alt_ron | Order Only Private Message to Justin

alt_ron

Getting breezy up here. And a bit boring.

Anything interesting on your side?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

alt_justin

Ron,

Nothing too interesting, no.

Lights are still on both upstairs and down. His visitor hasn't left by the front. Not there either, I take it?

I say, this is the difficult part, the waiting. Last time I wrote to Hydra to pass the time.

From:

alt_ron

No sign of anyone in the back garden at all. And no lights in the back of the house.

Hang on.

Eh. Must've opened a door on the first floor landing. There was a light there for a moment, but it went out again.

From:

alt_justin

He's just turned off the light on the ground floor, perhaps he's getting ready to turn in.

Which likely means we'll have to wait til morning as he's leaving. And hope he doesn't Floo to Buckingham.

From:

alt_ron

Hm.

This is where I wish we'd got control of the Floo system. Would be nice to be able to take him offline.

I wonder... there could be a way to sabotage his fire. But it'd be bad to fall out onto his hearth by accident. Or, y'know, blow up the chimney and blow myself to bits in the process. So maybe not. Putting that on my list of things to get the twins to look into, though.

From:

alt_justin

Also likely not a good move with someone who specialises in defusing Muggle incendiaries.

I say, if you'd rather kip a while, we probably won't miss anything. Or I can take first watch, what.

From:

alt_ron

Maybe in a bit. Not sure I could sleep if I tried yet.

I'd rather watch until we can be more sure he's really in for the night. I don't want to get played and him walk out under our noses.

From:

alt_justin

I know what you mean. I have trouble without Hydra. Or Jack, what, but cats don't tend to behave well on stakeouts.

Was it...odd, Draco's party, and trying to talk to people who haven't--who don't understand? I mean to say, everyone's been affected, no one's entirely untouched by what happened. But some of us.... It's just there are those for whom the battle for Hogwarts was more or less their first direct experience of fighting back. Fighting for anything, really.

It felt hollow to make small talk, on some levels. Was it that way for you?

From:

alt_ron

Yeah.

I think people probably thought I was rather rude, but, really, there's just not much to say, y'know? 'Tried the punch?' 'Music's not half brilliant, yeah?' 'Nice run of sunny days, we've been having, wot?'

And the lot of them wanting to say something, I dunno, meaningful about Harry not being there, or about Neville being so brave when no one really knew he had it in him, or going all wet about the ones that died in the school or about the firsties that didn't die because Moon courageously ran away and hid them all.

I just- you're right. What do you even say to those people?

From:

alt_justin

'You're welcome'?

No.

And it's not that we're the only ones who can be heroic (though--I say, you're too right about Moon. And Professor Sinistra, as well).

On the one hand I'm shattered about some of the losses. I don't know if I told you but I wrote to Zach Smith's parents. That was dashed unfortunate. And the thought of Harry is both devastating and infuriating, what.

But at the same time, on the other hand--my God, it's not even mildly surprising that so many of them died. Which is a well monstrous thought.

Is it because we're just fatigued? Or is it because of their influence? Desai and--and Antonin. Others. Do you think we'll ever feel properly about things?

From:

alt_ron

Do you think we'll go on long enough to feel the right sort of feelings again?

I don't really expect to.

Or-

I'm not trying to be grim, y'know. Only, I sort of don't want to be caught by surprise if I take a killing curse. So many of the little ones just looked so surprised. After. I think it's better to know it's likely to come to that.

Sorry.

You know, in some ways, it's more unbelievable that Smith's gone than that Harry is?

I mean, part of me still doesn't believe Harry can really be gone. I keep expecting he'll write-
or just walk in- and say Cheers, y'know?

But Smith? I can't make my head know that. I mean, how'd he even get in the path of a curse?

From:

alt_justin

Of course, one considers that there's a risk, but I rather think we've more to live for, yet.

Smith thought he knew more than he did about this sort of fight. He didn't know any better.

At least Moon had the sense to get himself (and others) out of the line of fire.

Anyway. Get some sleep.

From:

alt_justin

Mind you, one can't go wrong with, 'Doesn't my wife look beautiful tonight?'

From:

alt_ron

Well, there IS that.

Not that it helps especially to think of that when they're snug in the castle, and we're stuck here with our warming charms and a bottle of water to get us through the night.

You warm enough down there?

From:

alt_justin

Why, do you want me to come up and snuggle?

Wouldn't be the same.

Yes, I'm warm enough. Would you prefer to switch places?

From:

alt_ron

Nice of you to offer, mate, but I wouldn't want to get distracted and miss our man, y'know?

Nah. I'm fine. No worries.

From:

alt_ron

So.

D'you know what sound a nut makes when it sneezes?

From:

alt_justin

Cashew?

From:

alt_ron

Too right.

What do you call a manticore with no eyes?

From:

alt_justin

Blind?

Why was six afraid of seven?

From:

alt_ron

Nah. A 'MANTCORE'.

Because 7 ate 9! (I thought that one was hilarious when I was 7 and Gin was 6.)

D'you know why they had to close the village school at the London Zoo?