Order Only

[alt_poppy]

I'm snatching a brief moment of quiet to tell you that I have a bit of a situation here on the ward.

Antonin Dolohov has suffered a relapse of the curse injuries that forced his retirement from 'diplomacy', and when I say 'relapse', I mean that he is entirely incapacitated and has had only scattered intervals of consciousness since he was found in his rooms yesterday afternoon. He had not been seen since sometime the previous day, and the elves report that he had not requested any meals.

I do wish that if these Councilwizards are to join us on the staff, they would take better care of themselves. It's the same thing again as when Rabastan Lestrange was cursed. Only this time it is not Auror Lestrange, but Auror Crouch keeping vigil at the bedside and 'overseeing' my work.

(Aurora Sinistra put it to me that 'if we tell Auror Crouch that 'Tosha' is ill, he'll be here in a heartbeat. If we don't tell him 'Tosha' is ill and he finds out later, he will storm in here one heartbeat after finding out, extremely annoyed he wasn't informed. Which would you prefer?' Not much of a choice, really.)

In any case, he's not my only guest. Armenius Fletcher (High Muckety-Muck and Healer to Our Lord's Nearest) arrived this morning first thing and is making his own assessment of the situation. I gather from his conversations with them, that we will shortly have the whole of Dolohov's specialist team here for a proper dressing down.

I intend to keep out of the middle of that if there is any chance of it. Not that I wish any of them ill, but it would not be inconvenient were there an injury or two brought up from the Quidditch match to occupy me.

Comments

[alt_pomona]

Aurora did have rather a point. (She had a word along that line in my ear at lunch.)

It could be worse, I suppose - it could be one of the Carrows again, and you having to body bind the one to stay put, and the other foully looming.

Anyrate. Can I be of help? I watched part of the match, but it was miserable enough I came back in. I could arrange to brush up against something in the greenhouses that requires treatment, much as it hurts my professional dignity.

And - does this mean we should put off tomorrow's conversation? I'd much rather have you there, and I think we need you. But if you're not sure you can get away without notice, well.

[alt_poppy]

Let me hold you in reserve? I've no wish to bruise your professional dignity unless it's truly necessary.

As for tomorrow's conversation with Aurora, let's wait and see. I shouldn't like to defer that, and who knows? Dolohov could have been whisked off to St Mungo's by then--or, well. One never knows what difference a day might make in a situation like this one.

[alt_pomona]

Right. You know where I am if you need a distraction.

And as to the rest. Well. True enough. And it's not like Aurora and I can't occupy ourself in conversation. We'd just need to know in time for Severus to be in place in advance.

[alt_severus]

I am at your disposal.

[alt_severus]

I had wondered what was going on.

It is unsurprising that Crouch came running; out of all Dolohov's students, Crouch most clung to him, and was ever the favourite. Be careful: although Crouch may appear to be entirely taken up with Dolohov's illness, he sees more than he might give sign of. Be unimpeachable.

As to the rest -- I hesitate to say such, particularly when I have just finished telling you to take extra care and particularly since I know what your answer will be: however, I must point out that given the power struggle you are trying your utmost to stay out of the middle of, and given that too many potioneers spoil the brew, we may be in a perfect situation to rid ourselves of one of the Council. I doubt you would countenance outright action, but the same end may be able to be achieved simply by being slightly less diligent in your calling than you usually are. If your infirmary is to be invaded by outsiders -- perhaps you ought not mention anything they might be missing, and let Dolohov live or die by their care.

[alt_alice]

My first impulse is to caution strongly against doing anything (or not doing anything) that could put you under any more unwanted scrutiny than you already are, Poppy.

If he were to die, there would no doubt be a full inquiry and you would be thoroughly questioned.

He is vulnerable, and were he to not recover, we would have rid ourselves of an influential (and still formidable) enemy. That is true. I'm just not sure it's something you could get away with unscathed, even if you'd be willing.

[alt_poppy]

Severus, let me assure you that if his specialists should happen to fatally mismanage his care, I will not interfere. Likely I will not be allowed close enough to have opportunity.

I cannot promise the same should he reach that pass on my own watch. For the reasons you and Alice both evince, I should need to do my utmost to see him through. And in accordance with my oath.

[alt_severus]

I am sorry that you must consider such matters.

[alt_sirius]

Fletcher is rather an old-school Healer. Is he Crouch's own? Or Malfoy's?

Perhaps we could contrive for something to happen to Malfoy requiring Fletcher to divide his attentions between Scotland and Wiltshire. Heh.

But I agree with everyone else: you can't possibly be seen to take anything less than absolute care with his recovery. Although if this Fletcher bloke is really all that high up, perhaps he'll listen to you about the lack of potions ingredients like cinnibaris!

I suppose it would be too much to hope that you could convince him that Dolohov is well beyond your skills and he'd best assume full responsibility? That might be the best option, especially if you doubt that he will recover.

[alt_poppy]

Lucius Malfoy sent Fletcher to us. And, yes, he is 'old-school'. As am I, rather.

I'm afraid I cannot guess whether Dolohov will succumb or pull through. He has managed to complicate my position, however: in his first interval of consciousness after Fletcher arrived, he explained very clearly that he has placed himself in my care and does not trust the St Mungo's team to place his interests foremost.

You may guess how that sat with Fletcher.