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_luna]

Well, we weren't one of the winning teams, but even the consolation prizes were rather nice. I can always use another magical bookmark.

Oh, and one of the prefects told us afterward that the Herbology book hadn't been taken. It was still there on the table, but someone had put a strong Do Not Notice Me charm on it. Which was really rather sneaky! One of the Slytherins, probably.

[alt_justin]

Are they prone to that sort of...deception? Slytherins, I mean.

[alt_hydra]

Maybe. Sometimes it's important to know how to be deceptive. Not just when you're playing games, either.

From,
Hydra

Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_hydra]

My uncle, Professor Razzer, that is, he says that every house's strength is also its weakness.

So, Gryffindors are brave and stick up for people, but they can also be rash and judgmental.

Hufflepuffs and loyal and fair and hard-working, but they can be passive and very set in their ways.

Ravenclaws are intelligent and clever, but they can be closed-off and only ever consider themselves.

Slytherins are ambitious and resourceful, but being resourceful can sometimes mean being deceptive, or even ruthless.

But, just so you know, the Lord Protector was a Slytherin, so in Hogwarts it's rather unofficially considered the best house, even if there really isn't supposed to be a best house.

From,
Hydra

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

Well, thank you for the lesson, Hydra.

Or are you just being deceptive?

I say, it doesn't seem like you're all that deceitful, though perhaps given what you've just told me about Slytherin, perhaps you'll not take that for a compliment.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_hydra]

Everyone says that I'm quiet. I don't think that's the same thing.

I've been deceptive before but I don't really enjoy it.

No, that's not true because sometimes I do enjoy it, but, I wouldn't enjoy being deceitful to a friend.

Now you're probably more confused than before.

What house do you think you would have been sorted into if you went to Hogwarts?

From,
Hydra

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

I prefer to be quiet, actually, especially when I'm with people I don't know well. I find I have to force myself to be very outgoing in order to make new friends. Do you ever feel that way?

And I rather know what you mean, I think, about deceiving friends and not enjoying it. Sometimes it's necessary, though, because otherwise things might be far, far worse. There, now I've probably been cryptic enough for both of us.

I'm not sure about my House. I don't think Slytherin, sorry. And I doubt Gryffindor because I'm not really very brave. And I'm not really a natural scholar, either. So I suppose that leaves Hufflepuff. Which is rather strange, what, because I'm not acquainted with any of the Hufflepuffs at all. Though they seem well nice enough.

Have you any friends in Hufflepuff?

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_hydra]

Yes, that's it exactly, and just what I meant when I said that being deceptive is sometimes important and not just for winning games.

Hufflepuffs are nice, and they are more easy-going than some of the other houses. I think you would fit in well there if you went to Hogwarts.

I almost had a friend in Hufflepuff, but she's dead now. Hannah, the girl who was killed at the end of last term.

From,
Hydra

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

Oh, I say.

I say--that's--gracious. I'm so sorry, then.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_hydra]

There are other people who knew her a lot better.

I was just trying to help her and

Well, it's not such a happy story, and I think people already told you a bit about it so I won't go over it again.

From,
Hydra

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

No, I can understand you not wanting to revisit that episode. Quite right.

I lost a friend once, too.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_hydra]

Then I'm sorry.

Was it very long ago?

From,
Hydra

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

Thank you. No, it wasn't so very long ago. But I think we'd better leave things there. I recall being told it's impolite to carry on private conversations in someone else's journal, what?

Perhaps if you'd like to practise French we could meet after lessons sometime? Don't worry about answering here; just let me know if you'd like to do. And no hard feelings if you don't.

-Justin

[alt_luna]

Well, not deception, necessarily. But cunning. And of course, I don't know whether it was a Slytherin who did the spell. It just seems the most likely possibility.