Order Only: Private message to Alice Longbottom and Severus Snape

[alt_rachel]

I told you I'd see what I could find out about who passed the information about Lucius that got him sent to Azkaban.

It was Percy Weasley.

Lana Sandoval said, when I asked if she knew why Percy was Marked, 'He was sponsored by Mulciber. Reach your own conclusions. We certainly are.' Presumably by 'we' she means Lucius's allies more broadly -- Crouch, Dolohov, the Lestranges.

Does Percy have ANYONE inclined to watch his back? Because if not, I don't expect he'll enjoy his new status for long. Cadmus Mulciber's got what he needed from him. The only reason he'll care what happens next is because if Percy turns up dead later this week, that might discourage the next person Cadmus needs to encourage to sell out his boss.

Comments

[alt_rachel]

Mind you, I think whatever happens to Percy, he brought on himself. But he has a mother, four brothers, and a sister in the Order who may not see it that way. Whenever Bill

[alt_severus]

I see. No, that does not bode well for the length of time Mr Weasley will enjoy his new exalted rôle. If Weasley is intelligent he will behave as though Mulciber sponsored him in an attempt to win his loyalties, not as a reward for loyalties already won — but I do not know that Weasley is that intelligent, nor that quick on his feet.

Perhaps it would be a good idea for Weasley Primus to innocently suggest what the situation appears to be, and wonder if his brother has any plans for handling the fallout. I do not think him clever enough to have avoided burning his bridges, however.

Alice: when Mr Weasley achieves his seemingly inevitable demise, Molly will be disconsolate. More so than she already is. Be prepared.

[alt_rachel]

When Percy's come up in the past, Bill says he won't listen to him, and treats all advice as an indication of jealousy and intent to sabotage.

That said, it might still be worth a try.

[alt_severus]

If he will not listen to advice, then perhaps a feigned innocence asking about Percy's plans for avoiding backlash — so as to learn from them, of course. Flattery seems the best route to take.

[alt_rachel]

I'm sorry, have you met Bill?

[alt_rachel]

I mean, I'm very fond of Bill.

But he spent what -- six months? a year? -- NOT talking to Percy at all because Percy was so obnoxious. And on one hand I share his irritation but on the other, his brother was Lucius Malfoy's clerk; SURELY it was worth cultivating his friendship for information he might let slip!

He did grit his teeth and try it, in the end. And I'll suggest it. All of it. I'm just not optimistic it'll help.

[alt_severus]

One must, alas, occasionally work with the Weasleys one has been given.

[alt_rachel]

I'm just wondering if it would be better to give this job to one of the OTHER Weasleys. Ron's got that internship with MLE; he could be in the know.

Of course, I'm pretty sure he finds Percy just as annoying as Bill does. Or possibly more so.

[alt_rachel]

This would all be a great deal simpler if it had been Virgil Crispin, say (he was Lucius's clerk years ago). In that case, the goal would be straightforward: maximize the conflict in the hopes of further inflaming both sides against the other.

Maybe that should be our goal here, as well. Percy made his choices.

[alt_severus]

I cannot move myself to weep overmuch for Mr Weasley, but I will point out that we were willing to go to great lengths to protect Malfoy, based on the strength of his relationship with an Order member. Of course, he would not have been in need of protection had it not been for the actions of the Order, while Weasley has made his own choices throughout — but then again, his opportunity to betray Malfoy, and thus earn Crouch, Dolohov, and the Lestranges' enmity, arose from Order action as well.

Mind you, I can easily produce five or six reasons why Weasley's situation is different than Malfoy's, but it is an argument that will be advanced.

Perhaps the solution is an anonymous note warning Weasley to watch his back.

[alt_rachel]

Too true, about Malfoy.

Weasley's situation is different. But the dissimilarity in response would be noticeable.

An anonymous note is a good idea. Could even foment the conflict I'd love to see, if he goes to Mulciber for protection. Let's tell him it's Barty Crouch who's after him; maybe Cadmus will pre-emptively take out Barty. (Hey, it could happen.)

[alt_alice]

I agree that we ought to do what we can to make sure he doesn't hang himself so very thoroughly with the rope he's made for himself. A note would be a start, and perhaps Ron would be able to adequately flatter while presenting a similar warning. At the very least, he'll need the practise.

We might also talk about possible extraction scenarios. A person with considerable enemies and who is low on the totem pole can disappear without generating too much fuss or close examination, and if things get too obviously hot and we have to sit on him in Saltash for a couple of years, then so be it.

Who knows. It might do the pompous wanker some good.

[alt_rachel]

Has Moddey got a copy of the morning Prophet yet?

He's a walking dead man, at this point.

You can try Saltash but for Merlin's sake keep him in the dark about who's kidnapped him, and why. It's one thing to hold an old man like Otto Strangeweale. Percy is young and strong and he'll be determined to escape. It's best if he doesn't know any names, especially those of his family.

[alt_rachel]

(Just to confirm: NO ONE in the Order wants to keep Barty Crouch safe, right?)

[alt_severus]

On the contrary, I believe Draco would relish the thought of causing him grief. And Dolohov would certainly react with attempts to salt the earth behind him should any harm come to Crouch.

[alt_alice]

Oh, Merlin preserve us, no.