Order Only: Private message to Ron Weasley and Alice Longbottom

[alt_rachel]

Right.

Percy.

If anyone's going to warn him, Bill thinks Ron's the best person to try, and I'm inclined to agree. He says Percy thinks Ron looks up to him, while he sees Bill as a rival, and yeah, I can see that.

So: send him a private message. Tell him you saw Auror Rachel Lamont today and she told him everyone thinks he sold out Lucius Malfoy, and whether or not it's true, there's no doubt that Crouch, Dolohov, and the Lestranges believe it, and they're the most dangerous enemies you could ever ask for, and what's Mulciber doing to protect you, Percy? Are you still living wherever it is he lives or has Cadmus Mulciber given you somewhere with better wards?

Tell him you're all impressed by his Dark Mark and you can only aspire and blah blah whatever you can muster up. But the Dark Mark won't protect him. It didn't protect Julius Avery -- surely Percy knows it was Lucius who killed him, if not, go ahead and tell him I told you that. I suppose you shouldn't tell him that Dolohov killed McLaggen, since that was a bit more officially blamed on Frank.

Cadmus can protect him if he wants. If Percy admits Cadmus isn't exerting himself, see if you can get Percy to point out to Cadmus that if he allows Lucius's allies to kill him, Cadmus will make it that much harder to persuade any lackeys of Crouch or the Lestranges to do him favours in the future, if that's how he repays that sort of gesture of friendship.

Alice, any thoughts? My biggest concern is that Ron should be trying to stay on Crouch's good side, and warning Percy is a risk. And I don't expect this to help much.

Comments

[alt_alice]

I agree that any warning would have to be very carefully done. Not only does it risk angering Crouch, and most likely Dolohov as well, but Percy has shown himself to not be particularly adept at discretion, and we can assume he'll go running to Mulciber with any information.

Furthermore, having Ron keep his distance from this whole mess is probably far safer for his own political future. A brief warning would not appear amiss -- it might even be seen as quite practical -- but I would back off after.

I also agree that it would be wise to convince Percy to angle for protection from Mulciber as a show of power.

Ron, just so you're aware, I've asked Bill and Charlie to meet with you, Ginny, Fred, and George to talk about options. I know you've got quite a lot to juggle at the moment, but you must reach a consensus about what you want to have happen so that we know how best to proceed.

[alt_alice]

You also probably shouldn't name Rachel unless absolutely necessary.

[alt_ron]

Just got home.

Yeah, I agree. I don't want to make it sound like I'm close to her. Especially if there's any chance Percy's sussed out that she and Bill have been working together or that Bill's interested in her. I mean, I don't know what Percy pays attention to besides Percy. (And whoever's boots he's licking at the moment.)

Anywiz. I could ask him if he's taking steps to stay safe.

No lie, I heard some people joking this morning about laying bets on Percy finding himself out on his arse after that article. One of them'd heard somewhere that he's been saying he expects an appointment on Fudge's staff. They were laughing about whether that reporter would give him a job inking her quills once he learns no one else will have him.

But, y'know, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a pool for betting on whether he ends up dead. Only, if there is, they're making sure I don't hear about it.

So I'll write him and say... something.

Private Message to Ron

[alt_alice]

Thank you.

And Ron, love, know that whatever decision you come to as a family, I'll support it. I know you'll be thinking about what's best for the Order, but please do think about what's best for yourselves as well.