Order Only: Neal Smullen
Sep. 11th, 2012 06:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_arthurI met with Neal's mother, and came back this evening to speak with his father, too, after his work shift was over. Neal's mother is a seamstress, and his father works in a gravel quarry.
They're willing to consider letting us take Neal, but on one condition: they want his brothers to be told, too. Neal has two older brothers, aged ten and fourteen, and the mother, especially, is very firm that she doesn't want to have to pretend to them that the boy has died. I warned them that if the boy manifests his magic and the authorities find out before we come back, the decision may be taken out of all of our hands. That made her waver, but in the end, she stuck to her position. But on the other hand, if we tell the boys, and they let the information slip, then all of the children and adults at the sanctury, as well as those of the Order who work to shelter them, could come under great peril. Are children that age able to keep the secret, no matter what?
Well? Are we willing to do this?
I do suspect that there are other parents of children at Moddey Dhoo who have ended up telling siblings some of what is going on, after we have taken the babies and left. I've had hints of this when I've done the yearly follow up visits. Yet we have not yet had a whiff that the authorities suspect anything, and after all, the knowledge that the sanctuary exists is protected by the fidelius spell. I suppose the greatest danger may be to me and perhaps Bill, as well as the rest of us who do camp visits.
They're willing to consider letting us take Neal, but on one condition: they want his brothers to be told, too. Neal has two older brothers, aged ten and fourteen, and the mother, especially, is very firm that she doesn't want to have to pretend to them that the boy has died. I warned them that if the boy manifests his magic and the authorities find out before we come back, the decision may be taken out of all of our hands. That made her waver, but in the end, she stuck to her position. But on the other hand, if we tell the boys, and they let the information slip, then all of the children and adults at the sanctury, as well as those of the Order who work to shelter them, could come under great peril. Are children that age able to keep the secret, no matter what?
Well? Are we willing to do this?
I do suspect that there are other parents of children at Moddey Dhoo who have ended up telling siblings some of what is going on, after we have taken the babies and left. I've had hints of this when I've done the yearly follow up visits. Yet we have not yet had a whiff that the authorities suspect anything, and after all, the knowledge that the sanctuary exists is protected by the fidelius spell. I suppose the greatest danger may be to me and perhaps Bill, as well as the rest of us who do camp visits.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-09-13 01:57 am (UTC)it's not so muchparents maybuggerPrivate message to Frank Longbottom
Date: 2012-09-13 02:16 am (UTC)I'm deuced sorry, Frank. I haven't a doubt that confronting this issue is bringing up very raw stuff for you about Neville and Evelyn again. I still feel--oh, hell.
I deeply regret having to turn you down. Thinking it was the right answer, while knowing perfectly well that I was hurting you and Alice and Neville and Evelyn in the process. I hate like poison to have this come up now, when it feels like I'd just managed to convince you to start talking with me again.
It's bloody awful, isn't it? More than anyone else in the Order, you and I are in the same position: we're fathers who love our children, and we want to protect them and guide them right, and we want to tell them the truth. And our duty, our work for the Order keeps getting in the bloody way.
I cannot tell you how much I regret that we ended up on the opposite side of this issue. I freely admit it's easier for me now because I have Bill and Charlie working with me, although, yes, that adds its own set of worries. It may be cold comfort to hear me say this--even infuriating, given that I blocked your petition--but Frank, I promise you that it will be so much better when you can tell them the truth.
I hope I haven't made things worse by saying this. But I've been wanting to get it off my chest for awhile now. I'll just have to trust, for the sake of our long friendship, that you'll listen and at least try to consider what I've said. Even if I'm inept at trying to explain. Bugger.
I will talk to the Smullens again. I hope that Terry's message will help sway them, and if it doesn't...well.
I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
Re: Private message to Frank Longbottom
Date: 2012-09-13 03:39 am (UTC)yeah, it's bloody hard.
and I didn't mean
I'm not good at this. talking. never have been.
figured it'd be better all around if I did my job and kept my mouth shut because nothing good was going to come out of it. what's done is done, talking about it wasn't going to change anything.
sorry.
you know what I mean.
any road.
didn't mean to shut you down.
Re: Private message to Frank Longbottom
Date: 2012-09-13 03:47 am (UTC)it'll be what you think is the best thing to do.
and that's okay.
Re: Private message to Frank Longbottom
Date: 2012-09-13 03:51 am (UTC)Re: Private message to Frank Longbottom
Date: 2012-09-13 03:51 am (UTC)Well, I'll leave it at that, then. Just--I'd be grateful to have my friend Frank Longbottom back. I highly value his expertise and perspective.
Whether he's inclined to talk or not.
Re: Private message to Frank Longbottom
Date: 2012-09-13 03:59 am (UTC)and yeah, you got me.
never left.