A dull time

[alt_draco]

I didn't really expect to miss France but in the weeks since we've been back it's been a complete bore. Father is off doing important political business and Mother has been with Auntie Bella a lot in case the baby comes, which it hasn't yet, even though it was supposed to have come on Sunday.

Mostly, though I don't know where Harry's been keeping himself. He only responded to one of my Owls while I was in France, and he never seems to write in his book anymore, either. Father says that the Lord just has a lot of plans for Harry right now and to be patient, and then he took me to Buckingham so I could see him, and the whole time I was there I just sat alone in a drawing room with Dennis, Harry never came round and neither did Granger. I thought I heard his voice in one of the corridors, but when I went out to look all I could see was a big group of adults talking about the muggle camps.

The reason it matters is because Harry's birthday is in a few days and I haven't heard yet what we'll be doing to celebrate. Last year we played quidditch with the Magpies, and then later at the Magpies-Falcons match they let Harry release the snitch. It was dead wiz-nift. Maybe we can do something with more people this time, though, like a party at Buckingham. What do you think, Harry? I hope you'll read this. I got your present in France but I've been waiting to give it to you. Seamus came over to the manor yesterday and I showed it to him and he was mad impressed and had never seen anything like it, of course. We had a pretty good time, though, wish you could have been there.

Comments

[alt_seamus]

It really is a nift present. Thank's for showing it to me Draco. Do you think your Father will take you to Buckingham to give it to Harry in person?

[alt_draco]

Well there has to be some kind of celebration going on for his birthday, there always is. So I'll give it to him then. It's just odd that I haven't heard what the plan for the celebration is this year. Maybe it hasn't been sorted yet, but it seems kind of late to not have.

[alt_seamus]

Its on Friday isn't it? Harry's birthday I mean. It does seem late. Though its easy to get to Buckingham with floo. And anyone invited would drop whatever else they were doing.

Mr Rosier is taking me to London for the fireworks for Freedom From Tyrrany day. He says there are usually lots of people with Happy Birthday Harry signs in the crowd but I shouldnt worry about my present getting to him (I sent it by owl). The staff knows to make sure he gets things from school friends.

[alt_draco]

Yeah, but they have to do security things first, because flooing is easy but not just anyone can floo in to Buckingham. I heard that someone unauthorised tried to floo in once and was burnt alive until he was nothing but ashes. And then they swept him into a grate and that was that.

Maybe that's why they're taking so long to say what's happening for his birthday, so it can stay secret. Some bad things almost happened to Harry this year, so maybe the Lord is still worried about that.

[alt_seamus]

They burnt him to death really? I'd have reckoned MLE would want to ask him if someone sent him. And then maybe burn him after he answered.

That makes sense about the birthday though. With the stuff that happened this year.

When do you think your aunt will have her baby? I had a cousin born almost a month late once.

[alt_draco]

Well like I said, it's just something I heard. I don't really know how or what happened. But still, it'd be a bad idea to just floo in without letting the Lord Protector know first.

I don't think Aunt Bella will let it be a whole month late. Mother's excited, though... I wonder if she wants to have another baby too. I really hope not.

[alt_seamus]

Well yeah even without stories about burnings I know I wouldn't just floo over to Buckingham! but if you got invited to a party they'd know you were coming right?

You really think your mum wants to have another baby? Would you want a baby sister or a baby brother? Or would you prefer I guess since you just said you don't WANT either.

I have about a hundred baby cousins and they were all annoying. At least until they got to be five and could play a few games properly.

[alt_draco]

No babies at all, thanks, doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl. And Mother might be excited about having a new nephew but I think she's actually too busy with events and teas and things to have a baby of her own. But then again I would have thought Auntie Bella would have been to busy for a baby, too.

[alt_seamus]

I would have thought so too! Mrs Lestrange is really busy and important. MLE keeps everyone safe. Mr Rosier says she's one of the most important people in the government.

If your mum did have another baby you'd only have to see it on holidays, wouldn't you? Although I suppose she sometimes comes and visits during the year and if she had a baby it would probably have to come along.

[alt_draco]

I don't think a baby will be likely to keep her from doing her job, though, so that's good.

