Private Message to Daphne Greengrass

[alt_ron]

It still feels odd, not having to worry about Umbridge all the time. Actually, everything feels odd today. Having so much food at meals. Seeing all the junior council types not sure what to do next. Not having to fill out all those parchments every time I sneeze! Not thinking I'd get punished if I came across the great hall to talk to you at lunch.

Which is nice. So was... after lunch.

Anywiz. I went out flying with Harry this evening for a while, and he said Draco ended things with Pansy? Is she... How upset does she seem?

Comments

[alt_daphne]

It's certainly been strange. But it will all be better now, don't you think? At first I was upset that my galleon message didn't get you lot out of the room in time, but I suppose it's worked out all the better, since Umbridge is gone now. Still, such a shame about Diggory.

After lunch was especially nice. But we never did get around to naming my new kitten! What do you think about the name Fitcher?

Oh, yes. I heard them talking - maybe crying a little, too - behind the door, so I've been giving them space and staying out of our room. I can't believe Draco ended things. He and Pansy have always seemed so happy together!

[alt_ron]

Your message is what kept her from catching the whole lot of us. And if it hadn't ended up the way it did- I mean, if she were still here, there'd be a huge group of people she'd have been punishing or sending to the camps today, except that you got us word in time for most of us to run. That was really brilliant, Daphs.

You want to call him Fitcher? I don't know. It sounds nice, but what's it mean? Rhymes with pitcher? Sounds a bit like fetcher, only cats don't fetch things.

I'm surprised about Draco and Pansy, too. I mean, I know she thought they'd just always be together. I don't think maybe his parents looked at it that way, though. Just from things she's said. So maybe he started to listen to his parents. Maybe they told him they have other ideas about who he should marry? Does anyone do that any more? Parents making matches for their kids? Only, if anyone were going to do that sort of thing, it'd be his family, don't you think? Or Harry's father.

[alt_daphne]

I was happy to help, of course!

And I was thinking of that fairy tale, Fitcher's Bird. They're making it into a new ballet, I heard, only I don't remember if the wizard Fitcher is good or evil. I should probably check, first.

Oh. Well, my Mother got to choose who she married, though the person she really wanted to marry was Professor Raz. Her parents were in an arranged marriage, though. (The Montagues, you know.)

But Mr Malfoy sees Pansy as a sort of daughter, so maybe it struck him as vaguely incestuous that she and Draco were so serious?

[alt_ron]

I've never heard of that story. I guess it must be a good one if they're making a ballet of it.

Do you think the Lestranges will want to arrange a marriage for Hydra? I mean, they're another family that seems really concerned about pedigree or whatever. (I always think it sounds like animal breeding when people talk about pedigree, y'know?) I wouldn't want my Mum deciding who I was going to marry. I mean, I love her, but I don't think I'd want her making that decision for me. Really, because it's not the parents who have to live with that person forever, is it?

Anywiz, I'm sorry for Pansy because I think she was really serious about him. And she gets so sad sometimes, I don't know how she'll take it.

[alt_daphne]

Ooh, you don't know about the Lestranges? Well, they were a bit too - inbred, you might say, and they were having loads and loads of squibs as a result. They had to arrange marriages to lesser families, like the Jugsons, in order to improve things. But I suppose that's all straightened out now, and everyone knows Hydra is expected to marry Harry.

Which is funny, when you think about it. I mean, he is a halfblood - Bellatrix Lestrange should be having kittens at the thought!

I'm sorry for her, too. I'll be sure to bring her something nice from the kitchens before I go to bed.

[alt_ron]

Oh. No, I didn't know that about the Lestranges. But I expect that if they thought people like the Jugsons were too low to consider before, that explains how they got so inbred. I mean, there aren't enough families as it is, and if the only ones you'll let your kids marry are already your near cousins, well.

I've heard that when people get too inbred, they tend to be a bit daft, too, don't they? If they were smarter, they wouldn't act like that. And if they didn't act like that, they'd probably turn out smarter.

And, yeah. I'd forgotten that people used to say Harry was supposed to marry Hydra. I guess it's just that they don't act like they think that's going to happen.

Do you think his father wants that? Or just Mrs Lestrange? Because if He doesn't, then it doesn't really matter what she wants, does it?

[alt_daphne]

I'm fairly certain Auror Lestrange hasn't given up on the idea of Hydra and Harry marrying, though why she lets Hydra carry on with Justin in that case... well, perhaps she's just too busy to notice?

I don't really know what He has planned for Harry, but probably nothing as simple and pleasant as marriage. He never married Himself, did He? You wouldn't think He even had much value for the institution if not for all those re-population awards.

Say, Ron... I know that at the end of hols we had that talk, about the Revue and how it sort of made us silly, and we forgot about how we're really not very much alike, in some ways. But I've been thinking, why does that have to matter now? Upbringing and marriage and family... I really do care about you, and because of what's happened between us, well, we'll never forget each other for ever and ever, will we?

I suppose what I mean is, if you want to keep on, not in a serious way, exactly - well, I would like that.

I suppose we already are?

[alt_ron]

I, uh-

You do? I mean, I wondered, but I wasn't going to ask because I thought maybe if we didn't think about it too much...

Yeah, I'd like to.

We could maybe do something tomorrow night, then? Or do you have rounds? Well, even if you do... we can probably break curfew again now, yeah? I mean, who's going to catch us? And if they did, what could they do about it?

[alt_daphne]

We don't have to talk about it after this. It's probably better if we don't!

I'm free tomorrow night after I finish my homework, but you're right about the rules. Right now is about the perfect time to break them, I'd say!

I'd better go back to the dorm and see how the girls are doing. Goodnight, Ron!

[alt_ron]

G'night, you!

Dream about me, yeah?!