i'll surely be questioned. I was known to be one of her favourites, and I'd just done that post about how she'd set aside space for me in the greenhouses.
I'll keep my head down as much as I can. But, oh Mum, she was the best. She made me feel like I wasn't some thick, useless dunce because I wasn't in YPL, but that I was brilliant at something, and I could give that to the Order. Something real.
I've kept my curtains round my bed closed, but I've barely slept a wink. I mustn't let Seamus get any hint that I'm upset. Well, other than there was a traitor at Hogwarts.
Oh, bugger. There's the Daemonorops draco. And my lionwort. Professor Sprout can't harvest them now, but I don't dare set foot near the greenhouses.
I just realised...Madam Pomfrey said she failed to commit suicide. But she's still dead. I can't believe Bella Lestrange wouldn't have kept her alive a little while longer for questioning, especially if the others fled.
Did an Enforcer kill her in the melee when Professor Dumbledore try to rescue her?
I'm glad. Honest, I am. I'm glad that Hyda's mum couldn't torture her anymore. He made the right decision.
It's still my boggart, you know. That I'd do something that would give me away--and in my case, it'd be something stupid--and I'd be forced into betraying the Order.
But Professor Sprout wasn't stupid. She was just--just kind, and clever and...and she was such a Hufflepuff. So loyal.
She didn't deserve this. I mean, I'm glad she isn't suffering any pain now, and wow, she was so strong, if she could keep the secrets of all the students involved, even under torture. But she didn't deserve this.
Was Professor Dumbledore able to take her body away, at least?
No. He wasn't. I could tell that weighed quite heavily on him.
She was a good, kind, decent human being, and she faced her enemy with the greatest strength she could muster.
And I know, it's a burden, son. You've spent years being careful. Years spent keeping our correspondence hidden from even your closest friends, training your mind, watching every reaction and word.
I hate that you've been put in that position, but I would hate your being kept in ignorance even more.
Regardless, this is what your reality has been ever since you turned twelve and we wrote you your first letter, and you've handled all of it marvellously, and will continue to do so, I have no doubt.
I know there needs to be time to process, time to sort all this out, but oh, sweet heart, she thought the world of you.
Whenever we'd get together, she'd go on and on about your work. I'll never forget, this past summer, when we were talking about your NEWTs, she looked at me square in the eye and said, 'I can hold off retirement for five years or so, which should give him plenty of time.'
You are brilliant. And I am so sorry that you've lost such an important person in your life, but I am so very glad that you had the opportunity to work with someone who could recognise your worth, and who cared so very much for your future and well-being.
And son, I know all the work you've done is calling out to you, and that it is important. But don't try to rescue any of it. Not a single cutting. Are we clear?
Yes, ma'am. I'll obey that as an order from my superior officer AND my Mum, I promise.I am going to be quietly indignant that there was a traitor in our ranks, but will show loyalty and willingness to be of any help possible. And I'll keep my head down and act ever so slightly thick.
During our occlumency lessons, Mr Snape and I also talked about the best demeanor for me to assume, if suspicion's ever getting close to me.
hey, kiddo. just one more week, and you'll be home for hols.
we'll have to be careful, mind, but merlin, I'm looking forward to seeing you and your sister.
remember, they won't be on the lookout for more traitors. they'll be looking into her, not you.
and do me a favour, make sure you get a chance to go on a nice long walk with a mate in the next day or two so you don't have to keep it all bottled up, all right?
Barely. I do believe they understood that Aurora's been compromised, along with a great many others, and that Dolohov had threatened to come after them to get to her. But Rachel and Snape stunned them at the first hint that they wanted to gather up anything to take with them - quite right, too, that's the first thing MLE would have looked for! - so we just brought them away.
They went back to transfigure something - sheep, I think, there were some on the land - and make the place look as if they were forcibly taken. I think Snape mentioned the Dark Mark, even.
I just - every one of our adult members at Hogwarts. All at once. I suppose we're lucky the Juniors weren't found out, too.
To an outside observer, the Sinistras are now dead in their home with the Dark Mark overhead. I did what I could to mimic the sort of scene that lot likes to leave, though I do not know enough of the current factions and their fracture-lines to be able to choose the style of one in particular to counterfeit. With luck, MLE will believe it was the result of Council infighting.
Aurora: it is vital that you impress upon your parents that they must not under any circumstances attempt to contact any of their other children. We barely made it out successfully; MLE were apparating in as we were leaving. Everyone connected to your family will be under significant suspicion for quite some time to come.
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I hoped...I so hoped...
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I'm so very sorry, son.