Yeah, but it would still change everything, and I don't want that. Some hopefully she hasn't gotten the idea to have one just because he sister did.

[alt_seamus]

Oh yeah this baby is your cousin isn't it? When I said before that all my cousins were annoying I didn't mean anything bad about Hydra or Mrs Lestrange's new baby. Just so you know. My whole family lived and traveled together most of the time so my cousins were always around the way brothers and sisters usually are.

I don't think your mum is going to have a baby. Babies are really messy.

[alt_draco]

Father says the Irish breed a lot because of the Papist influence.

Wait, are you a Papist? And if so does my Unc, I mean, your guardian, know?

[alt_seamus]

Yes I'm a Catholic and of course Mr Rosier knows. He says that religious prejudice between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland was one of the ways that muggles and blood traitors kept true wizards from working together.

All my cousins are purebloods so I'd say the Papist influence turned out to be a good thing wouldn't you? There are way more muggles running around loose over there. If my relatives hadn't had so many babies the wizards in Ireland would be in real trouble.

But even here in England its supposed to be a good thing for purebloods to have cartloads of babies!

[alt_draco]

I wasn't saying anything bad about Catholics, you know. I don't care so much what religion people are.

And I know breeding is supposed to be good these days, but it still doesn't mean I want a brother or sister.

[alt_seamus]

Well you know Papist is usually a way of saying Catholics worship this muggle bloke who lives in Italy. The pope. No one in my family EVER worshiped any muggle! No ones all that religious really but we're still Catholic.

The pope thought people should have lots of babies. Muggles or wizards it didn't matter. He said people shouldn't use magic to not have babies, spells or potions or anything. And I mean thats what my grandmother says too for WIZARDS but for muggles you want to use some magic to keep them from breeding like rabbits. There are more than enough muggles already.

Anyway have you thought about telling your mum you dont want her to have another? She might not know.

Do you want to have a lot of babies when you grow up? Or one or none?

[alt_draco]

I don't think much about how it will be when I grow up, except for the times when I think about how wizard it would be to play quidditch professionally.

[alt_hermione]

I'm sorry Mr Malfoy, Mr Marvolo and I were in with the adults.

[alt_draco]

Oh.

So do you know what sort of party they'll be doing for Harry?

[alt_hermione]

I don't know, I've all day to-day free! Wasn't that ever so nice of Mr Marvolo?

[alt_draco]

I suppose you should be able to celebrate Freedom from Tyranny too, but I don't know what you'll do all day if you don't have Harry to wait on.

[alt_hermione]

I'm to be allowed to go out of the Palace and so I can go and see the celebrations in the streets, and the only thing is of course I won't be fed lunch, but that's alright, I never get to see plays and there's supposed to be a troupe just outside the gates and I think they're doing Beedle the Bard and it's going to be ever so much fun!

I hope Mr Marvolo doesn't have trouble with the house-elves, though, they mean well but they often do such silly things, and anyway they can't be company, they never talk or anything.

[alt_draco]

I see. Hmm.


He'll have me for company, so it doesn't matter.

[alt_narcissa]

Darling, I am sorry if it feels as if we have been neglecting you. Your auntie is so very uncomfortable, dear, or we could have gone to get some new things for you to take camping. You must understand that she has been wanting this baby for a very long time.

Your father told me that he inquired, delicately of course, as to the celebrations for Harry's birthday. I gather that Freedom Day will rather eclipse Harry's personal anniversary, for reasons Our Lord wishes to keep private. But we are invited to Buckingham for supper and the fireworks afterward, so I'm sure you'll be able to give Harry your present there in person.

[alt_draco]

Well as long as I can finally see him. He must be so bored with all those adults. Um, even if it is very important, I mean.

Mother, you're not going to want another baby when Auntie Bella has one, are you?

[alt_lucius]

What, and send you back? Nonsense. You're quite past your return policy.

[alt_draco]

Back where, exactly?

You're so droll, Father.

[alt_lucius]

Come into the drawing room. Rodolphus is passing round the brandy. I think as it is also Freedom from Tyranny Day you may have a small snifter.

[alt_draco]

Really? Brilliant!

[alt_pansy]

That would be Lucius teasing you.

See? Sometimes you can tell!

[alt_draco]

Sometimes it's more obvious than others.