All right. I've been thinking about this, and while I sympathise with Molly's concerns, I have to say that I think Sirius is making a sound proposal. Honestly, Molly, I do sympathise: I hate having to sit tight here whilst others of you run terrible risks.
We've just had a terribly close call, and Bill's right that he's not yet out of its shadow. I don't think we can count on the danger passing quickly by, and I believe that Bill is in especial danger because, well, he is a Weasley, and like it or not, the Weasleys have built a reputation for fairmindedness, which this regime has identified as a propensity towards what they term blood-treachery. I hate to say it, but I'll be most surprised if Bill does not come under suspicion. (And I wouldn't trust it if the eye of official scrutiny appeared to pass by him.)
I don't think Bill ought to wait. Caution at this point may only lead to an appearance of guilt.
Here it is: if Bill were truly innocent, he'd have been caught utterly by surprise yesterday to learn that a trusted member of his department may well have been some sort of traitor. If Bill were truly loyal to the Protectorate, then the first thing he'd be expected to apply his formidable skills to solving is the question of whether anything in Archer's work will yield any clues upon a close reinspection. So I'd think Bill ought to be making a deliberate show not only of co-operating with the investigation, but also of re-examining anything in his files on which Archer had a role.
I agree with Sirius that it would be a very good idea if Bill were to 'find' some information he could offer the MLE or the Aurors that would shed some (carefully styled) light to confirm (and shape the interpretation of) Archer's treachery.
And I hate to say it, but I also agree with Sirius that the obvious thing would be for Bill to 'find' some 'encoded' hints that Archer was in league with the Archtraitor Black. And I agree, though with much trepidation, that it's not enough to manufacture evidence of collusion between this conveniently dead traitor and Sirius: what's needed is some clue to Sirius's whereabouts. That's what they most want. It's what all of them would curse themselves to get hold of. And it's the only thing I can think that would appease their thirst for scapegoats if we wish to avoid actually sacrificing someone to their interrogation.
no subject
We've just had a terribly close call, and Bill's right that he's not yet out of its shadow. I don't think we can count on the danger passing quickly by, and I believe that Bill is in especial danger because, well, he is a Weasley, and like it or not, the Weasleys have built a reputation for fairmindedness, which this regime has identified as a propensity towards what they term blood-treachery. I hate to say it, but I'll be most surprised if Bill does not come under suspicion. (And I wouldn't trust it if the eye of official scrutiny appeared to pass by him.)
I don't think Bill ought to wait. Caution at this point may only lead to an appearance of guilt.
Here it is: if Bill were truly innocent, he'd have been caught utterly by surprise yesterday to learn that a trusted member of his department may well have been some sort of traitor. If Bill were truly loyal to the Protectorate, then the first thing he'd be expected to apply his formidable skills to solving is the question of whether anything in Archer's work will yield any clues upon a close reinspection. So I'd think Bill ought to be making a deliberate show not only of co-operating with the investigation, but also of re-examining anything in his files on which Archer had a role.
I agree with Sirius that it would be a very good idea if Bill were to 'find' some information he could offer the MLE or the Aurors that would shed some (carefully styled) light to confirm (and shape the interpretation of) Archer's treachery.
And I hate to say it, but I also agree with Sirius that the obvious thing would be for Bill to 'find' some 'encoded' hints that Archer was in league with the Archtraitor Black. And I agree, though with much trepidation, that it's not enough to manufacture evidence of collusion between this conveniently dead traitor and Sirius: what's needed is some clue to Sirius's whereabouts. That's what they most want. It's what all of them would curse themselves to get hold of. And it's the only thing I can think that would appease their thirst for scapegoats if we wish to avoid actually sacrificing someone to their interrogation.