Order Only: Emergency Floo call in the middle of the night

[alt_arthur]

Something's happening at Taunton Deane. I was rousted out of bed at 3:00 a.m. by Griderson, telling me to get into the office as soon as I can. He wanted to know anything I could tell him about the security arrangements of the camp, given that I had just visited it recently. Details are sketchy, but it appears there was a disturbance timed to coincide with the performance of a Christmas programme. Griderson is being tight-lipped, but I think some administrators are being held hostage. I wonder if one of them is Charles Chicory.

Bill, get me any information you can glean.

Comments

[alt_sirius]

Have you heard anything more? Were any of Davidson's people involved?

[alt_bill]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, Dad. There's a lot of activity at MLE headquarters this morning, along with a great deal of confusion. I do know the Regional Administrator was at the concert and is one of the hostages. What they want isn't clear yet--they aren't bothering to negotiate with anyone outside. I heard one rumour that the gates were opened shortly after the alarm went up--not security forces going in, but someone, or several someones going out. So maybe they were taking one or more hostages somewhere else? No idea yet, although enforcers are combing the countryside. Otherwise, it looks as though we might be in for a siege.

[alt_bill]

One extremely odd thing: someone in my network has been ordered to prepare a report on an urgent basis, to pass up to line to the MLE on--get this--the wizarding antecedents of J.S. Bach.


???

I have absolutely no idea what that is about.

[alt_bill]

All right. I'm getting the news with a bit of a lag, but there's another report now. It was a group that had the Regional Director in tow. They've been apprehended and the man has been rescued, albeit badly hexed.

They were heading to the regional warehouse of the Sleepers. Apparently they tried to Imperius him to get him to awaken them, but he couldn't. Didn't have the power to do so.

[alt_arthur]

The MLE has broken through the resistance at Taunton Deane and regained control of the hostages. A few were hexed, but all of the hostages lived. Can't say the same for the attackers. At least seventeen dead, but there's word of a few prisoners.

[alt_arthur]

That's extremely peculiar.

[alt_molly]

I'll say. J.S. Bach wasn't a wizard at all, was he?

[alt_bill]

No, but you know how the Ministry likes to rewrite history to claim the most important as one of our own, Mum.

[alt_arthur]

But why now? I would think the MLE would certainly have other things on their minds today.

[alt_bill]

Good question.

[alt_kingsley]

I've sent Davidson a patronus and heard back from him. He had nothing to do with this and is just as surprised as us.