Private message to Mum and Dad
I'll keep my head down as much as I can. But, oh Mum, she was the best. She made me feel like I wasn't some thick, useless dunce because I wasn't in YPL, but that I was brilliant at something, and I could give that to the Order. Something real.
I've kept my curtains round my bed closed, but I've barely slept a wink. I mustn't let Seamus get any hint that I'm upset. Well, other than there was a traitor at Hogwarts.
Oh, bugger. There's the Daemonorops draco. And my lionwort. Professor Sprout can't harvest them now, but I don't dare set foot near the greenhouses.
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
Did an Enforcer kill her in the melee when Professor Dumbledore try to rescue her?
Or did he kill her?
Please. I have to know.
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
She was barely alive, and bound in such a way that releasing her would've proven fatal. There was no time. He did what he could to ease her suffering.
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
It's still my boggart, you know. That I'd do something that would give me away--and in my case, it'd be something stupid--and I'd be forced into betraying the Order.
But Professor Sprout wasn't stupid. She was just--just kind, and clever and...and she was such a Hufflepuff. So loyal.
She didn't deserve this. I mean, I'm glad she isn't suffering any pain now, and wow, she was so strong, if she could keep the secrets of all the students involved, even under torture. But she didn't deserve this.
Was Professor Dumbledore able to take her body away, at least?
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
She was a good, kind, decent human being, and she faced her enemy with the greatest strength she could muster.
And I know, it's a burden, son. You've spent years being careful. Years spent keeping our correspondence hidden from even your closest friends, training your mind, watching every reaction and word.
I hate that you've been put in that position, but I would hate your being kept in ignorance even more.
Regardless, this is what your reality has been ever since you turned twelve and we wrote you your first letter, and you've handled all of it marvellously, and will continue to do so, I have no doubt.
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
Whenever we'd get together, she'd go on and on about your work. I'll never forget, this past summer, when we were talking about your NEWTs, she looked at me square in the eye and said, 'I can hold off retirement for five years or so, which should give him plenty of time.'
You are brilliant. And I am so sorry that you've lost such an important person in your life, but I am so very glad that you had the opportunity to work with someone who could recognise your worth, and who cared so very much for your future and well-being.
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
During our occlumency lessons, Mr Snape and I also talked about the best demeanor for me to assume, if suspicion's ever getting close to me.
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
Bugger. Have to go up to my room and duck behind the bed curtains again. If Seamus asks, I'll him I have something in my eye.
Re: Private message to Mum and Dad
we'll have to be careful, mind, but merlin, I'm looking forward to seeing you and your sister.
remember, they won't be on the lookout for more traitors. they'll be looking into her, not you.
and do me a favour, make sure you get a chance to go on a nice long walk with a mate in the next day or two so you don't have to keep it all bottled up, all right?
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Private Message to Moony
Even if I could get back, I think it's better if someone's here to explain to the Sinistras more properly what's happened.
There wasn't much time.
Re: Private Message to Moony
Were you able to explain...much at all, before you took them to safety?
Re: Private Message to Moony
They went back to transfigure something - sheep, I think, there were some on the land - and make the place look as if they were forcibly taken. I think Snape mentioned the Dark Mark, even.
I just - every one of our adult members at Hogwarts. All at once. I suppose we're lucky the Juniors weren't found out, too.
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It failed her, though.
There are no failsafes with Bellatrix Lestrange.
Private message to Madam Pomfrey
What did she plan to do? That didn't work.
Re: Private message to Madam Pomfrey
It was fast-acting poison, but Auror Lestrange's bezoar must have been quicker still.
A lesson to the rest of us.
There are no absolutely unstoppable ways to suicide.
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Are the students safe where they are?
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I anticipate it'll be about whether you noticed anything odd. If we're very lucky, they'll ask Hydra to oversee things.
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Keep the hearth fires burning, Susan, and take care. I cannot imagine how difficult the next few days will be for the sett.
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It's going to be hard--especially not being able to grieve and having to cut it off if I see it.
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Hopefully it'll be Hydra. If it's not, I'll do my best.
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It appears to have been limited to faculty and staff only.
Keep a close eye, however.
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Aurora: it is vital that you impress upon your parents that they must not under any circumstances attempt to contact any of their other children. We barely made it out successfully; MLE were apparating in as we were leaving. Everyone connected to your family will be under significant suspicion for quite some time to come.
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Knowing MLE was -
I'll talk to them. Tomorrow. When we can get in the same place.
Just. Thank you. For figuring out a way it might not be even more horrible.
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physicallyfine as wellPrivate Message to the Weasleys
while I sleptlike the at the Sinistra housePlease
Private Message to Hufflepuff Prefects
please
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