Order Only: Today's story in the Prophet
May. 27th, 2012 11:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_arthurWell, there's no question now why Norma Brownmiller's office was warded on Friday.
I read the story this morning, a four page spread, and it almost made me physically ill. The paper claims that MLE had known of her involvement for months, and she's been the subject of both a departmental internal investigation and the MLE sting that finally cracked Dogstar. Minerva, we have had an incredibly narrow escape. We'd discussed the idea of approaching her for the Order, but you thought the time wasn't quite right. If I had done so, we could have been implicated in all this.
But on the other hand, if I had approached her, perhaps she never would have become involved with Dogstar in the first place.
She hinted three years ago when James Prescott was arrested that she had suspected he was involved in an illegal operation of some sort. I came away with the impression that she'd let me know if they ever contacted her. But if they did, if Prescott's organization was indeed Dogstar, she kept it to herself when she became involved.
For those of you without access to the paper: it's stated that forty-six separate insurgent cells were crushed in the operation. These cells ranged in size from one to six members. When faced with arrest, the 'miscreants' did all they could to kill the brave enforcers, and rather than be captured, many took their own lives and the lives of their comrades. I note that there isn't any clear count of either the number arrested, or of the dead. Fourteen enforcers were injured in the raids. Most are expected to recover, but Our Lord's loyal people are asked to keep Copernicus Gibbon and Celaeno Painter in mind as they cling to life in St Mungo's.
There's an in-depth piece detailing the people involved in Norma's cell. The leader was an apothecary to one of the Muggle camps: Broxtowe, in Nottinghamshire. There was also a camp requisitions specialist from Erewash, in Derbyshire, a camp labour crew overseer from Manchester, and a muggle labourer from the overseer's crew. As for Norma, they've clearly decided to make dragon food out of her. Her objectionable behaviour at work is strongly implied (like trying to lower muggle maternal deaths, I suppose). A short statement from her supervisor, Cresus Deverill: 'Always suspected her of harbouring blood traitor sentiments' etcetera, etcetera. I'm sure he must be sweating, as it's mentioned that there will of course be a complete investigation of the entire department.
Her fate is unclear, but it does mention that her family is missing, and her husband is wanted for questioning. Any loyal citizen who spots him or might be approached by him must of course promptly contact MLE.
The poor devil.
The reporter does his best to quash any rumours that Sirius Black was somehow involved without actually coming right out and stating what the rumours were. It does say, however, that some Dogstar operatives believed he was alive (and thus reveal themselves to be total fools) and these lies gulled and lured the Dogstar operatives to even greater acts of mayhem and treachery.
Among the other bad news: Frank and Alice, I'm going to be sending you a copy because you need to read it. Your names were also featured quite prominently in the coverage, tying you firmly to the worst acts of torture of Protectorate citizens and multiple murders, although your capture has not been reported. I think you must be very careful not to contact Augusta, Evelyn or Neville for a good long time.
I'm so very sorry.
I read the story this morning, a four page spread, and it almost made me physically ill. The paper claims that MLE had known of her involvement for months, and she's been the subject of both a departmental internal investigation and the MLE sting that finally cracked Dogstar. Minerva, we have had an incredibly narrow escape. We'd discussed the idea of approaching her for the Order, but you thought the time wasn't quite right. If I had done so, we could have been implicated in all this.
But on the other hand, if I had approached her, perhaps she never would have become involved with Dogstar in the first place.
She hinted three years ago when James Prescott was arrested that she had suspected he was involved in an illegal operation of some sort. I came away with the impression that she'd let me know if they ever contacted her. But if they did, if Prescott's organization was indeed Dogstar, she kept it to herself when she became involved.
