Good Show

[alt_ron]

So that was good fun, yeah?

There were two groups that were really quick to sort the chess. Cheers, Paskle. Nice to meet you, mate. (Bundy says that's not how you spell your name. Sorry if it's not.) Would like to play you for reals sometime. Your approach was different from anyone else's, but definitely sound.

No surprise, really, but Towler's was the other top team. Did you hear what the Queen said about you, mate? Made me blush!

How'd it go at the other spots? I heard about one close call with the Whomping Willow. Hope no one got thrashed!
 
 
And tea was great. Glad I didn't miss the cinnamon biscuits.

Is it time for supper yet?

Comments

[alt_ron]

Yes, well. You're always too busy talking to eat, aren't you?

[alt_justin]

Oh, I say, Ron!

I suppose whatever was in those drinks you lot had has well worn off, what?

[alt_ron]

I reckon it has, yeah. Now we're back to normal.

How are you finding it here? Apart from seeing that we don't all get along all the time. They have you staying in Ravenclaw tower? Don't let them tell you have to spend all your time doing homework. There are loads of other things to get up to at Hogwarts.

Do you play chess? Or cards, at all? Snap or Knave's Gambit or Conneycatcher or Portkey or anything?

[alt_justin]

Well. I know some of the chaps think Hogwarts is a touch on the Gothic side but--I guess I don't mind that so much, what? The Ravenclaws don't spend all their time at homework, not that I've seen so far. Though it's fair to say there's quite a bit to do, isn't there? I say, I'm not sure how you lot can juggle so many subjects all at once. Nine or ten? It's difficult to imagine being able to focus on them with so much competition for time and attention.

Anyway, yesterday was loads of fun and an excellent way for JP and I to learn our way round. Certainly no homework done yesterday, if you follow me! As for games...I can play chess, yes, though I'm no expert, for certain. I'm not sure I've heard I think we have Snap in France but call it something else? Well, at any rate, we do have some jolly well complicated card games.

[alt_ron]

We should get together and teach each other the card games we like best. Maybe get some others to come along, too.

And we should try chess sometime, too. You don't have to be ace at it for it to be fun.

[alt_justin]

Quite.

I'm sure JP would be willing, what. He has a set of cards that--well. They're amusing, if you follow me.

Have you mates in Gryffindor who'd want to come along, as well?

Private Message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_ron]

Heh. I know some tricks you can play with cards like that. My brother Charlie taught us some really clever spells for it.

Neville might want to come, yeah. I'll ask him.

Did you just want it to be a bloke's thing, then? I mean, we could open it to anyone who wanted to come. Or just to fourth year wizards. Or just set up in the Great Hall and see who turns up.

Re: Private Message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

You're asking me who might like to come?

I...wonder if you spend any time with people from other Houses, what? I mean to say, I don't know whether a Gryffindor would get on well with anyone in Slytherin, without the benefit of that punch making everyone affable and loquacious, that is to say.

But if you were.... Before I came back to England, Sally-Anne offered to speak to me privately about something. But I haven't had any opportunity to talk to her yet--that is, we've not been in any lessons together and yesterday I was with others, of course, and so was she.

Would it look terribly out of place if she and the others were to come along to whatever sort of card party you'd plan? I shouldn't like to cause any comment, what, if it's not the done thing.

Re: Private Message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_ron]

I wasn't asking you who you'd want to come. I was just trying to find out if you only wanted it to be wizards. I do spend time with people from other Houses, sometimes more from outside Gryffindor than in, but you're right that it's complicated. And the whole thing about whether we should ask witches-

Only if we have witches we won't want to have any of that kind of cards, is all. That's really why I was asking.

See, if it were me deciding who I'd want to ask, I'd ask Nev, and Pansy Parkinson and Sally Anne Perks and maybe some others. We could ask Luna if you were wanting to get to know her a bit better. But then we wouldn't ask Patil. For instance.

Or, if we wanted more people, we could say it's for everyone, and then it would be all right whoever turned up, and in that case Patil probably would stay away because it was me setting it up. Unless Malfoy and Marvolo came, in which case she might. It's complicated.

If it's a bloke's thing, then we'd probably just ask all the fourth year wizards, including the ones from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, and we'd see who turns up. Smith and Macmillan and Moon and some others might come. And, depending on how the wind's blowing, maybe the Slytherins would turn out.

Re: Private Message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

Oh, I see. Well, no, I shouldn't think the girls would appreciate any sort of cards--or card tricks--that exploit femininity, what?

But, yes, I rather think that something where Perks would feel welcome would kill two birds with one stone, as it were, if you follow me. I say, I'm sorry I didn't realise you and Parkinson or Perks were at all acquainted.

Do you not get on with Marvolo and Malfoy, then? Odd, since they're really rather pleasant, I thought. And as for Patil, she's all right. She just...well, there are some girls like her at Beauxbatons, as well. One just has to know how to get round them, what? She's quite good friends with Moon, though, isn't she? And Finnigan? And Finnigan's in your House, isn't he? It's all so very confusing, these Houses and who can speak to whom and such. Much simpler at Beauxbatons, I can tell you.

Re: Private Message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_ron]

Right.

Well, then. I tell you what. I'll just see if Sally Anne and Pansy and maybe Neville could come sometime and we could get to know you better. I think it's easier in a small group, and we all get on. You'll see.

And that would let you talk to Sally Anne, too. See what she wanted to tell you. She's really clever, you know. And good at, well- good at understanding how to explain other people. Actually, she'd be loads better than I am at explaining who gets on with which other people and why.

Um, about Marvolo and Malfoy. See, the thing is, I got on really well with Marvolo for a while our first couple of years, but Malfoy didn't like that. So then for a while Marvolo was a right pr- anywiz, we don't talk much now, but it's not like I don't like him. I just think he needs to have a think about who he picks as friends. And, yeah, you would think Malfoy's really pleasant when he hosted you back in the summer when you came over. He's all about being polite and being a model of high society or whatever, but that's it. He doesn't like my family, so- yeah, that's really it, pretty much. Weasleys aren't good enough for Malfoys and that's that.

So, anywiz, now you know. And I guess you'll have to decide if you want to get to know me better or would rather stick with Malfoy and his lot. He won't like it very much if you get to know me.

Re: Private Message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

Oh, I shouldn't think Malfoy will be well fussed, one way or another. I'm only here a short while, after all, if you follow me.

Besides, our job as visitors is to get to know all sorts of students, not just the ones at the top rung, what? I mean to say, my mother's done a fair bit of adjusting since I started school, as the usual lines of class aren't quite divided the way she'd expected.

But, yes, I think I should like a chance to speak with Sally-Anne in a way that shan't raise eyebrows.

When do you think you'd hold the card party, then? We've got an outing next weekend, haven't we?