Order Only - Private message to Hermione

[alt_draco]

So how did the questioning with Raz really go? (It would seem others are too busy welcoming Ginny Weasley to ask for more details.)

Any idea what he'll do to him? Teddy, that is. Because I can't imagine he's pleased about the whole thing. And as genial as Raz typically is, he's still not someone to cross.

Comments

[alt_hermione]

It was fine. It helped that we could mostly tell the truth, that he put the Imperius on me because I was afraid to disrupt the lesson. He didn't even ask why Teddy made me do that particular thing.

Oh, and he's here, by the way. Teddy. With his father. To apologise for disrespecting Harry by using his property without permission. Mr Nott told Harry that he can Cruciate Teddy if he wants to do, and that Razzer already has done.

I'd say I'm sorry that he got Cruciated except just maybe I hope it means he'll leave off.

[alt_draco]

That's good. It shows that Teddy is the one whose behaviour stands out as odd and unseemly, rather than anything you or Harry have done.

Nott Sr., must feel that Jr. is making him look bad. Also good. He's perhaps one of the few people who can hobble Teddy, at least temporarily.

So did Harry Cruciate him?

[alt_hermione]

No, he said he didn't think it was necessary to do it twice. But then Mr Nott said he respectfully disagreed and he did it instead.

How is Hydra? I saw she wrote to you and Harry but he said she didn't really seem to want to talk.

[alt_draco]

Too bad. I would have done it, had I been there. Though Nott Sr. probably delivers more of a wallop than Harry could.

Oh you know that Hydra's been odd since she and F-F broke things off. She wrote that she was going to be with Bellatrix at MLE and hoped it wouldn't mean seeing people killed, only the way she wrote it made it seem half a joke. Harry tried to let her know he's sorry for what she's been through, but she mostly shrugged at it.

Oh, and she said Harry will have to invite her directly for anything that involves her leaving Bella's clutches.

I suppose it's fortunate that I'm relatively free to go where I please, at the moment. Daphs and I had lunch at Harrod's with Elsie and Hermes Tamblyn yesterday. They both wanted to know who Hydra would date next - Harry or Teddy. As if Teddy stands any kind of serious chance.

[alt_hermione]

We talked about it a little, before holidays. I mean, Hydra and I, and she said that she's been trying not to feel anything because if she lets it out, even a little, it'll hurt too badly and, I think she's afraid she'd never stop feeling awful.

I sort of felt the same when my parents--when everything happened with them. So I know just what she means. I'm sure you do, too, how you pretend to be strong long enough that you just are, because that's how it has to be.

It's going to be so hard to pretend that nothing's wrong, though, but I can see why she'd want to act that way.

Those pictures in the papers on Sunday--and that article yesterday, the one all about how she was obviously deceived by his 'Continental' influences--I'm sure that's what's got people wondering.

You know.... Oh, no. Nevermind. Bad idea, I think.

[alt_draco]

I'm not really sure Hydra's ever opened up to anyone the way she must've to F-F. Perhaps she doesn't really know how to do that with anyone else, or is afraid that if she does, that person will be taken away, too. Like all her rabbits.

We're all becoming experts at pretending. Of course, the trick is making sure you don't actually become what you're pretending to be.

Too bad for Bell. That picture of Harry shielding Hydra from the photographers has a lot of people forgetting Harry is already meant to have a girlfriend.

How does he really feel about Bell, though? He's never talked about her joining the Order or anything. He's never been caught with her after curfew, either. I'm not sure they even get together after curfew.

Whatever your idea is, I'm sure it's not bad.

[alt_hermione]

I think Justin might be the first person who ever saw her for herself, you know, and not for what everyone thought she was or was supposed to be. Even your mother has expectations for her, and I think next to Justin and her father, your mother's probably Hydra's favourite person.

And I was thinking about Katie, too. I don't know how Harry feels. I mean, I know he likes her, and he might even fancy her but I can't tell if he cares because she's nice and isn't intimidated by him or Voldemort, or if it's more than that. I know he feels awful that she's mixed up in the challenges basically because they've been dating.

I was wondering if they might not all want to--to switch things, you know, so that Harry does appear to be going out with Hydra now, and Katie's just a friend. But that probably really is a bad idea because people can't just switch feelings off, can they? I mean, even Hydra's not switching off, she's just burying it all. And I wouldn't want her to be even more unhappy, and it doesn't seem right to ask Harry and Katie to be unhappy for Hydra's sake, or to have to sneak about like they're two-timing, if they are really serious about each other.

So, yes, probably a bad idea.

[alt_draco]

She likes our cousin, too. Dora.

Ah, I should have known. I was trying to get you to come up with the idea first, because I knew if I suggested it you would tell me that it was a bad one, but now that you've come up with the idea you're taking it all apart and scrutinising it, anyway.

I think it has an elegant simplicity, myself. Harry is the only person Bellatrix would allow Hydra to date. If they present themselves as a couple, it gives Hydra a good deal more freedom, and has the added benefit of putting Teddy in his place, while raising Harry's profile at the same time.

But yes, he may not agree to it if his feelings for Katie are genuine. Even if they are genuine, what kind of future do they really have together? Not much of one, things being what they are right now.

I suppose I'll have to ask him about Bell. I hope he doesn't go odd about it. He's never really been the sort of mate you can talk to about girls. Too much the chivalrous Gryffindor.

[alt_hermione]

Oh, because you've told him every last detail about snogging Daphne and Demelza and Pansy, I suppose?

[alt_draco]

Don't be mad. I haven't snogged Demelza. That was her sister, and she -

She's honestly not worth mentioning.

The blokes who do tend to talk about that sort of thing are like Blaise, or Gamp. They want it known that they can make a girl weak in the knees. Harry's pretty much the opposite of that, and so am I, except in situations where such banter is called for.

[alt_hermione]

Demelza hasn't got a sister at school.

[alt_hermione]

Oh.

[alt_hermione]

OH!

[alt_draco]

She practically assaulted me, if you must know.

[alt_draco]

Anyway, what's my romantic life, or lack thereof, got to do with Harry?

[alt_hermione]

I didn't say it had anything to do with Harry. You said he never talks about girls, but if you never talk about girls, why should he?

And. About Rowena Robins...I didn't think that sort of thing happened to boys. I mean, I suppose I didn't think any boys I know would say No to that sort of thing, if it were on offer. I mean, I can think of reasons why a boy might not want to snog but I always thought--well, you know, that once things--once things reach a certain point, I mean--that boys would rather do than not do, you know?

Unless the boy were in a position where he couldn't say no. Like those men Strangeweale had for studs. And...things like that.

I mean, if you didn't want her to 'assault' you, you could have just told her. Or hexed her. And no one would have said anything about it.

[alt_draco]

I used to talk to him about Pansy, some. But it's different now, with Daphs.

Generally speaking, you're correct. Mostly because boys are encouraged to sow their wild oats and get lots of experience, while girls are advised to wait for True Love. But just because boys are encouraged to do something doesn't mean they automatically want to do it.

I couldn't hex Rowena because she was talking about my father and I wanted to see what she was going on about. And it isn't as if it's easy for a bloke to gracefully remove himself from such an entanglement, once it gets going. So while it wasn't precisely an assault, I really can't say I enjoyed it.