Order Only: Communications

[alt_severus]

While the rest of you lot have been wringing your hands about long-term strategy and squabbling endlessly about tactics necessary to achieve interim goals, Miss Granger has applied herself to one of the problems that have plagued operations since the Order's inception: communication. I have examined her solution and found it charmingly unsophisticated, but otherwise quite adequate from both ease-of-construction and operational security standpoints.

As Miss Granger is entirely too modest to advance her proposition to the group as a whole, I will take the decision out of her hands: Miss Granger, when you have a moment, kindly explain.

Comments

[alt_hermione]

Oh!

Well, it wasn't just me, I mean I had loads of help, and it took a while, it wasn't just one night's work or anything. And you're right, it's really a very simple form given what went into making it, I'm sure there could be a version that's loads better.

But it's a coin, you see, and it can be inscribed with a short message by tracing letters with a thumb or finger. Then there's a way to activate the spell on it so that the message goes to all the other people with a connected coin.

The coin turns warm in everyone's pockets when there's a new message. Anyone can write a message but you can't tell who wrote it unless they say, and the coin will store 23 messages (when there are more than 23 the oldest one disappears), and they're really short messages but it's enough to tell a group of people something in a hurry, if you need to do.

I thought, you know, what Sirius said about being able to send messages to more than one place at a time. It might work for that.

[alt_sirius]

Hermione,

You're brilliant! How many do you have? Could we have a look at one?

(It's Hogsmeade on Saturday, isn't it?)

[alt_hermione]

We made about 30 of them and most of them have been given to students. Right now we're mainly using them to have revising sessions or little meetings to make fun of Madam Umbridge (which no one seems to have a problem doing, even if I'm there).

The twins have them and they gave one to Terry, so he could show Mr and Mrs Longbottom if he wanted to do.

[alt_charlie]

That's right clever. Well done, you.

How do you make them? Is it something you can add to later if you want to hook up some more?

[alt_hermione]

We can although we haven't yet so we don't know how well the new ones will work.

There are a couple of spells and then there's also a potion that gets mixed with the gold when it gets melted down. So I suppose if we had to make loads and loads of them we could start with something that isn't gold, like lead or tin, and then we could transfigure the whole thing when it's done to look like a gold Galleon.

The only thing is that the magic to activate them uses a drop of--of blood. Blood magic. That was the only way we could figure to do it without needing a wand. On the other hand, that made it loads easier to also make people swear they wouldn't knowingly betray the secrets told on the coins or by the people who hold them.

Some of us weren't very happy about using blood magic, even for something really important like that, but don't other forms of magical contract require blood binding and oaths and all? So I don't see that it's all that different, and it's not even a particularly strong compulsion spell.

[alt_charlie]

Well, I'm sure you made sure it couldn't be used to hurt you, right? You're clever about thinking things through like that. And you're right blood magic's used in all kinds of contracts and agreements and such.

Compulsion magic, though -- that stuff's tricky. From everything I've ever read about it, that stuff can backfire on you when you least expect it. But I'm sure you thought that part through as well, and also made sure people knew what they were getting into, so I suppose that makes it all right. I can see why some of you lot might be skittish about it, though.

But the only way I can think of to link objects up like that is the Protean charm -- that's seriously advanced magic right there, it is. I'm impressed.

[alt_terry]

I wasn't sure about the blood spell when she explained it at first, but now that I've held my coin, I don't think it's a problem. Anyway, I don't get that awful feeling I used to get whenever I handled the git's Dark stuff. It does feel different in your hand than an ordinary galleon, so you're not likely to spend it by mistake.

Another point to the blood charm that Hermione didn't mention is security. Which I think is really important. Your coin that you've marked with your own blood will only work for you, and nobody else can read the messages on it. What's more, the blood also activates a whistle-and-come charm so you can't lose it -- if someone steals it from you they'll lose it and it'll find its way back to you. Which is another point in this system's favour.

Anyway, I was wary about the idea at first, but I think that what Hermione and the others have come up with is dead clever.

Private Message to Sirius

[alt_hermione]

Are you coming up to Hogsmeade this weekend? Harry's been wondering if he'd see you. We could show you the coin then. He's got one and Draco Malfoy, too, but they know that I helped make them and they're both fine with that. Draco's changing a little bit, I think, though mostly he's just worried that people will figure out that Harry and I are--more like friends than not, I suppose. I don't know quite what we are because, well, you know.

But I know Mr Lupin wasn't very happy you came last time so if you can't get away we can make sure you get one to look at. Only I don't think it's right for you or Mr Lupin or the Longbottoms to have the same coins we all have, only because someone might want to say something on the coins that--well, we have to have some things that are just ours, don't we?

Besides, it really is just things like "Meet at the lake after lunch on Saturday" and "Come to the library after supper to revise for Charms." Nothing that would be all that interesting to someone who isn't at Hogwarts.

But I think Harry would love to see you, if you could come.

Re: Private Message to Sirius

[alt_sirius]

Remus wasn't happy because it was right after a full moon and there were--other things he wasn't happy about just then. It's fine.

Tell Harry I'll meet you at the stile on the end of the High Street, past Dervish and Banges, about one o'clock on Saturday.

See you then.

[alt_alice]

That does sound like a marvellous way to open up communication with our connections in the camps -- and very easy to use without wands.

Thank you, Hermione.

I don't suppose Muggles would be able to use it? We might test and see.

[alt_terry]

I was wondering about that, too, whether Muggles could use them.

I'd be happy to show you mine.

[alt_alice]

I'd like that. Thank you, love.

If it's coded to you specifically, I suppose we won't be able to test it until we make our own, but it'd be good to see one.

[alt_nymphadora]

Good show, Hermione!

A coin's a really brilliant idea. The right sort of size and common enough it's easy to keep secret.

But now listen here, Severus Snape. I don't know who you're accusing of doing nothing but hand-wringing. The rest of us out here are getting on with business and doing quite a lot to make connections all over the Protectorate. Which you might know if you weren't doing nothing but hiding away down in your dungeons.

You're right, though: we'll find good use for Hermione's coins. They'd be brilliant help with what we're doing.

[alt_severus]

I would happily leave my dungeons for a quality-grade research potions lab, should one be outfittable. Which, clearly, is not a priority -- despite the good it would do -- and so I will continue my thankless drudgery.