alt_alice | ORDER ONLY: Odds and ends

We got the last of the women to Sherwood early last week, and we shall see how everyone settles in their various locations. Kingsley, Mac, Lee, keep an eye on them all, please? Sylvia asked for a wand at once, as did Jason, but several of the others are holding off until they get their feet under them, and some, I feel, will be staying away from magic for a good while yet -- both Aldrich and Sherwood have enough of a mixed population that it won't be a detriment, and we don't have enough wands to spare, so that's a blessing.

Pilar and Clara are finding their way at Moddey. There's a sizable group of girls around their age there, so I'm sure they'll slip in easily enough, and it helps quite a bit that Tricia, Lisa, Maureen, and Portia were in service until recently. Judith and Laura are seeing where they'd fit best in terms of their coursework -- Clara is a bit further along with her reading and writing, but Pilar is very good at picking up on Latin as she's got a good ear for languages.

Charlie, Bill, Melli’s received a missive from Ragnok the Pigeon-Toed regarding his nephew, Ragnik, who wishes to apprentice with her. He's written up a rather extensive contract (do all goblin contracts include a complete family tree? Apparently, this family traces back to Ragnuk the First, which seems to be a point of pride). I'd like at both of your eyes on it before we sign anything. Regardless, it's certainly a step in the right direction, and I'm pleased.

Frank’s been talking to Saltash about keeping Otto Strangeweale there permanently. He’ll be spending the next week there to sort out the remaining details, and figure out contingencies. There’s a risk, of course, but even were he to get free, we’ll make sure he’d be unable to recall how he ended up in Saltash, and I am convinced he’d be unable to contribute in any meaningful way to recreating the research his son was involved with. (Although, as I’ve said with Lee, simply knowing such experimentation is possible is quite dangerous in and of itself). He’d be isolated enough, but Order members with covers to maintain ought to be careful to not go out of their way to see him as a precaution.

Ron, Hydra, Draco, Pansy, Harry, I understand you’ve had quite a week of it. Please let us know what sort of help we can provide, no matter how small. I know it’s an unexpected turn, and you’re facing certain decisions rather sooner than I expected, but from what I’ve seen so far, you all have taken a rational and thoughtful approach (as much as one can with so many unknown factors) which is much appreciated.

Lastly, thank you for all those who could make it out to our Terry’s birthday dinner. It was so lovely to see all of you, and I believe we pulled off our surprise rather nicely! I know it's a few days away yet until your proper birthday, Terry, but many congratulations on your coming of age.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

alt_alice

Cedric, thank you for your kind offer to have Terry stay with you at Hogsmeade. I do believe that would be the best scenario all round. We might talk soon about possible security protocols, just to cover all our bases.

From:

alt_cedric

I would be happy to host him. Would it work to meet somewhere this coming Sunday afternoon? I'm expected at my parents for the weekend, but could easily leave after lunch but not get back to Hogsmeade until the evening.

From:

alt_alice

Yes, that would suit nicely.

Terry and I can meet you at Grimmauld, perhaps?

From:

alt_cedric

I can floo somewhere innocuous in New London and walk. I ought to be able to make it somewhere around half one.

From:

alt_alice

Severus, expect Divyesh to send along samples of his anti-diarrhoeal and fever reduction potions by the end of the week. He's quite confident he'll be able to make adequate improvements, given your thorough notes.

I'll keep you informed on the progress at Sherwood as well.

Edited Date: 2014-01-13 05:31 am (UTC)

From:

alt_severus

As it stands now, Mr Shah's work is barely acceptable. I would not wish to encourage you to rely upon him, nor would I trust the fruits of his brewing without careful inspection, but he has at least demonstrated a sufficient willingness to accept correction that I will not call the prospect impossible.

I have not informed Lupin, nor do I feel the need to, but yesterday I assigned Miss Granger the Wolfsbane to brew. As I expected, she did not succeed — I know of no one who has been able to achieve success in a first attempt no matter how closely he or she has observed the brewing of it before — but her margin of failure was exceptionally narrow indeed, and today while shadowing my motions and timing she was able to produce a finished product that was well within the margin of adequacy. I do not think it will be much longer until I can task her with its regular brewing.

From:

alt_alice

I am glad to hear of progress on that front. How exciting for her -- we are very fortunate indeed to have an individual of her talents and calibre working with us. And likewise for her instructor, who deserves credit for helping to bring her along to this point, I have no doubt.

We'll be careful with Divyesh. Sirius is talking with me about coming by Moddey once a week to supervise the more advanced students, and if that works out, he'll have regular opportunity to improve his skill and further his knowledge.

From:

alt_severus

I will reluctantly concede Black would do as an instructor. As I believe I have mentioned before, his mental age is roughly on par with the students in question, at least.

