Order Only

[alt_bill]

We have absolutely no choice. We MUST admit them.

Minerva, they know our deepest secret of all.

They know about the false book of Hogwarts.

We were betrayed by the Sorting Hat.

I asked them who else they suspected might be working with 'the wand smugglers,' as they call our group. They told me they think Madam Pomfrey is involved, chiefly because of her kindness to Terry Boot. They also think she was in an ideal position to receive contraband goods, like Hermione and Terry's wands, because she receives medical shipments for the hospital wing. They've wondered a bit about Professor Sinistra. And the other one they said they chiefly suspected but were not sure about was you.

I asked them why and they hemmed and hawed a great deal. They didn't want to tell me, and no wonder! But I insisted, saying there was no chance we'd admit them unless they told us everything. It seems that right after they created their secret lock, they more or less kidnapped Terry Boot, broke into your office and put the Sorting Hat on his head. The Hat told Terry that it was sorry he couldn't have been left out of the false book, but he was born too soon. And they've been wondering ever since what the hell it meant.

(Terry Boot's a Ravenclaw. By the way.)

Comments

[alt_poppy]

How many of the others know about the book? And the hat?

Honestly. If all of their cohort know that secret, what are we to do? Make Order members of the lot of them? I think not.

We must, I believe, reconcile ourselves to the fact that we have allied ourselves with another group of (very young) insurgents. A group, which, to all appearances, is as committed to the cause and is as willing to take risks as we ourselves are. (I must say, with respect to the latter, that I am beginning to see a number of events here at the school in a new light.)

That said, I believe that it behooves us to keep the two groups effectively separate. It is certainly in our interest to discover what exactly they have learned or guessed about us, but it is not in anyone's interest that we should become transparent to one another.

That is the one thing we ought to learn from the Dogstar: their structure allows them to take risks we cannot afford because they have the security of knowing that if one cell falls it cannot bring down the whole.

[alt_mcgonagall]

If they have any hint that I may be a member of the Order, the students must be thoroughly aware that I cannot afford to show it—and that they can never drop a hint.

[alt_severus]

How lovely of you to think of my position in the castle as well, Minerva.

[alt_mcgonagall]

Yours is far less tenuous than mine. You might do them some good.

[alt_alice]

He has.

[alt_alice]

I can't speak for them all, Minerva.

But Frank and I think it's a fair assumption that Neville is one of these young people.

Rest assured, he and Hermione both are in a position to know what sort of risk they are all in (Hermione more so, of course), and are not likely to take that sort of thing lightly.

If he's with them, and I know he is, he'll have a very good idea of how dangerous it would be to reveal anyone he suspects to be an ally, and knowing my son, he will take pains to make sure other people in the group understand that as well.

[alt_bill]

I think they know that perfectly well.

[alt_pomona]

Quite, on the need to keep separate.

That they've kept these secrets so long is encouraging, but I do worry what might happen if too many have guesses about sympathetic adults confirmed, how it changes the relationships, and how others might notice in subtle ways. Especially for those of us who live and work not only with sympathetic students and staff but with those who might well be looking for the smallest slip.

There's more than one reason I bury myself in the greenhouses.

[alt_poppy]

Well, and it is sobering to see that they are incorrect in at least one of their guesses.

Imagine if any of them were to compromise themselves with Aurora Sinistra. It might not be calamitous, but it might, too, and it would put her in a position that would sorely test her. I wish I felt certain how that would turn out, but I don't feel entirely confident of her.

I'm afraid, too, that you are right to preserve your distance. I admit that it's tempting to imagine revealing myself to some of these young people, tempting to imagine that I could become a mentor to them and guide them.

That's a temptation I have no intention of indulging, however. I'm already in a position to be of use to them without their knowing any more about me than they do, and that's much the safer course.

Of course, that may be a moot point if certain others of us are revealing themselves, as I take it they are.

[alt_pomona]

Quite.

As to Aurora, that conversation she and I had after the Games has kept me up thinking, more than one night. I wish I thought we could approach her, but I quite agree, it would put her in an entirely untenable position.

I'm more confident in her own sympathies than I think you are (and I think if one of the students did make that mistake, she'd do her best to protect them.) But the company she's in regularly is entirely a different matter. And for that matter, her influence goes only so far.

As to yourself - well, no harm in Matron being seen as a resource and help, without revealing herself.

[alt_poppy]

And, of course Mr Boot is a Ravenclaw. That surprises me not a bit.

[alt_kingsley]

How long have the twins known about the false book, Bill?

[alt_bill]

For three years.

Almost exactly.

[alt_kingsley]

Good grief.

[alt_bill]

Yeah. You said it.

[alt_lupin]

It sounds like they knew, but didn't really KNOW, if they've spent three years wondering what it meant.

But -- bloody hell, Bill. I keep going back and forth between feeling hopeful about the existence of our apparent Junior Auxiliary and feeling utterly horrified at just how much they apparently know.

[alt_bill]

Yeah. I know exactly what you mean. I woke up sweating a couple of points last night at the very thought.

We may have been much happier in our ignorance. But unfortunately, that didn't make us safer. We've just been really, really lucky.

[alt_molly]

Arthur and I stayed up late talking. (After muffling our bedroom, of course.)

I was livid yesterday. (Well, as livid as I could be considering how sick they made me!) But today, I have to admit, I'm almost proud of them. Yes, I am proud of them. I'm proud that they befriended Terry Boot and have been so good to him. I'm proud that they made sure he would be Sorted. What a difference they've made to that poor boy's life.

Arthur pointed out that it's clear that they've absorbed what we've always tried to teach them while still remaining cunning and careful about it, too. The reason they approached me was that they knew I would never betray them if it turned out they were wrong. Once I realised that, I couldn't stay angry.

I will insist that they buckle down to their studies and stay in school. And yes, I hate it. But we can protect them better if we admit them. And keep a closer eye on them, too.

[alt_sirius]

Bill,

Ready for us yet? Remus and I will come over when you give the word. Dora's got up a bit early to cover the shop.

[alt_bill]

Yes, you can come over now any time you like.

(They've informed me that they had a perfectly splendid time talking with Frank and Fu. Apparently they recognise in Fu a total kindred spirit.)

[alt_sirius]

Really? Eventually I have to meet him, then.

Right, we'll be over in a tick.

Have you told them who's coming to discuss their initiation?

[alt_lupin]

Do you think they'll be more impressed if you introduce yourself as Sirius Black, or as Padfoot?

[alt_sirius]

Just shut it, you. It's like John Turner magnified and duplicated.

[alt_bill]

No, I haven't said.