Order Only: Apparation

[alt_justin]

Hello, all,

Ron, Harry, Draco and I went down to the Ministry today to test for our Apparation licences. I say, they were a bit taken aback that Draco and Harry were there, what, but they let them fill out the parchment and pay their application fees without any question.

Harry went first, then Draco, then they called me in and Ron went last of us.

We all passed but one and Ron plans to go back again on Tuesday. (I say, think nothing of it, old man, I quite agree it was bally well ridiculous of them. You've Apparated loads of times, what.)

Congratulations again, Harry and Draco, and Ron, Tuesday's sure to go perfectly.

Sirius, I'm expected with the Jugsons on Sunday but I ought to be able to come by after dinner. Around 7:00? Or is that too close to Bea's bedtime and I should wait?

Sally-Anne, if you want to know more about Professor Dolohov's house before you go, I say, I'm happy to tell. We never did get back to it after that last round of Snap.

-Justin

Comments

[alt_draco]

Good to have one more thing out of the way.

You'll get it next time, Weasley.

Private Message to Draco

[alt_justin]

Draco,

I say, is everything all right? You were much quieter than one expected. Not nervous, were you? Seems there was nothing to worry one, what.

-F-F

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Not nervous at all. Too much to drink last night, no doubt.

How are you doing, is the better question. Are Professor Dolohov's extra-curricular activities providing sufficient distraction?

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_justin]

Oh, yes, you did leave rather suddenly. No one seemed to know where or when. Sorry to hear it, old man. Didn't seem to affect your Apparation, what, so good show.

Sometimes I think nothing is going to provide sufficient distraction but every day is a tiny bit easier. At this rate, I should be completely fine by the time we're, oh, 80.

No, that's not true. But the alternative doesn't bally well bear thought, so one must carry on.

In any case, I should say that so far it seems as if Professor Dolohov is more than willing to provide any diversion in which I might express interest. The hard part is pacing oneself not to appear over-eager.

You must feel somewhat the same, with the challenges and such.

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

We will live to 80? I hope not, unless it can be in a vastly different England than the one we're currently stuck with.

Just know that you're not the only one who has to live with the fact of not having what one wants. But you did have it, so that's something. Something that can't ever be taken away.

My strategy with the challenges has always been to appear as if I already belong. Effectiveness, then, rather than eagerness.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_justin]

Yes, and you execute it jolly well, old man.

I would never presume to be the only person left wanting in the Protectorate, what, nor indeed, certainly, the world. I'm beginning to think no one truly gets what he wants. It's enough that one strives to make the best of what one must do.

What's been taken, if you don't mind my asking? I assure you I ask only out of friendship and if you don't wish to answer, it's bally well all right.

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Oh, nothing that was mine to begin with. Just mourning an opportunity that never was, and never will be.

Sorry to be vague, but it's really not worth bringing up the specifics.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_justin]

Ah, well.

Would that something be vaguely five-foot five inches with light brown hair, perhaps?

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Those sound an awful lot like specifics.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_justin]

Not necessarily. We know quite a few people with brown hair, after all.

And a few blokes who are that short, as well, what.

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

She's not a bloke. Actually, it'd be handy if she were, seeing as I've no interest in blokes.

Anyway. Yeah.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_justin]

Right.

Well ....

No. I suppose you've no options, even if you told her how you feel.

It's utter bollocks, isn't it. That...longing.

-J

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Bollocks is one word for it, though I'm surprised to hear it from you.

I'm not saying I know what you're feeling, but I have an approximation. And you're right, making the best of what we can do is all there is to do.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_justin]

I'd use far worse words if it would change anything, what.

But no, of course that's not what you're saying, no more than I'm saying I know what it's like in your shoes.

I say, this idea of yours, Harry and Hydra dating, It wasn't simply so we could all be miserable together, was it?

My first impulse was to say yes, anything if it would make Teddy desist. The more I consider it, the harder I think it's going to be to maintain the illusion that everyone is content with the arrangement.

