ORDER ONLY

[alt_frank]

we spent most of the night sorting out whether the device had any tracking charms, and testing whether we could get it to re-activate once we figured out it couldn't be traced. it can't be, at least not when it's inactive. at least as far as we could tell.

we had a debate about bringing it in. tested bringing it with a small warded area to see if that'd set it off, and it didn't, so we figured we'd be okay and we brought it inside moddey this morning. still hasn't activated, as far as we could see. we put it in one of the potting sheds we aren't using and Remus secured the shed so the kids wouldn't climb all over it.

the writing on the device was matched to a book Remus brought. it's an ancient text used by unspeakables. makes sense, because the shipment was from the department of mysteries, but we still don't know what it's used for. something we didn't know about the sleepers, maybe?

it sort of felt like a wave of magic when we were around it the first time. a pulse that you could feel in your chest. and like sirius said, fu felt it too. he's going to be okay, by the way, thanks to poppy.

Dumbledore, we could use a consult to see if you can make heads or tails of it. Bill is going to see if he can pick anything up coming from the ministry about it, but right now we've got a fancy statue of a snake and no idea what it does.

Comments

Private Message to Terry Boot

[alt_frank]

all right, kiddo?

you've been Professoring a lot the last day or so. and sticking pretty close to me.

you can stick all you want, it's fine by me, I just want to make sure eveything's okay.

Re: Private Message to Terry Boot

[alt_terry]

Oh, I'm fine. I just wondered if you wanted to stick close to ME. Just to maybe have a dog's ears to scritch, even if it's a ratty-looking one, if that would help.

I, uh, saw the Defence arena. When you were done with it. And I read about what happened at Hogwarts.

Re: Private Message to Terry Boot

[alt_frank]

I'll be okay. been a hard last couple of days, though, no mistake. and you're right. it does help.

al and me were talking about the upcoming easter hols training session. you up for coming along?

Re: Private Message to Terry Boot

[alt_terry]

Yes, please!

And I also wanted to say....thanks for not making that long walk up the beach.

Re: Private Message to Terry Boot

[alt_frank]

we'll make sure to make arrangements. I think it'd be good for you to start learning apparation.

[alt_lupin]

I still want to know why on earth that blasted thing was being transported by train.

[alt_frank]

well it stopped working once we apparated away with it. maybe that was part of it?

[alt_bill]

A couple tidbits I've gleaned so far. Whatever this thing is, it may be causing ripples at the highest levels. I was supposed to have lunch with Percy today, but he begged off, saying he had to stay at his desk. Apparently, Lucius Malfoy's cancelled a full slate of meetings today and gone to Court. Percy won't say what's going on--if he even knows. Nor did I ask. But I think it's significant that he doesn't feel he can take a half an hour away from his desk, in case Lucius needs him for something.

Also: Yaxley cancelled and rescheduled a meeting he had set with Selwyn. No reason given.

Haven't heard a peep otherwise. I will continue to investigate, very carefully (no, I don't want to call attention to myself, thank you very much), and I've sent the alert to my network to send me anything to the point that they hear.

[alt_bill]

And the press:

There was a small notice in the Prophet this morning about a train being robbed, but nothing specific about what was taken. Buried rather far in the paper, no by-line. They do mention the Muggles being freed, and warn readers to be on the lookout for Scary Rampaging Riff-Raff.

The 'pitiful remnants' of Sirius Black's terrorist network is to blame.

We're not doing so badly for a pitiful remnant.

[alt_bill]

Hang on. One of my sources has just contacted me. May have something more soon.