Order Only: Private message to Draco

[alt_harry]

So, is the fact that you didn't come back to the journals last night a good sign?

Comments

[alt_draco]

No, it's not a good sign. I was weeping into my pillow all night long.

[alt_draco]

Nah, just taking the mick.

It went well.

[alt_harry]

Well, good!

[alt_harry]

By the way, you probably didn't see this, but I know where the plate is, now. Dolohov has it.

I hinted I wanted it back. He said maybe eventually, like if I move out of Buckingham and get a place of my own. I don't know whether to push, and tell him I want to borrow it. Or if that'll just make it harder to get it back. I mean, we could just wait until summer. I don't know if He'll let me get my own flat, though, it doesn't seem very likely.

[alt_draco]

I mean, you could demand that he give you the plate, but then he's probably going to get all curious about why you want it so badly.

I don't know, by this summer maybe you should just declare yourself leader of the resistance at large and leave Buckingham behind for good. We can always think of another way to get the plate.

[alt_harry]

What, you mean stealing it from Dolohov? That would be hard. I mean, if you'd needed to steal the cup from Gringott's and the goblins hadn't wanted to let you in, do you think you could have done it?

[alt_draco]

I mean, what's he want it for? Probably wants to keep an eye on it, but it's got no other value or use beyond that (that he knows of). Tell him you need it for something, and make it more important than just for "safe-keeping." And no, I don't know what, off the top of my head. But could be something to brainstorm with the others about.

[alt_harry]

I think he wants to keep it safe, and he doesn't think I can. I'm wondering if I should ask him if I can borrow it, but I don't know what I'll say if he asks why.

Asking everyone else is a good idea.

Is there going to be a meeting? I was thinking I would sneak out and try to go.

[alt_harry]

Also, Voldemort wanted to see me yesterday.

It was -- I don't know. He didn't try to legilimise me, but

It was weird.

[alt_draco]

I think there will be a meeting but I'm not sure when. It has to happen soon, obviously.

What was so weird about it? Don't tell me he was nice. Or normal. After yesterday I don't think I can take anymore shocking moments of disbelief.

[alt_harry]

He wanted me to show off, sort of. He had me show him the most difficult spells I'd learned. And then he acted pleased. He had me come close to him and I don't want to say that he hugged me because hugs aren't anything like that. But he sort of patted me and ran his hands over my arms like he was trying to be affectionate.

When I was a lot younger I might have liked it. It might have made me think I'd finally managed to really please Him.

[alt_harry]

It was a little like he was trying to play-act something normal.

And also not like that at all.

I don't know what he was after.

[alt_harry]

Also since I was there having a conversation with him I asked him why no one's allowed to cruciate me.

He said that cruciatus damages the brain. He didn't mean it scars you emotionally, he meant it actually creates damage.

And he wanted me to be 'unblemished.'

[alt_draco]

Um.

I'm not sure I should tell you where my imagination is headed with this.

[alt_harry]

I think I can guess.

That would have been awful. But at least it would have been a straightforward sort of awful.

[alt_harry]

He wants something. I don't know what. And I'm really afraid of what the answer might be but it's not that.

[alt_draco]

I mean, I've always said that he must have some plan for you, and this only further confirms that. Use you in some ritual where you need to be as physically pristine as can be, perhaps? It's fully possible he's stumbled on some kind of ancient magic even more abhorrent than horcruxes, but he almost certainly hasn't told anyone about it.

[alt_harry]

Yeah.

That's exactly what I'm worried about. That's exactly -- I mean, that's what it felt like, when he was looking at me.

I don't know how to find out. Or who'd know. And who'd tell me.

[alt_draco]

I guess the question is, is there someone we can get Him to tell?

No clue who that person would be, though, and they'd probably not be one of ours.

[alt_harry]

I wonder if I could get Dolohov to try to find out.

And if he'd tell me what he found out.

[alt_draco]

Maybe if you make it clear that you fear the LP might be making plans to ritualistically murder you. I still haven't forgotten Dolohov's creepy prayer - or whatever it was - that he wrote to me after I "died."

[alt_harry]

'May no more fucking children die on my fucking watch?'

[alt_draco]

That's the one.