Miss Granger could singlehandedly disprove the Dark Lord's propaganda were she permitted to attend Hogwarts openly; I do not know if you realise how brilliant the girl truly is.

From:

alt_alice

I'm glad I know her, and even more pleased that she's found an outlet for her talent, along with a mentor who sees her potential as she so rightly deserves.

I have no doubt that Harry (and Draco, for that matter) would be very different people without her.

From:

alt_poppy

I made it back here without incident and seem not to have been missed any more than I would have had I really been with Minerva for visit.

It was a pleasure to see all you. Most of all, you, Mr Boot: I hope to see you again after you arrive here. Do take good care as you make your way.

From:

alt_sally_anne

Did Delancey want a wand?

How is he?

From:

alt_alice

I've actually been talking to Scott Brownmiller and Jason Crenshaw about setting up their own brewing operation at Sherwood -- Scott is good with plants, of course, and Jason had a NEWT in Potions, even though he's a bit rusty, and Delancey's going to be helping with that project.

It's going to take a lot of work, and from what I could see, he was eager to do what he could to help.

He didn't want a wand just yet. I think it'll take him some time to get used to the idea.

From:

alt_alice

As you no doubt are aware, Ron and Draco have recently spoken with Albus and Severus respectively about their potential options. This is not necessary for you to do, of course, but if you have questions or need someone to help work through things, please don't hesitate to ask. I'd be more than willing to talk with you, and I'm sure anyone else in the Order would likewise be available.

I know this is a difficult and challenging thing you both are facing right now, and there are many ways to face it. Let me know if there's anything you need.

From:

alt_hydra

Thank you.

I feel that with any course of action one decides on, they must still be prepared to change their course at the last minute, should it be necessary.

From:

alt_alice

Yes.

That is very true.

Know that whatever the future holds, you will have the full support of the Order behind you. And I know you may not have much choice in the matter when it comes down to it, and that fortunes may quickly change despite one's intentions -- but if you decide to not pursue this option, that is something I will respect and understand, and I would do whatever I could to help you make that possible.

I don't want you to think that you are automatically obligated to follow through with this simply because it would be useful.

From:

alt_charlie

Whoa.

Yes, goblin contracts for things like apprenticeships involve family trees a lot. It deals with how sacred the goblins view makership -- by accepting someone as an apprentice you're essentially taking their family line into yours, since you'll be judged by their work in the future. So when one goblin comes to another with a petition for apprenticeship, the petitioner has to prove that they're worthy, and that they have 'stralznik' in the family line. (It's a Gobbledygook word that all the books I've read says doesn't translate, something like diligence or ability or, hm, capacity-for-craftsmanship or something. Very highly rated Goblin virtue.)

If they want to send us someone of Ragnuk's line, that's an incredibly good sign. That clan is one of the foremost Goblin maker clans. Sort of like, hrm, if we had a chance to send a wizard to learn something from the centaurs or something, and we sent Professor Dumbledore. Not only does it mean they're sending us someone who has very high status, it's a fabulous sign for future cooperation, because taking an apprentice from out-clan allies your clan with the clan of the person you're apprenticing to.

I'll read the contract, and I'm sure Bill will have something to say about it too, but that's huge.

From:

alt_bill

Another sign of how seriously they're taking this is whether they include the mention of siblings, especially if the line is followed down to the second generation. That's a sign of increased respect and honour as it's a formal acknowledgement of more blood ties.

Makes the document more unwieldy, of course.

I think we're immensely aided by the fact that Melli is an Ollivander. The Ollivander family is itself considered as having stralznik (for wizards, that is), as they're been creating wands (an item quite coveted by goblins) for generations, too. Consequently, their family tree is very well-known and respected by the goblins. That gives a great deal of weight to the Goblins' interest in working with us.

From:

alt_terry

Thank you so much for everything. I was surprised, especially to see other faces, besides the regular Moddey Dhoo people.

I was so quiet when I opened up the watch you gave me that I was worried you would think I didn't like it, but the truth was, I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't say anything. It's funny, but it never even occurred to me that someone would give me a watch for my coming of age birthday. I guess there are still parts of me that just expect to be treated like a mudblood, and since mudbloods are always legal minors...yeah. (I'm still rooting parts like that out of me.) But a real watch, like a parent would give--wow. I've been sneaking it out of my pocket all day just to look at it. And the seal on the fob with the crest, it really does make me feel like a part of the family. The fact that Fred and George gave me the chain made it all the better.

It was wonderful. Thank you so much.

From:

alt_alice

I am so proud of you, Terry.

You've already begun to make your way in the world, but I want you to know that you'll always have a home to come back to, and people who love you very, very much.