(no subject)

[stormyhearted]

Now that Plot seems to have slowed for the moment, I'm poking at what we might have to look forward to over the summer:

- Bellatrix putting two and two together about Snape, Sirius, Hermione, and Draco.
- Now that Snape's cover is blown, Tosha investigating Milland's quarters and finding the secret potions lab, the dragon supplies, notes...
- Who will be the new Head of Hogwarts for their seventh year?
- The Council infighting will undoubtedly get worse, with the Malfoys and Tosha pitted against Cadmus and Nott. And seeing where Bellatrix and Barty shake out in the mess.
- Who will be the new Defense teacher next year, to replace Raz? (And will poor Siz stick around for next year?)
- Will Draco and Hermione evacuate to Moddey, or stay at Grimmauld? And Snape? I can't imagine Sirius and the crew happily under one roof...

Comments

[ellemir]

There are 3 empty spaces on the Council. Will any of the Challengers fill them? And with Teddy and Draco gone, does that increase the possibility of Ron or Pansy who were hoping to fail being there? Does this mean no one has to kill to gain a council place?
How will the increasingly unstable LP react to what has happened? What will he learn from the monitoring bracelet in those minutes before Minerva removed it? Could it compromise Ron's Animagus form?
How will Tosha support Siz in her grief and his brother Lucius with his loss of son and the fallout? How far will these council wizards avenge their loss?
Will Bellatrix think Hydra performed ok, or question her reading of Hermione and thus come to doubt her loyalty?
Who will discover the real Milland and did Snape let anything slip to him in the regular talks Alice? Insisted they had?
How will Draco deal with the pain of thinking Hermione had feelings for him and then finding the truth? Will that loss, compounded with the loss of his position, education, and access to his parents affect him positively or negatively? Will he see the moments of distrust in the journals and be disillusioned again?
How badly is Hermione injured? Both mentally and physically? How hard will her transition be? She and Harry have a close friendship, how will being apart affect them?

[cheyinka]

I'm pretty sure Ron's safe - at worst, he would know there was a snake Animagus at Hogwarts, but not who, but I don't think even that's the case: it seems like she cut off her hand in her office and then set out to do what had to be done.

I thought Snape would have killed Milland, but he hasn't admitted to it, so I guess he thought his cover could continue to hold at Hogwarts? (Or he didn't have time.) If he's alive, I hope they find him before he starves to death :|

I think Draco's going to be disillusioned, but I really hope he doesn't think his rescue was delayed because he wasn't trusted. For quite a few hours, it wasn't even known that he needed rescue from anything other than possibly Nott having immobilized him somewhere.

[kiya]

Polyjuice potion won't work with a dead subject.

[cheyinka]

No, I meant killed before going to rescue Hermione and Draco.

[stormyhearted]

He wouldn't have killed Milland before, as he was hoping to maintain his cover as Milland at least through an escape- better to let Milland take the blame than out himself as Snape- and he wouldn't have had time to kill him after, given they were busy escaping.

[ellemir]

I know the bracelet was meant to cause Minerva pain and injury if she acted against the Protector, but I am concerned that like a wand it may have some record of its observations, especially the most recent ones.
If I were the LP I wouldn't be satisfied with amputating her wand hand if she proved disloyal. I'd want the bracelet to let me know exactly what types of act she was indulging in. And I don't think I am anywhere near as paranoid as he appears to be, so what ever I think of as necessary, I'm sure his machinations are even more convoluted and worrying.

[worthywords]

No one's commented on this yet, have they?

What a beautiful inversion of canon.

[ellemir]

And also the fact that Bellatrix has unthinkingly left Hermione with exactly the same hand injury as herself.
She sees her sacrifice as a badge of honor. And has marked Hermione as her equal.
And some very vague thoughts :
I know in canon with Moody Polyjuice changed people enough to use his eye and wooden leg, but I can see this action being relevant to the later storyline.
If the hair they use in Polyjuice to imitate Bella dates from before Voldemorts revival assuming they follow canon, her finger might not be missing. Hermione might be the only one who could play the part without problem as Polyjuice might not grow lost limbs.
Or more simply say there was ever a masked event, either another masked ball or death eater meeting in full regalia. Hermione has the potential to replace Bella with out Polyjuice being needed. As most people would see the missing finger, or prosthesis if she could acquire it, and have no doubt it was Bellatrix.

[edschweppe]

I'm going to guess that Bella puts two and two together about Snape, Sirius, Herminone and Minerva. - especially once she realizes just how long Snape's been at Hogwarts, and doubly especially if/when they find the real Book. The question will be whether Bella thinks that Minerva was part of a deeper conspiracy outside Hogwarts - and I don't have a good guess which way she'll see things. After all, it'd tie things up so neatly for Minerva to have been the center of the treasonous scheme.

Hopefully the Order can retrieve the potions lab supplies before Dolohov finds them. (edit: Snape is already on the case)

It would be too funny for words if David Brutka ended up as the Head, wouldn't it?

[cheyinka]

...ha, ha, ha. It would really be something if Brutka became Headmaster, yes. I'm half-wondering if Voldie might decide to run the school personally for his son's last year, though.

[stormyhearted]

I'd be really surprised if he did; I mean, it'd be the right level of awful for Alternity, but he's continually distanced himself, it'd be hard for me to believe he'd get so personally involved. Unless it involved Dumbledore via Minerva, I suppose.

I can see the LP promoting Tosha, though that would leave an opening for a new Dark Arts teacher. (Perhaps Rod?) If they suspect Hogwarts as a nest of traitors, they might send in MLE and leave Barty or Bella in charge, both terrifying thoughts.

[stormyhearted]

That makes sense, about Minerva.

I hope Snape's kidnapping ruse, along with Harry and Hydra's insistence that Draco is loyal, convinces them. I'm not sure whether he'll want to return or not, but having the option would be nice. (I can't say I'd go back and look my torturing Auntie Bella in the face, but I'm no Councilwizard's kid, either!)

[edschweppe]

With Horace having resigned, that leaves five staff positions empty at Hogwarts (head of school, head of Slytherin House, Defense instructor, Potions instructor, and caretaker).

Not to mention the three Council openings (although His Noselessness may or may not really be concerned about having a specific number of Death Eaters).

Not to mention the late and unlamented Corax Mulciber's role as Director of Protectorate Affairs. Which, I am sure, will be the focus of much politicking among the DEs.

The Heir to the Protectorate is also now short one bodyguard / watchdog. Now, Voldy may decide that Harry's old enough, reliable enough and powerful enough to fend for himself. I'm not willing to bet one way or the other.