Order Only

[alt_draco]

If anyone seriously has a problem with the items I stole yesterday, then why don't you try talking to me about it, instead of lying it on other people's doorsteps, like those belonging to Mrs. Longbottom and Sirius?

If you find that I sent you something that doesn't suit you, then please feel free to do with it whatever you like. Throw it in the rubbish, turn it into an elaborate candle-holder, or, if you like lining the pockets of Protectorate-worshipping purebloods, then send it back to the shopkeeper I stole it from.

Though I very much doubt you'll be sending back any of the wands, tents, potions ingredients, brooms or other items you categorise as 'acceptable' to steal.

And just so we're clear: I didn't harm or hurt anyone during my excursion. Even though I did see Isadora Rowle in the Harrod's beauty department and consider it an opportunity that I regret not taking.

Comments

Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_rachel]

Ah. So the anonymous parcel with nail varnish was from you?

I was rather baffled.

Thank you.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_rachel]

Have people been talking?

This really is an odd organisation, all the way around.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

Not to me. Well, aside from Mrs Longbottom who has decidedly mixed feelings about what I've done. But I could hear Sirius and Dora arguing about it last night.

Odd how?

And yes, I sent the nail varnish. Pardon me for saying, but it seemed appropriate, somehow.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_rachel]

It's an odd organisation because there are several members who'd fancy an omelet but not if they actually have to break any eggs. And then quite a few more who'll sign on to breaking eggs eventually but only after exhaustive conversation and excessive introspection.

Admittedly, I concluded I preferred this to Dogstar's approach. Which I suppose I'd describe as, let's hurl all the eggs against a wall and see if an omelet appears.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_rachel]

And thank you for the nail varnish.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

You're welcome.

I understand the desire for planning and discussion to secure the best outcome, but I can't help but blame wonder if the Lord Protector and his Death Eaters would have won in the first place if there had been a little less discussion and a little more egg-hurling.

There also seems to be a strong undercurrent of "we mustn't become like the bad guys" to everything. For those of us who were raised by, taught by, and surrounded by the bad guys (which includes almost everyone under the age of 20, I reckon) this is simply far less of a priority.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_rachel]

I think they think they're playing a long game, and they can't take too many risks lest we lose everything before we even spot the snitch.

I blame the lock. It's your our greatest strength and greatest weakness, in one. Because it makes conversation possible. In Dogstar, I saw the magpie maybe once ever month or two; Ridley had no alternative but to trust me, the rest of the time.

The Order can plan. It can also discuss to death, overthink, and talk itself out of good ideas. Talk about spell that fires in both directions.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_rachel]

And as far as 'becoming like the bad guys' goes, I became an Auror. I've used all three 'unforgiveable' curses. I've killed an Order member.

But by all means, let's worry about shoplifting. Moral lines, you know. Got to be careful.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

The trouble with the long game is that if we wait too long, the people my age will be in charge, and they'll have never known anything but the Protectorate and they'll struggle to imagine change even more than we currently do.

Interesting. I hadn't thought of the lock that way, but I imagine you're right. Ridley probably relies on her legilimency to trust people, but that wouldn't work on you.

You also slept with my father. Moral lines, indeed. I don't at all condemn it in theory, or even in practice, except in those cases when it involves people I'm related to.

I apologise for calling you a whore. I know why you must have done it. What bothers me is that I'll never understand why he did. Not with you, specifically, but in general.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_rachel]

Ridley does rely heavily on her legilimency. Given that she can't read me, it's likely that the only reason I was allowed in was that I found Dogstar during Ridley's absence.

Anyway, yes. I slept with your father. It makes things a bit awkward.

Private message to Draco

[alt_sally_anne]

You'll get no complaints from me. I positively adore my snake-crown-headdress (even though I'm going to take it to bits) and it's Lana's family that owns Harrods, any money out of her family's pockets is fine with me. (Although I suppose this came from a jewelry store? whatever. I'm sure you wouldn't have stolen from anyone who didn't deserve it.)

Re: Private message to Draco

[alt_draco]

It came from a shop called Amuse-Bouche, which seems to cater to purebloods who want to accessorise with something unusual and expensive without taking the trouble to, say, hunt down a genuine Egyptian Headdress.

No one's slapping me on the wand, exactly. But certain people are unhappy that I didn't announce my plans to everyone first. You know, bypassing those mandatory hand-wringing bits.

Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_neville]

Well, I admit I did write to my Mum, but that was only because she's my Mum, I've a birthday coming up, and I was confused whether or not it was supposed to be an early birthday present from Mom and Dad or something. There was no note, after all. Except I couldn't figure out where on the island they could've found something like that robe. Cor, the fur on the collar's really soft.