But then, while it's kind of Harry to ask for my blessing, neither he nor Hydra need my permission, what.

A sober realisation, to be sure.

-Justin

[alt_harry]

We'll have to go out to celebrate after Tuesday.

Think you'd be able to come over to Spence for poker, Justin? I was thinking we might get the group together sometime this weekend.

[alt_justin]

Harry,

Yes to both. Not Sunday, obviously, but perhaps tomorrow. Or Easter Mon--or no, one can't, can one, that's the house party they're having, what.

-Justin

[alt_harry]

I had a quick firecall over to Spence, and it looks like Saturday would work for them.

[alt_justin]

Jolly good!

-Justin

[alt_ron]

What bleeding bollox! A few hairs!!

It was completely that bloke's fault, and he knows it. I mean, of course I looked when he dropped all those things just as I was Disapparating. Anyone would've done.

I can't believe he failed me.

Complete load of...

[alt_justin]

Ron,

Quite!

-Justin

[alt_harry]

You'll pass on Tuesday, no problem.

[alt_ron]

I mean, that was no way a splinch!

Half an eyebrow? Honestly!

[alt_sally_anne]

Half an eyebrow?!

Were you at least bleeding? I don't know how they even NOTICED half an eyebrow.

[alt_ron]

Erm. I may have said, 'Ouch' and fallen over.

But seriously, it was nothing! Not everyone lands on their feet when they arrive!!

And Mum says she can barely tell!! So it was totally trumped up.

Ginny thinks they have a quota and probably have to fail somebody every day.

[alt_justin]

Ron,

I was wondering the same, about the quota--but then if so, make sure there's at least one other person there before you, Sally-Anne and Pansy try, what!

-Justin

[alt_ron]

Actually, I think I should go first. That way they know they've got all session to bin someone and it won't need to be me.

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, I like Ginny's theory.

[alt_ron]

Yeah, she's clever, that one. The Weasley influence is finally showing through in her.

[alt_sally_anne]

So is there anything else I really ought to know about his house? I mean other than the shoe thing, you mentioned that before we got interrupted. I'm going on Monday, to meet Healer Korotkova over tea.

Pansy and I were planning to go take our Apparation licencing tests on Tuesday, maybe we'll see Ron there. They let Draco and Harry test, really? That's hilarious.

[alt_justin]

Sally-Anne,

Yes, I'd mentioned he doesn't allow shoes. There's a jolly good number of slippers one can borrow. And one pair that are obviously well used but not Professor Dolohov's, what. (I'll come back to that in a moment.) I went stocking-footed but next time I'll know to bring my house slippers. I say, I don't think you'll want to do that unless you want him to realise you've spoken to someone who's been.

What else? Well, as I said last night, the 'receiving room' hasn't any way back out except the Floo. I mean to say, there's a door into the house but it only opens when someone who is authorised opens it. I'm bally well sure it's a blood spell of some sort.

I know I've told you his library is immense, what. It looks as if he's expanded the room several times (or I say, someone has done, he mentioned his brother often during the afternoon).

There is something else--a little less obvious. I'm pretty sure Auror Crouch spends significant time there. Those slippers--Professor Dolohov was barefoot--and there were two beakers by his coffee pot. And...there was a reading table with four chairs but two of them were cleared and one had a small pile of reading at it but the other had letters and such.

I could be wrong, of course but they do PM each other rather a lot. Do you suppose they could be partners? Anyway, you'll have to look when you're there and tell me what you think, what.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

They do PM each other a lot, but when Hydra legilimised Professor Dolohov she mentioned he thought of Barty Crouch as his son.

So if they ARE, you know, like Sirius and that, it's a bit creepy. Auror Crouch could still be living there, though.

Anyway I'm sure Professor Dolohov wouldn't be bothered if I'd spoken with you about his house but I'll leave my slippers at home, if he goes around barefoot I'm sure his floors are very clean.

[alt_pansy]

It's not like that at all. Family is very important to Professor Dolohov. Having someone remember him who is family after he dies. So I think he really did adopt him, and really thinks of him like a son.