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[alt_alice]

Thank you all so much for your help yesterday.

We're still sorting out what happened exactly with Frank -- whether it was a one-time response to life-threatening circumstances, or a sign of his magic returning, but for now, what matters is that he's here, and in one piece, and I am so very grateful for it.

Saltash will need our continued support to rebuild, heal, and replace what's been lost. Now that the Apparation tunnels are clear, Aldrich and Bedford are better able to provide aid as well, which is good to hear indeed. Kingsley, Fred, George, I'm hoping you'll be able to head up specific efforts to sort out their specific needs and determine how we might best help, but anyone who is able to volunteer their time would be much appreciated in the coming weeks, I'm sure -- especially since we're heading into a vital point in the planting season, and their food stores for winter cannot be neglected.

Have we any further news about the earthquake and its aftereffects? Is there any idea as to the cause? If it was natural, it was certainly rare, which makes me think there was something more to it.

There's also still the matter of wrapping up our aborted meeting -- which will be held either at Moddey or Grimmauld this time, naturally. Thursday, perhaps? Harry, Draco, Hydra, we might be able to coordinate with your Tea Appreciation, in which case I'd imagine Grimmauld would be easiest. (Regardless, it is after the 17th, Ms Perks! Many happy belated returns.) Are there any other tasks left to accomplish during hols that require immediate attention, and cannot wait for our meeting?

Comments

[alt_hermione]

Mrs Longbottom, it has to be a really good sign that Mr L was able to use magic, and I'm so glad that he's going to be all right.

[alt_alice]

Thank you. It's all quite overwhelming, to be honest.

And yes, we'll see what comes of it -- Frank is quite optimistic, as am I.

[alt_justin]

Mrs Longbottom,

I'm well glad so many of us were available to come and help. And that Mr Longbottom was restored to safety.

Thursday ought to be fine for me and since I've been at Grimmauld about half the holiday, that's as easy a place as any.

If there's more one can do at Saltash in the immediate future, please say the word.

-Finch-Fletchley

[alt_alice]

Thank you, Justin.

Now that you can come and go using the caves, it ought to be much less of a risk to access the site.

I'd imagine at this point, if you show up and ask to be put to work, they'd find something for you to do and be very grateful for it. It would probably consist of manual labour, although I'd imagine you might be able to take various materials down into the tunnels to fix magically, which would also be extremely useful.

[alt_frank]

(Just spent the day there myself, working in the tunnels. I didn't get out and about much, but there's certainly plenty to do.

Mr Arscott was coordinating the tunnel work -- you can also ask for Mr Luke Ferris. Evie's Mr Luke. He knows quite a bit about what's going on, at least from what I've seen so far.

Oh, and Mrs L, Mrs Fitzhugh wanted to pass along that they're all safe and sound, Gilly's doing well, and she sends along her best to Mr L.)

[alt_poppy]

I should like to come have a look at Frank, if I may.

I'll be in Aldrich first thing tomorrow to examine and, Hygieia willing, pronounce fitness for most of the patients we transported there.

Where might I expect to find the redoubtable Mr Longbottom were I to look for him tomorrow noonish?

[alt_alice]

Of course.

I'll make sure he doesn't wander too far afield tomorrow. You can just come to Moddey.

He says to tell you he feels like he's twenty-five again, and to forgive him for the state of his knee, but being in a tight spot for twelve hours or so will take its toll on anyone.

[alt_poppy]

Tell Frank I'll bring him something to ease the knee. I'm sure he is feeling it after his ordeal.

[alt_charlie]

If you see a woman named Anna -- I don't think I ever heard her surname, but she's an older woman, looked to be in her sixties or so, brown hair going grey, was badly injured by falling brick -- will you let me know how she's doing? She really stuck with me -- half unconscious from blood loss and clearly in a load of pain, but she was flirting with me the whole time, and kept trying to tell me there were others who were far worse off and I should go help them first. I liked her quite a lot. I really hope she's all right.

And if she is all right, tell her the ginger bloke who promised to make her biscuits after she was feeling better says hullo.

[alt_poppy]

I shall tell her first thing tomorrow.

You did well to get her to me when you did, and she did the rest: your Anna has a strong will and was in no mind to be defeated by a load of rogue bricks.

I agree, she's entirely charming.

[alt_charlie]

Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. I was pretty sure she'd be stubborn enough to make it through by strength of will if nothing else, and I'm so happy I was right.

(I was trying to keep her conscious by talking to her as we tried to get her out from under the bricks, so we were talking a bit about favourite foods. She told me there was no way my oatmeal biscuit recipe could be better than the ones she used to bake back before the world went to shite -- her words, not mine -- so I told her she'd just have to get better quickly so I could prove it.)

[alt_nymphadora]

Oatmeal biscuits? Sounds lovely!

[alt_charlie]

Is that your way of angling for a batch of your own?

[alt_nymphadora]

That obvious, was it?

[alt_charlie]

Nah, I could only tell because of the way our long and close association allows me to interpret your subtle and cunning hints.

(Last time I made them, I splurged and used a tiny bit of the cinnamon I had saved up. They're even better that way. You get me more of the cinnamon, I'll bake you biscuits with it?)

[alt_nymphadora]

Sent you an owl first thing. It's the last bit of the really good stuff we had in the shop.

Or so I'm told. I can't say that I ever gave much thought to the difference between one spice and another, let alone grades and types of cinnamon--until I fell into this shopkeeper's life.

Take warning from me the dangers of falling for a bloke with a soulful gaze and sly sense of humour. And now look at me: shopkeep, barmaid, magical maintenance 'specialist', and subversive. Oh, the glamour!

[alt_charlie]

Honestly I don't know much about the difference myself, all I know is that some kinds work in the biscuits I bake and some kinds don't!

I was a bit insomniac after Ginny went to sleep, so I stayed up a bit to do the first round of baking. Poppy, Anna's batch should be arriving tomorrow morning or thereabouts. Tonks, I'll send yours once the owl gets back -- sorry, luv, you're on the roster after the little old lady.

[alt_poppy]

I'd be pleased to serve as courier if you want to send a care parcel. If you can't make the delivery yourself, that is.

[alt_charlie]

Ginny's visiting this week, so she and I can probably pop out one evening under the excuse of brother/sister bonding time. If we get stuck for time, though, I'll take you up on that offer!

Or, since Tonks is fishing for biscuits too, maybe Ginny and I will use the time to bake a cartload or two of biscuits so everyone can have one or two.

[alt_charlie]

I'll drop in when I can and provide some manual labour. All those years helping Mum out in the garden ought to be good for something, right?

[alt_nymphadora]

Thursday would be fine for a meeting, and I think it would be lovely if we could meet at ours this time.

I expect it will be the weekend before I can get away to Saltash unless there's a sudden need for us to go all in again.

Private Message to Alice Longbottom

[alt_cedric]

I'm terribly sorry that I have been unable to come down to Saltash to help.

We were on the edges of the effect. Shelley was terribly upset and Mum worked herself into a tissy. Yesterday was my last real day home and I couldn't come up with a good enough excuse to vanish.

If you ever need me, I'll make whatever excuses I have to to bunk out. This weekend I just couldn't see any excuse that wouldn't make things difficult with my family over the long haul.

I have my first evaluation with the Cannons's healers today and tomorrow I go back to Hogwarts.