Order Only Private Message to Albus Dumbledore and Alice Longbottom

[alt_poppy]

Wanted you to know that Hester Charles has invited me out to Osmington Mills for supper this evening. (I understand they're calling it the Integrity now, distancing themselves from 'Smugglers' Inn' as if that were only ever a quaint Mugglism). I gather a good number of the clan will be there--Seawards, Lewises and Champs, certainly, along with a Willoughby or a Voss, perhaps. Hester promises her uncle Emmanuel will be there, and Anna Walters.

She seemed pleased to see me--interested to hear what I might have on offer and willing to discuss what they might do for us.

I'll ask after Mundungus, of course.


Don't expect to hear from me before tomorrow, but if you don't hear from me then, you may worry.

Comments

[alt_albus]

Poppy, dear lady, I do hope it went well enough.

Did they find the particular task I wanted you to ask about to be the right blend of risk and reward? Diving is not smuggling, but they seemed our best choice for that particular task.

[alt_poppy]

Albus. I do apologise!

They kept me out until the wee hours (quite entertaining, on the whole) and then I woke late and had to rush down for the morning session. Never been less interested in blood replenishing treatments, I assure you.

I'm just off for luncheon now with some of my fellows, but I promise to answer all questions later this afternoon when we're given time to ourselves.


Now If I've only got another packet of headache powder in my luggage, all will be well.

[alt_poppy]

Ah. Yes. Owe you a report. Haven't forgotten.

Emmanuel Charles is just as you remember him, Albus. Cunning. Crass. Capable of anything and everything, including finding the right other person to take on those things he's not got skills for.

It's still his empire, and no mistake.

He'd got a pair of divers and a retrieval team in mind before I'd finished laying out the proposal. Turns out that's entirely in their line of work. 'Things have always ended up on the seabed now and then and needed retrieving. Leave it to us. We've got our ways.'

So there you go: they're just the ones for the task. Particularly as they have enough history with you to know that making off with the item in question is not a wise strategy for the long term--tempting as it will no doubt be once they have hold of it. (Hester told me as I was leaving that they hoped we were on the edge of better times and that they wanted us to remember them if we need their sort of experience and support as things go along.)

Payment-wise, they're content to have whatever else might be found in the wreckage, but there was one interesting added request. I mentioned the Forest, Alice, and Anna immediately asked whether we couldn't get them a breeding pair of that hybrid firecrab that made such a stir when it was discovered a few years ago. She'd been to see them in the New London zoo. (Do you suppose you could ask Hagrid about that?) I'm not certain what they want them for, but perhaps it's best not to know.

[alt_albus]

Hagrid, yes. Might be a few days.

Not that the item would do them all that much good, if it works as my research suggests it might. A calculated risk, entirely.

Interesting what makes common cause, as well.