Private message to Lucius Malfoy

[alt_draco]

Father,

I know you're busy and likely weary of hearing more about either Professor Carrow, but I wanted to make you aware of a situation, particularly as it affects my standing both in class and amongst my peers.

Miss Professor Carrow called up myself and Sally-Anne Perks, Pansy's friend, to do a demonstration yesterday. We were to engage in some fairly uncomplicated duelling while she "distracted" us. I was wary of the situation straight away, because she seemed very excited for it, in an unsettling way, as if she had planned it out well in advance. Sally Anne and I did as instructed, though, until it got to the point where I had backed her into a corner, near a bookcase. At that moment, it felt like I had been hit in the elbow with a curse, and my arm jerked upwards and the hex I was casting hit the bookcase, which then toppled over, right on top of Sally Anne. She had a head injury and a fractured arm. She should recover well, but it looked quite bad in the moment it happened, lots of blood. Pansy was, as you can imagine, well upset when she heard what happened. Beside herself, actually--especially when she heard that something had fallen on Sally Anne and trapped her there while she was helpless and bleeding.

I know that you would caution me against jumping to conclusions when it comes to any adult's motivations, particularly a professor's. I also know that Miss Professor Carrow did warn us that she would be distracting us, and that I should have been prepared for anything. Still, I am convinced that the situation was designed to make me look incompetent and reckless, and to make Pansy feel helpless about the safety of her friends.

Advice would be appreciated. Staying out of their way and trying not to attract their attention is something I've always been mindful of, however, and it doesn't seem to make a difference.

You son,
Draco

Comments

[alt_lucius]

Son,

I do appreciate the awkwardness of your situation, and Pansy's. I wish I could tell you that you need not concern yourself with either Carrow - indeed, I was hopeful that we had finally convinced Our Lord that their idiosyncrasies had crossed irrevocably into the realm of menace and that their days of tenure were numbered.

Unfortunately, that pronouncement has been postponed. I assume you followed the episode with the stolen journal last week - you could hardly be unaware of it, even if you had not read it in detail. You cannot know, however, that the incident did more than reignite the irrepressible and absurd rumour that Black still lives. By targetting the Carrows' cruelty, Miss Wynn's ill-timed post directly swayed Our Lord to reinstate them until the end of the term. He felt, perhaps rightly, that to remove them immediately would be tantamount to acceding to the wishes of a terrorist.

As a result, my hands are tied. I certainly cannot intervene in what was cleverly made to look like a classroom mishap. You understand that it would be a mistake for all of us to respond thus. I have it on good authority that Our Lord expressly reminded them both of the consequences of unacceptable conduct but it seems that Miss Carrow's response, at least, is to try to provoke an outburst, rather than to attack directly. It would be disastrous to allow her strategy to succeed. I must also point out that as attacks go, it could have been much worse.

My best advice, son, is that you find ways to protect yourself from unwarranted interference. There are ways you and your friends can work together to shield yourselves when you are in her presence or when you anticipate you may be at a disadvantage. You need only endure another few weeks until Easter holidays and then a short two months until they are discharged.

As for your marks, there I can assure you that your mother and I will not judge too harshly, given the circumstances. I shall also speak to Professor McGonagall, if necessary, to ensure that your standing in the class shall not be jeopardised.

I am confident that you, Pansy and any of your adherents can withstand this adversity. Above all, keep your heads. She wants you to lose your temper, as I'm sure you realise. Do not play into her hands in such a way. Take comfort in the fact that it is only temporary.

Believe me, I have had occasion to use similar consolation myself as recently as yesterday. Your mother can be nearly as headstrong as Pansy.

In any event .... Look after yourself, son. Keep me informed, as well, should you perceive any further malice on either of their parts. I do not promise I can take any direct action, but there are ... other ways we may be able to mitigate your difficulty.

And tell Pansy not to worry herself over her friend. If Miss Carrow had intended serious harm, the damage - and the method - would have been more overt. Convey to her my best wishes and keep for yourself the remembrances of

Your loving,

Father

[alt_draco]

I would think there might be a way to remove the professors without making it seem like it was anything to do with their treatment of students. Like they could both fall really ill, for example. Just a thought--I'm not trying to counter our Lord's decision, of course.

I know that it could have been worse. Pansy nearly went spare, though, and I'm fairly sure that Miss Professor knows it.

I'm...not quite sure what you mean by working together, though I think I might have an idea of it. It's something I've been giving a lot of thought, anyway. It did occur to me that if Miss Professor is trying to provoke something, then she must be afraid of doing anything too direct, right? And afraid of the consequences she might face if she did? I hope that she's afraid, anyway.

[alt_lucius]

There are any number of ways to remove them, each one tempting in its way. As it is we must simply count down to the end of term and hope that their actions from this point are merely ineffectual temper-tantrums.

In terms of working together, I believe if you considered the precautions taken last year to protect the students from attack and some of the tactics employed by experienced duellists, you may devise similar solutions. Has your uncle gone over blocking spells? Protego?

I believe you are entirely correct regarding Miss Carrow's motivations - and for the manner of her actions.