Order Only: Trouble with parchment work

[alt_bill]

Dad, I know I promised you the necessary bona fides for the Ampfield run by now, but the man I've delegated it to, McQuarry, has not delivered them yet. I just got a coded owl from him saying his department has been buried in an audit, so he hasn't been able to turn his attention to our mutual project. Treacher's just gotten married. He shares an office at work, so can't do the job there, and with the new wife he doesn't feel it's safe to bring any Order business home. And the third person I'd turn to, Byron, has been suffering from some vision problems--cataracts, I think--and doesn't trust his eyesight for replicating the finer details that we need on the forged parchments.

I'm hoping that McQuarry's desk will be more clear by next week. Hope that's soon enough for you and Frank.

Comments

[alt_frank]

I know you're pressed for time mate

next week isn't ideal, yeah, but it's better than next month, thats for sure. we'll be ready to go just as soon as it's done, and Id rather it be done right than rushed.

[alt_sirius]

What about Kent? Should we explore other options?

If forging documentation is a problem ... what if we could get the real forms? I'll send an owl to Terrie.

I don't know how much longer we can hold off collecting these children, before their magic manifests.

[alt_frank]

do you think she'd be up for it? wouldnt get cold feet?

[alt_sirius]

No, I think it'd be just the kind of thing she would do. It's not too risky and it's right in the way of her usual duties.

[alt_frank]

maybe it'd be good to ask her, then, see if she'll follow through for us. itd be good to have a second source for paperwork just in case, and coming right from the camps theres no doubt itd be current.

[alt_bill]

I think I'll have the parchmentwork for Kent in a day or two. That was being delegated to somebody else.

If you think she's trustworthy, that might be quite an elegant solution. Does she know about Moddey Dhoo? Or does she trust you enough to not ask any questions?

[alt_frank]

if it's only a matter of asking for black death certificate papers and entry papers, she doesn't need to know the whole of it, and itd be pretty hard to guess what we were up to based on that alone. I mean, she could sort out we were getting people out of the camps, but not muggleborn kids, and not what we were doing with them after.

[alt_sirius]

I've said before I'll go wherever you lot need me. I can make the run to Kent easily enough. Though someone should come along who can take the sprog back to Moddey Dhoo - Kingsley or Alice if Frank is busy at Ampfield by then.

She's that trustworthy - and believe me, saving babies is enough of a weak point with her that she'd help with no questions. She's worked out that we have a secret base of operations, but not where. And yes, she knows that we're raising some muggleborns there. Like I said, this is just the kind of thing that would motivate her to help.

I'm drafting the note to her now. Which forms do you generally make up, Bill? Some reason to gain access to the camps, right, and the death certificate for the parents. And isn't there often an exit parchment to leave with the child?

[alt_frank]

Al's free to go with you, yeah. shes been itching to get out in the field.

[alt_alice]

You're certainly right on both counts, love! Sign me up, please!

And I do think Terri is a good source that we've left untapped. Let's see if she manages to take some of the stress off of Bill's team, because it really would be much appreciated all round if it works as it should.

[alt_bill]

I'd be very happy if it works out. Some delegation would be a good thing all around, I think.

[alt_bill]

Sounds good. Camp access and death certificate, yeah, if she can provide them.

[alt_arthur]

But we don't use an exit certificate for the child; that would rather undercut the believability of a death certificate. Generally, we put a sleep charm on the baby and smuggle it out in an attache case.

[alt_alice]

Your group really has been doing such a fantastic job, Bill, darling. We've had such a large volume of papers that've had to be created, and quickly, too. I don't say it nearly enough, but thanks and thanks again, and I know how stressful all this must be for you.

[alt_bill]

Thanks, Alice.