ORDER ONLY: Private Message to Ron Weasley

[alt_alice]

I want to know what's happened.

And I do not want excuses. I want the truth.

From what I can see, while he was at St Mungo's, Draco very specifically asked for help. Is he correct in saying that you knew what had happened, and deliberately kept this information from him?

Is there anything else other than that I ought to know about?

Comments

[alt_ron]

He wanted to know what the potion was so he could tell them, but it was obvious to everyone it was a love potion and that's all I could have said.

But I didn't want him telling them he knew somebody'd given her a love potion because then they'd have wanted to know who, and that would've led to Fred. (There were two potions he gave me, and I gave one to Patil and one to Finnigan. That's all I can tell you about it, really, except that the one for Patil was a heart's desire potion, and the other one had a hair from Remy Jugson in it, so it was a targeted potion, and Jugson's the bloke Finnigan's seeing, so it's not like I tried to make either of them go after anyone they didn't already like.)

Look, I'm sorry Malfoy's got worked up about it. And I'm sorry if Patil actually hurt herself, but she was already at St Mungo's. I mean, she was probably playing it up so it would look more serious than just a stupid But it was just a love potion, and that was the least horrible thing w I could think of to use for the challenge.

I don't know what's got him so cheesed off about it, but, um, I'm not going to say anything on his entry because that wouldn't do anyone any good.

[alt_alice]

I see.

So let me be clear. You neglected to inform him what was happening at the party. And after Draco specifically asked for your help, rather than, say, telling him you gave her a heart’s desire potion, and that you were worried about protecting Fred, who made it, you pretended as if you knew nothing.

And while you were withholding this information, Ms Patil attempted suicide in his presence.

If he had known of the danger to Fred, he could’ve helped Fred and Ms Patil.

Regardless of your intentions, things clearly got out of hand, and keeping Draco ignorant did not help matters.

Did you honestly believe that he’d knowingly turn Fred in? Or did you merely want to see him be made uncomfortable? Your behaviour either demonstrates a fundamental lack of trust in a fellow Order member, or petty callousness and disrespect. Both are deeply problematic, and Draco has every right to be angry.

I know that you are capable of far better.

This is only going to work if we trust one another, and communicate with one other. And it’s only going to get more difficult from here. We cannot afford this. The stakes are far too high, you are all under a monumental amount of stress, and these cracks can lead to fractures that, unless addressed promptly, will destroy us.

I am not asking you to like Draco Malfoy, or be his friend. I am asking you to trust him, and treat him with the respect he deserves. And if you cannot trust him, trust me, and know that I consider Draco Malfoy to be an equal member of this organisation.

Goodness knows where the future will lead us. But if you are truly serious about joining the Aurors, you will be putting yourself at enormous personal risk, and will have to give up so very much in order to make this possible. I greatly respect the sacrifice you’re willing to make, just as much as I respect Draco’s resolve. I hope you can see how similarly precarious your positions both are. Furthermore, chances are very great that Draco will regularly hold your life in his hands in a very real way. Likewise, Draco’s life will most certainly be in yours. Trust is everything. It is all we have that stands between us and the abyss. And right now, Draco feels as if he is not trusted, and as a result, is rightly angry, frightened, and uncertain of his future, and I do not blame him one whit. He has turned away from his own family, from everything he has ever known, and has made the choice to throw his lot in with us, and that an incredible thing. I hope to Merlin that we can be worthy of that choice, and that he decides to stay.

You face a difficult and dangerous future if you go down this path. I need to know that you are capable of working in the best interests of our organisation, and all of our members. I need to trust your judgement. And right now, I need you to realise the extent of what you have done, own up to it like an adult, and sincerely apologise to Draco Malfoy. You need to tell him what you did that was wrong, and what you will do to remedy it for the future, and you will do your best to keep your word. It will most certainly not be enough, but it is a start.

[alt_alice]

And know that Sally-Anne and Pansy's silence on your behalf was unacceptable as well.

[alt_alice]

Thank you, Ron.