Order Only: Private message to Ron, Sally-Anne, Justin, and Pansy

[alt_harry]

That story Peter Pettigrew told us about Dumbledore telling him to betray my parents was a lie.

I still want to know why he did it. Because if it was that he was one of them, for real, why did he wind up hiding as a rat? Can you meet me in the secret room? I want to try asking him again. But I want the rest of you there to help me make absolutely sure he doesn't try to make a break for it.

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Okay Harry I'll come but why do you think he won't just lie to us again?

[alt_justin]

Harry,

I can meet you there in about twenty minutes, if that's all right. I'm just finishing up some correspondence for the Headmaster and I can't simply walk out, what, but I shall come as soon as ever I can do.

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

I'll be there.

But Sally-Anne has a point.

I can understand why it'd be personal for you, but I think he's far more concerned with staying alive than holding himself accountable for what he's done, or uncovering the truth.

[alt_harry]

I can promise him that I'll do my best to keep the rest of the Order from killing him.

As long as what he tells us is actually the truth.

[alt_pansy]

Okay.

So we should make it clear that we're not angry with him about whatever he's done, we're angry with him for not being truthful.

And that we'd rather know the truth, no matter what he's done, and we'll keep him as safe as we can if he's absolutely straight with us. Because it might be even worse than what everyone thinks he did, and he might be worried that as soon as we'll find out, we'll be the ones out for his head.

But we still don't have any way to ensure that he's being fully truthful.

[alt_sally_anne]

We can tell him that the Order is keeping Mr Malfoy safe and alive because he's Draco's father, even though he was responsible for the deaths of loads of innocent people. And Peter was my rat (ergh) for years and years, and I don't want anything happening to him, but first I want to know exactly why he did what he did.

Harry, this might work better if you're not in the room. Or if he at least can't see you there.

Private message to Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

I still think he's just going to lie.

I mean, I would, in his position, if I thought it would be less likely to get me killed.

[alt_pansy]

Also. We should make sure there's clothing, because ugh.

And maybe giving him a chance to clean up a bit might help make him feel a bit more person-like.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

He will. Of course he will.

And it's not like we're prepared to torture him.

But it is personal. For Harry. So. I figure it's worth trying as best as we can to sort out what happened, for his sake.

[alt_pansy]

If there's something specific you know, Harry, something we can use to test him a bit, that'd be helpful.

And yeah. The part about Mr Malfoy is good.

[alt_ron]

Yeah, I agree. That's sort of what I was going to say.

Except.

I think Harry should be there at first and then if Pettigrew lies again or seems really anxious, then you should tell Harry he needs to leave, and I'll back you up.

Harry and I could even quarrel about it, but in the end we should make Harry leave and make P feel as if he can trust us to protect him and not tell Harry what he says or to shape it so Harry will understand P's reasons and what he's afraid of now.

That sort of thing is something they use in interrogation all the time. You make one person really threatening, but then his partner disagrees and makes the prisoner feel like the interrogators don't work well together, that they're not a united front. We could do that easily. And let him feel like he can divide and conquer, but really it would be us manipulating him.

[alt_sally_anne]

Good thought on giving him some robes to put on.

Let's tell the room we need some hot water for washing up.

If we knew any of the foods he liked as a person, we could have those for him, too. So he'd feel like we were on his side. (And, there are potions that get people's guard down a bit. I don't mean veritaserum, I mean stuff like that sunrise drink Dominic Selwyn gave us that one time.)

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

We're not, but the rest of the Order might be.

So we can sort of play good auror/bad auror even if the bad auror isn't anywhere nearby.

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah.

Good idea.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

True.

And make it clear that we have a real say in it, that they'd listen to us if we told them not to hurt him.

[alt_justin]

Sally-Anne,

Sorry about Hydra, what. She's feeling bally well strained, I think, by Auror Crouch's and her mother's expectations of her. It's not that she's really very cross with you or any of us for not telling her, personally.

She'll be all right in a day or two, I'm sure.

-Justin