A new day

[alt_draco]

I'd like to extend a hand of congratulations to my new cohort. It seems that all our school lessons and CCF training will finally result in real-life reward or consequence. About time, I say.

Those of you not amongst the chosen initiates - do not distress. Remember that you can serve us who serve Him, as is the way of our great Protectorate. Daphne, for example, is a brilliant hostess, and she's told me that she's arranged for an impromptu soirée to take place in the Slytherin common room one hour after supper. This location only seemed appropriate, given that Slytherin House has the most representatives, as well as the youngest.

I see this as a chance for us to meet and mingle before the first challenge is upon us... or, to size up the competition. Six of one, a half-dozen of the other, eh?

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Comments

[alt_pansy]

How thoughtful, Draco.

Private Message to Draco

[alt_lucius]

Congratulations, Son.

Am sure you will succeed in any effort to which you bend your will.

No doubt you have earned this honour on your own and will continue to bring pride to the houses of Malfoy and Black. Given our conversation at the holidays, am aware you wish no interference on my part but know that if I may assist you, you have but to ask.

Your,

Father

Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_draco]

Sorry, both of you. I knew something was coming, that some students would probably be approached, but I had no idea either of you would be among them. Or Hydra. Though I guess that one shouldn't come as a surprise, not really.

I never imagined it would be so many, or that it would be some kind of bloody competition. They've all read Pure Hunger too many times, no doubt.

[alt_draco]

It was Daphne's notion, Pansy. I'm simply making the announcement.

Private Message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_lucius]

Lit Pansy,

May one take it that you were among the chosen?

If so, felicitations and best of luck to you. Your father would be proud.

-Lucius

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Thank you for your confidence, Father.

Did you know this was coming?

ORDER ONLY: Private Message to Draco

[alt_pansy]

I don't quite know what to think. About any of it.

You're going to try for it, aren't you?

And you're going to win.

Order Only: Private message to Draco

[alt_sally_anne]

You make sense and Hydra makes sense but Ron and Pansy? Ron's wondering if maybe some of them were picked so they'd fail, for a laugh.

Once we know what the challenges are we should try to think of ways that Ron and Pansy can do things that will give you and Hydra an advantage. Pansy -- is really completely unsuited to be on the Council. And Ron can't even occlude properly.

I really thought

I mean even with you I thought there'd be more time before you had to do this.

Re: Private Message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_pansy]

Yes, Lucius.

It is a great honour.

I will try to conduct myself in a way that will respect my father's memory, and please you.

I believed until now that I would never have the chance to serve Our Lord in this way. I will not waste this opportunity.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

I'd like to hope they'd be hacked off if we started killing each other right away.

Someone might want to tell Vince and Greg that.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Draco

[alt_draco]

I'm trying to find out from my Father what he knows... but given how things are for him right now, it might not be much.

I just wrote a private message to Pansy and Ron. I heard from two different sources (Teddy and Alfred) that students would probably be approached this term, but I had no idea that it would be like this, or be so many, or be framed as a competition.

I fully plan to make the top third and take the mark. Ron and Pansy will have to fail but in ways that don't cast them in total disgrace. Hydra - well, I think she's wasting her legilimency if she doesn't take this chance, but I suppose there's always training with the Aurors, too. No one would fault her for not making the top third, seeing as she hasn't even sat her OWLs yet.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Cheers, Malfoy.

Still thinking what I'm going to do about it. I mean, beyond wearing the pin and keeping myself from getting hexed from all sides.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_draco]

Ugh, all these little private messages. I wish we were still on I Solemnly Swear so we could all talk about it together without all the adults butting in, wringing their hands into oblivion.

Anyway, what you said above - of course I'm going to try for it. I had already decided to even before they sent out those pins.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_lucius]

If I had known, do you not think I would have told you?

Our Lord is, as always, pleased to present His challenges to us all. It is not merely you initiates, nor even your sponsors, who are being tested.

