Order Only -- The situation.

[alt_mcgonagall]

Severus will be making his home here, in the castle, for the foreseeable future. He has body-bound Milland, and we have locked him up in the caretaker's old dungeons -- no one uses them anymore. He will be quite happy there: while Severus feels that anything less than Azkaban is luxury, I insisted that he be provided with amusements and creature comforts, and that Severus visit him regularly. (Of course, I doubt those visits will be terribly pleasant for either of them, but that is neither here nor there. Solitary confinement is inappropriate.)

Poppy, you needn't have worried. The object of Polyjuice must be alive for the potion to remain effective. Milland will be safe as houses for the rest of the year, even if Severus grows angry with him.

As for the Polyjuice situation. Severus had brewed a small supply of his own, but not nearly enough for an entire year. We shall have to help him obtain the ingredients, now that the deed is done. Fortunately, the caretaker's rooms are like warrens. I had known that discipline was once stricter at Hogwarts, but I had no idea of the extent of it -- it makes the Lord Protector appear moderate. Once we have cleared out some of the rooms, they will serve perfectly well as Potions laboratories, and I doubt anyone knows that they exist.

Milland's rooms were surprisingly devoid of clues. He is the sort to keep a date-book -- a stroke of luck. Severus was not pleased to discover that he will be expected to entertain both Gwendolyn Acton and Cordelia Carpenter for alternating teas nearly every day of the week. When Milland awakes, I suppose we (Severus) shall know more, assuming he is not an occlumens.

As for Severus' insubordination, we need say no more about it. He and I have worked it out between us and there shall be no more nasty surprises.

Comments

Order Only - Private message to Severus Snape

[alt_mcgonagall]

I shall send Poppy down with analgesics, if you like -- I imagine that, sober, you are in quite a state.

Private Message to Minerva McGonagall

[alt_alice]

Thank you for the update, Minerva. It is good that you sorted things out between the two of you.

I know you have a lot on your plate at the moment, and that you've stated your preferences to not speak of this again, but I must respectfully submit that if Severus is to have a place within this group, a place where more than just Dumbledore and you support him and trust him and his ideas are accepted by others, we will need to think ahead about how best to move forward in a way that will reassure Order members of his worthwhile intentions in this endeavour, and that he is not taking undue risk. He is not the sort to offer apology, but explanation and a bit more transparency are not too much to ask for. I know he's talked to you extensively, but I would suggest that he at least inform the rest of us of his plans as he goes -- and addresses concerns. Some will never come around to him, or will only do so grudgingly, but he's potentially severely damaged his reputation with those that would otherwise be more likely to be accepting, and I'm concerned. I know his actions have taken me aback, and I've been more likely to give him the benefit of the doubt than not since Frank and Kingsley and Sirius first got hold of him.

It would certainly smooth the way a bit with Poppy when it comes to those polyjuice ingredients. She is often better able to see the sense in something once she's aired her grievances and had them properly discussed.

[alt_arthur]

Yes, but what will be done with the man longterm? Can you simply let him go at the end of the? I don't quite see how. That would take one hell of a memory charm.

Private message to Arthur Weasley

[alt_bill]

So...do you think she cruciated him? Severus, I mean.

Re: Private message to Arthur Weasley

[alt_arthur]

I suspect she did. Probably. Unfortunately. I'm not going to ask.

Re: Private message to Arthur Weasley

[alt_bill]

Not that he didn't deserve it, the pillock.

Damn. I can't believe I just wrote that. We're supposed to be the good guys.

[alt_bill]

If you say you're satisfied, Minerva, guess we have to be, too.

[alt_poppy]

I still cannot believe that he came here intending to ambush Milland and ensconce himself longterm using polyjuice! Exactly how much boomslang and bicorn horn does he imagine we have?! Even the fluxweed is little more than we need for current projects.

And that ignores the issue of holding Milland captive indefinitely.

I know you suspected Milland, but if he was that much a threat and if you're willing to hold him prisoner, why could we not have done that ourselves without Snape's being any part of the bad bargain?

And. A year?! Why should he be here so long? Or if we keep him here that long, why would he consent to leave then? What are his motives? Why does he wish to be here? Did he not have a perfectly serviceable laboratory set up in your house?

I sincerely doubt it's that he was lonely and wished the company of a school full of students and their well harried teachers and staff. He wants my stores and Pomona's crops.

Have either of you given actual thought to this scheme?

Merlin, Mordred, and Morgana, indeed.