Order Only: Security

[alt_severus]

I have just returned from once more addressing Mr Weasley's memory problem, after he reported an intense feeling of déjà vu at the Baddock/Moon wedding festivities this weekend.

After significant work I was able to determine the reason for that sensation was the presence of Dominic Selwyn and his clerk conferring with each other. Exceptionally careful, painstaking examination of the period immediately preceding Mr Weasley's missing minutes indicates both men were present when Mr Weasley was obliviated. That we were using legilimency allowed the emotional flavour of Mr Weasley's state of mind at the time to shine through even though the actions themselves were lost: I was able to recover an intense fear that Mr Weasley was being entrapped into saying the wrong thing, followed by a very brief flash of the two men looking at each other warily, Mr Weasley's sudden realisation that he was not being entrapped, and Selwyn drawing his wand.

Most troublingly, though I could not retrieve any memory of the conversation itself, nor of the spell Selwyn cast, the emotional resonances immediately took on a familiar euphoria: that of the Imperius victim.

I spent perhaps longer than I should have in attempting to retrieve more information — Mr Weasley, you would be wise to play off the aftereffects tomorrow as a particularly vicious hangover — but was unable to obtain any additional clues.

One thing is certain: it is well past time for you all to reinvigourate your Occlumency practise if you have allowed it to fall to the wayside. Mr Weasley's skill goes beyond rusty and into the realm of criminally negligent. I am certain I would find the same of at least several others in the Order. It is hypocrisy in the first degree to arrange for the children to possess the skill while neglecting to keep your own mental houses in order.

Comments

Private Message to Bill Weasley

[alt_severus]

While your behaviour towards Miss Tonks was reprehensible — a fact of which you are undoubtedly well aware, considering how very clearly you wished for me not to see the memory of it — you need not fear I will share it further. I do not engage in the sort of gossip many of the Order finds so commonplace.

That I was able to see that memory so readily, however, is proof you are not in the least bit capable of defending yourself against mental attack. To anyone even marginally skilled at the practise of legilimency — and both the Dark Lord and Bellatrix Lestrange are more than marginally skilled in the practise of legilimency — that sort of shame and desire to conceal information, unless paired with occlumency techniques, is a bright signal that something interesting is present.

I do not exaggerate when I say that your current shameful lack of skill in defending against mental intrusion could quite easily condemn dozens of people to death in future.

Re: Private Message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

You weren't fucking kidding me about the after-effects. If only I'd had the carouse to justify what this feels like. It was like a spike through my temples.

Thank you for the potion, at least. It's not enough, but at least it's brought it down from please kill me now and put me out my misery to worst hangover ever.

Re: Private Message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

And as for Tonks...thank you for your discretion. But since we didn't know what or where the memory was, I was trying to let you in, you git. Even if I would have preferred that you didn't see that.

And for Merlin's sake, it's not like I was trying to rape her. I kissed her.

But I see your point. I'll practise the bleeding occlumency exercises.

Ugh, my head.

Private Message to McGivern

[alt_severus]

Blast it, I told you to use glass rods, not metallic, for that entire class of preparations. I do not specify these things for the pleasure of hearing myself speak. If you are unable to remember to perform simple arithmantical calculations such as thaumaturgic interaction and systemic energetic volatility before attempting a new variation, in no short order we will no longer need to protect the secret of the Sanctuary from the Dark Lord's thugs, as you will have blown it to smithereens and saved them the trouble.

Despite your — emphatic — results, my instinct tells me we are on the right track with № 17, for all we are clearly not there yet. I will experiment further with variations on the papaveris.

In the meantime, and in case those variations do not play out:

№ 11: increase citric acid, f℥i..f℥v per f℥½ q.⅙°
№ 12: remove clove and gillyweed, add alihotsy ℥iii, leaf of M. cordifolia q.5 en-p.
№ 15: remove from consideration