Order Only: Molly

[alt_poppy]

Molly, I'm so sorry I wasn't able to write any sooner. I know you must be terribly worried.

She woke for me, but made very little sense--nothing more than disconnected phrases. She said everything looks fuzzy to her, and she seemed to indicate that her vision was blurred before she lost consciousness. As you've undoubtedly seen, Miss Perks has reported that there have been other spells of memory loss and unusual behaviour.

I've given her something to ease her confusion, but I will be keeping her awake tonight. Losing consciousness bears careful watching. She'll stay here where I can keep an eye on her through tomorrow at the least.

I know this is not as much reassurance as you'd wish, but I promise you, Molly, that I will take very good care of her.

As for the other child, he is alive, but like Mr Boot, he's been completely petrified. It's perfectly maddening, but there's not a thing we can do for either of them until the Mandrakes mature in spring.

Comments

[alt_mcgonagall]

I've been ignored on this issue for weeks, now; but last night I finally put in a Floo call to the Lord Protector himself, and damn the consequences. I know it's counter-intuitive that I should want to speak with him, but really, Harry Marvolo is at the school and surely, surely he would be concerned, one would think.

'Your concerns do you credit, Minerva,' he said in that unctuous way of his, 'and I knew I should have to speak with you eventually. But you needn't fear. My child is quite safe, as are all good and pious citizens of the Protectorate.'

Well, I don't know how little Bobby Stebbins wasn't a good citizen, but one can't contradict the Lord Protector. And now at least I know why none of my inquiries have been achieving anything: as I've been assuming that everyone will be properly terrified by the Petrifications. But now, too, I mustn't pursue it further, or I shall be putting myself in the Lord Protector's line of fire.

As far as I can tell, this must mean the Lord Protector is behind the attacks somehow. Otherwise he would be frantic over Marvolo's health and safety. But he hasn't traveled within the boundaries of the wards in months; they warn me when any Death Eater does. He may be powerful, but I doubt even his ability to operate entirely from afar. So there must be a hidden Death Eater within the school. One of the seventh-years, perhaps? Or - and this frightens me, I shall admit - has he given special orders to Carrow?

I shall have to think, hard, on what my next actions shall be.

[alt_poppy]

Mordred.

Well, it comes round again, does it not? There's no protection against the Protector.

[alt_sirius]

You can't even conduct your own ....?

That tears it. That's

I'm

I'd like to sink my fangs right into that pasty throat.

My Galleons're on Carrow. The way he manipulated that duel, or at least that's what I could make out. That other professor was there, Brutka, wasn't he? Minerva, were you? Can you at least find out what he thought of the matter? I know he's fiercely loyal, there's no zealot like a convert, but surely he can be objective about the way Carrow pushed himself forward and made his pupil conjure that snake. It's like he was trying to force Harry to use that damned snake-talk. So the other students would fear him.

That's what I'm coming to think: They're making Harry out to be some dark wizarding talent. Talented maybe, but dark? Never.

By Circe, I'm sure poor James is turning in his grave at the thought.

Well. Something has to be done. I mean have you glanced through the journals this morning? I've counted at least a dozen entries by students all worried they could be next, but afraid even to say that because someone might think they're an 'enemy of the Protectorate' - oh, it's just ridiculous. I mean, this Bobby Stebbins kid aside, how can a cat be an enemy of the state? For Merlin's sake.

Well, there's something I can do, anyway. I just hope it does more good than harm.

[alt_alice]

The thought of it alone makes me ill, Sirius.

What if he's trying to position Harry to be the "True Heir of Slytherin" and all that rot? You saw how hard he pushed for Harry to be in that House first year, even though he wasn't sorted there. Perhaps this is the next step in his plan?