Anyway. Thanks a lot, for thinking to include me. And Mum said you'd been really generous to Moddey, so thanks for that, too.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

No worries. The robes are a "Gentleman's Smoking and Leisure Robe," so you'd best take up smoking. Harry was the one who was sent the cigars, though.

Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_gredforge]

Whoa, bloody brilliant! Reminiscent of some of our best personal capers. We'd gladly dub you an honorary Weasley, due to your demonstrated ability at 'Getting Away With Things' if we weren't afraid you'd be mortally insulted.

But seriously, we'd LOVE to sit down with you to talk about shop security. You must have learned a lot while you were out and about under that cloak, and we bet you would have a tonne of excellent ideas to contribute. Maybe even some information that Fu could use.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

And which Weasley will I be?

Then again, there's quite a few of you as it is. And my colouring is wrong, besides.

Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_bill]

I'm seriously impressed that you made off with a haul like that in one night. And given that you were along on the mission to burn down the journal archive, we should definitely keep you in mind for future actions where a stealth quick in/quick out is needed. You're obviously very skilled at that sort of thing.

All that CCF training must have helped, I bet, and I know you were at the top of the group in the training exercises.

Thank you for the belt.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

It took the whole day, actually. And stealth isn't really a requirement with an invisibility cloak like Harry's. It seems to be able to muffle sound as well as rendering one completely invisible. It's literally as if you don't exist to anyone else in the room. Removing items when people weren't looking was a bit trickier, though.

And you're welcome. Charlie got one, too.

Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_terry]

One of the tents was given to my company (well, the company I'm leaving, Charlie Company in Settlement 4, because I've been reassigned to Settlement 4's Zulu Company). They've already set it up and people have been popping by to goggle at it. It's been funny to see so many people's jaws drop, the muggles especially. It's a really nice tent. The settlement Captain says it'll probably make the most sense to use it as the company's medical dispensary, especially since it has running water and private rooms they can use if someone who's sick that needs to be isolated, or someone's about to give birth. The company Matron was ever so pleased and relieved about that. Now she won't have to spend half her time hauling water to have it ready for the Healers.

It's going to make a real difference, and maybe it'll even save some lives.

Re: Private message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

Good, I'm glad. I hadn't even thought about how it might look to a muggle. A bit mind-blowing, I'd guess.

Private Message to Draco

[alt_hermione]

Well, I'm not complaining. I really like the blue ones. Do you think this means it might be possible to go somewhere in public, if you had a disguise on? I'd look just like a regular witch in all those robes.

Anyway. And Sirius wasn't complaining, either. I mean, I hope you could tell that in all the spirited rowing going on in the parlour, he was the one telling Tonks to calm down and let it go.

The Order really do sometimes get shirty about odd things. You're not going to turn evil just because you caused Lana Sandoval-Pennifold's family a headache or two.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

I thought the blue would suit you. And the brown ones - they look plain but it's a defensive cloak, good for traveling and duelling. Well, I'm sure you've checked them out already and noticed all the enhancements. I got the same kind for myself, but in black.

You are a regular witch, you goose. But I was thinking about all the theatre glamours Daphne knows... they wouldn't be enough to make you look like a specific person, but they'd definitely be enough to make you look like not-you. Or me like not-me. For a few hours, anyway. Maybe we could join the others at the pub, sometime. If Harry and Hydra were there, no one would think to ask who we were.

No, from what I could tell, Sirius seemed to think the whole thing was rather Snitch, though he was trying not to show it too much.

Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_nymphadora]

Sorry, Cousin. You'll have to count me among the ones who don't agree with what you did.

Do you really not know why people have been speaking first with Alice? She's the Order's head, and in a case like this it's her place or Remus's to speak to you about what you've done. But I'll answer your question for my own part.

Some of the things you took are useful, no argument, though we were obviously getting along before the new tents and brooms and ingredients, and we'd have found ways to get what we really need as we need it. We'd have been keen to hear about that cloak and might have used it to launch a robbery or six. (I expect there'll be loads of ideas what can be done with it now.) And we might have agreed that you'd be a good burglar to send. The difference is you'd have been acting for the Order, not going off on your own personal mission to poke holes in some pureblood shop owners' purses or whatever you were about.  I'm unc                     

You do have me wondering whether we should use that cloak to find and assassinate councilwizards. Maybe we should consider making that part of our strategy, but there'd be consequences, and they might be large ones. So don't regret not acting on impulse against Isadora Rowle. It wasn't your call to make. Not then. That decision isn't yours or anyone's to make alone, but I think we should be considering it. I expect Frank's giving that a fresh look already.