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[alt_pomona]

It's my great pleasure to actually get to announce one of these, and for one of my own badgers, too.

Poppy and I had a very pleasant and helpful conversation with Mr Diggory and Albus took his oath a few minutes ago. Mr Diggory - Cedric - I'm sure it'll take you some time to catch up with everything, but do feel free to ask questions. And you'll be able to talk more easily and privately with a number of others now.

Many welcomes, really.

Comments

Private message to Alice and Poppy

[alt_pomona]

Alice, dear -

Poppy and I weren't quite sure about going ahead, but when we asked one of the elves, Minerva couldn't get free, it sounded like. I hope you don't think we overstepped, but really, no one seemed to have objections other than the concerns we'd already discussed about his work.

Poppy and I (and Albus) were all quite satisfied with his answers in the end. I rather thought it better to have his oath and commitment before he started work tomorrow. Easier on him, and less fussing. (Well, you know how we are, the sett, we're better when our commitments are clear to us.)

Alice, I don't think he'll think to tell you himself while he's sorting it all out, but he's under no magical compulsion to loyalty or anything like that, just been given clear instructions that some private correspondence is to stay entirely private. (Not unreasonable, really.) Also quite definite this is something he sees as a temporary position, until he can take his NEWTs and figure out how far his recovery will stretch.

I believe Poppy has more comments on that, but the short answer is that you shouldn't count on him for anything involving exertion or stamina for a good while yet, though he is improving.

Oh. And Albus was not exactly forthcoming about anything (blasted man) but at least amiable about helping here. Make of that what you will.

Re: Private message to Alice and Poppy

[alt_alice]

Well done, both of you. From what I know about him, he seems like a good, solid person. Neville and Evelyn both had nothing but the best to say in terms of his character, and I have faith in your judgment on the matter.

Thank you so much for taking this in hand. I'm just glad Albus was available and willing.

I know Harry's been having his eye on this for a while, and I can see how it might benefit them both to be able to work more closely together.

Re: Private message to Alice and Poppy

[alt_poppy]

I was, indeed, quite satisfied with the conversation we had with Mr Diggory. He's plainspoken and direct, which is a pleasant change from all the guarded, subtle characters one seems to have to deal with most of the time in this wretched Protectorate. I do not, of course, mean that Mr Diggory is not careful to keep his own counsel, but his lack of nuance was refreshing.

I remain concerned about his entanglement with Antonin Dolohov, as much for his health's sake as for his safety or ours. It is, undeniably, an opportunity for us to have a pair of eyes looking over that man's shoulder, though it will take some cultivating before we could ask the boy to be more than a passive spy for us.

His recovery is still a work in progress, so Pomona is quite right that we must not imagine him a candidate for physical tasks yet.

Private message to Minerva and Poppy

[alt_pomona]

Minerva, we did think to send an elf to check in with you, but it sounded like you couldn't get free. (Something about a follow up about that book? Anyway, we didn't want to disturb.)

He, ah, he was a bit surprised when we told him about you, so if you can find some excuse to chat with him in private in the coming days, it might do you both some good.

And if there's anything we can answer, I'm glad to, and I'm sure Poppy will chime in, too.

Re: Private message to Minerva and Poppy

[alt_poppy]

I trust you're not being dragged over the coals for the presence of those books here. As if you could have done a thing to stop their being sent to a student by a parent!

In any case, we thought it better not to wait once we'd burdened Mr Diggory with our secrets. And Albus was to hand, so we imposed on him for the oath.

[alt_harry]

Good to hear, Professor Sprout.

Thanks.

And welcome to the Order, Ced.

[alt_alice]

Very good news.

Welcome, Cedric. I look forward to the opportunity to get to know you better.

[alt_sally_anne]

Welcome, Cedric.

And, um, Colin Creevey? Did he also get sworn in? I saw Mrs Longbottom wrote him a PM. And Mr Longbottom.

[alt_alice]

I swore him in this afternoon. We were just testing to see if it would work to have him writing in Frank's journal.

They both are working through how best to approach this, as Colin's never taken dictation before and Frank isn't one for dictating, really, and there's distinguishing Frank's words from Colin's too, but I'm sure they'll get it sorted out by tomorrow.