For those of you without access to the paper: it's stated that forty-six separate insurgent cells were crushed in the operation. These cells ranged in size from one to six members. When faced with arrest, the 'miscreants' did all they could to kill the brave enforcers, and rather than be captured, many took their own lives and the lives of their comrades. I note that there isn't any clear count of either the number arrested, or of the dead. Fourteen enforcers were injured in the raids. Most are expected to recover, but Our Lord's loyal people are asked to keep Copernicus Gibbon and Celaeno Painter in mind as they cling to life in St Mungo's.
There's an in-depth piece detailing the people involved in Norma's cell. The leader was an apothecary to one of the Muggle camps: Broxtowe, in Nottinghamshire. There was also a camp requisitions specialist from Erewash, in Derbyshire, a camp labour crew overseer from Manchester, and a muggle labourer from the overseer's crew. As for Norma, they've clearly decided to make dragon food out of her. Her objectionable behaviour at work is strongly implied (like trying to lower muggle maternal deaths, I suppose). A short statement from her supervisor, Cresus Deverill: 'Always suspected her of harbouring blood traitor sentiments' etcetera, etcetera. I'm sure he must be sweating, as it's mentioned that there will of course be a complete investigation of the entire department.
Her fate is unclear, but it does mention that her family is missing, and her husband is wanted for questioning. Any loyal citizen who spots him or might be approached by him must of course promptly contact MLE.
The poor devil.
The reporter does his best to quash any rumours that Sirius Black was somehow involved without actually coming right out and stating what the rumours were. It does say, however, that some Dogstar operatives believed he was alive (and thus reveal themselves to be total fools) and these lies gulled and lured the Dogstar operatives to even greater acts of mayhem and treachery.
Among the other bad news: Frank and Alice, I'm going to be sending you a copy because you need to read it. Your names were also featured quite prominently in the coverage, tying you firmly to the worst acts of torture of Protectorate citizens and multiple murders, although your capture has not been reported. I think you must be very careful not to contact Augusta, Evelyn or Neville for a good long time.
I'm so very sorry.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 06:50 pm (UTC)understood.
it's to be expected. they need some villains that everyone would recognise.
and if we need to pull out of our trip this summer, we will.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 06:51 pm (UTC)But yes.
I'm glad the term is almost over, so that they don't have to spend too much more time around their school mates. It must be frightful for both of them.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 07:00 pm (UTC)It will be hard to not be able to pass along letters. I have a feeling they'll need a few reassurances. I'd like to think they know us well enough by now to be able to discount the stories they hear, but we've been able to tell them nothing about what we actually do to counterbalance what they're being told, and it can't be easy to read about us that way even if they don't believe it.
Perhaps
Well, I don't want to risk security, of course, but perhaps we could pass word through Severus? After all, Neville does know that we are connected to him, even though he doesn't know who he really is.
If you're amenable, that is, Severus.
I didn't even think of that on Friday, only because Frank and I try to be so careful about not passing along information that would end up compromising any of us, or tell him too much that he'd be in danger. We're so used to having to keep him in the dark about everything, I suppose we automatically assumed he had to fend for himself until we could get word, but this would be all right, wouldn't it? At least until school lets out?
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 07:44 pm (UTC)Haven't seen Neville at all. Ron thinks he might be in the greenhouses, and he'll probably go to look for him there.
We'll make sure that someone sits with him at meals, and no one gives him any lip. He won't think he's all alone. Count on it.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 07:45 pm (UTC)keep a special eye on my evie, right?
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 07:45 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 07:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 07:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 07:48 pm (UTC)And if that's the case, then I could take the boy aside.
He suspects our connection already, of course. Speaking with him would merely confirm what he already guesses.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 07:58 pm (UTC)Your role is as a liaison, is it not? Do you expect trouble will come your way?
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 08:00 pm (UTC)(Such news, Arthur. With that many involved, I'm dreading finding out which of our students might be affected, now. And why did it all have to be this same weekend?)
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 08:03 pm (UTC)I appreciate the offer, though. It means quite a lot.
