Order Only: An unexpected visitor

[alt_arthur]

I just had an unexpected visitor drop by. My goodness, this is a first. I looked up from my reports to discover Lucius Malfoy looming over my desk.

I was so startled I almost upset my tea.

After a confused moment, I invited him to sit and excavated a few piles of parchment from a nearby chair. He shook his head and stayed standing, his lip curling a little as he glanced around. He only had a moment, he said, but he had come to see me on the matter of the Prophet article.

That made me flush rather red. I fumbled for a response, something to the effect that I'm sure I didn't have to tell him that the article contained gross inaccuracies. He nodded, and then, to my astonishment, said that he simply wished to deliver a small token of appreciation to 'your youngest son' for the service he rendered to Miss Parkinson. 'If he's likely to be at the centre of catastrophe,' he said, 'you might want to ensure he can at least properly defend himself - and those around him.' He gave me a wintery smile and then placed a small bag on my desk with a clink, and he left before I could think of a response.

I opened up the bag and discovered it held a tidy pile of gold, along with a new wand permit.

...

I just finished writing the entry above, but was interrupted by an emergency call. Barty Crouch, Jr. said something in his post about unrest in Ashfield, Dacorum and Wyre. Some the barracks in Dacorum have been set on fire, and the whereabouts of several administrators at Ashfield is unknown. It is feared they may have been taken hostage. The standard security apparatus seems to be overrun, and MLE enforcers are being called out as reinforcements.

Comments

[alt_bill]

Lucius Malfoy? Lucius Bloody Malfoy wants to buy Ron a wand?!

[alt_arthur]

Apparently so.

[alt_sirius]

Well, keep the money, Arthur. You can -

No, you can't. I was about to suggest giving him one of the ones we'll send through - but it just occurs to me that it could be a trap, to see if there are any sources for wands other than the approved ones.

But then again, how would he know, as long as you've got the permit to get the new one?

[alt_arthur]

The way the permit works is it has to be filed back with the Ministry once a wand is purchased. It's a good thought, but I'd probably not want to play fast and loose with a permit arranged personally by Mr Malfoy.

[alt_molly]

Well, for goodness sake! I want Ron to have a new wand of course, but to take money from Lucius Malfoy of all people!

[alt_bill]

I think you and Dad should take the money and use if for the wand, Mum.

Look at it this way...if Ron grows up and joins the Order when he leaves school like Charlie and me, wouldn't it be a nice touch if he ends sending a hex or two Lucius Malfoy's way with a wand Malfoy himself provided?

[alt_molly]

That's not the sort of thing to even joke about!

Arthur, I saw Kingsley's post. I suppose you won't be getting home at any reasonable hour tonight, will you?

[alt_arthur]

I think you can safely assume I'll be here for a long time, if not all night. Don't wait up for me, Molly love. I've brewed some strong tea to keep me going.

[alt_alice]

Wyre? Are you sure?

It's the second Wednesday of the month, isn't it?

Evelyn and Augusta go to Wyre the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month to serve soup. At least they usually go.

Oh. Oh dear.

And if we went to help, we'd run the risk of getting caught without proper papers.

I'll send an owl to check and see if they are all right, but oh, dear. That's not good at all.

[alt_sirius]

Sounds like all Lancashire from Crouch's last comment, Allie.

Your mother-in-law's a wise bird; I'm sure if there'd been a hint of trouble she'd get her and Evelyn out of there.

[alt_kingsley]

I'll apparate to her home and see if she's there, Alice. With luck, I'll be able to report back and set your mind at easier sooner than we could if you send an owl and have to wait for a response.

[alt_alice]

Oh, please. Yes.

[alt_kingsley]

They are home and safe, they got turned away at the camp entrance. No one was allowed in. Hope this sets your mind at rest.

[alt_alice]

Oh, sweet Merlin.

I can't thank you enough, Kingsley.

[alt_bill]

Good news!

[alt_sirius]

For once, camp security is on our side!

Did Augusta have anything to say about the situation, though? Or have you heard anything else from other contacts? How bad is it?

[alt_kingsley]

Didn't stay long to talk with her before I got a message from one of Davidson's men that called me away. She did say she wasn't surprised by the trouble, though. The newly awakened Sleepers haven't been willing to roll over and be docile for their new masters, to say the least.

[alt_frank]

I told her in the last letter she should stop going.

but knowing mum

buggeryfuck.

she'd have her wand, which makes her a target.

fucking bloody hell.

[alt_frank]

sorryhermione

[alt_alice]

I know what you're thinking, Frank.

But we don't even know if they are there.

And even if they were there, the odds of you finding them and getting them out without anyone checking your papers first are slim to none.

Where are you?

[alt_frank]

I don't give a bloody fig about the papers

those goddamn MLE idiots will stun everything that moves

and that mob can't tell the difference between good wizards and bad ones, they'll just see a witch and go to town

and if my baby is in the middle of that

[alt_alice]

You're in the Potions room, aren't you?

I'm coming, Frank. Just stay there.

Please.

[alt_frank]

fine.

but if kingsley finds an empty house I'm bloody going no mistake.

[alt_arthur]

Alice. Sit on him, hex him, bind him, do whatever you have to do to keep him there. Let Kingsley make sure they're safe; he's perfectly capable of doing so.

Frank, don't lose your head, man.

[alt_alice]

Oh, he's not going anywhere.

Trust me.

[alt_lupin]

Good grief, you nip out for a quiet afternoon walk and all hell breaks loose.

Are you still in the potions room? We're on our way.

[alt_alice]

yes. we're still waiting to hear from Kinsgsley.

Oh dear.

This isn't

Tonks, sweetheart, he's not always like this.

I'm sorry.

[alt_frank]

sorry, arthur mate.

I guess I did for a little there.

but it's back on solid now.

[alt_kingsley]

I trust you saw my reply to Alice, that they're safe.

You're mum's a rare woman, Frank.

I managed to get a private word with her out of Evelyn's earshot and told her Kevin's dad asked me to check to see she was safe, given the outbreak at Wyre. She sniffed and told me tartly it was a mum's job to worry after the son, not the other way around.

Then she added I should remind you wear your wellies when you go out in the rain. 'But I imagine he doesn't have the sense to do so.'

[alt_frank]

thanks for checking mate.

much appreciated.

[alt_frank]

and that sounds like my mum for you.

[alt_sirius]

Yeah, but she'll get your daughter to safety, if there's even a whiff of trouble. You know that, right?

Still and all, I have to wish them all luck. If they can bring down the camps, now, it'd be a huge step forward. The hard part'll be convincing them that there are those with wands who aren't all bad.

[alt_kingsley]

Stay put, my friend. I'm going to go check things out for you.

[alt_sirius]

Good man, Kingsley. What's the word?

[alt_kingsley]

Safe and sound. If anything, Augusta seems to wonder what the fuss was about.