Order Only: Word from Terry Boot

[alt_arthur]

Ron sent me a letter telling me that he has received a letter from Terry Boot. I am pleased to learn that the boys have been in owl contact with him--which must mean the twins are in touch with him, too--so the lad doesn't feel entirely cut off from the world.

However, what Ron asked me to pass along does more than just hint that his situation is a precarious one. Specifically, Terry reported that Carrow has killed a prisoner who has come back as a ghost, and the ghost asked Terry, if he could, to get word to his family of his fate. A very sad commission, and very worrying, of course, as it means that Carrow has no hesitation to continue to commit murder.

The man's name was Donaghan Tremlett, and he was a muggleborn. I went into the office today, both to look up those files for Alice, and to check his records. Very sad; the man was only in his early twenties, but he had a handfasted spouse and a couple of adopted children. I will make a point of visiting the woman this week in West Lindley.

There's one point that gives me (some very small) satisfaction in Ron's letter: apparently, the ghost is intent on getting what revenge he can on Carrow by making his life as miserable as possible, haunting him night and day. I can only hope, however, that if the ghost raises that monster's stress level, he won't take it out on the boy.

I had another thought, too: does the Fidelius charm also bind ghosts? In other words, could the ghost slip in and out of the castle and meet with any of us? It would have to be willing to help us, of course, and follows Terry's directions if we can get word to him, and ghosts, of course, can be notoriously whimsical and unreliable. I wonder, though. If it were explained to it that doing so would vex or baffle Carrow, perhaps it might be willing? At any rate, it sounds though it means that Terry Boot may have another, rather unlikely ally. I hope that some good may come from such a tragic situation.

I do not look forward to having to break the news to the poor man's spouse.

Comments

[alt_kingsley]

That's an interesting idea, the thought that a ghost might not be bound by the Fidelius. I don't know for sure, and neither do the rest of the players. It might depend on when the man was brought into the castle. Was it before or after the Fidelius spell was cast? If it was after, I suppose he must have been told the secret in order to enter (unless someone who was told the secret brought him in via side along apparition, perhaps; I don't know how that works with Fidelius, either), but it if was before, then if he leaves, even as ghost, he might not be able to get back in.

[alt_poppy]

Such a terrible thing. I'm sure that the family will benefit from knowing what's happened to this man, but that makes the task no less wretched for you.

As for the ghost, I've no idea. I did try asking one or two of the ghosts here, but I found them singularly uninterested in speculating about magical theory. To be honest, though, I've a rather sorry crowd here in my wing--most of them are little more than chilling wisps or late-night wailers.

I would hate to separate Tremlett's ghost from his quarry: I can think of no one who deserves a relentless haunting more than Amycus Carrow. I suppose, though, it wouldn't hurt if Mr Boot were to ask the ghost to consider carrying messages for him.

What I find most interesting in all this is that your son has not only been exchanging owls with Mr Boot but was willing to trust you with that secret. Even that he thought you might be willing and in a position to help with this sort of matter is interesting. I can't decide, though, whether it is encouraging or troubling. Given what you told us of his interaction with Selwyn, that is. There's no chance the boy is testing you with this somehow? But surely he's not made up the business of corresponding with Mr Boot, and if he's engaged in that, then he's not in Selwyn's pocket, surely.