Ron Weasley

So, yeah.

You know how Director Selwyn told me I should come to work at the Ministry with my dad some day? Well, he was serious, and today Dad decided I should come along.

He showed me around his department and introduced me to some people, but then he had to review a huge stack of parchments that I wasn't allowed to look at. He did take me along to a meeting that lasted forever and was about different camps and people who run them and whether they're doing a good job keeping the people there ready to work, which I think means that some people in the camps are too sick to be any use when they send them out to do stuff. And then we had lunch, only it was pretty late and I was really hungry cause there wasn't anything but pots of tea during the meeting.

And then Dad had to go talk to his Department head, so I looked at some stuff they send out to places that are thinking about hiring Muggleborns to do stuff. And then I read a couple of old comics I'd brought along, except I already knew what happens, so that wasn't too exciting.

And then Dad came back and was going to take me with him to talk to someone else, but Director Selwyn came in just then and asked if I'd like to come talk to him about some of the other stuff that's part of his division, beyond what Dad does, y'know? And, yeah. He told me some stuff about the group that's reclaiming the countryside for new wizarding communities and uses (or something like that). But then. He started talking about what kind of OWLs I'd need and how I'd need people to be references if I wanted to do surveying or that reclaiming whatsit. And he said I'd need to really work at getting people to think a lot of me if I wanted to get a good job like that. And then he started talking about how sometimes even little things can hurt what people think of you, like things other people do who're connected to you, so it's not even just stuff you do yourself that matters.

And then he talked about the Woods. How they were doing bad things and how it could have hurt Oliver's chance at playing Quidditch, only that doesn't have to happen if you make sure that people know you're loyal and a good person to help along. And he said that if I ever saw or heard anything that seemed fishy or, y'know, disloyal, then I should be sure to tell him or tell Ms Mortynson in his office because that's a way to make sure that if anything comes of stuff like that you're on the right side of the file. I think that's the way he said it. But he meant you should turn people in so you don't end up seeming guilty, too, if they get caught and you didn't say.

And then. He told me he was impressed with me. He doesn't invite kids to come talk to him very often. Maybe at all. And he wanted me to know it was because he'd noticed I have potential. Oh, and he said he thought Moody's Mad Cat was hilarious. Especially when I died like that.

And then. He gave me three tickets for the Cup in level 19! And he said I could invite my parents or anyone I wanted to sit with me.

So, anywiz. Mum and Dad are talking about that, I think. Dad seemed pretty worried when I told him what Mr Selwyn said. And I said he didn't have to worry I'd ever tell anyone about anything that'd get anyone in trouble.

Or maybe he was just worried it might look bad if he sat up in level 19 with me when the people at the top of his department will be a level below that. I reckon that might cause problems at work cause they'd think he was showing them up.

Um. So it was kind of a big day, y'know?

So, er. Towler's quit playing chess with me until I write this letter thing to Director Selwyn 'cause he says I really pretty much have to do whatever it takes to stay in YPL. Says he'd totally be doing it if they'd started with his year, and says it's going to be really, really a bad thing for people who drop out, y'know. Basically all the stuff we've talked about, but I mean, he's older and he thinks the same thing. That it'll help us get jobs or hurt us a lot--one way or the other.

So, yeah.

And anyway, I was only sort of kidding when I asked if you'd write it for me, but, uh, they sort of sat there and watched me while I wrote a draft of it, so I've got this bit written, and it's probably completely naff. So could you take a look and tell me what to say instead?


Uh, so

Dear Director Selwyn.

My name is Ronald Weasley, and you might not remember, but we've talked before. Here in the journals. One time. And I was Mad Eye's Mad Cat in the play this spring, and maybe you remember that since you said Ar your daughter liked the way I played it. Anywiz, I'm writing because I'm in the YPL. You know, the Young Protectors' League. And we're supposed to write a letter to someone who works in a field we're interested in. So I've been thinking a lot about what I might want to do, and I decided probably not working with dragons like my older brother Charlie does because they don't take very many people into that programme and it'd be sort of awful to have to train under my own brother. If you know what I mean. I've met some of the dragon handlers, and they're a pretty rough lot and I think they'd pretty much spend all they'retheir time taking the mickey if I got into training. So not that. And so then I've been thinking about jobs at the Ministry, which you probably know is where my dad and my other brother work. My dad's in the Department of Purity Control and works with the Muggle Domestication department, too, and my brother Bill's in Communications. And I guess those are both good jobs that, you know, make a contribution to the Protectorate and stuff. And Bill got a promotion last year, so I guess he's really good at what he's doing. But I'm not sure I want to always be working in an office indoors, so I've been talking to people about what I like to do and what sort of jobs that might mean I'd be good at, and one of the people in my House said I ought to think about surveying because I like exploring and flying and finding places out in the country that've been left empty and all. And she'd heard that there's a Department of Regional Restoration and Rural Reclamation that's surveying all the places around where Muggles used to live that could be good places for wizards to start new towns of our own since there are getting to be more of us. And I think that'd be a completely wizard job to have! Especially the part where she said she'd heard they're planning to blow up some of the rotten old Muggle places to allow nature to take them back faster so they'll be beautiful again. That'd be amazing to get to blow stuff up. Um, and also to help plan where to build new things or fix and improve places that are okay but just need the Muggle stuff taken away. And, anywiz, I'm writing to you because that's part of your big department, right? And you were nice when we talked before, so I thought you'd probably not be annoyed if I wrote you about this. And I was hoping maybe you'd even write me back to tell me if this'd be a good sort of job for me to try to have someday.

So, yeah. Thank you, sir. I really appreciate your time and everything.

Sincerely,
Ronald Weasley
Gryffindor House
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

So. What'd you think?

Hey, Fish-eye.

That's the most sorcerously awesome thing I've ever got for a birthday!! I hear the Cannons' exhibition days are wiznift to the moon. There's the exhibition match, of course, but then there are all sorts of competitions for the fans, and the Cannons all stand out on the pitch and sign autographs on anything you bring--well, anything you can write on, anywiz. I heard one time, someone brought their cat and wanted Morrison to sign that, but Morrison wouldn't do it because the spell they wanted him to use would've been permanent and he didn't want to hurt the cat.

Two tickets! You're the best, Pans. I can't wait for June!!!

How wizard is that?!

Mad Eye's Mad Cat!!

Did you see the lines I get? 'Grrrrrrrrr! Arggggggggghhhhhhh! Awwwwwwkkkkkkkkk!' [Dies.]

I'm going to be the best dying cat you've ever seen!!


(And I don't have to worry about memorising too much, either. That's the best part.)