The Alternity Re-Read: February / March, Year 1

[alt_moderator]

We're getting into some shorter months, so I am going to combine the posts for February and March. This is not to make anyone feel guilty for not reading this fast! I'm not near March myself, but I will also be away this weekend, so I don't want to stifle conversation for those who may read ahead....

PDF Links:
February
March


As always, remember that there will certainly be spoilers in the comments!

Comments

[naomikritzer]

So, another thing I'm noticing overall is how bad the shortages are, and how small and struggling Moddey Dhoo is. They've been rescuing babies for years but whether they've really been trying for all of them, or not, is not clear.

It does include muggles, but you can see the much-lower sense of possibility and the sense that muggles can't possibly be all that useful in Alice's post on 2/27, when she talks about the fact that several of the new arrivals have bad teeth. Hermione's parents are both dentists! And at that point in their lives would probably have been rather pleased to be rescued by the secret organization their daughter is a member of. No one even suggests it, though.

Anyway, I feel like some of what we're seeing is the beginnings of how the journals themselves shifted things. The Order existed and had ways to communicate prior to the journals, but they were slow and cumbersome. Alice couldn't just say, "here's a list of what we need" and have people round stuff up. Moreover, once the whole Order could talk, they started to see greater possibilities for action. And cooperation. The Derby breakout is one of the first indications of that -- it's implied that they were partly inspired by Sirius's posts (or at least that they've read them), and because of the journals they're able to get to the escapees in time to save most of them. They also get the McGiverns out of it.

[lapin_agile]

I've thought the same thing: the Order was really not well-connected until the journals arrived. And then, wow! what a difference that magical device made in their ability to communicate. We are watching them begin to repair wounds of mistrust and misunderstanding that had driven them apart over the years.

I have the impression that they were more cell-like in organization with each cell reporting (dear heavens) to Albus (mostly). Some seem to have had a relationship with Minerva, but she doesn't seem to have really been coordinating the Order's efforts--presumably because it was all she could do to be Headmistress while also a Death Eater, and she preferred not to risk knowing too much (despite her ability to occlude). It is poignant when she talks about being unable to use politically correct language when speaking to the Order (because she might slip and use it to the wrong audience); clearly she was at the edge of her ability to juggle both roles/affiliations.

The safety and immediacy of communication by journal changed everything for them.

[naomikritzer]

Seriously. Kudos to you, Bill.