Bait and Bleed - An AU War RPG

*So Umbridge is playing within the guidelines of Auror assignments. Paying lip service to the rules is something Sirius does constantly, but when it endangers someone--*

There's got to be someone you can appeal this assignment to. It's ludicrously dangerous.

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Ah. I can also do that. Apparently to Crouch.

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*Alice puts her forehead in her palm, trying to grasp how much worse this situation actually is than how she'd imagined it.*

Moody's out - he won't be able to reach higher than her, and she'll see it coming. She's slippery and very tactical, she knows exactly what she's doing. We could go to Scrimgeour, but it's not his Department and you've just said Crouch will side with her...

*Alice takes her glass and fidgets, trying to sort out the options.*

If she sends you up there, I'm going with you.

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Crouch appointed Umbridge. I can't imagine his sympathy runs deep.

--So it's camping in Scotland for us, then?

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Just how I wanted to go out. You know, peacefully.

*He raises his glass to the pair of them though, gratefully - going alone is suicide, they're absolutely right, and he trusts both of them with his life. It's more than he'd have asked of them.*

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Much as I'd love to join you, I'm still neck-deep in the Spinnet kidnapping.

And some lovely individual has been so kind as to reassign all your cases to me. So my dance card, dear Fabian, is full. Enjoy your vacation.

*He can joke about this, now. The idea of Fabian having competent backup--hell, more than competent, it's Sirius and Alice, for heaven's sake--is a tremendous relief, and he throws them both a look of clear gratitude as he raises his glass as well.*

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*Sirius raises his glass in a rueful toast.*

To a violent death for the lot of us, then.

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And if you need backup on either of yours, I'm your man. I don't give a fuck if she didn't mean for us to collaborate.

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*Alice grimaces at Sirius's words. They're too true for the moment.

She looks over to Gideon, giving him a small smile - trying to communicate how safe they'll all keep each other. It's the only promise she can give him.

Her smile broadens at Fabian's words.*

To not giving a fuck!

She raises her glass, thinking of her home in Scotland.*

And to the land of haggis!

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*Gideon actually laughs--a good sign--and glances at Fabian.*

And to keeping this a secret from Molly, whatever we do.

She'll march right into that petrified birthday cake of an office and slam that toad's head into her desk until the white meat shows.

Let's tell Molly.

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She's certainly look a far sight better after a treatment like that.

*Secretly, Sirius wonders what Remus will say. Probably a lot of things. Probably none of them good.*

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*Alice can feel them all reflecting on their loved ones and tries to think of things to change the subject with...Neville almost crawling yesterday...Neville doing his first bit of magic...Neville...

All she wants is to go home and hold her family.

She clears her throat.*

I need to be heading home, Frank's mother's on extended babysitting duty and none too pleased. I'll be back in the office tomorrow, so I'll see you all there.

Good night!

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Good night, Alice. Best Floo, we've all had more than is good for us.

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*Alice smiles, it's certainly true for her. She hasn't had Firewhisky in ages.*

Good point.

*Alice pulls some extra powder out of her purse and walks to the fireplace.*

See you tomorrow!

*She throws the powder down, saying her address, and disappearing in the green flames.*

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*Sirius nods, giving a halfhearted wave to Alice. Not tonight. After his birthday, at least. That's when he'll tell Remus.*

Thanks. For everything.

--I should be off too. Owl us when you'll need us up there, all right? Don't do anything I would do.

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So behaving ourselves is out, then? Night, mate.

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Since when do I behave myself? Got to work on it if that's what you think of me.

*But it's lighthearted, and Sirius is smiling for the first time since getting Umbridge's memo. He takes a handful of powder and tosses it into the fireplace.*

Night.

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*Fabian waves Sirius off, settles back deeper into the couch, and finishes off the last of his Ogden's. He's quiet for a second, then looks up at Gideon with a grimace.*

...We do have to tell Molly, you realize.

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Oh lord, do we ever.

Flip you for it.

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No, no, I should do it. Damn it, though, you know she's going to lose it.

*Sighing heavily, he runs a hand through his hair and looks up at Gideon unhappily.* Best face to face, yeah?

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Afraid so. Bring a hankie. Ten hankies, maybe, and give Arthur the headsup.

I'll come with, if you like. Be a nice change from takeaway.

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