Order Only - Private message to Juniors

[alt_hydra]

Yesterday I went on the offensive and wrote to Crouch, revealing my feelings of betrayal and failure at having gone to the Ponds' so many times and never noticed anything. I also mentioned (more subtly than I am here) that part of the reason I never noticed anything suspicious about the Ponds was that my mother had already approved the establishment, and as such, that's why I suggested it to Harry as a place for the Tea Appreciation club to meet.

I didn't get the impression that questioning a load of school kids is high on the priority list, but it is on the list. He asked for the names of all the Tea Appreciators and I passed them on. It's ideal to appear cooperative.

Comments

[alt_ron]

Er.

Good to know.

So we're a step closer to getting interrogated. Joy.

[alt_hydra]

You'd rather appear as if we were trying to duck out of it?

You unwittingly purchased goods from proprietors who were hiding Sirius Black and helping the resistance, and you're someone who wants to be an Auror. Should you not be kicking off your broom to help MLE in whatever way they need?

[alt_daphne]

Do you know who they might be sending to question us? I have no trouble lying to anyone, but last time we worked together you said my occlusion still has some weak spots.

[alt_ron]

Yeah, that's not what I meant. Just not privately celebrating that they're going to question us.

[alt_hydra]

Yes, but I know the weak spots, and whoever questions you won't. I don't think it will be Mother, so if they send a legilimens it will be Penderyn, who's good, but not like me or like Mummy.

If we're very lucky, they might send Jason, thinking it would be good practice for him.

Crouch might be coming, too, but I don't know if he'll be part of the interrogation. He wants to see the course Desai and Dolohov set up.

[alt_hydra]

Maybe you could think of it as an opportunity to impress them somehow?

[alt_daphne]

Jason? Oh Holda, that would be perfect. Therefore, it will not happen.

Auror Crouch, too? Oh. Well at least he's not a legilimens.

[alt_hydra]

He's not a legilimens but in some ways...

He's almost like one. He's incredibly discerning. Not someone to under-estimate. Well, we all know that - but I used to think he was just a mad predator, or something, and he's not. That doesn't mean he's any less dangerous. It might mean he's more dangerous.

[alt_sally_anne]

I wonder if there's something Ron could remember seeing that in retrospect would seem exceedingly useful while not actually doing any good.

Probably a tall order.

[alt_daphne]

I'll certainly keep that in mind.

But don't worry, I know how to talk to Auror Crouch.

[alt_hydra]

I'm not worrying. Waste of energy.

[alt_ron]

Song and dance routine, maybe?

They like it when people sing under questioning.

Sorry. Just, I'm not sure what would impress them, short of handing them information on someone. 'You know, I noticed Sue Bones always shared her biscuits with the Ponds' dog. 'Course, I just figured it was a dog. That liked biscuits.'

[alt_hydra]

And then it becomes a case of "if you saw something suspicious back then, why aren't you telling us until now?"

No, I'd emphasise how innocuous everything seemed, and how you must need to sharpen up your skills so that you can better detect strange goings-on in the future.

Only maybe change it up a bit because that's pretty much what I told Crouch.

Impressing them with your desire to learn, to do better. That's what I meant.

[alt_pansy]

I've been thinking about writing Aunt Narcissa.

It's tricky, I know, but expressing condolences about everything that's happened would probably be better than not. What do you think, Hydra? Draco?

[alt_hydra]

I don't know. I meant to write to her this summer but everything I started seemed wrong. And then before school started I went along with Mummy to Cottesmore, to check in on Aunt Narcissa, and she didn't seem to want company at all. She was quite cold, and was thinking bitter thoughts about how Mummy must be feeling smug because she has the perfect child now.

After that I wasn't sure if I should write her.

[alt_draco]

What? You never told me about that.

[alt_hydra]

Is it really something you'd have wanted to know, only weeks after what happened to your father?

[alt_daphne]

In my experience, when someone makes it very obvious that they want to be left alone, that usually means they very badly need someone to reach out to them.

Though sometimes the one who reaches out risks getting bitten.

[alt_hydra]

Yes, I see your point. I suppose I didn't want to take that risk. Aunt Narcissa was always kind to me, especially when Mummy was at her worst. If she were to be cold to me, I'd be hurt, I guess, so I didn't take the risk.

Selfish, really.

[alt_pansy]

I can see how that would be difficult.

I don't think I'd be as hurt if she decided to not reply. We've been in close company, of course, but it's been through Draco and Lucius, really, if that makes sense

[alt_hydra]

Then you're probably a better person to do it than I. In this instance, anyway.

Writing her will not have any impact on MLE's investigation, though. Something to bear in mind.

[alt_pansy]

No. I know it wouldn't.

It still feels like something that ought to be done, though.

Private message to Pansy

[alt_draco]

Will you write to her, please?

I'd really appreciate it.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

Yes. I'll let you know what she says.

I'll see if I can visit her over Christmas, too.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_draco]

Alright. Thanks.

[alt_sally_anne]

Corner's a bit nervous, that's why he PM'd me. He wants to know if we're going to be in trouble and if he's in any trouble. I assume they'll read that PM, so I said I thought they might want to ask us questions but I didn't think we'd be in trouble because obviously we had no idea it was anything other than a shop, it was Harry's idea to go in the first place and I thought probably he suggested it because it was Hydra's cousin's shop (and Auror Lestrange had taken a look and thought it was all right so we thought surely it was safe while also not being at all posh.)

I also told him I didn't think they'd bother with him because didn't he only go once? Now that he's expressed concern in a journal it's a bit more likely, of course. (I didn't point that out to him.)

[alt_hydra]

That's alright. It's completely normal and expected for him to be concerned, just as anyone else who shopped there probably is.

Daphne also only went once, too.