Order Only: Journals

[alt_kingsley]

Given Albus's recommendation, we are talking over the next stage.

Davidson has agreed to let Snape and Macnair stay in an isolated bivouac with several of his people and me, as they now start vetting the two of them for the Sherwood Band's security purposes. We had already confiscated all their gear and given it to some of Davidson's staff to check over.

Snape and I have been in discussions about his use of the Goyle boy's journal for his 'Draught' entries. I wondered whether he could use it to start making Order posts, but to my surprise, he volunteered that he already has his own journal. Someone sent it to him about a month ago by owl. Sent both of them journals, as well as a few other personal items the Ministry had been holding since their arrests. When we pressed him on it, Snape said the package came without a signature, but he suspects, based on the handwriting, that it was sent by his Defender, Bartemius Crouch, Sr.

Frank about went spare at the realisation that they had been carrying something that might have been set with a lurking MLE trace. But the two of them checked the entire package out as best they could when it first arrived, and as Snape rather sensibly pointed out, MLE hasn't come bursting in on them yet. Frank and I tested everything, too, and it all looks clean. Are there any other tests that you know of that we should try, Bill?

Assuming you all agree, and I guess upon Albus's authority, we'll give them back the journals and explain the Order lock. Frank will be returning to Moddey Dhoo tonight. And glad he will be to see Alice again (and be shut of us), I'm bound.

Comments

[alt_bill]

Barty Crouch, Sr?

What is he up to, doing something like that?

Well, you and Frank are the experts at Dark revealing spells, rather than me. Except...there's only one I can think of, and it's rather sly. It isn't revealed by casting a spell on the journal alone, because it's a spell that's only triggered by contact with ferrous sulphate, one of the principal ingredients in most inks.

To check for it, take care to rip a page out of the journal first, so it's separate from the rest of the book. Cast a 'Protego' bubble over yourself to isolate yourself with it (leaving the rest of the journal outside the bubble). Write a few words on the page, and then cast the spell, 'Atramentum Reperio,' with a clockwise circle with your wand, over the page.

If that spell's lurking in the paper, you'll immediately see a very bright orange flash. If you do see the flash, burn the paper immediately. As long as you burn it within a few seconds, I don't think they'll be able to hold and use any trace, especially with the blockage of the Protego spell.

[alt_frank]

thanks, bill, shall do.

[alt_frank]

that, mate, is a massive understatement.

good on you for sticking around for a bit longer, though. and I'll be back soon enough to check on things too.

[alt_sirius]

I've been told to stop objecting. I can't exactly agree but as this is what Albus clearly wants us to do, I'll abstain.

Don't blame me if they turn round and bring MLE down on your heads, though.

[alt_poppy]

Well. If nothing else, I'm relieved there will be no need to experiment with whether the Order lock could be used successfully on a stolen journal--or what would become of us if it did not hold.

As for the manner in which they came by their journals. That is not relieving in the slightest. But then, we're all in possession of journals sent us mysteriously by the Ministry (though not under the hand of Bartemius Crouch, the elder, for mercy's sake), and we entrust our safety to them every day.


I'm sure I don't know what to hope for as the result of all this.