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[alt_alice]

Tonks, love, what has she said to you?

Is it about the beer garden?

You know that if you and Remus need to come to Moddey Dhoo, you are welcome.

Remus, I know your disguise has stood for a while now, but can it pass if Bellatrix Lestrange herself is doing the digging?

I don't like this, not one bit.

Comments

[alt_nymphadora]

You won't believe it. She wrote to invite herself to tea.

Tomorrow.

[alt_sirius]

Yeah, I'm still not certain why she bothered. Why not just show up, if she wanted to get a real sense of what you're up to?

'Assessing whether yours is an acceptable environment for Hydra' - and what is Hydra supposed to do when she visits, if she does?

I don't like it. I don't see how you could have refused, though.

[alt_nymphadora]

Well. I think it's a bit of cat and mouse, isn't it? She's playing with us today; she'll pounce tomorrow.

The question is what she really wants.

I sincerely doubt it's anything to do with Hydra visiting.

[alt_sirius]

Unless she wants to clear the way for her little spy to come in behind her and really get the dirt.

Think about it. If she lets Hydra come, she can always legilimise her afterward. Or force her to replay the visit in a pensieve. Then she might pick up on things you're not even aware you're doing.

[alt_nymphadora]

Well, but that assumes she won't get all she wants to know tomorrow. Do you really think she'd send a child to do investigating for her?

[alt_nymphadora]

Besides, once she sees the place, there's no way she'll let Hydra come here. Whatever happens, we're going to be too lowly and unpolished.

I partly think this is nothing more than a chance to scare me to death and then snub me.

Except I don't really think we're that lucky. Certainly we can't count on it.

[alt_sirius]

That's a lot of effort for her for no good reason. If it's something like that, then it's more likely she's coming just to put the fear of Erebus into you and scare you off encouraging Hydra to talk to you.

But. To your other point: Yes, I do think she'd use her child if it suited her purpose.

Whatever that purpose is.

[alt_nymphadora]

I just doubt she'd go to this length to set it all up. A visit from Hydra, I mean.

Why legilimise Hydra when she can just do for me herself while she's here tomorrow?

But whichever it is, we're no closer to figuring what she wants to know.

[alt_sirius]

Well, she knows you'll be on your guard tomorrow (which is another reason I'm confused she bothered to notify you). But the whole point of sending a child is that she's supposedly innocent.

You're right. We've got no way to know what her game is until she gets here. Maybe not even then.

And you've convinced me it's best if I stay hidden but - well, I don't like leaving Remu you and Remus without backup. I think I should stick pretty close by, just in case. And keep that portkey handy, yeah?

[alt_nymphadora]

You can keep just out of sight. In the kitchens or, well, maybe the storeroom. I mean, she's got perfect cover for demanding a tour of the place. You can't be any of the places she could claim Hydra might want to have a look at.

I don't know. It would really be safest if you were just well away tomorrow afternoon.

But I know you'll do what you wan think's best. And, yes, we've got the portkeys, but let's not panic. If we go that route, there's no going back. And if one of us goes, the others have to go, too. It's not much of a plan. Just a last resort.

[alt_sirius]

No way, kiddo. If you did have to activate your 'key or Apparate away, someone should be left behind to cover your exit. And find out what she does next.

And yeah, I was thinking about that room across the courtyard. The one that isn't supposed to exist. I'm not a completely reckless idiot, you know.

[alt_nymphadora]

Well, you can count on our not doing that then.

And, no. I think you're just a bit of an idiot, not a complete one. You've a ways to grow yet.

[alt_kingsley]

If it comes to that, me and a few others of the Players can be around as backup, suitably disguised, of course. If you like. I suppose you'll probably close the beer garden while she's there (I'd advise it), but we can be within easy earshot. Just say the word.

What time is this happening tomorrow?

[alt_alice]

I suppose we'll come closer to finding out tomorrow, but I honestly shudder to think what she might be up to.

If she were planning on an outright raid, or to arrest Remus, I don't suppose she'd give a warning, but it seems like she's far too interested and taking far too much trouble for it to be anything benign.

[alt_nymphadora]

That's it, exactly.

And thanks, Alice. If we need to come there, we will. It's just a very last option. I know you understand.

[alt_alice]

I know that you'll take the proper precautions, especially with Bea there.

Here's hoping that we're jumping at shadows.

[alt_bill]

I don't like it either.

[alt_alice]

How... odd?

[alt_molly]

How extremely odd.