendly, but I don't doubt for a moment that he'd do whatever it takes and have no qualms about it. I'm certain he sees me as his biggest competition, too.

I think he used to have a weird, deviant little crush on Hydra, though. And he definitely had one on her Mother.

Finnigan is one to watch out for. Thomas has the same kind of drive as Finnigan, but his confidence is too high. Finnigan is more aware of his weaknesses, which might make him the one to be wary of, of those two.

Montague and I are on friendly terms, and I think he'd like to have me as his fellow council-member. He also fancies Daphne, and she'll help to that end.

And you're right, there's way too much to think about here.

[alt_neville]

I'll pass along to all of you anything that might help that I can glean from Seamus or Dean, but I doubt it'll be much. For all practical purposes the two of them really stopped talking to me months ago.

And now that I'm the only one in my dormroom without a pin, they consider me beneath contempt, really.

But they might drop some tidbits because they're underestimating me. I'll keep my ears open.

[alt_terry]

Me, too. I don't know what I can do to help, especially from far away, but if we can think of something, I'm willing to do it.

Oh. Except...

If any of you decide to really go for it, and you do make it to the end, and you get chosen, and you need help with protecting your thoughts, I'd be willing to help you try to learn to become an Animgagus. Except Sirius would probably be more help with that, really.

[alt_hermione]

Yes, that's just what I've been trying to tell Harry. His job ought to be to make sure Draco gets in, and to make sure whomever else rises to the top is someone who won't be a horrible threat to the Order.

[alt_cedric]

I've never seen Heph as this sort of ambitious. However, family pressure will absolutely make sure he's trying to go for the snitch. He'll do well at any physical challenge. He was involved in the silliness last year as well. We never discussed that in detail as it was what broke the closeness of our friendship, so I don't know what he might have picked up there. It may be time to try to push to renew the friendship again.

Don't count Linus out. If he knows before hand what sort of challenge or competition is coming he will have studied every last detail and know it's whole history. I would be Stupified if he doesn't trip someone up unexpectedly or play spoiler. He was the first person in the door to speak with Dolohov this morning. Pin on lapel. Speaking of Linus I ought to be able to get a hold of his analysis of the little club from last year. He kept copious notes.

Tamblyn's really good at charms, also in that silly club last year. Definitely ambitious, but I wouldn't have thought this was his plan. Honestly not quite sure what his plan would be. A bit artistic, likes twisty puzzles, particularly arithmatic ones. Not the kind of analysis Linus does but like those puzzles on the back page of papers along with the wizarding chess setups. His Head Boy privileges will give him lots of ability to get around school rules that might get in other's way, like the ref is a home team supporter.

[alt_pansy]

Blaise has already written Draco. I wonder if he'll try to distance himself from Patil, or help her along? He doesn't seem the helpful type, really. And he's never seemed particularly keen on gaining entry to the council either.

Finnegan and Patil are most definitely going to be in on things together. Moon and Thomas might tag along there. Finnegan will want to win. Maybe he'll convince the others to help him get ahead, even if it means they don't make it? Patil might really want it too, though.

Vince and Greg tend to come as a unit. They should've got one pin to share between them.

I'll bet a lot of the 7th year Slyths will get together and try to take everyone else out.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. I bet you're right about the 7th years.

You're too right about Goyle and Crabbe.

[alt_harry]

I'm one of the monitors.

That's what my letter was about.

He hasn't sent me a letter since the Triwizard, so I guess he's interested enough in what's going on.

At least for now.

[alt_sally_anne]

So you can say that Draco's brilliant and Ron and Pansy mean well but don't have the necessary mettle to cut it on the Council? That makes me a little less worried. Except Draco's also your best mate, so they might discount it. Do you know who the other monitors are?

[alt_harry]

No, not yet. Maybe Urquhart. Tamblyn was chosen, but she wasn't. I don't think she was, at least.

Ced, did you get a letter at all?

I'm talking to Raz after dinner tonight, I'll see what he knows.

[alt_sally_anne]

He might not be reading. Hydra told the grownups to get lost. Does Cedric think of himself as a grownup or as one of us?

[alt_harry]

I'll write him.

[alt_cedric]

No I did not get any sort of letter today.

[alt_hermione]

You don't think anyone would go back and read your private messages now, the ones that aren't behind a lock, now that you're all candidates?


You can bet they'll watch what you do say very carefully from here out, at least.

[alt_harry]

We've got the Order lock to coordinate. And the galleons too.

So that's something.

Private Message to Hydra

[alt_justin]

Love,

I'm going for a walk. Smith has been taking the mickey more or less non-stop since he saw I did not get one of those accursed pins.

I say, secret stairwell? We can keep an eye on the journals if you want to strategise. I'm just bally well tired of humouring him.

-J

Re: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

I'm sorry he's being difficult. Of course I will meet you. I want to talk and be alone, anyway.

I'm still not sure what to do.