Order Only - Private message to Alice Longbottom

[alt_albus]

Mr Stebbins should be in touch shortly to convey the secret for Dover.

Comments

[alt_alice]

I see.

And will you be there?

[alt_albus]

Not today.

I am elsewhere. Thinking.

Stebbins has the beginning of an inventory. Poppy and Severus will want to see it promptly.

[alt_alice]

And what of France, Albus? Have you made contact with Calais yet? Do we have an idea of what the temperature is over there to continued trade with someone who isn't Protectorate-affiliated, or even the names of the counterparts we'll be working with? A list of European contacts we can reach out to more directly?

Or are you planning on handling that on your own?

[alt_alice]

...I know you've been dealt a blow.

But we must deal with this, and soon.

I have some contacts from Sirius, of course, and a list of the people we've smuggled out over the years, and Justin may be able to provide some assistance as well.

I do need to know what you've done and what you're thinking of doing.

[alt_albus]

I am not arguing your point. I am very

Immediate points of business. Two contacts in Calais.

Corbeau Jondrette, dock worker, 50s, no direct knowledge of records or names, but with access to the site and plentiful mercenary cleverness when it suits him. (Loyal enough for our purposes.)

Margaux Durand, daughter of an old friend. One of the students attending Hogwarts three years ago, now learning her mother's family business. She alerted me to several unusually useful shipments that would be at Dover on Saturday.

No hope to hold that end of the chain just yet, but potentially within a month or two. Depending.

Other contacts provided tomorrow, notes from abroad, message codes, and so forth.

[alt_alice]

All right.

It's a start.

Thank you.

I'm assuming Poppy is aware of the secure and private drop point that you've mentioned, and can fill me in on the details.

I'll be in Dover on and off for the next two days at least.

[alt_albus]

I am not used

I had thought the drops might be a small Fidelius at a randomly selected location. Too easy to be snared if we repeat a site. Poppy does know some ruined huts that would do well enough.

I will return to Dover tomorrow.

Dear lady. You have every right to be angry with me. I appreciate that you have kept it in private thus far.

[alt_alice]

This is difficult enough when everyone is working together.

I know I've been

I'll be the first to admit that I've depended heavily on Remus these past few months.

But there is a system in place for a reason, Albus. And if you don't have faith in my capacity, have faith in the system, and talk to Remus.

[alt_albus]

Your capacity is not the question, dear lady. Even in the most difficult of times.

You have done a great deal for the Order, far more practically than I ever managed.

I am an old man, with many old habits. I am considering what to do about that.

[alt_alice]

All right.

I'll leave you to your thoughts, then.

I hope I shall see you in Dover tomorrow.

And Albus, I am most sorry for your loss.