Order Only - Private message to Alice Longbottom

[alt_albus]

I had a visitor today who quite surprised me.

Comments

[alt_alice]

Oh, good god, Albus.

I take it you're not writing this as you're merrily tripping your way to Azkaban under armed guard, so we can trust he'll keep things to himself, yes?

[alt_albus]

He says he will walk out the school gate, and go where no one will find him.

I will miss him.

He came to give me a memory. With the instruction that it might aid me, but that I should not view it at Hogwarts.

[alt_alice]

I'm sorry, Albus.

Please let me know once you've had a chance to look at it, and had your meeting with Severus, and we'll move forward from there.

At times like these, it's the only thing we can do.

[alt_albus]

I will.

It may be a few days. Septima insists we must all do our duty by the school, exams marked and classrooms settled. (Admirable, and yet so tedious.)

While we are speaking, I should ask, how are you, dear lady?

[alt_alice]

Up to my ears in worry.

Draco and Hermione are so very hurt, and I can tell Harry's handling a rather sizable degree of his own as well. I keep waiting for the next cauldron to boil over, and am facing an enormous list of plans that must be re-worked and reconsidered given our change in circumstance at Hogwarts and the council.

And I fear I've done a terrible disservice to Pansy Parkinson on top of it all. I feel like I've failed her.

You've spoken to her, yes? How concerned should I be?

[alt_albus]

We have a great many worries, this week. And so much lost.

Miss Parkinson is much bruised by the experience. She was willing to share her memory of the experience, and it was brutal.

I rather think near all of us feel we have failed this week, one way or another. Myself included.

We should discuss, soon, which plans can be salvaged.

[alt_alice]

I see.

Poor dear.

What a world we live in, Albus.

And yes, agreed.