A fine mess

[alt_draco]

What is with today? I think I've finally got Dennis calmed down now. For a while there he wouldn't stop trying to punish himself like a house elf would, trying to take his eyes out with a toasting fork and whatnot.

Vince, I heard what you were telling people. As if I would really make my mudblood summon scones during Transfiguration because I was too upset to eat breakfast, owing to Patil losing her hair! (Not that I don't feel bad for you, Padma, but I managed my breakfast just fine). So now I suppose I have to give some kind of public explanation, don't I?

Well the truth is that Dennis is... his magic has manifested. And it's been going off at random, inconvenient moments, like during the middle of Professor Carrow's lecture. (I'm terribly sorry I had to leave during lecture, sir, but Dennis was making such a scene and you looked...displeased) Dennis thinks he's a bad mudblood because of it, now, but it seems to me that he can't really help that his magic's shown up. With the way he beats himself up about it he'd obviously turn himself off if he could.

I was going to bring him to class this week because I thought his magic might stay away if I was constantly watching him, but that obviously didn't work. Maybe I should just leave him in our room all the time. Only he isn't really any use to me then, is he?

Comments

[alt_harry]

Im sorry mate.

I hope Granger's magic doesnt manifest anytime soon. I don't know what I'd do.

[alt_hermione]

I hope it doesn't either, sir, and you know I wouldn't be like Dennis, I mean, I wouldn't let scones come or anything, I'd try to stop myself, and I think I'd do better at it than Dennis, since he's just little.

[alt_harry]

I know Granger.

[alt_hermione]

I'm sorry about Dennis, Mr Malfoy.

I think he's asleep now, I think he was really tired out from all that going on, and he really didn't mean it, he made me promise to tell you again. Even though I know that you know it.

[alt_sally_anne]

Vince told people you had Dennis summon the scones on purpose? Is he mad? You don't even like scones, let alone scones that came from accidental mudblood magic!

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

Is he alright, Hermione?

Are you alright?

When he started going off in Transfiguration I thought maybe Carrow had used the imperius curse on him. I heard later he was doing what house-elves do when they need to punish themselves but I've never seen that happen either so I didn't know.

[alt_draco]

He's not mad, he's thick, and in more ways than one. Didn't you see him trying to snatch the scones and eat them?

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hermione]

It's really strange to see someone acting like a house-elf like that, and Malfoy wasn't even being mean to him, I mean not like Carrow was with Terry. He just - he wouldn't listen when I told him that everyone's magic manifests someday and that it's natural and that he needed to calm down or it wouldn't stop, I mean I don't know if that's true but it seemed like it might calm him down, but he wouldn't listen, and then everyone was so frustrated and Dennis worst of all!!

And I think he's angry at me now, Dennis I mean, because my magic isn't manifesting. Only of course I can't tell him that it's because I've been practising all the time so I can't make him not angry.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hermione]

He's alright, I mean, I think he is. And I am too, for once I wasn't the one in trouble, because of course I wasn't making the scones and I could help him a little, and I think that Draco didn't really know what was going on and I know that Harry didn't know at all, at least not at first.

[alt_draco]

You're just lucky you don't have to deal with this, since you got rid of Dennis and have a good mudblood now who does your homewo as she's told.

[alt_sally_anne]

EW.

No, I missed that part.

[alt_draco]

I know he doesn't mean it, but what am I suppose to do with him now? It's a real bother.

[alt_hermione]

I don't know, sir. I've never heard of a mudblood having this problem so bad.

[alt_harry]

Sorry. I mean, I'm not sorry I got rid of Dennis. He's a dud. But I'm sorry you have to have him instead. I wish he would be more like Granger. She's too forward. Like Father says, but she's not like Dennis.

[alt_draco]

Back when I first got him Dennis told me he hoped he'd never show any signs of magic, and I think he thought if he was good enough, it wouldn't happen. It seems to have made it worse, though. Maybe it's psychelogical.

[alt_draco]

He used to be alright, fetching chocolates and tidying up and things, but nowadays I feel like I'm looking after him more than he looks after me.

Do you suppose your Father would take him back? But no that'd be like returning a gift. I can't do that.

[alt_hermione]

You mean that maybe he thought about it so much, about not wanting it I mean, that he made it happen anyway?

That's mean. I mean, he didn't get to pick if he had magic anyway, I suppose his parents picked for him, and that's too bad, but it's mean that because he wanted so much to be good that he couldn't help being a bad mudblood. And I don't want to I don't mean that you're mean, Mr Malfoy, I mean that whatever makes magic come is mean.

[alt_harry]

I don't think Father would like that much.

But maybe he'll drown himself in scones. Could you smother yourself in scones?

[alt_draco]

Maybe the batter, but likely not after they've been baked.

[alt_harry]

Unless there was a real load of them.

Too bad.

[alt_draco]

Mean is one way to put it, I suppose.

I think the Ministry is trying to find out how magic gets inside mudbloods so that it can be stopped, so they don't steal it anymore. But I suppose it's too late once it's already happened.

[alt_hermione]

I wish they could take it away from Dennis, he is so miserable about it.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

That's really awful.

And it happened in Carrow's lesson? What did he do? Carrow, I mean.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hermione]

I don't know, he just looked like something nasty bit him on the bottom, and then Harry said something like 'please Hermione do whatever you can so we don't get in trouble,' and then I rushed Dennis out because I thought Carrow would do something horrid. I ran as fast as ever I could with him and then Draco followed. But I didn't see what Carrow did after we were gone.

