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ORDER ONLY
I imagine the next few days will be trying for those of you at Hogwarts after what has been a difficult week. You've done an incredible job, all of you, and I am in awe of what you've accomplished together just in the last few days alone. Justin, I'm glad to hear your interview was unremarkable, and very much hope that trend will continue.
Bill, Rachel, any chatter you can pass along about the investigations at Hogwarts and the Archives would be much appreciated. Thank you for your efforts with Mulciber's paperwork.
We keep learning as we go, and I suppose if this past year has taught us anything, it's that regardless of what we have in mind, sometimes the rest of the world has other plans -- but that we can meet these challenges with flexibility, communication, and teamwork. We'll be meeting once our Hogwarts contingent is home and safe, so we can gather to mourn the loss of Minerva and discuss where we ought to go from here.
Bill, Rachel, any chatter you can pass along about the investigations at Hogwarts and the Archives would be much appreciated. Thank you for your efforts with Mulciber's paperwork.
We keep learning as we go, and I suppose if this past year has taught us anything, it's that regardless of what we have in mind, sometimes the rest of the world has other plans -- but that we can meet these challenges with flexibility, communication, and teamwork. We'll be meeting once our Hogwarts contingent is home and safe, so we can gather to mourn the loss of Minerva and discuss where we ought to go from here.
Private Message to Pansy
I'd like to know more once everything's settled, and I'm sure whatever you can pass along to Albus would be appreciated as well. But there's certainly no immediate rush.
How are you doing? Is there anything I can do to help?
Re: Private Message to Pansy
And I'm still sorting out what I actually feel about things. Because so much of it was just twisting things around. I'll send you a report once I have things a little less twisted around.
I'm sorry that I let it get as far as it did without realising what I had, or what it was doing, and that I didn't tell anyone what I'd done. I know, it's not entirely my fault, but like I said to Sirius, it'd be just too easy to blame everything I've done on the locket and not take any responsibility for it at all. And before I got my hands on it, I chose to steal it from Sirius and Kreacher without telling anyone, so that's all on me.
Re: Private Message to Pansy
And even though part of that might be due to the locket, as you've said yourself, it'd be far too easy to just chalk it up to that rather than take responsibility for it.
I need to take responsibility for not giving you enough support this term, and I am sorry you had reason to doubt your value and your place here.
When Neville started writing and visiting with us, one thing that became obvious to both of us right away was that he valued his friends so very much -- and that although it was difficult to see how you all could manage to make it work, it was patently clear that Ron, Sally-Anne, Hermione, and you were all people he trusted. My son does not give his trust easily, and that made me sit up and take notice. I noticed that you took care to not tell Poppy what had happened when you had your Junior Auror Blue incident, and your careful work keeping my son safe when the news story came out about your father, and that you sent letter after letter to Sirius, and Frank and I pieced together that you knew Hermione had a wand oh, about three years ago as well.
I suppose this is all to say that even before we met one another, I knew you to be kind, insatiably curious, and trustworthy to a fault. You defied my assumptions, Pansy, and I respected you for always asking questions and looking deeper than blood and status when determining the worth of a person. When you joined the Order and I had the chance to get to know you better, my initial impressions were confirmed tenfold.
I have never questioned your loyalty or resolve, Pansy. I am honoured that you've decided to throw your lot in with us, and that you have sacrificed so much in the process. You've had to walk a difficult path this term, and I think I'm only starting to understand just how hard it's been.
I know you've been though quite a lot this past week, my dear, and, as you've said, you've got some things to untangle. However, I do want to take the time as soon as you're done with this investigation to sit down and talk about your plans for the future, and how we might use your skills to our best advantage.
Re: Private Message to Pansy
Oh, Mrs L.
I didn't mean to
I mean to say, you shouldn't feel obligated to
thank you.
And yes. We can talk. Maybe Mr Snape can be there too?
If he stillI'd like that.Re: Private Message to Pansy
And my dear, I'm not going on and on to mollify you, or out of a sense of obligation. I'm doing it because you're worth going on and on about, and because someone I care about had an awful day, an awful string of days, really, and I'm hoping this might help her a little.
Re: Private Message to Pansy
Yes, I think it has.
Private Message to Justin
It was an impressive tactical move.
And don't think I didn't notice that you also tended to anticipate me as well.
We've got a great deal of plans that need reworking, and if you can carve out some time this summer, I'd like to take advantage of it -- I think you might hit it off rather well with Charlie -- he's got a good head for strategy as well.
Re: Private Message to Justin
I say, of course, anything I can do to help.
I confess, I wasn't necessarily thinking of strategy,what, so much as--well, protecting our interests, as it were. But thank you, all the same.
I was planning to tell you that my efforts, blundering as they would have appeared to Professor Dolohov, did seem to impress him, as well, what. He came to see me in the Hospital Wing to talk about continuing my formal training over the summer and of course, I've accepted with gratitude. I sincerely hope that my closer association with him will help us find a way to undo him, in the end.
