Private message to Hydra Lestrange

[alt_savitha]

Miss Lestrange, I'd like a report at your earliest convenience regarding what you might have gleaned during the Memorial Service, as well as during any other conversations you were present for. I am most interested in the students in Miss Greengrass's year, though naturally I expect you to report on any seditious thoughts you might have overheard.

Over the journals will be fine. We're both quite busy at the moment and finding a time for you to drop by my office will be more challenging than you simply writing down what you've learned.

Comments

[alt_hydra]

I didn't get anything terribly useful. The miasma of grief and fear creates a number of distractions when dealing with a whole crowd of people. I can tell you that quite a few students dislike Auror Crouch now, but that seems forgivable. Neither Blaise Zabini nor Millicent Bulstrode wanted Daphne to marry him, but for personal reasons, not treasonous ones.

I'm sorry I've nothing more concrete to report.

[alt_hydra]

Would you say that treason can include a wide range of things?

If someone in a position of authority were to look the other way, time and time again, in ways that no doubt aid rebel interests - that would be treason, correct?

[alt_savitha]

Yes, I would say so. Treason can take many forms, from direct subversion to the more subtle undermining of Our Lord's interests.

[alt_hydra]

That's what I thought.

In that case, there's someone I've been watching for a long time, who I am certain is guilty of that form of treason. Only I didn't want to believe - that is, I had hoped I was mistaken.

It's the Headmaster.

I believe he has issued warnings to certain treasonous persons so that they could flee the castle before being apprehended.

[alt_savitha]

Who has he warned? And, are you basing thing on things you've learned through legilimency, or from some other avenue?

[alt_hydra]

Legilimency. But it was something I had to put together in bits and pieces, over time, before the whole picture emerged.

He set up wards on Professor Sinistra's tower that alerted her to the fact that MLE was coming to get her, and she escaped out the window on a broom.

He wrote to Evelyn Longbottom to alert her that MLE was coming. I imagine that the message itself probably looks innocuous, but the intent behind it was most certainly to warn.

I think he knew Draco was alive, too. I asked him about it over the journals and he denied it, so I haven't yet verified that with legilimency.

[alt_savitha]

Why didn't you come to me about this earlier?

[alt_hydra]

I suppose I wasn't certain that it constituted treason, before, or if he was just being sentimental about the people he once favoured having turned out to be traitors. But I know better now.

Also, he's practically a father to Auror Crouch. I train with Crouch, and if I did something that got his father-figure into trouble, I'd be in a great deal of trouble with Crouch himself.

Which I suppose I will be, now.

[alt_savitha]

I see.

How concerned are you that you're in danger from Auror Crouch?

[alt_hydra]

Well, if he's as loyal as I know him to be, he should know that I've only done my duty, right?

I don't believe he actually knows of the Headmaster's wrong-doings, but I'm concerned that his connection to the Headmaster may keep him from seeing things clearly.

But perhaps I'm wrong. Auror Crouch has never shown himself to be anything but the most loyal of servants to Our Lord, after all.

[alt_savitha]

Our Lord -- like you -- is capable of seeing beyond people's pretty lies into their hearts and minds and souls.

If this is all merely a misunderstanding, then Antonin Dolohov has nothing to fear from Our Lord. And if Antonin is indeed guilty of treason, then Auror Crouch's loyalty has long been misplaced, and he should be grateful to anyone who pulled the veil from his eyes.

I'm confident he'll come to see it that way. But perhaps not immediately.

[alt_hydra]

Yes, I'm sure you're right.

Is there anything else I can do?

[alt_savitha]

I'll let you know if I think of anything.

Thank you, my dear. This must have been very difficult for you. You should know I've written to your mother about Antonin, and I'll do my best to keep you from being caught between Antonin, Barty, or Bellatrix, should things get to that point.

I appreciate you coming to me.

[alt_hydra]

I see that you wrote to my mother.

Will MLE be coming to the school to arrest the Headmaster?

[alt_savitha]

Probably not today, my dear.

Things rarely move swiftly when the suspect has power and allies. And even less so when the Aurors have other pressing tasks.

Have you found anyone who thinks they might know where Harry's gone? Do you think he might be with your Aunt Narcissa?

[alt_hydra]

No, I think my Aunt Narcissa is just afraid of everything now that Uncle Lucius is gone. She doesn't really know how to properly function on her own, or out of the limelight. It was foolish of her to Fidelius the Manor.

I think Harry is with Draco, and they're both probably with that man named Snape. But I couldn't say where.