Order Only - Private message to Alice and Severus

[alt_sinistra]

Tosha wrote. The first time since - since December and everything. I can show you the message, and Alice, I know you're busy, but part of this is time-sensitive.

Some of it's about books (and I've no idea if there's a hidden message in there, there might be, but I'd need a couple more books to figure out if there is. They'd be easy for Jeremy or Nick or someone to pick up.)

But then he says that Severus making it clear he's in the Order makes him sure that Draco's alive. That, and knowing me and knowing Poppy, and knowing that there's things she and I wouldn't be party to. (Only it's more complicated than that, isn't it, but he's right about Draco. Sorry, I'm babbling.)

And then he gave me an ultimatum - that Narcissa needs to know. (Which she does, obviously, but he doesn't know that.) He says: "Does Narcissa know her son is still alive? Because if she doesn't, that is incredibly cruel of you. You have a week to find some way of telling me that she does that will satisfy your people in charge and their security measures, before I take care of it myself."

Obviously, I can't say anything to him in the journals, that'd put Narcissa at risk, he knows people are reading, and I won't do that. (Even if I hadn't promised Alice I wouldn't write.)

And I suppose the worst that could happen is that he tells Narcissa in a week, and she has to sort out what her reaction is with no warning, but honestly, Narcissa's Narcissa, and I'm sure she'd manage well enough. But I can also think of ways we could manage a private enough note, maybe. (I'm quite sure he'd go a very long way to avoid hurting her or putting her at risk.)

And then he said something - one of the Russian proverbs, it's about not talking about rope in the house of a hanged man - that he knows his entries might be read (well, especially to me) but in a way that makes me wonder what else he put together. And then he ends with "Give Miss L my best. And the other whose location I think you know."

And that might be Poppy, but I'm rather thinking it's Cedric he means, only that wouldn't be safe to say at all. Or acknowledge.

Comments

[alt_severus]

I am satisfied there are several ways a message could be sent in such a way as to plausibly be no message at all, then.

Let us see what Draco has to say before I attempt to change your mind, Alice.

[alt_alice]

I am willing to listen, certainly, and this is by no means set in stone.

And may I say, Siz, when I say silence, I am not forbidding communication -- only thinking through the best strategy regarding his question of Draco.

[alt_sinistra]

It's not my decision to make, and I know that. It's why I told you both immediately.

I keep thinking about the other parts of it, too, mind.

I have so many things I wish I could say to him

[alt_severus]

I have spoken with Draco, and he believes we should make no response; he feels Narcissa can handle matters well enough on her own.

[alt_alice]

I think that sounds reasonable.

He is unlikely to attempt to entrap her, but this is the safer route by far.

And what of the value in either remaining completely silent, or communicating enough to make it clear that one is capable, but chooses not to reveal certain information deliberately?

[alt_severus]

An all or nothing approach is almost certainly better, but allow me to think on this some more.

[alt_sinistra]

The thing that kept me up past dawn this morning (Victor has rather more diced potatoes than he was expecting, Alice) was Severus's point about there being more than one reason.

Which there is. It's Tosha, there's half a dozen reasons for whatever he's doing, at least.

Anyway. Of course he wouldn't want Narcissa hurting.

But if there's no answer at all, I'm wondering if he'd try some other ultimatum to get a response of some kind. And there's the rest of my family, still, he could make things difficult for, or other people.

Would it be possible to make a very indirect reply (the marzipan has a certain appeal here, really), that indicates I'm listening, and well enough, but after his ultimatum expires?