-Justin
Re: Private Message to Justin
That is most excellent news. Thank you, Justin.
Private Message to Hydra and Harry
Hydra -- while I'm sorry you had to experience what you did, I'm so very grateful that you had such presence of mind under those difficult circumstances. I know you have much more work ahead of you over the next few days, and I appreciate beyond words what you've been able to do for us so far.
Harry -- Thank you for your hard work -- both in organising efforts inside the castle to help Draco and Hermione, and in your handling the horcrux. (That goes for all of you, truly. Merlin, that sounds like it was an ordeal.) I can only imagine how difficult it has been to keep your head while being closely questioned about people you care so deeply about.
My heart goes out to you both. I am sorry for your loss. Keep us informed. I hope we'll get the opportunity to talk further over hols.
Re: Private Message to Hydra and Harry
Then again, I haven't asked.
Re: Private Message to Hydra and Harry
Their physical trauma has healed, but their mental scars will remain for a time yet.
Draco's insisted on jumping straight into finding a way to be of use to the Order, as his previous purpose and goals have utterly disappeared.
Hermione is not speaking much, and is not writing anything either. She is also quite conflicted about Severus. She is very angry, and very sad. Both of them are.
We spent some time yesterday afternoon talking about their futures, and what that may look like. They'll be spending some time at Grimmauld for now, and will be visiting Moddey to see whether that would suit. Colin's taking Draco around to Aldrich, Bedford, and Saltash today, and I've asked him to start work on a project involving use of the Fidelius. I hope you'll get a chance to see them both over summer as much as possible -- and that they in turn will be in a place where they will want to see you. I know Hermione does not blame you in the least, but it may be difficult for her. These things take time.
Hydra, I want you to know that I value you as a person, for who you are -- your brilliant mind, your strength, your heart. You are in a position to do many important things to the Order, but you are worth far more than a possible council membership, and should that change, you would always have a place to go where you would be wanted and respected. I hope you realise that.
Re: Private Message to Hydra and Harry
I feel terrible for Hermione, too, of course. Only maybe it's just my vantage point, but I can't help but feel he's lost more. Or, rather, she's lost those things, too, but it was long ago.
It's really not entirely comparable. He's just very used to not losing.
Maybe I'm speaking too soon. If the kidnapping story sticks, maybe he can come back. But they'll legilimise him thoroughly, if he does, and it won't be me who does it. So it would be very risky for him to return. I'm not sure he could ever regain the status he had before, either.
Thank you for appreciating me. It's nice to hear.
But - I had to learn to value myself long ago. Because if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have survived.
Re: Private Message to Hydra and Harry
It has been hard for Draco to see that he is indeed worth more than his position of privilege. I fear you're right in that he'll continue to struggle with what he's lost, and what he is now.
At this point, we're not optimistic about his ability to successfully return. You're right -- it would be too risky were he to be thoroughly legilimised.
Hermione will no doubt have her own set of challenges to face, and her own struggles in overcoming them. Seeing Severus kill Minerva, even though it was a mercy, was very hard for her.
Private Message to Sally-Anne and Ron
Ron, I'm so proud of you for managing the animagus transformation successfully, and for having the presence of mind to make your way through the castle as you did, and to be of such great use to Minerva and Hermione.
I can only imagine how Minerva must have felt to know you'd successfully transformed, and that you were there just when she needed you most. Thank you for providing her with that assistance and relief in her final moments.
Sally-Anne, I can see that you were taking charge last night, for what seems like quite the undertaking. I hope to learn more when you have the chance, but from what I know so far, you handled things quite well, and I expect the more I learn, the more grateful I'll be that you were there.
I know you're both taking good care of Pansy -- it seems as though she needs two very good friends at the moment, and I'm so glad she has you.
Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne and Ron
Well.
It wasn't as brilliant as all that sounds, you know. But, yeah. You can count on me for whatever needs doing. I mean that.
About Pansy. Could you, maybe, I dunno. Help her see that there's something important she's needed for in the Order? And let her know you've noticed the things she's good at. You have, haven't you? I mean, if you need us to tell you what she can do, just ask because she's really brilliant. Especially at Potions, but she's really good at almost everything, and she's so much braver than people think. I mean, she's had to be.
But she needs to know she's not just in our way, and that you and the others don't think she's not loyal or that she's not able to help. She wants to. Really a lot.
Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne and Ron
I think that we could all stand to hear why we're worth while from time to time, especially after being made to question it.
And you're so right to point out how willing she is to help. One of the many things I could add to your list is her selflesness. She and Hitty fed the people we rescued from Strangeweale for as long as they were at the warehouse at her own expense without giving it a second thought or expecting thanks or gratitude. And she's been so generous with her time and support for your brothers and mother's business ventures, too, even though it has cost her a great deal.
I could go on, but I think it's best if I told her myself. For the record, though, while I might have been surprised back when my son first started mentioning her name as part of his group of friends, she has since proven her loyalty over and over again, and she has never given me a reason to doubt her, and I'll be sure to make sure she knows it.
Thank you, Ron.