Order Only - Private message to Alice Longbottom

[alt_sinistra]

I've been reading back, and thinking about some things that you should probably know. I talked to Remus about some of them, before he swore me in.

First, I want to list out resources, for everyone, so they know, because there's some things that might be helpful. But every draft I make comes back to mentioning Tosha somewhere, and I've read enough to know just how difficult that's going to be for some people. And for me to talk about as fairly as I want.

Second, you should know that it's not me being modest, when I talk about not knowing what I can do.

Raz and I, the binding charms we chose, they're very hard on the surviving partner. We chose them for good reason, but that's not much help right now. I can lay out what it means, but mostly I need you to not expect me to be better than I am. More together than I am.

Third, there's some things you might want to know. Pandora's Box, that was Tosha and Barty and Raz, I'm near certain. And you should know, the rite I did the location for, the original sacrifice was supposed to be Seamus Finnigan, not his mother. (I had no idea it was her, or what they made him do until this past week.)

And there's a thing you should know. A number of the Council can't cast the Patronus properly. Reliably. Tosha couldn't until this past year. Raz had years of his life he couldn't. Not filled with happy memories, a lot of them. And there's ways that underlies everything they do. Everything they value.

Comments

[alt_alice]

Thank you, Aurora. Neville suspected as much about Seamus, but it's certainly good to have confirmation. We're still teasing apart how to reverse things, which is blasted difficult. Theories abound, of course, but they're all speculative at this point.

And you're right -- it is difficult for some of our members to objectively think about Antonin Dolohov, especially recently.

Are you concerned that people will question your take on things? I have a feeling that the more open you are about the extent of your connections, the better off we'll all be. To be blunt, I believe that the more transparent you are from the start, the less your motives will be questioned by those who have reason to be wary about him. I will do the best I can to listen objectively and give you support.

[alt_alice]

As to your second point, a thorough assessment of one's abilities is always important. Believe me, I'd much rather be realistic than think I have a resource that I don't. And I'm not in the habit of setting someone up to fail. If I ask you to do something, I expect you to tell me if it's beyond you.

[alt_alice]

Before I forget. Do you have a preferred title? Our younger members call you Siz almost to a fault, I've noticed.