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[alt_alice]

First of all, I wanted to thank all of you. We accomplished an incredibly complicated set of tasks, and freed over forty souls from great pain and suffering, all while preventing this from ever happening again. I am so very proud of the way we worked together. It gives me great hope for our future.

We must now begin to move our people to their locations of choice. This is much more easily done for some than others – we can’t risk floo or a second Apparation of even longer distance for our pregnant women.

Sylvia, one of the older women in the group, has become a leader of sorts, and has proposed that the women establish a home together in Bedford. She seems to have a great deal of support – over half of the women have decided to go there together, all either with babes in arms or currently pregnant. Emily Ashton has requested we bring her Mary to her from Moddey once they’ve had a chance to get settled, and I’m very glad she’ll be reunited with her mum. Ten of the women who are going to Bedford are pregnant, and would need to be escorted over land. Hiring carts is a possibility, although it would take at least two days of travel to get there from London.

Two of the women -- Jeanne Harris and Laurel Sinclair -- want to be with their sisters at Sherwood, so would need separate over land transport.

Pilar Mishraput and Clara Foster, two of the younger girls (they think they’re around fifteen, but aren’t sure – I expect they were just old enough to avoid the machine themselves) are interested in going to Moddey, and we’re certainly willing to take them. James Armstrong was also surrendered to us as well, to be raised by us at Moddey. We can Apparate with them, so that won’t prove too much difficulty at all.

A few of the women made the decision to go to Saltash – I can see how being in a place without magic might appeal to them. There’s also a few who are going to Aldrich to see what they can do there. We’ll be Apparating them to their desired locations as well.

The men have all decided to go to Sherwood, and will be making their way there today. One, Jason Crenshaw, is actually a half-blooded wizard. He got sent to the camps for hiding his neighbour, who ended up at Sherwood, so he’ll have a friendly face to look forward to. And Scott Brownmiller came back from Sherwood this morning in a tizzy – apparently, Delancy Ambleston, one of the other men, is actually related to Cecelia and Sally-Anne – his mother is Cecelia’s sister. We’d asked for everyone to make lists of their immediate family members in the off-chance that there might be a relative who’d be willing to take them in, and it’s a good thing we did. Vincent, the remaining man, also decided to go to Sherwood after some persuading – Jason insisted that he’d be welcome to stay with his neighbour too. He’s still a little in shock from what’s happened, and I’m glad he’ll have someone to keep an eye out for him.

Are there any ideas on how we might get our group to Bedford? I believe if we put them in nice coats, they’d be able to pass fairly easily in public, and if we’re careful and space them out in groups of three or four, it shouldn’t appear too suspicious.

Comments

Private Message to Poppy

[alt_alice]

Thank you for helping the women who didn’t wish to bring their pregnancies to term. Several have come up to me today in tears telling me to thank you again for your kindness and discretion. Most of them are going to Aldrich or Saltash rather than stay with the group at Bedford, except for Clara, of course. How long might they need to recover before Apparation?

Private Message to Neville and Evelyn

[alt_alice]

One of the proudest moments I've ever had was seeing both of you at work the other day.

Neville, when you were standing guard with your father, I was struck by how much you look like him, and how you've grown. Thank you for being so tireless in your duties.

And Evie, running to Charing Cross and back again, and constantly ready with just what was needed, whether it was a handkerchief or a cup of tea or just some kind words. You were a great helpmeet, and I'll have you know, Clara and Pilar are going to Moddey because of your conversations with them.

Thank you, both of you, for working so hard. I love you so much.

[alt_sally_anne]

His mother is my

So he's my cousin? My first cousin.

And

Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_alice]

You might not remember him from your brief visit, as you were quite occupied, but he was the youngest of the men -- he's only just turned 19.

He's not sure if your aunt, Marguerite, is still alive -- he was separated from his parents when he was found to have magical abilities at the age of 11, and entered into service at the Ministry until Strangeweale took him for his own uses.

All of them are victims in their own ways. I think he'll bear the mental scars of what he's been made to do for a good long while. Kind words seem to hurt him more than help him, as if he thinks he's utterly undeserving.

I'm very glad your mum is willing to take him in.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_alice]

The more stories I hear from them all, the more I regret not being able to act sooner.

What he's done to these people

I'm sorry, Sally-Anne.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

My mum had nine brothers and sisters and I actually know all their names but I don't remember where Marguerite was in the order. (She was older than Mum, though. Mum was the second-youngest.)

Everyone in Slytherin can practically reel off their whole family tree -- I could tell you exactly how Ron is related to Draco (even though they'd both prefer to pretend they're not). So I used to wonder if I had any cousins on my muggle side.

Anyway I am pretty sure I got his bracelet off for him but I don't remember anything else about him.

Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_pansy]

I'm so sorry.

How awful.

And sad.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

I feel like I ought to be thinking 'how awful' but mostly I'm thinking, 'I have a cousin. A wizard cousin.'

Which makes me feel guilty actually, that I'm thinking about how nice it is we've found him instead of how horrifying it is what happened to him.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

I really probably do have loads and loads and loads of cousins. In muggle camps. Because my mother had NINE brothers and sisters.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_pansy]

Well, I suppose there are many ways to take it -- and thinking of the good side of things is probably better.

