Order Only Private Message to Macnair

[alt_severus]

Our discussion of yesterday evening has made me realise once again it is almost certainly time for you and I to make some contingency plans, in the event the Order is unable -- or, more likely, unwilling -- to do what needs to be done to achieve the ends they profess to desire. While Alice Longbottom is less likely to stand around wringing her hands and bleating about morals than certain others might, I agree with you it is unlikely any of that lot will be likely to fully accept the blatantly obvious conclusion that this war will not be won with purely clean hands.

I also appreciate your offer to be the one to propose the necessary actions rather than requiring us to fight through the instinctive reactions of certain members of that company to firmly attest the sky is green simply because I have stated it is blue.

Comments

[alt_macnair]

Nice of you to have me 'round yours. I'd return the favour if I had a place of my own, but as it is I just go where I'm needed.

Way I see it, time spent thinking of ways to do things clean only draws the thing out. Then it's probable that even more unclean things will be required to make up for time lost.

Don't know why they'd listen to me more than you. Could be I don't talk back as much as you.

Then again seems they've forgot I was ready to murder the Potter's boy cos I though the deed was the key to ending Voldemort.

That alone ought to make it clear I'll do whatever it takes.

[alt_severus]

Now that the children are back it will be difficult to repeat the experience, I'm certain. Which is a pity: I rather enjoyed the company. Though I'm certain it must have been odd for you to return here.

I am often tempted to ask them how many people they think die weekly under the Dark Lord's most merciful regime, and how many of those would live when they otherwise would not if we were to overthrow that regime tomorrow. But they find it easier to bear those deaths, I suppose, as they are not transpiring right under their noses. And I am certain they would not accept killing one to save thousands, when waiting for a solution that does not carry a cost in blood that they can see costs those thousands over time.

And yet it is we who are the heartless monsters, for daring to suggest decisive action.

I imagine they have forgot your willingness to sacrifice Potter, yes. Or they've concluded that your vow has defanged you, and decided that as long as you are not a threat to Potter, you are safe enough. Another example of the hypocrisies to which they seem prone.

It is not so much that I believe they will listen to you more than they listen to me; rather, it is that the mere act of making a suggestion will not automatically cause certain ears to tune out the words being spoken when those words come from your lips rather than mine. Black, for instance, would rather gnaw off his own limb than admit I might have a point.

I am aware that my method of proposing those suggestions is often taken as abrasive, and am working to control my frustrations enough so that I might mitigate that effect somewhat -- but having someone else making the same points may, I hope, override the instinctive response.

[alt_macnair]

They ain't seen what we've seen, and that's the truth of it. If they insist on keeping their hands out of the muck then I'm content to be the one who will do what must be done, against their wishes if it comes to that. I reckon you think the same.

It's high time to start pushing, making them see the solutions that they can't bring themselves to look upon.

And what about contingency plans, eh? What did you have in mind?

[alt_severus]

I am not wholly certain.

I do not doubt Potter will be the epicentre of whatever steps finally roust the Dark Lord from power, but prophecy is an uncertain thing. I do fear the rest of the Order have fallen into the trap of believing the prophecy a forsaken conclusion, rather than something that must be helped along. I have been thinking about what else the boy should be taught to prepare him. If you have any ideas, I would appreciate hearing them.

But whether or not Potter will be the one to fell the Dark Lord in the end, there are still two dozen soi-disant "Councilwizards" to consider. I do not think they would so easily step aside; I cannot see, for instance, Lucius Malfoy or Bellatrix Lestrange willingly bowing to a boy taking the place of their former master. Particularly if Potter were to, once in a position of rule, begin overturning the Dark Lord's edicts regarding Muggle and Muggleborn alike. Whatever plans are put into place for seizing control out of the hands of the Dark Lord's régime must also account for the inevitable resistance, likely quite pointed, from those of whom that régime benefits.

Perhaps we should allow the Order to have their endless debates about ethics and morality unmolested whilst we arrange to thin the herd of that august company in anticipation of that happy day.

Or perhaps if we wait, the Dark Lord will continue to save us the trouble.