Order Only - I am here.

[alt_severus]

Minerva,

If you would like to preserve your cover, it would be best for you to meet me in the caretaker's quarters immediately.

Bring Milland's personnel file. Assuming that you are not entirely incompetent and he has a personnel file, of course.

All others,

I certainly swore an oath to Minerva McGonagall. The contents of the oath were that I would obey the head of the Order of the Phoenix. Unless there has been a coup, I believe the head of the Order of the Phoenix remains -- and always will remain -- Albus Dumbledore. He may order me out of Hogwarts at any time he cares to present himself.

I will be quite busy for the rest of the evening. No need to leave me irritating notes.

Comments

[alt_mcgonagall]

WHAT?

You had best prepare yourself, Severus Snape, because I am indeed "meeting you," as you put it. I remember when you were a snotty-nosed, knock-kneed child and I will have your respect and your obedience!

I shall see you very soon.

[alt_severus]

Really.

[alt_bill]

Boy, are you in for a surprise.

Let him have it, Minerva.

[alt_kingsley]

And how.

You had no right, Severus. Hogwarts is Minerva's territory. You don't disobey her orders on her ground.

[alt_arthur]

What on earth have you done?!

Where's Milland?

Private Message to Severus Snape

[alt_alice]

Severus.

Honestly.

For someone who doesn't get along with Sirius, I can't think of two people who are more alike.

I know you're not about to read this right now, but I'm going to say it regardless.

You know that the only time Dumbledore has decided to grace us with his presence in nearly five years was to institute you into the Order, so your parsing out of your oath to Minerva isn't just childish, it deliberately sets you up to interpret said oath in your favour. After all, you could just as precisely state that because he hasn't given you direct orders, your only course of action is to do nothing.

Yes. You are technically correct. Minerva is not the head of the Order. And yes, she is not always right, and she does not always get her way.

But Severus, there must be due process.

You can see that you and Walden are most at risk in this group, and I know how tiresome it's been for you to get approval for your actions, but can't you also see that there's a reason for it?

I love my son and daughter.

And if they were in immediate danger, I can't say truthfully that I would follow every instruction to the letter from people who have made decisions for our group in the past. I know what it's like to want to take enormous risks for someone. To feel that your love for someone can outweigh your responsibility for the safety and well being of others.

But.

Harry is not in immediate danger. This could have waited. Merlin knows with holidays approaching, the castle is in chaos -- a sudden change-over would be easier. And more importantly, you would have had the time to explain your position and get the support of enough people to make a decent case for your actions. As it is, all you have are people who are terrified of breaches in security, concerned about resources, rightfully worried that you've jumped the gun without support, putting yourself in danger and potentially exposing us all rather than going forward with a plan, and they are completely and utterly in the dark about your reasons for going there. All they know is that you do not have approval from Minerva and that what you've done is risky without having had time to think through the benefits, and if that is their starting point, they will be against it.

We walk a delicate line, Severus.

I know you've been on your own, and are used to doing what was needed by yourself. But one of the challenges of being with a group is that you have the support and additional safety they can provide, but must pay the cost of taking into account their opinions and concerns. It is not a perfect system. None of us are right all the time. But heavens, Severus, unless you at least pay lip service to us and give us the courtesy of asking, of addressing our concerns before acting when action can wait so we at least know you've thought about contingencies, you risk losing your support altogether.

And yes, your ability to act without asking is dependent on trust. Trust that is still on rather thin ice at the moment with many in our group. Trust that must be cultivated, regardless of how much you may dislike it.

I'm not sure how you can mend what bridges you're currently burning, but I suggest you start to try. At least a little.

You could be a real force for change within our group. Up until this point, I respected your contributions, and have trusted Dumbledore's judgement as well as your motives. I have tried to show my support for you and your plans.

Please don't make me re-think things.

You know full well what you are doing. You are an intelligent person, and an adult capable of thought. And I doubt you'll listen too much to any lectures on how cooperation is necessary from the likes of me, as the benefits should be obvious to anyone.

But please. Please consider what you're doing and why, and think about the impact it could have on all of us. On your ability to help Harry in the future.

Re: Private Message to Severus Snape

[alt_alice]

I shouldn't have called you childish. That was unfair of me, and it was spoken out of anger and frustration rather than what I intended.

You'll get plenty of grief from everyone, I've no doubt, but I hope that my intended message doesn't get buried in the cauldron, as it were.

[alt_poppy]

What have you done?

Minerva? What has he done to Milland?

Is he injured?

Tell me it's not beyond that!

[alt_macnair]

So her library and tea were that lacking, were they?

Meant what I said, though: watch yourself. This Milland might be reporting to anyone, Raz Lestrange or worse. Hope your legilimency is strong enough to suss out any patterns he's established thus far. And that he's not an occulmens.