[alt_evelyn]

That's very good to hear.

Private Message to Mum

[alt_evelyn]

I'm sorry I was so cross earlier.

There's nothing that needs forgiving. You did what you had to do, and I understand why you did it that way.

Re: Private Message to Mum

[alt_alice]

Oh, lovie.

I know when I've bungled things, and that was one of them.

Thank you for being gracious about it.

I know how much you're looking forward to talking with your father, and in a few weeks, you'll be able to see him face to face again too.

Re: Private Message to Mum

[alt_evelyn]

And I'll get to see you too. Which I am also very much looking forward to.

[alt_cedric]

Thank you. I look forward to meeting some of you, honestly meeting some others and getting to talk to people without dancing around topics will be greatly appreciated.

I see I have a great deal more reading to do now. I think I may need to delay massive reading otherwise someone might wonder why I'm sitting in the library all evening reading my journal rather than revising or looking tired the next day after staying up too late.

There are so many surprises just in the little bit of reading I've been able to do and who I met today.

[alt_justin]

Cedric,

Welcome. I say, it's good to have you on the side!

As each of us have discovered, there are more than a few 'surprises' within the Order's posts and comments--and some are sure to be downright shocks. It's jolly well easy to be overwhelmed. But everyone is also quite understanding of that, what.

-F-F

[alt_ron]

Yeah. Ask them questions.

They don't mind. Too much.

Glad you're here, mate.

[alt_evelyn]

I'm glad you're here too.

[alt_gredforge]

It's absolutely spiffing that you're here! We'll be sure to fire off some rockets at the first opportunity in your honour.

[alt_neville]

There'll be lots of them. You'll sort it out, but it'll take time.

Welcome to the Order.

[alt_molly]

Welcome, Cedric. I know Arthur would have been just as happy to see you join as I am.

[alt_luna]

I'm very happy you've joined us.

[alt_terry]

Welcome. You know about Hermione's wand. I have one, too.

I don't go by boot anymore. I'm Terry.

[alt_kingsley]

Welcome, son.

Private Message to Professor Sprout

[alt_cedric]

It's wonderful to be able to write like this with the knowledge that someone isn't reading over my shoulder.

I didn't expect to run into ethical issues so quickly. If I had taken my current job with the intention to spy, I would feel differently however that isn't the case. At the time I told Professor Dolohov I wouldn't gab, I really meant it.

I did more reading than I really planned last night. Your group was responsible for the magical mystery at Saltash, correct? He's investigating it. Intensely. At this time I don't know any significant details other than who he's communicating with about it. Obviously if he told me he was about to go bust it open and lead an attack I would scream on the lock at the first moment I could, but reporting on his progress... I don't know how I feel.

Re: Private Message to Professor Sprout

[alt_pomona]

It is so good to be able to talk honestly, isn't it? I resisted the journals entire for years, and there are still times I wonder, but this - well. Makes up for a lot.

I respect your commitment to your word, and I'm quite sure Alice will understand too. She's been very careful about some of the competing loyalties of others in the Order, and I expect she'll be the same for you. (And Minerva will understand for her own reasons, I think, but doesn't come at it like one of the sett does.)

But briefly, yes, we were, or rather Albus and Frank were. (You've read enough to understand the cost, I hope.) I'm inclined to think that warning if they try to break it is substantailly more than we'd have had before, and a quite generous offer on your part, but Alice can sort that out handily.

You're all right though? Rather a shock, really, to find out all of this, and what we've been keeping from so many people. You'll find more as you go back. There are some exceptionally sticky parts from, oh, about January of this year back through the previous November, that I'd recommend you save for the weekend.

Do feel you can ask me more at any time, really. Which, speaking off, you're in such an odd place this year, neither student or staff. If you'd rather be formal, that's quite all right, but I'm just as happy if you use my first name. And if you'd rather one or the other yourself, just say so.

[alt_jeremy]

From one new member to another, welcome to the side.

Also a welcome goes to Colin, yeah?

[alt_frank]

(Ta!)