It is nice you've found him. It's sort of amazing, if you think about it.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_pansy]

I wonder. He can't be the only other muggleborn wizard besides your mum. I mean, it does run in families, doesn't it?

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_pansy]

And just think. You got to be one of the people who rescued him.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_pansy]

Ten kids is a lot.

And I thought having seven was insane.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

It does -- I mean look at those two babies that got named after Bellatrix and Barty, and all the other siblings at Moddey. But there's no guarantee either.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

Well it's clear Mrs Weasley wanted a daughter. I mean she had Bill and Charlie, fine. And then she had a third and that was Percy. And then she had a fourth and that was the TWINS and instead of saying 'Merlin help me, what was I thinking having these two?' she had Ron -- and with the spacing they must have gotten started with Ron right around the same time the Twins started WALKING, which -- yeah, I don't know.

She had Ron, and then a year later she had Ginny, and then Ginny was the last.

I mean I suppose it might have been Mr Weasley who wanted a daughter except no, if you think about it for five minutes you know it was Mrs Weasley and Mr Weasley's contribution to the decision was 'yes dear,' and sperm.

(Don't tell Ron I said this, I mean I do LIKE his family even though and -- well, just don't tell him.)

Anyway with my grandparents -- I have no idea, actually, because when I was little I thought having nine siblings sounded utterly wizard. I didn't have any and I was desperately jealous of people who had them. So I never asked.

[alt_terry]

If the men going to Sherwood end up in my group, I'd be happy to get to know them and keep an eye out for them. I'm in Settlement Four, Charlie Company, remember.

But I suppose where they end up depends on which company Mr Crenshaw's neighbour is in.

[alt_severus]

Despite your best efforts to force me to idleness, I have never coped well with inactivity; I have several doses available of an improved Calming Draught that reduces the risk of dependency and, I hope, will blur the severity of the worst of the memories without removing them entirely. Should any of the poor unfortunates we have rescued continue having nightmares, see me for dispensation.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_pansy]

Of course I won't!

I still can't imagine. Your gran was pregnant for almost eight years. That's a year longer than we'll be in school.

[alt_alice]

Thank you, Severus. Much appreciated.

Private Message to Severus

[alt_alice]

Please do try and get some sleep. You've had precious little of it lately, and you know your work will be the better for it.

You've certainly earned it, love.

I can't thank you enough for what you've done in this past week alone.

Re: Private Message to Severus

[alt_severus]

I did nothing more than what needed to be done. My training for such missions might not have been what you lot would recognise, but there is a certain satisfaction to using skills I learnt as one of them against them.

And speaking of rest: if you attempt a fourth sleepless night, I shall drug your tea.

Private Message to Sirius

[alt_alice]

You were brilliant, by the way.

Everyone was brilliant.

But you were extraordinarily brilliant.

I couldn't have done this without you.

Thank you.

Private Message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_alice]

Thank you for the food, Pansy. It's something one doesn't think about when one is in the middle of things, but it must be costing you quite a great deal to come up with three meals for forty people, and it's very thoughtful of you to be so generous.

And Hitty is a marvel. I'm so glad I got the chance to meet her.

Re: Private Message to Severus

[alt_alice]

Duly noted.

Re: Private Message to Neville and Evelyn

[alt_evelyn]

I'm glad I could help. And I'm so very glad to hear about Pilar and Clara. I hope we'll get to see more of each other next time we visit.

Re: Private Message to Sirius

[alt_sirius]

Are you drunk, love?

Oh, Merlin. You're not up the duff again, yourself, are you?

Or.... If Charlie had a blunt and didn't share I'll murder him.

(By the way, I'm writing to Terrie about the women who want to go to Bedford, see if she has ideas about getting them from the train to the farms.)

Re: Private Message to Sirius

[alt_alice]

Well, I'm obviously rather tired, because you just made me laugh until I cried.

And I am surrounded by babies! All the time! People just keep handing them to me. I hardly need to make my own.

Thank you.

Re: Private Message to Poppy

[alt_poppy]

I'm sorry I had to run off this morning, Alice. I did get all my errands accomplished, hither and yon, and I will be there first thing tomorrow to see to the ones needing follow-on care.

I recommend giving them another day before we subject them to Apparating. It takes a while to recover one's sense of one's own boundaries and internal constitution after a pregnancy. You remember, I'm sure. At the very least, it would be kind to give them a day to find some inner stability, and then we'll want to listen carefully to how they say they are feeling.

That's assuming we have the luxury of time for a conservative approach. If, for whatever reason, it seems unsafe to keep them there, then I would say the risk of complications is diminishing hourly and by tomorrow it's unlikely anything truly dire would ensue if we needed to move them. In that case, I'd expect them to be quite nauseous--likely beyond help of the usual potions--but a choice between safety and sickness is an easy one to make.

[alt_alice]

I'm sure they'd appreciate a kind word, Terry.

Re: Private Message to Neville and Evelyn

[alt_neville]

Honestly, I was dead proud to be asked to do it, and it was a wonderful feeling to be actually taking a shift for the Order together with him. Yeah, I am looking more like him these days, and the resemblance is really noticeable now. I think my face is narrowing, ever since I shot up last summer. Ron said something about it at the end of the August, in fact.

I was really proud of this mission. The lifesaving ones are the best.