Also Harry told me to take another message to you, to say he was sorry, but I bet you don't care, do you?

[alt_narcissa]

That must be very distressing for you, dear. Of course we can't do much for you now, with the quarantine in effect, but when it's lifted, or when the year ends, we can see about remanding him to the camps, if he's still not performing adequately.

We might see if a stint at Buckingham will fix him up. You know your father did something similar with one of our elves, just last year.

[alt_draco]

But Mother, he's not performing poorly on purpose, I don't think. Or do you think he is? Plus he was trained at Buckingham, wasn't he?

[alt_draco]

So do I.

[alt_narcissa]

I'm sure he's doing his best, darling, but that doesn't change the fact that you cannot be expected to retain a defective servant. If he cannot learn to control his magic he shall have to be sent somewhere where it will not inconvenience you.

He was originally trained at Buckingham, exactly. That is why I think a return there - for a time - may reinforce the proper behaviour and return him to usefulness.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Well, that depends, doesn't it?

Is he going to keep being a total git to me when people are around? Cause that's not on. Either we're mates or we're not.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

And what's all that stuff he's saying up there to Malfoy about drowning Dennis? I mean, really? That's--

That's the sort of thing that tells other people he thinks it'd be okay if--

[alt_pansy]

It really was awful to see, Draco. It's too bad you're having such trouble.

I feel terrible. I made a joke just this morning about Dennis and scones, but it certainly isn't something to joke about any more, and I'm sorry.

Is there anything I can do to help?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

People listen to him. And if he acts like stuff's no big deal, then they think they can do it, too. Or shove it in your face that Marvolo really told you, didn't he?

Sorry. Look, it's just not on what he's doing. So, no.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

I mean, I know you can't do anything about it when he talks about you one way and acts totally different when no one's around to know. But it's not right.

And he doesn't own me. No offense, but that's how he acts. Like he can just do anything and everyone just has to take it.

Well, I don't.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

You can tell him that.

[alt_draco]

How will he learn to control his magic? Should I be teaching him? Father said it was like raising a child but I'm too young to be a Father!

[alt_draco]

I don't know, just...try to be nice to him, I guess. I mean, not nice like you would be to a real person, but just act like nothing's different. Maybe if he thinks we don't notice his magic it'll go away on its own.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hermione]

I don't think he means it, I mean, if he said something about drowning you in scones you wouldn't think he really meant it, would you?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hermione]

Fine, I'll tell him, but I don't think he's going to like it.

I mean - it's not as though I like it when he's a git, really I don't, and you're right, I can't do anything about it, but he's ever so much nicer than I expected he'd be, and -

Only, Professor McGonagall someone I talk to sometimes says I mustn't make excuses for him, because I can't let myself get Stock Syndrome, and start thinking like Dennis. So I suppose you're right, but I wish you knew that he thinks about it a lot, and he's not - I mean, he's clever enough, he's good at magic and he's good at tactical kinds of things, but he's not clever about things like that, and he's not really a Slytherin and he's not good at acting like one, so when he does he bungles it all up sometimes.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

It's not going to get you in trouble, is it? I mean, I can tell him myself, actually.

He shouldn't get cross at you.

He won't will he?

And, yeah, you're right, what he's doing now? It's not very clever.

[alt_lucius]

Calm yourself, son. His instinctive revulsion when confronted with his own magic is laudable, but he must restrain his impulse to punish himself until he is alone and his actions will not disturb you.

Moreover, you must make your expectations clear and do not hesitate to reinforce your standards with the firm application of your own punishments. Your wand is your ally, for with it you may exact all the censure he needs to understand that his outbursts are wholly unacceptable.

Your mother is correct that he may simply have grown irreparable with the manifestation of his magic, in which case, as she says, it is unthinkable that you should be forced to maintain him within the household. However, if you have grown attached and wish to retain him, then he must prove he can conform to the demands of his station.

Remember that you also have resources available to you beyond your own skills.

[alt_pansy]

Alright, I will.

And if you want to thoroughly beat me at chess or play exploding snap to take your mind off things, just let me know.

[alt_amycus]

There will never be a demonstration like that from any mudblood filth in my classroom again. Ever.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hermione]

No, I don't think he'll be cross, I mean, he might be but he wouldn't get me in trouble, he might tell me to go away but I think that's probably it. He only ever is horrible to me when people are watching and I'll tell him when no one's around.

I think he'd rather just say whatever he thinks, only I don't think he can. He doesn't really tell me what he's thinking but I don't think he really likes the half bloods being separate and I don't think he really believes in mudbloods being less than purebloods, or at least he doesn't believe that I'm any less than anyone else, maybe he feels different about Dennis, because Dennis is so odd. But he can't ever ever say those things really. I mean, not that you can either, but he really especially can't.

[alt_amycus]

Of course, if you really think it's defective and you're wanting to get rid of it, come talk to me. I'm sure I can find a use for it.

I can always use experimental subjects.

[alt_draco]

What resources?

[alt_draco]

No chess, please. Maybe snap, though.

[alt_draco]

Understood, Sir.

[alt_pansy]

Snap it is. We can play for some of the chocolates mum sent me, to make it a little more interesting.

[alt_lucius]

You need not solve this problem entirely independently, Draco.

The boy is used to living among house-elves; your mother's suggestion that Creevey might benefit from time among the elves at Buckingham can be easily modified to re-orient him among the elves there.

As for your own inexperience, I believe there are a number of mentors emplaced at the school for your supervision and support: Your teachers, the prefects, and the Head Boy and Girl.