Order Only: Private Message to Harry and Draco

[alt_hermione]

I just had to tell someone: You know how Mr Snape asked me to come with him this morning after breakfast? It was because he wanted me to try my hand at brewing Mr Lupin's Wolfsbane potion.

I was ever so nervous. And I didn't do very well at all. Of course, Mr Snape just said his own first attempt was worse but I'm sure he's just being kind. Anyway, he's going to have me brew it again tomorrow. Well, he's going to brew it and I'm supposed to brew alongside him, following what he does. (I'm not sure why he didn't do that in the first place, it would have been so much less frightening.)

Oh, and he liked his present, too.

I didn't want to say out in front of everyone, because I don't think he wants Mr Lupin to know just yet that he's teaching me to brew his potion, and because I didn't want to hurt Pansy's feelings, you know.

Draco, you went and talked to him, didn't you, about your plan? Was he really helpful?

Anyway, I've got to read over the notes again tonight but I thought also, I'd mention that you should talk about Miss Morgansen at the next reading meeting. Tell people, I mean. So they'll know how the fake one's being written.

Or do you think you'll be able to keep holding those, with this competition going on? Oh, and you know anything that anyone needs to help with that, just say so.

Comments

[alt_draco]

What present? Is it his birthday, or something? He doesn't really strike me as the present type.

He really isn't the type to say his potion-brewing attempt was worse than yours just to be kind. If he said that, he meant it.

We had a very frank discussion, yes. It was... illuminating. I wish I could say more about what he told me, but it was shared under most strict confidence. His history is more complex than I had imagined, and I think of all the Order, he is most suited to judge whether or not I'm fit to join the council, and, when the time comes, when I'm ready.

[alt_harry]

Good.

[alt_hermione]

Oh, yes, his birthday was Thursday. The same day you and Hydra and Pansy got those pins. Last year I forgot and didn't have time to do anything but a card, but I wrote it in my diary so I would remember this time. I made him a pair of gloves with the fingers off, because he was complaining at Grimmauld about how cold it gets when brewing but of course, one can't brew with gloves. So I tried to remember how to knit a pair. And they were all right, but I had to use a few charms to make sure that they didn't look too strange. But he didn't say anything so they must not be too terrible.

Well, I'm glad he was encouraging. He's ever so nice, really. Only he doesn't like anyone to realise it. Is that a Slytherin thing? You're like that as well, you know.

[alt_draco]

I didn't know you could knit. You must not do so very often, or else I think I would have noticed.

I wouldn't say it's a Slytherin thing. Only I'm not sure. If you take someone like Daphne, she actually is quite nice, but people tend to think she's being nice to be mean. Once and awhile, I suppose she is.

I can actually think of one person besides you who is convinced I'm nice, and I have no idea why she thinks so. She has plenty of reasons not to. But yet she persists.

I think Slytherins find it advantageous when as few people as possible know their true feelings. But there's always someone, somewhere that they let in. Except maybe someone like Teddy, which is why he makes people so massively uncomfortable.

Private Message to Draco

[alt_hermione]

Oh, I haven't knitted, not for ages. But seeing Sally-Anne reminded me that I learned how, years ago. And I was able to find a set of needles and some black yarn and...well, like I said, I wound up having to put charms on to make them the right shape. But they came out all right.

And I think mothers are supposed to always think their sons are nice. So that's not surprising.

But you didn't mean her, did you? I know. You should know how long it takes her to give up anything. I think she still hopes she'll turn the corner sometime and find Regulus standing there.

Do you know, she ruined a potion at Grimmauld Place because she slipped off to Regulus's old room? She said she was just going to run upstairs for a second but she was gone for ages. And I was paying attention to my potion, so I didn't notice she wasn't back until just seconds before her potion couldn't be saved. Mr Snape was in a right mood with her. It was rather awful. He can be ever so cross, you know, and when he's irritated he's absolutely brutal. (That's why I'm so worried about disappointing him, actually, I'd hate to have him tongue-lash me like that. I mean, I've had worse at Buckingham, even here my first few years, but not from anyone I cared about.)

So it's not surprising she's still carrying a torch. Even if she's got someone new.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Regulus is dead. And he died when she was young, so he'll be forever idolised in her mind. Unfortunately - because if you ask me he was pretty flawed, though not entirely beyond sympathy, I suppose.

I'm still alive, I'm, her ex-boyfriend, and yet she really never argues with me, or says a harsh word. Which is exactly what I used to find comforting but now it unsettles me, somehow. It just doesn't seem...right.

Yeah, I don't think I'd like to make Snape cross, and yet I can't say I "care" about him. I value the idea of having his respect, maybe.

Is that what you mean by "caring?"

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_hermione]

Oh, my goodness, is that really the time?

I've simply got to put out the light. If I don't get some sleep I'll never be able to brew anything properly, let alone something as complicated as Wolfsbane!

By the way. You are taking some kind of precaution, right? So that you can sleep and not worry about the others hexing you in your sleep? Because you'll probably want to add something if you haven't done.

Goodnight!

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Of course I'm taking precautions. I'm in a whole dorm room full of other initiates.

So you fancy wizened old men, do you? I think Slughorn is a bachelor too, you know.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_hermione]

I never said I fancied him!

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

No, you didn't, but at a certain point it becomes safe to draw conclusions, doesn't it?

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_hermione]

Well, I don't fancy him.

You used to have much sharper powers of deduction. Are you sure you're clever enough to join the Council?

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Nice diversionary tactic, Hermione. But I have my theory and I'm sticking with it until new evidence surfaces.

[alt_harry]

That's brill, Hermione. Really.

And Draco's right. He doesn't give compliments. Like ever. I think he's really proud of it too. Telling the truth, I mean.

[alt_harry]

I was thinking about the next meeting too. And yeah, we should say something about it. For sure.

And I was also thinking

It's coming up on a year since Sophie got taken from Hogwarts. So we could talk about her, and about what to do if someone gets in serious trouble, you know, for the new people. And to remind everyone else, too.

[alt_hermione]

That's a really good idea, Harry.

[alt_draco]

Yeah, I'm for that.