Private Message to Minerva McGonagall and Rabastan Lestrange

[alt_lucius]

Alecto Carrow has just interrupted my evening.

It seems she is not at all satisfied with treatment her brother received at the hands of your matron, Minerva, after he was apparently attacked?

By someone who appeared in the guise of Sirius Black, no less.

I trust you have an explanation.

Comments

[alt_rabastan]

Explanation for what? Sirius Black or Alecto or Matron Pomfrey?

I've been circling the grounds with Dawlish whenever I've had a free moment today. Talking to the handlers and wranglers, too. No one saw anything unusual, certainly nothing along the lines of Sirius Black. For the time being we're up to our ears trying to prevent the kids from getting any wind of this. Last thing we need is all of them fearing that Black's ghost is on the prowl.

[alt_lucius]

At the moment, I would settle for an answer to any of it. But in particular for why Alecto thinks she can whinge at me when it seems clear her brother has finally soaked his brain to the point where he cannot recognise his attackers - if they existed. Though I suppose even Pomfrey is capable of telling the difference between a beating and a tumble.

It's too much to hope that the idiot simply fell afoul of centaurs?

My advice to you both is to keep Alecto satisfied as to the seriousness of Amycus' charges - you know that she will not hesitate to escalate to Our Lord should she believe that you are not responding to the situation with adequate attention.

And I certainly do not wish to receive another Floo call from that hag.

[alt_rabastan]

I haven't the slightest inkling as to why she's whinging at you, and if I'd known she was going to do it, I would have stopped her, or at least given you fair warning. Bloody Erebus, hope she doesn't fancy you or something.

At this point it's presumed that he wasn't just drinking alcohol, but hallucinogenic potions. And seeking out the company of the Dementors, too. It's possible that Alecto thinks he wasn't ingesting potions of his own choice, but was fed them somehow. I'll let her know that her brother's far too wily and imposing to be tampered with in a such a way, and that I'm questioning every single person until I get to the bottom of this, etc.

He was definitely thrashed about by someone. A couple of someones, I'd say. But I wouldn't be surprised if it were some of the older students. Dressed up as Black, maybe? Hard to imagine anyone taking such a stupid risk, but one never knows. Some of the students are partial to him, but the majority are not.

[alt_lucius]

Don't even jest. But fortunately I believe we are both safe, seeing as we are neither of us suited to the, ah, particulars of the Carrows' tastes.

As to why she chose me, I should think it obvious. The words 'Governor' and 'Buckingham' were used at least half a dozen times in the brief amount of time I allowed her to speak. In all honesty I am surprised that she exhibited even the small amount of guile necessary to conceive of the appeal.

The necessary guile to conceive of disguising oneself as Black, however, is an interesting prospect. Foolhardy as well, considering the consequences had someone else seen the perpetrator. Given that combination, a NEWT-level student could well be the culprit.

In any event, yes - kindly apply your charms to keeping her at bay. Let me know what you discover, or if you and Dawlish require additional resources.

[alt_mcgonagall]

If it was one of the students, they're keeping quite mum. Not even a peep. That leads me to believe it wasn't - such a thing would surely get around quickly, and Carrow does have his supporters.

I shall be honest: I suspect it was the centaurs - they don't like him any more than most of the students do, and they're more than large enough to overpower him. As for Black, I can't see how it could be anything but hallucinations. I am tempted to let Poppy doctor his wounds, throw up my hands, and point out that people do get what they deserve.