And I know our Hermione can be a little freer with her words now that the vow has been lifted, but I wouldn't want to ask her to risk herself that way.
He's my son, and I trust that whatever we told him would be kept as safe as he could manage, but until he gets better at Occlumency or comes of age, we have to walk that line carefully. Just because he knows so much already doesn't mean we ought to push it even further.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 08:24 pm (UTC)We've seen the Prophet, and it is truly wretched what they've said about you. At least in the midst of things Friday, the lies about Sirius were so ridiculous they made us laugh--imagine him, having it on with someone called Pleniloquence Ridley?! Honestly.
But today's articles are horrible. We've been trying to sort lies from truth, but it's all--well, it's grim, that's all. And the bits about you and Frank are as bad as the rest put together.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 09:10 pm (UTC)After all, how else are we going to know what we've been up to these last few years?
As Frank said, they needed a recognizable target.
Still.
Bugger.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 09:18 pm (UTC)Not anything about Dogstar, of course. But I did put heads together with her a time or two about accounting tricks to sneak pro-muggle expenses in the budget past Griderson, and later Deverill. That certainly wouldn't look good for me if it were revealed now. She was smart, though, and if I were to hazard a guess, I would think--I would hope--she wouldn't have left anything incriminating in writing.
Listen to me, talking about her in the past tense. I hate this. If only I knew. I'd do anything to help her if I could. But they've got their claws into her thoroughly, and I know there's nothing I can do.
If she's even alive.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 09:49 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 09:55 pm (UTC)I'll hate leaving Frank behind, of course, but it'll only be for a little while and I could use a friendly shoulder or three.
It'll be a bit more difficult with your Ellie around to get in a proper word in, but I think it'd make me feel a great deal better, and I'd be polyjuiced, so there's little to no security risk.
Unless you think I ought to stay away. Which I'd understand entirely.
private message to al
Date: 2012-05-27 10:25 pm (UTC)Re: private message to al
Date: 2012-05-27 10:30 pm (UTC)I don't like being away from you under the best of circumstances. And when it feels like the world is falling apart a little more than usual, I'd much rather be held by you until it comes back together again. But I can put on a brave face and go to a birthday party, because it's important, and maybe it really will help me feel better. And I'll be with people who will treat me almost as well as you would.
So let's just say it's not you I'd be worried about, dear man.
Re: private message to al
Date: 2012-05-27 10:36 pm (UTC)okay.
sorry.
they try so damn hard. I'm just sick of being pitied. doesn't help things at all, does it? doesn't make their lives any easier either.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 10:37 pm (UTC)It's a bit mad in the streets this weekend, and the watch have been round again, telling us we need to come out and join them. I'm afraid, one of us is going to have to, really. They weren't happy about taking no for an answer, and we've said it every time. I think they're getting the notion that we might not be what they think of as loyal. (Imagine. Us?)
I don't want to think of Remus having to go, but if it's me and those thugs start smashing things up, I'm likely to bash someone in the nose. And then where will we be? I mean, they don't seem the sort to listen to plain sense.
Ellie's a complication, that's true. But we'll manage. And, actually, I'm glad to have you come now. She's been really unsettled about all this mess, and I think it might help to have another woman in the house. One with a calm tone and a sympathetic way.
Re: private message to al
Date: 2012-05-27 10:41 pm (UTC)Let's take the rest of the evening off, shall we?
We could take a hamper and go to the cottage, and stay there for the night.
Re: private message to al
Date: 2012-05-27 10:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-27 10:46 pm (UTC)And it sounds entirely distasteful, but better than getting the wrong sort of attention. That sort of thing ends up with you being the one with the smashed windows, and I'd rather we avoid that.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-28 02:43 am (UTC)Miss Granger will, I am sure, use her own judgment about what to say and do.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-28 02:50 am (UTC)And I'm sure she shall. I just don't want her to feel unduly burdened or pressured to do something she isn't comfortable with because of a mother's anxiety.