Order Only

[alt_draco]

Our sponsors have been rather quiet this week - no word of a new challenge since the leg-locker curse.

I imagine they're taking their time to think of something truly limit-testing this go, after those first two relatively easy tasks.

But then they could be a bunch of unimaginative sods, too.

I'm bracing myself for both. Probably at the weekend, since I doubt they want to give us too much time off. I did get an owl from Ned, more or less telling me that I was on a good track, but that I shouldn't hold back or bide my time. The concept of subtlety is lost on him, it would seem, which isn't a surprise given that he used to be Crouch's secretary.

And - well, you might as well know the rest of it. He reminded me that because of my Father, my "position" wasn't as assured as it would have been, once upon a time.

I'm sure it will bring a smile to some of your faces to hear that bit.

At any rate, I think he's wrong. I don't believe it would do to look desperate, or as if I were dwelling on Father's situation. All of this is what I was meant for - that's what I aim to project. It is, after all, what comes naturally. I am the person the Lord Protector needs, the one that my Father couldn't be.

But this has got to look well ridiculous to those of you on the spectator end of this. You should all start a pool on who's going to make top third. Put it up on a big banner somewhere public to make everyone feel itchy. Put Teddy at the top and maybe he'll stop being such a sadistic arse - though who knows, that might make it worse.

Comments

Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_alice]

First of all, I trust your instincts here regarding your strategy for getting noticed in a positive way by the council. From what I've read so far, it's obvious that you and Harry both have things in hand (as much as you can under these circumstances) and that you have a unique understanding of the dynamics of the situation. You proceed here how you see fit, and know that I support your decisions.

Secondly -- I know that you are in an incredibly difficult position, Draco. And there's no easy way to navigate it.

I see joining the Order as a twofold process. You have pledged to help us in our mission to overthrow the Protectorate. But we have a responsibility to you, in turn. I respect that pledge, and I respect the person who made it. I will not ask you to needlessly sacrifice yourself, or take great risk without adequate reason, I will try my best to make sure you have a say in how we move forward, and I will not ask you to stop caring for your parents.

I'll admit, Lucius Malfoy's current struggles are inconvenient to the Order, as he's a consistently predictable presence on the council, provides support to Minerva, and often serves as a moderating voice from my admittedly limited perspective. Your ability to use his connections to your and our advantage, and gain information and insight through your relationship with him are also inherently valuable. But beyond that assessment, I understand that he is your father.

I often think about the future, and what it will look like. The hard truth is that if we were to seek justice for all the wrongs that have been done here, our people would be wiped from the face of the earth. We are all guilty in varying degrees of perpetuating great injustice, and are collectively the cause of great suffering. Every camp administrator and file-clerk and overseer, every witch or wizard who's taken advantage of power, every family who owns a servant, everyone who sits back and bemoans the current state of things but does nothing, the list goes on and on. And blood is on all our hands.

Needless to say, one of the things I believe we will have to do in order to be able to survive and move forward is to face this future with forgiveness and atonement in our hearts rather than a thirst for vengeance and punishment, because that thirst will never be fully quenched. I cannot promise that we will have enough of a say in this future to make a difference, and Merlin knows that a time of war has its own rules (or lack thereof), but know that I have had my fill of hanging.

I do not expect you to feel obligated to reply, but I am listening, Draco. I trust Severus implicitly and fully, and I am pleased that you are working with him.

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

That's what I was thinking about, point of fact. That as easy as it is to blame the council wizards or MLE for what the Protectorate is, it's really the ordinary witch and wizard who allowed it to happen, who stood by and accepted the changes without question. Was it because they were afraid? Or was it because a part of them was rather enchanted with the idea of a nation where wizards and witches were superiour, where they would no longer have to hide from muggles? I think more people feel the latter than any of the Order realise, even if those same people don't actively enjoy torturing mudbloods and such.

So in that regard, it won't ever be like it was before.

But I've decided to stop thinking about those big picture, long-term questions. The future doesn't really matter, especially when you might not live to see it.

Anyway, you need not express sympathy for the difficult position I'm in. I don't mind it - it's what I want. It's what I know I can do.

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_alice]

The inaction of ordinary people has led to a great many evils in this world.

I wonder sometimes if we can depend on that complacency -- that those who won't join us will sit back and let us do our work without getting in the way. You're right to think that if people feel as if their freedoms are threatened, they'd respond with defensiveness (and in addition, no-one particularly enjoys coming to terms with their guilt). I think one key might be to show that any perceptions of freedom and safety are illusions at best, and that this false paradise comes at too high a price.

This future does have a great many unknowns. If you do survive to see it, though, you'll have a chance to help write it, Merlin willing.

And I know sympathy isn't terribly useful to you at the moment, but I do want you to know that I will try my best to honour the sacrifices you're willing to make, and make them worth the price you'll pay.

We look out for our own, Draco. That includes you. And although there might be difficult decisions to make along the way when it comes to your parents, I will try my hardest to make certain that you are a part of that decision-making process, and that we attempt to accomplish what must be done in a way that respects your wishes.