But you are all too aware that a Councilwizard is constantly subject to Our Lord's tests.

Yes, I am confident on your behalf. All the same: Be careful.

You might write to your mother when you have a chance. I lunched with her to give her the news: She hid it well, but there was a tear in her eye when she heard. A mother's pride, to be sure.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_draco]

Yes well... I might have to hex you, just so you know.

[alt_blaise]

Looking forward to it.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Of course I'm aware. I can only imagine that before now, the corresponding benefits always made those tests go down easy. Like honey in a foul-tasting potion.

Perhaps it brings you some relief to know that the choice was out of my hands, after all.

At any rate, I won't allow the opportunity to go to waste.

I'll be in touch with Mother soon.

Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_blaise]

Have thoughts on strategy if you're interested. Not thinking of sharing them with Teds or C or G.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

You can try.


And, yeah. We can talk about staging something, too. But in general, you can expect I'll be protecting myself.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

I know what you mean about the lock.

I wish things were different. That you didn't have to. But I figure you'd feel like you had to try to get on the council even if you didn't have the Order and all of us, and something else to fight for. So I'm glad you have a purpose for doing this. If that makes sense.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_draco]

Better we hex each other to keep someone else from doing it first.

Bloody nightshade, Father and Raz are making me laugh out loud with their solemn and dire concern. Did they truly think this day would never come?

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

I'm all ears, and a bit of mouth, too. Let's talk later tonight.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Heh. I'm just hoping my mother's got enough sense not to send the Howler she's going to want to write.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

I suppose I should tell her.

Before someone else does.

Like your father, for instance.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_draco]

We have to tell the whole Order. I'm sure they've seen bits and pieces and wonder what's going on.

I'd like it if we could all just discuss it together first, though, without the adults.

Hang on... I have an idea. Let me talk to Hydra.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Draco

[alt_sally_anne]

I sort of agree about Hydra.

But I can't really blame her for not wanting to do it. It hasn't exactly escaped my notice that if you count deaths, being a Councilwizard is quite a bit more hazardous than being a sworn member of the Order of the Phoenix. You can be one of His Chosen Favourites one day and dead on the floor of the Buckingham audience chamber the next.

Mostly I try not to think about how dangerous things are but this one's particularly hard to not think about. I feel like if I keep thinking about it I'll come up with some brilliant idea to get everyone out of this.

[alt_daphne]

At this rate I simply have no idea who to pull for! Draco, my cousin, my dorm-mate, or you, or... so many people to consider. Well, I'll just have to pull for all of you, then.

Bonne chance!

[alt_justin]

Draco,

I say, jolly good show, all of you. It must be thrilling to imagine what's ahead for you all.

You're quite right to remind the rest of the school that there are other ways to serve, just as noble, what, as the distinguished capacity for which you and your cohort are being evaluated. I say, we may all aspire to the highest echelons of society but at day's end, someone has still got to provide the support on which the others stand. One hopes only to do one's best for country and honour, what, and trust that one's actions will be appreciated in the fullness of time.

And after all, it's not as if this is the only opportunity our generation may ever get, is it? Of course, none of that matters at the moment, when we all ought to be celebrating the august company which you and your fellow initiates now keep.

So well done, all of you! And jolly good luck in the days ahead.

-Finch-Fletchley

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_lucius]

Would hesitate to characterise the pinnacle of service to Our Lord as a foul-tasting potion. After all, there is no privacy in His presence - or among those who would hope to capture His favour.

You must have mistaken my sober advice for disappointment: Of course, membership in the Council is something we have wanted for you since your birth. If one is disappointed, it is only that your place was not, it would seem, a given, but something for which you must scrabble against patently inferior stock. Or perhaps it is a competition only because you all are, after all, still in school and thus your ability to serve Him will be limited at least for a short while yet.

You are correct, however, that the opportunity is not something to let pass, since it has come to you in this way.