Order Only: Private message to Susan Bones and Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_neville]

How is the Sett doing tonight? How are you doing?

I hope no one is doubting Cedric's loyalty at all. Well, I'm sure they wouldn't in Hufflepuff. I haven't heard anything malicious about him in Gryffindor, anyway, so it looks like the cover story is holding. For now, anyway.

I'm so sorry about Professor Sprout. Honest, I'm just gutted about it. I know you'll all miss her so much, and I will, too.

I can't remember if I ever mentioned to you, the Hat thought for a long time about putting me in Hufflepuff. Don't know why it put me in Gryffindor, really. I certainly felt a lot closer to your Head of House than mine.

I keep thinking about what sort of tree we should plant for her in the Memorial Garden. I wanted to get your opinion, to see if you had any suggestions. Was there a particular tree she ever mentioned to you that she really liked, that she thought represented Hufflepuff? Or sometimes I choose whatever tree the person's wand came from. What was hers made of, do you know? I thought it looked like apple, and I was thinking of an apple tree, maybe. It's beautiful in the spring, with the flowers, and I bet she'd like it that it would produce fruit that the kids at Moddey Dhoo could eat.

Comments

[alt_susan]

Thanks for asking. I don't think I'll know how I'm doing truly until later--while I'm performing "shocked and betrayed" for the Headmaster and the sett I can't think of anything else.

But it's going to hit like a tonne of castle bricks when I've half a minute to myself.

I'm not absolutely certain about her wand core but an apple tree sounds lovely and I think she'd love it too. She taught me so much about over the years about managing and working with people--but plants were her passion and it meant so much to her to have you to share that with.

[alt_justin]

Neville,

The sett is, rather predictably, quite overwhelmed by all that's happened.

I say, it seems I'm the one who should be consoling you over Professor Sprout. Of course, she was always a kind, gentle soul, and I jolly well appreciated her leadership of the House, but perhaps I'm not the best Hufflepuff when it comes to it; we were never all that close, what. It's quite a shame, naturally, and I'm heartily sorry for the Order that so many of our adult members had to flee.

On the other hand, the fact that I'm not particularly aggrieved has been somewhat helpful today, what. I've been doing my best to become indispensable to the Headmaster, you see. Having lost Cedric and one of his favourite colleagues, he is sorely in need of someone he feels he can trust.

-Justin

[alt_susan]

You're a perfectly fine Hufflepuff! I mean--sometimes I think you'd have done all right in any House--but we're happy to have you.

It probably is a good thing in a way that you weren't close--I think I've played my part well enough but I don't think I could play yours.

Speaking of--does it really seem as though he thinks Ced's innocent?

[alt_justin]

Sue,

I say, I don't think I should have got on well in Slytherin, what, and I'm not half so brave as some. But thank you for not disowning me, all the same.

As for Cedric--yes, I think he's well clear of suspicion. It's not at all like when Draco fled and it became more-or-less clear that he'd shifted his loyalties. In Cedric's case, all the evidence (or 'evidence') points to him having been well and truly kidnapped. The Headmaster's current fear is that the Order are trying to force Cedric to give up secrets. I gather that Professor Sinistra answered him in such a way as to confirm that she's now on our side, and that has hurt him a great deal. I say, I'm doing my best to be in the right place when he's ready to unburden himself but I'm...not sure he will do. He's been rather frustratingly scrupulous, what, as I'm still a student, albeit a favoured one.

-Justin