Order Only: Private message to Alice

[alt_severus]

I believe I can say, without violating any confidences I have vowed to keep, that the core issue behind Draco's upset today is that he has taken Mr Weasley's actions, and Miss Parkinson's and Miss Perks's failure to inform him of those plans, as a sign that Draco is not trusted to keep Order confidences or to keep other Order members safe in a situation where that goal comes into conflict with his other necessities. There is also likely the subtext of his resentment of the cliques that have formed among the children, and the fact that Mr Weasley, Miss Parkinson, and Miss Perks thought nothing of informing each other while failing to inform the remainder of their cohort.

You have likely divined as much, but I present you that information anyway.

The first is a perception that cannot be addressed directly. However, as a precaution to avoid future mistakes touching upon the second I propose a change of procedure: from now until the end of this 'contest', you ought require each of the children to update you, me, and each other of their assigned task and their plans to complete it.

To avoid the issue of too many duellists interfering with the hex, I advise you instruct the other Order members against opining on those plans, much as we all pretend we do not read the posts the children make requesting no adult involvement.

Comments

[alt_alice]

Depending on how things go, I might streamline a bit through Harry, but yes. This contest has played Mab with our ability to predict the future, and has revealed some rather telling rifts in our communication that must be addressed, and I'll see what we might implement for the future.

I have pieced together enough to know precisely how furious I ought to be with Ron Weasley and his compatriots, and am relieved beyond measure that we have the ability to address these very real issues and recover from them rather than experiencing a permanent consequence.

Draco's ability to trust his fellow Order members is vital.

It is also something that is earned rather than presumed.

I've told him I trust his opinions, but I believe it would be useful to take the time to listen more directly to what he has to say. I don't wish to jump down his throat, but perhaps I might swing by the Shack sometime next week, and all three of us can talk more extensively about his thoughts regarding the political landscape, and the role he sees for himself now that he has a clearer idea of our trajectory. Do you think that he'd be amenable?

It's far easier to have a conversation with three instead of two, and seeing as both Draco and I communicate with you tolerably well, I think it would help to have you there as an interpreter of sorts.

[alt_severus]

Had I thought to propose this before this weekend's debacle, communicating through Mr Potter might have sufficed, but for all he is mature beyond his years, Mr Potter is still possessed of a fierce streak of independence and a learned distrust of what he perceives as authority. I would feel more sanguine with matters should at least one pair of adult eyes be involved in the planning.

Yes, this is an opportunity for us to address rifts in our communication, but perhaps not in the way you might think.

I do not blame the children for that learned distrust of authority. They have never known a world in which authority is not synonymous with atrocity, and many of their trials have reinforced their perception that adults at Hogwarts are incapable of ensuring their safety and the adults of the Order are ignorant of the realities of their day-to-day struggle and too quick to rush to moral judgement. Far too much of my rôle here has involved doing everything I can to show them that while I may not understand the emotional toll growing up in the Protectorate may take upon them, I can at least offer them a sounding-board free of that judgement (though, admittedly, that task is harder with several of them than it is with others; I will not be able to avoid communicating my judgement of Ronald Weasley for quite some time), and that effort is successful less than half the time; they are exceptionally slow to trust and Draco's characterisation of the Order's adults as ineffectual at best and outright obstacles at worst is notable as an opinion among his cohort only in degree.

It is well past the time when we must accept that no matter how often we express disappointment in them for failing to keep the Order appraised of their plans, they will not think to do so when the next crisis is upon them, and — when they are chastised for that failure — they will never agree that they are in the wrong, no matter what they say to appease us. Historically speaking, I cannot even say that they are in the wrong for believing themselves more capable of decisive action than the Order as a whole, but if we are ever to have a hope of their coming to us in a moment of crisis, we must begin to show them, as often as possible, that they can do so and receive support for that action.

It is only once we have demonstrated that we are capable of providing that support, without the endless dithering and debate that is the worst downside of our constant communication and our organisational structure in which everyone's opinion can be considered, that we will have a chance to gently influence the worst of their bad decisions before they have consequences from which we cannot escape.

Yes, I will interpret for you. Be prepared, however, for Draco to treat you as the enemy — not because he does not trust you, but because he has learnt he cannot trust anyone.

[alt_alice]

I assumed they were coordinating more closely with one another as a matter of course, which is obviously not happening as effectively as it could. And you're right that not having direct oversight to a certain extent encourages this tendency, but there is a fine line indeed -- we cannot try control every detail, nor would it be effective or useful. And too much information can sometimes be a hindrance rather than a help.

I can see how it would be important to clarify when advice is being solicited, and when excessive debate is unnecessary and not useful. I can attempt to curtail those elements when they crop up, certainly.

Demonstrating capability of support is difficult when there is very little one may actually do to provide immediate and real assistance. Expressing concern has often been our method of handling feelings of helplessness or worry in the past when one of our own has experienced difficulties, but I can see how it would ring a false tone when there is a gulf of age and experience.

I'll have to think about this further.

[alt_severus]

It is a fine line indeed. I do not have an answer — well, you are fully aware that if I did, I would have long since made my opinion known.

I do believe that requiring the children to share all their plans for this contest is a start, however. If for no other reason than it will force them all to begin thinking of themselves as one team working in concert to manipulate the standings to the desired end, rather than a collective of individuals who happen to be pointed in roughly the same direction.

I do remember that mindset of distrust exceptionally well, however. I will continue to think about what would have reached me at such an age.

[alt_alice]

Have you settled back into the castle yet?

You were sorely missed at tea. There was too much grumbling and furious scribbling on my part to properly enjoy the biscuits. Frank had my share, and he managed to talk me down from the ledge and check my spelling, so there's that.

It does help wonderfully that he's been in a rather good mood lately.

[alt_severus]

And yes, I have settled in well enough. I had hoped to check the Book whilst Minerva was at supper tonight, but she took her meal in her office. I will create an excuse to miss supper tomorrow night and do so; she will not avoid supper on the night the children return.

She is not doing well; she is pale and drawn enough that I swear you can see the light shining through her at times. There is little enough I can do for her, however.

I am pleased Frank is doing well, both on his behalf and on yours.

[alt_alice]

All right. There we go. It's a small step, but I hope it helps.

And I do hope to talk more regularly to Hydra and Draco in addition to Harry as we go -- starting with a conversation this upcoming week. Hermione had a very valid point, there.

[alt_severus]

Yes, it ought help. And I will keep an eye upon them as well.