Order Only: Weird devices & George McCalman

[alt_charlie]

So, Tonks and I went out this morning to check up on the weirdness from the device thing. We went for the methodical approach -- flying all about at calculated distances in various directions, approaching the line of the disturbance from all sorts of directions, trying to quantify what we were feeling, that sort of thing.

It's definitely related to the whatsis. We started out plotting the line we thought we felt, and it went along with what Sirius and Tonks felt the other day: northwest to southeast, along the coastline. Then we tried flying out at odd angles and crossing back over where the line should be, waiting to see when things got weird again, and it was the same line.

Once we'd established that, we were planning to fly up it and see where it led to, but by that point my broom had bucked me off four times and refused to take off again until I moved further away twice, Tonks kept getting so dizzy she could barely see, both of us were feeling incredibly drained like we'd been using immense amounts of magic, and the problems kept coming and going in waves as we flew along, in no pattern we could figure out except that it got a little worse every time we got hit. So we decided it would be better for us to leave it for a bit until we could recover some.

Second part of the day was up to Armitage to see if we could pick up George McCalman. I'm sorry to say that didn't go well enough either. George is at Moddey now, at least, but his parents weren't very interested in hearing us out. Mrs McCalman was bad enough, arguing that the Protectorate was looking out for them and we had no business being there when "the wizardfolk" would know what to do with their baby for the good of everyone, but then Mr McCalman came back from his work detail and flipped his lid about us talking treason and his wife cheating on him because no child of his would have turned out that way and their baby being sent to poison the work of this great nation... you get the picture.

It was rough. We Obliviated them both before Mr McCalman could turn more violent and faked a cot death, but now I'm worried Mr McCalman will take that out on his wife, too.

Comments

[alt_bill]

You got bucked off your broom four times? I never would have believed such a thing.

You're sure you're all right, both of you? Don't suppose Poppy could check you over, but Frank and Alice hopefully did while you were at Moddey?

Oh, and there's the obvious: could whatever-you-ran-into have been doing something to your brooms? They've been checked too, I hope?

Well, I'm glad that George McCalman's at Moddey Dhoo, anyway. The more babies, the more attitudes we'll encounter, I guess. (We do seem to be getting a bit less consumed with second-guessing and guilt when these situations come up where the parents are hostile. I'm not sure it's entirely a good thing, but I still think taking the kid's the right decision.)

[alt_evelyn]

I've been plotting things on the map in the secret room to follow along with the octobori.

The fields follow the coast, but I wonder how long they go for. And they don't appear to curve.

I wonder what you'd find at Great Yarmouth. Would there be another one there that it meets up with?

[alt_frank]

I've been there, man. never easy.

went through it with trixie and bart's folks too. they were pieces of work.

and with these black wands, it makes everything that much harder.

Private Message to Charlie

[alt_nymphadora]

I keep thinking about the father and the things he said. And whether we could have said anything differently that might have at least got him to listen to us.

You still thinking about it, too?

[alt_poppy]

You're certain you're not feeling any after effects? Aside from bruising.

It would set my mind at ease if you would let me know tomorrow whether you are having any difficulties.