Order Only: Visit from Dominic Selwyn
Dec. 24th, 2012 01:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_billSelwyn showed up at the Burrow about an hour after the family had completed having lunch. He asked to speak privately with Mum, but she asked that I be included in the conversation, given that I'm a co-executor of Dad's estate.
We discussed various matters, but this is of the most interest to the Order in general. He reiterated that the Ministry knows that the IMA were the perpetrators, but that fact is NOT to get out. Then he sprang a surprise: there is going to be a rite performed, and as Arthur's heirs, we have the right to send a representative of the family to witness it. The purpose of the rite is to 'protect the wizards of Britain from the rabble of Ireland.' We didn't know what that meant, so I probed a little. It was clear he was reluctant to go into much detail, but he finally admitted that although it must be kept secret, the rite was meant in part as the Protectorate's justice for the attack against the Lord Protector. And we are being included as witnesses because we are entitled to revenge, too.
Merlin.
And as for 'protecting the wizards of Britain,' he pussy-footed around a bit, and then finally hinted it had something to do with the wards.
My eyes met Mum's, and we could each tell what the other was thinking: whatever it is, we need to see this. Selwyn went on to describe the conditions for the witness: whoever comes must be an adult, as 'this will NOT be a fit thing for a child to see.' It must be someone capable of controlling emotion, as an outburst might distract the ones enacting the rite. It will involve things that observers might find upsetting, particularly if they are not particularly accustomed to the Dark Arts. Whoever it is will not be allowed to bring a wand to the rite. Someone will hold their wand for safekeeping a short distance away. The same will be true for any magical jewelry and all metal objects (which, again, can be held for safekeeping).
Oh, and one other tidbit he let drop: Dolohov will be there.
Well. Sounds like a thoroughly dark rite.
I have agreed to go. I assume that I am going to watch an execution. Maybe with some blood sport for the appetizer.
God.
We discussed various matters, but this is of the most interest to the Order in general. He reiterated that the Ministry knows that the IMA were the perpetrators, but that fact is NOT to get out. Then he sprang a surprise: there is going to be a rite performed, and as Arthur's heirs, we have the right to send a representative of the family to witness it. The purpose of the rite is to 'protect the wizards of Britain from the rabble of Ireland.' We didn't know what that meant, so I probed a little. It was clear he was reluctant to go into much detail, but he finally admitted that although it must be kept secret, the rite was meant in part as the Protectorate's justice for the attack against the Lord Protector. And we are being included as witnesses because we are entitled to revenge, too.
Merlin.
And as for 'protecting the wizards of Britain,' he pussy-footed around a bit, and then finally hinted it had something to do with the wards.
My eyes met Mum's, and we could each tell what the other was thinking: whatever it is, we need to see this. Selwyn went on to describe the conditions for the witness: whoever comes must be an adult, as 'this will NOT be a fit thing for a child to see.' It must be someone capable of controlling emotion, as an outburst might distract the ones enacting the rite. It will involve things that observers might find upsetting, particularly if they are not particularly accustomed to the Dark Arts. Whoever it is will not be allowed to bring a wand to the rite. Someone will hold their wand for safekeeping a short distance away. The same will be true for any magical jewelry and all metal objects (which, again, can be held for safekeeping).
Oh, and one other tidbit he let drop: Dolohov will be there.
Well. Sounds like a thoroughly dark rite.
I have agreed to go. I assume that I am going to watch an execution. Maybe with some blood sport for the appetizer.
God.
Private message to Remus Lupin and Sirius Black
Date: 2012-12-24 08:35 pm (UTC)Selwyn also spoke very frankly concerning the life debt he owes to Dad, and it's clear that he feels he must take responsibility for the family. He was tactful--I was grateful for that--but straightforward. To be blunt, as much as it sticks in my craw, he's absolutely right, because without Dad's income, Mum is in a very tight situation.
I was impressed, despite myself. He has already looked into some options for cobbling together small stipends into an income stream that will help Mum make ends meet. There's a fund for 'protecting the Lord Protector' which he had to stretch things a bit to cover, but this was an attack on the LP and it did kill Dad instead, so. He looked into redirecting money to us from the Rebuilding Ireland Fund but since there's official denial that IMA was involved, the accounting would be too complicated. There's another fund he turned up that's for the Widows and Orphans of Those Who Died in the Lord's Service. He also made it clear that we should contact his clerk if bill collectors are harassing us.
Then he mentioned the Repopulation Office, which issues incentives to the wizarding population that have large families. Having seven pureblood children entitled us to move into a stately home, but Mum and Dad had turned that option down long ago. Selwyn, however, sensibly pointed out that we could accept the stately home and rent it out to some other family who has not had, as he put it, 'as much reproductive success.' And, he added, we were entitled to getting a mudblood servant. Mum's hackles went up at that suggestion, which he couldn't help missing, but I managed to convey the impression that she was offended by the idea of someone of impure blood under our roof. He agreed and then suggested that, again, we could rent the mudblood service's out, and that would give us another income stream.
I told him that my intention is to give up my flat and move back into the Burrow to save money and be with Mum. This was a surprise to Mum, and she started to protest, but I squeezed her hand and she fell silent, thankfully. I explained that Percy recently ended a relationship, and needs to get out of his own living situation, so my idea is that Percy can move into my flat, which is smaller and will save money, and then we just have to see about how to break Percy's lease.
He's quick, I'll give him that. He immediately picked up the hint (Merlin, but it stung my pride to give it) and said that he would take care of arranging things with Percy's landlord so that an accommodation could be reached that would satisfy everyone.
So: as much as Charlie and I hate it, we're both relieved, too. At least Mum is going to get some help. And if I can convince her to deal with the Repopulation Committee, it might be an opportunity for the Order, or at least one of the Order's allies. We could get someone into the house who would be doing activities we could support, with a very tolerant landlord. And it would get one more muggleborn out of the camps, and into good hands.
I also wonder: this may be a ways down the road, but Charlie and I have been discussing whether it might not be a good idea to get Mum involved at Laszlo's somehow. I reckon she would be a very good clerk. She's personable, and has a lot of energy...or she will, when the grief eases a little. And you could trust her implicitly, of course. Naturally, the shop isn't probably doing well enough to provide her with full-time wages, at least not yet. But maybe helping out a day or two. Or she could help keep the books; she's very good at that.
Anyway, think about it?
Re: Private message to Remus Lupin and Sirius Black
Date: 2012-12-24 09:33 pm (UTC)Regarding Laszlo's -- if we hired Molly, we could potentially expand. We could certainly make it work part-time -- maybe even full-time, although we'd need to start her part time. There's quite a lot of demand for our wares, and not just because of what we get from Aleks -- I'm thinking she wouldn't just work in the shop, she might also act as our buyer. Or mind the shop while I go.
We could get in touch with Beth -- she might know of people who could use the house. Or perhaps Kingsley has thoughts there.
Re: Private message to Remus Lupin and Sirius Black
Date: 2012-12-25 01:27 am (UTC)I wonder how hard it would be to set up a branch office in Hogsmeade?
Bill, I - hope I didn't bollocks anything up, being there this morning. Kingsley said .... Well. There are some risks worth taking, is all I'll say about it.
Anyway.
Remus, I'm obviously back awake now, so I'll be down in a tick to put the finishing touches on Dora's presents.
Re: Private message to Remus Lupin and Sirius Black
Date: 2012-12-25 02:44 am (UTC)Yeah, I hope you didn't bollocks anything up, either. (And dammit, Sirius. I could have saved my damn breath.)