Order Only: Infighting
Aug. 9th, 2013 12:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_mcgonagallAs you all have seen, things are rather a mess around New London these days.
I do not believe that the minds of the Selwyn conspirators hold anything that could compromise me—not truly. (I might have to dance around the fact that I knew Selwyn's purpose when he asked me to bring him Felix Felicis, but I believe that is more than possible.) Yet they know that I was related, and have tried to contact me—Ursula Avery in particular. Well, and who is Ursula Avery? She would hardly speak to me when I was drying out. She considered herself rather too high in the instep to pay attention to a poor drunk. But now she wishes to discuss her child. By "her child," I assume she means the creeping fear that the Lord Protector knows all about her part in Selwyn's scheme.
Well, I have put her off so far. Part of me wants to speak with her, to speak with everyone who was part of our little cabal, and remind them that the Lord Protector can smell weakness. If they flinch, he will know!
But another part of me says: why endanger yourself more? Why would you link your name to conspirators', when you have no reason to do so? That part is the part I must listen to.
Dyson came to see me this morning, unannounced, so that I had no opportunity to turn him away. Young Malfoy may be interested to know that Dyson is firmly on the side of Nott and the Mulcibers, it seems. He was not in the least bit subtle about the purpose of his visit. He actually said 'Lucius Malfoy is an old friend of yours, I know—but he allowed Madam Umbridge control of Hogwarts." Oh, he couched it in concern for his children, certainly, but what he meant was "when was the last time Malfoy did anything for you?"
I must think carefully on what to do now. I have always considered Lucius Malfoy the most stable of the Death Eaters, the most dedicated to the rule of law, the most reasonable. That is why I have backed him for so long: best to stick with the devil you know and whose actions you can predict. That is also why I felt that Selwyn's plot was necessary: the Lord Protector grows more unbalanced day by day. Now, however, I begin to rethink my strategy.
Is it truly best to have a stable and functional government, if that government is oppressing our people, even if that means it is easier for us to do our work? Didn't Dolores Umbridge do more than anyone to turn people against the MLE? Could it not be the best strategy to play the sides against each other, to destabilize the top, to make it spin more and more wildly and loopily until it can no longer stand?
I do not believe that the minds of the Selwyn conspirators hold anything that could compromise me—not truly. (I might have to dance around the fact that I knew Selwyn's purpose when he asked me to bring him Felix Felicis, but I believe that is more than possible.) Yet they know that I was related, and have tried to contact me—Ursula Avery in particular. Well, and who is Ursula Avery? She would hardly speak to me when I was drying out. She considered herself rather too high in the instep to pay attention to a poor drunk. But now she wishes to discuss her child. By "her child," I assume she means the creeping fear that the Lord Protector knows all about her part in Selwyn's scheme.
Well, I have put her off so far. Part of me wants to speak with her, to speak with everyone who was part of our little cabal, and remind them that the Lord Protector can smell weakness. If they flinch, he will know!
But another part of me says: why endanger yourself more? Why would you link your name to conspirators', when you have no reason to do so? That part is the part I must listen to.
Dyson came to see me this morning, unannounced, so that I had no opportunity to turn him away. Young Malfoy may be interested to know that Dyson is firmly on the side of Nott and the Mulcibers, it seems. He was not in the least bit subtle about the purpose of his visit. He actually said 'Lucius Malfoy is an old friend of yours, I know—but he allowed Madam Umbridge control of Hogwarts." Oh, he couched it in concern for his children, certainly, but what he meant was "when was the last time Malfoy did anything for you?"
I must think carefully on what to do now. I have always considered Lucius Malfoy the most stable of the Death Eaters, the most dedicated to the rule of law, the most reasonable. That is why I have backed him for so long: best to stick with the devil you know and whose actions you can predict. That is also why I felt that Selwyn's plot was necessary: the Lord Protector grows more unbalanced day by day. Now, however, I begin to rethink my strategy.
Is it truly best to have a stable and functional government, if that government is oppressing our people, even if that means it is easier for us to do our work? Didn't Dolores Umbridge do more than anyone to turn people against the MLE? Could it not be the best strategy to play the sides against each other, to destabilize the top, to make it spin more and more wildly and loopily until it can no longer stand?
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-08-09 07:39 pm (UTC)So yeah, that one might just work. Cheers.
I take it you've never been drunk before?
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-08-09 07:43 pm (UTC)If you want the spell I'll copy it out and send it. You might want to practise before you try it out in the mirror.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-08-09 07:50 pm (UTC)Well, I don't suppose I have to point out that you'll never know why anyone would do it unless you try it out for yourself.
Not that I recommend anyone make a habit of it, but it is fun every once and a while. Otherwise, no one would even bother.
Anyway - I'd appreciate the spell, but you don't have to do that. I can find it myself I'm sure.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-08-09 08:13 pm (UTC)The spell's in something called Effortless Impressions and be sure to read the footnotes.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good
Date: 2013-08-09 08:16 pm (UTC)Alright, that sounds familiar - it should be in our library somewhere.
Aren't you going to tell me to have a smashing time at Teddy's tonight?
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Message to Draco (and Harry)
Date: 2013-08-09 08:27 pm (UTC)Oh. Fine.
Have fun pretending to like people you don't and pretending to get drunk when you're not and snogging girls when you don't want to, then.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Message to Draco (and Harry)
Date: 2013-08-09 08:34 pm (UTC)You think it'd be better if I disappeared from the social circle and invited questions about where I am and what I'm doing?
To say nothing of the fact that I might hear things that could be of use to us.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Message to Draco (and Harry)
Date: 2013-08-09 08:42 pm (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Message to Draco (and Harry)
Date: 2013-08-09 08:46 pm (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Message to Draco (and Harry)
Date: 2013-08-09 08:55 pm (UTC)I mean, I don't want you to not have fun, I suppose, but I don't know why you'd want to have fun at a party like that, either.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Message to Draco (and Harry)
Date: 2013-08-09 09:07 pm (UTC)Only I thought you could tell that I wasn't really expecting to have a smashing time, which is why it'd be both comforting and droll and ironic if I were told to enjoy myself even if we both know that I won't. Well, not much, anyway.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private Message to Draco (and Harry)
Date: 2013-08-09 09:14 pm (UTC)Well, have a smashing time, then. In that case.