alt_justin | Order Only: Private Message to Hydra

Hydra,

I'm going out for a bit. Something he said isn't adding up, what. Or rather, it's adding up too well, if you follow me.

Honoria's death wasn't an accident. Perhaps some of the other accidental deaths reported recently haven't been, either.

I'll be careful, I promise. And back in time for tea.

Oh, as far as the move to the Manor: I've already packed my trunk with everything but clothes for the weekend and there's really only the one satchel with all the books in. My toiletry kit, aftershave and all that can stay out until Monday morning. If you want the hamper your Aunt sent, I think there are still several good pieces of fruit and some biscuits.

I do feel foolish about last night. I was certain I was better prepared, what. I'm sure there were three or four times when I could almost have had him. But he was even faster than I remember, what. I just need the smallest adjustment and the outcome shall be quite different.

But first to follow-up on this dashed elusive hunch.

All my love,

-J

P.S. Sirius just told me he's the one who asked Rachel to order me to sit out for a few days. He's--

Dash it. I understand his point but it's bally well not his decision, is it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

alt_hydra

I know how important this is to you, and I know how much effort you've put into this for the last few weeks.

But I really think you should keep to Rachel's orders. Not just because you've recently been injured (though that is a good reason to remain where you are), but also because of what my Aunt's told me. Do you remember how I said last night that she got word to Draco? Antonin is serious about killing you. He sees it as a moral imperative. Not even my Uncle Lucius could convince him to put it aside.

And going it alone, well - I should have waited for Draco's back-up Unit when I went in to the Forest to find Barty. As it was, I was phenomenally lucky.

Can you at least wait until this attack on Buckingham is over with? For all we know, Antonin may be there.

From:

alt_justin

He may well protest that he thinks it's necessary, but I've already duelled him and I can tell you, I think he's still conflicted. For one thing, he could have done it while I was still busy with Ptolemy, I do think he was there for a short while before I saw him.

For another...I know you said Crouch did this to you, too, and I know it's a psychological tactic, what, but he was jolly well offering advice as we fought. Well, he was at first, what. He stopped after a time when we got into it in earnest. As fast as he was, too, there were moments when he...he might have taken a shot and he hesitated. I'm dashed cross I couldn't capitalise, either, but I do think I've an advantage there. ~~And in the gri~~

But I do hear you. I promise I'll not go looking for him, and not alone, all right? I just want to satisfy myself about what he's been up to.

-J

From:

alt_hydra

But do you know why he hesitated? Possibly he was toying with you. He's as good at that as Barty was.

I just don't see that it matters what he's been up to. We all know that he needs to be stopped.

From:

alt_justin

Yes, and I'm meant to be the one to stop him. I was sure he was bluffing, do you see, but with Honoria--if I've miscalculated that badly then I need to understand where I've gone wrong, and I need to see anything he might have left behind as a clue. Just as you did with Barty. It will help me know how to outwit him.

You think I should give up and let someone else handle him?

From:

alt_hydra

I don't know anymore.

From:

alt_justin

I say, I'm sorry.

I don't wish to quarrel. And I'm not cross with you, I'm anxious and upset with myself.

I keep thinking of Honoria, and Remy and Alfie and--everyone, I suppose.

I'll see what I can piece together from Rachel's reports, will that do? Safe and snug here, for another day or so.

-J

From:

alt_hydra

I'm not cross, either. But do you think that being anxious and upset is a sign that you should take a bit of a rest from the matter?

But, I suppose reports don't do much harm.

And now I see that he's written you and is probably winding you up again.

From:

alt_justin

Actually, he's not. Not much.

What are you doing, love?

From:

alt_hydra

Asking why he feels it's his duty to kill you.

I don't suppose I'll get an answer.

From:

alt_justin

Did you? Get an answer?

I've managed to frighten him, at any rate, which is no little thing.

Unless he's dissembling for effect--that's certainly possible, at least in his more recent comments. He doth protest too much, what.

When you were stalking Crouch, did there come a moment when you felt you had turned the tables?

I say, it's jolly well about time something unnerved the bastard.

-J

From:

alt_hydra

Not really. Not until he was dead.

I'm sorry, I know that's not very reassuring.

I'm finished talking to Antonin, but he's saying that I need to stop you from whatever "idiot plan" you have. What's he on about?

From:

alt_justin

I found a book in his collection. Very dangerous, warded about twenty ways. I quoted the introduction and he's assuming that I'm delving into it for its deepest secrets. Despite the fact that it's obviously exactly the sort of text one doesn't consult. He's absolutely certain I'm trying to learn its secrets.

I'm not. Don't worry. But it has him scared and the next time we do meet, what, he'll still believe I've been using it.

It's no unicorn, but it seems to be having a desired effect.

So, are we going to stay at the Manor or just get everyone else settled and then move out to Pansy and Sally-Anne's Village?

-J

From:

alt_hydra

Oh, is that it? I get the impression that he believes you're going to go on a tear and read through the whole thing tonight. But yes, twenty different wardings? That would be desperate and mad.

I don't understand why anyone would keep a book so dangerous that you can't read it. My father always did that, too.

I have to go to the Manor tonight to help prepare it for occupancy, but it's odd to think about living there. It still feels as if it belongs to my Aunt and Uncle.

I think I'd rather be in the village, wherever that ends up being?

From:

alt_justin

Well, there is one spell that--but, no, it's far too risky. Jolly well mad, indeed, but he's just the type who can't conceive of someone who'd read about especially powerful spells and not try to use them.

The Village sounds all right. I had thought, perhaps, we could somehow produce a deed to the Finch-Fletchley home in Devon, or the London townhouse, but somehow that seems--like it would be the old way. I don't want the old ways. I want new ones.

I imagine everyone who's planning to stay at the Manor feels odd about it. I say, when this is over we'll turn it into a museum or something, perhaps--a monument to the Muggle holocaust, perhaps.

Oh, Pansy talked to me about a memorial Moon wants to hold. They want to include the Jugsons--well, Remy and Alfie, at any rate. I told her she should talk to you, you were their cousin. I suppose a memorial is appropriate but--well, one just hasn't had the leisure to think about it.

Well, we can catch up with her tomorrow. Or after Sirius's daft plan succeeds, what. Probably ought not say so aloud and jinx it.

-J

From:

alt_hydra

I'm sure it's tempting, but he's probably telling the truth about how dangerous they are. It's only safe for someone like him to own, of course.

I don't know that it really matters where we live so long as we're together. Though it would be nice to have friends nearby, people that we know we can rely on. Sally Anne can keep us healthy, and Pansy can manage our finances, and Hermione will make great discoveries, and the twins will...make sure that it never gets too quiet, and Sue will sing for us, and you, me, Draco, and Ron will keep things secure. If Neville were alive, he would grow our food. And Harry would be Harry.

And right. The memorial. It feels as if every day is a memorial.

I don't know. Maybe we should have a proper memorial when it no longer feels like every day is a memorial.

Have supper with me before I head to the Manor?

From:

alt_justin

Yes, he never lies, exactly, but he has been known to embroider the truth, or emphasise certain aspects. I don't believe he's feigning all of his caution, just, let us say, selling it in such a way as to frighten us off. But in his own head, he's sure that I'm reading it.

It does feel as if each day brings with it someone else to mourn, yes. But soon, I hope, we'll be past that. A change of scenery will do us all good, what.

As you wish. And gladly. I've time for supper and perhaps the salle.

-J