Vindycation

[alt_draco]

Its become colder out so I'm drinking more tea than usual, at every meal most times, and today I discovered a surprise in my chest of tea leaves when I went to the other end of the Slytherin table at breakfast to get some milk. I don't know why our jug was empty, but it must have been Goyle since he had a foul milk moustache for most of today. When I came back with the milk a Hufflepuff was shouting and his hand was swollen nearly to quaffle-size. Harry told me that he was fairly certain that the Hufflepuff had been trying to nick some of my tea when the tea chest got him. Mother must have put a hex on it. Mother, if you're reading this, thank you and thank you also for the extra chocolate you sent last week.

I think that Herbert Fleet plays keeper for Hufflepuff. I wonder if he'll be able to catch the quaffle with quaffle sized hands?

Is there anything to do tonight? I'm becoming tired of exploding snap and its hurting my ears beside.

Comments

[alt_draco]

I was surprised, too. I would have reported him to a professor but I didn't want them to take the hex off my tea chest.

Will you and father be able to come to the school for tea again some day soon?

[alt_narcissa]

If they do, I'll send you another one. It's only fair that you're able to protect your possessions. I think it's shocking that you can't even have your own tea at school without worrying about it getting stolen.

I certainly hope we can. And if your father can't come with me, perhaps I could bring your cousin Regulus. He might enjoy getting out of the Manor.

[alt_draco]

At least no one's gotten to my chocolate. I might start keeping some of it in the tea chest just to be safe.

Did Auntie Bellatrix really give cousin Regulus a hook?

[alt_narcissa]

Are you going through your sweets so quickly because you're eating it all, or because you're sharing it?

Yes, she really did.

[alt_draco]

Sometimes I share it. People might do what I want later on if they know I've given them some of my chocolate.

Auntie Bellatrix is funny, but I can't tell if she means to be.

[alt_narcissa]

Sharing with your housemates out of kindness is better than bribing them, Draco.

I think this time she meant to be, although I haven't decided if I find it funny or not. It made cousin Regulus laugh, at least. He needed that.

[alt_draco]

It's not bribing if I don't ask them to do anything for it, is it? I always thought people are usually kind so that others will be kind to them later.


Why did the Lord Protector take off his hand? Cousin Regulus just wanted to come back and serve our Lord again, didn't he?

[alt_narcissa]

No, it's not bribing then. And some people are kind just for kindness sake.

I could not even begin to know what our Lord Protector is thinking, my son. He has His reasons, and we must be thankful that He has chosen to let Regulus return.

[alt_draco]

Well, I will try to be kind, but it makes me angry when people don't really seem to appreciate it.

I know you are happy he's back so I will try to be too, even if he did tease me.

[alt_narcissa]

I will be honest with you, Draco. When people do not appreciate my kindness, that is when I stop extending it to them. I hope that you will not follow my lead.

Regulus was teased mercilessly by your Auntie Bellatrix when he was a boy. I think that's his way of showing that he likes you.

It could be worse, when he was a boy I showed my affection for him by turning him into a newt.

[alt_draco]

Why do you hope that? Is it because later, you miss them or think that they might have been useful for you?

I'm glad you don't show your affection that way anymore! I don't care for newts.

[alt_narcissa]

Because I want you to be better than I am, Draco. That is what every parent wishes for their child. I wish a better world for you, and for you to be a better person in that world.

Regulus suffered my affection in many ways. He had his own bed at St Mungos the summer before my seventh year. I was very worried about passing my NEWTs.

[alt_draco]

Oh...



I've never turned anyone into a newt, Mother. I must be doing better already!

[alt_narcissa]

I certainly hope so, my son.

[alt_bellatrix]

What have you missed out in life for lack of kindness, Cissy?

Regulus is all the better for my teasing, and for your affection. Anything less would not have prepared him for the Lord's price. And anything more...well, perhaps he would not have gone astray in the first place, had there been more.

[alt_narcissa]

Nothing that I know of, Bella. But who can know for sure?

I cannot imagine how we could have given him more.

[alt_bellatrix]

More did nothing for our sister, certainly. And yet I was, to borrow your word, kind to you. Kind to you only as a means to torment her, at first, and then later because it became...the way of things.

I want my daughter to be better than I am, too. But I am not sure that I mean the word "better" as you do.

[alt_narcissa]

I always treasure the knowledge that your kindness for me is out of habit, rather than actual affection.

[alt_bellatrix]

Oh, you must have found the hook at least a little bit funny, Cissy, or else you would have scolded me by now.

[alt_narcissa]

I have given up on scolding you, Bella. It never does any good.