Order Only: Sirius

[alt_nymphadora]

So, Sirius, was that all just blather the other night or are you ready to back up your big ideas with real help in making Laszlo actually useful?

Where have you scarpered off to, anyway?

I think it would be brilliant if you'd come here and stay. Every family needs a dog. And you'd be useful as a security system, too. We could trust you to sniff out the inspectors when they come round.

And then we could get down to some proper planning for ways to build up our business here.

Comments

[alt_nymphadora]

Muggleborn railroad?

Oh. Sorry. I want to hear about the Muggleborn smugglers, too. That's what you meant about the people that woman was trying to reach last summer while the Hogwarts children were here, isn't it?

That was the one thing you wrote the other night that I just wasn't sure about. And, after all, it did seem you were a good ways into your cups by then and not making absolute sense.

At any rate. Good. I'm holding you to this. Not just big talk, but real, solid action. That's what's needed.

[alt_sirius]

That's what I meant - the smugglers. Don't suppose you'd know the reference, but in the United States, during their muggle civil war, some of the slave abolitionists started up what they called an Underground Railroad - a system of safehouses and waystations where they would harbour and aid slaves making their way from the south to the north. Seems like that network we heard about last summer is the same sort of thing, only from the camps to ... well, I'm not sure where.

Turner says Lucinda has a lead on a woman outside Cotgrave who may be involved with the network. I've a feeling that the ones in New London may be hard to find but if we can make contact outside of the city, perhaps we can convince them of our intentions while evaluating their effectiveness.

[alt_nymphadora]

So you're going to Cotgrave, then. Before you come to us? What do you plan to tell her? Or what has Turner told her already?

But Remus says you'll be here by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest. That's excellent, you can tell us everything then. I think it will be tremendous to have you here. You'll be good for all of us.

[alt_sirius]

Yeah, late Tuesday night, I think?

Turner hasn't told her anything. It's Lucinda who's managed the message network through drop points and codes. And one of her contacts in the camps told her that this witch has had labourers out to her home many times and treats them quite well. The report says that she is privately quite outspoken, too.

So, we'll check it out. (Yes, carefully, Poppy.)