Order Only: Private message to Rachel

[alt_bill]

I'd give anything if I could see you, and lose myself in bed with you. But I can't possibly get away tonight; there are simply too many wounded, and they need every available hand, for tending them and for potion brewing.

But I need to know from someone who's walked this path: is there anything that can be done to help Ron?

He undoubtedly won't turn to me; I've bungled things too badly between us in too many ways, to my everlasting grief. Probably not Mum either. He may turn to the twins, or Charlie, or more likely Sally-Anne.

But if you could tell me anything, I'll...I'll try to pass it on.

Even if you tell me to just keep my mouth shut, I'll listen to that and obey it, too.

Comments

[alt_rachel]

Listen to Justin. He said they needed time. Give them time. They know where to find the rest of you. (Not just Ron, but all of the Order members who had to participate in the atrocities today.)

There are in fact potions that salve the emotional responses. I don't use them and I don't recommend them. If they're offered, let them be offered by the other side, not ours.

[alt_rachel]

We've all had to find a way to come to terms with whatever it is we've had to do. Even people like your mother, who make far fewer ethical compromises than some of us.

I mean -- if you live underground, you don't have to. But we can't all live underground, and those who do have to acknowledge that their lives are only possible because of those of us making unpleasant compromises on the outside.

The only solution is to win this.

[alt_bill]

Agreed.

So let's win it. And just hope to hell we won't lose everything important along the way.

[alt_bill]

Thank you.

[alt_rachel]

Are you at Aldrich?

I've managed to extract myself from what I was working on and no one's likely to come looking for me on a Sunday evening.

And, I got an O on my Potions NEWT.

[alt_bill]

I'm at Aldrich, yes.

Come on over, and bring that Potions NEWT O with you.