Order Only: Private Message to Sally-Anne and Hydra

[alt_justin]

Hullo,

Marks arrived here with the morning post. Have you got yours yet? Hydra, were your O.W.L.s what you expected?

Sally-Anne, I don't know if he did in yours as well, but Headmaster Dolohov included a well brief note in my letter, congratulating us on coming in first in the class. We've tied, it seems. Well done, you!

I say, I hope that Moon being Head Boy means that Professor Dolohov has appointed Daphne and not Patil as Head Girl. I, er, may have mentioned to him once or twice how happy I was last year to do Patil's and Finnigan's work for them, allowing them to focus on becoming Councilmembers. (Don't tell Daphne, though, what! If she is Head Girl, I don't wish her to think she wasn't chosen solely on her own merits--and for that matter, I've no way to know that I influenced him at all. And if she's not Head Girl.... Well, then my efforts made no difference, what.)

-Justin

Comments

Order Only: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_justin]

I miss you. I've been working so hard I barely noticed it's been over a month since your birthday.

How is training with Auror Crouch going?

He stopped by when I was with Professor Dolohov on Thursday, what, and Professor Dolohov convinced him to stay and finish the course with us. Then he proposed a round or two of sparring. Auror Crouch glowered but acquiesced and so I had a chance to test myself against him. I say, it wasn't easy, but then I never expected it to be. I believe I didn't quite embarrass myself, what, though he did win by rather a larger margin than I'd hoped.

I say, if you're holding your own against him then you're doing well indeed.

When do you think you might get away to Diagon Alley?

-J

Re: Order Only: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

Hello, you. I've been in the same boat.

Training has been the same, which is to say grueling. Auror Crouch isn't one to offer praise, but he will note improvements when they become fact, and then note the ways in which that improvement could be a potential disadvantage.

He is the most observant and attentive person I have ever met, and yet he somehow manages to filter through all that he observes and single out what matters most. It's a skill that's almost like legilimency. He says that it's good my legilimency didn't manifest until I was older, otherwise I would be too dependent on it, and it would be hard to teach me how to be observant in other ways. At first I wondered if that was an insult to Mummy, but then he guessed that I might be thinking that, and quickly commented that Mummy trained until she learned to use her gift to her advantage while dueling, but not lean on it exclusively. And I've got to learn to do the same, but it isn't easy. It almost makes me dizzy, sometimes. I'm not sure if I'll ever be the sort of witch who can demolish someone in a duel, but I might be able to exhaust someone to death by anticipating their every move, if I keep on at this.

I wouldn't say I'm holding my own. More like I'm just holding on. Which is what he wants. He says endurance is what I've got to focus on - both mental and physical. It's strange to be thankful to Mummy for having already prepared me in that regard.

I could ask Auror Crouch what he thought of you, but he might find it strange. Perhaps I can bring it up in some other context.

I'm not sure what he has planned for me in this next week, but I can let you know when I do.

It would be nice to be together before school starts.

Re: Order Only: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_justin]

Yes, I found him rather--relentless.

I've been helping Ron and his mother with all the correspondence and condolences and so on. I say, it was well gratifying to be useful to them after Percy's murder. I still go over to Mrs Weasley's New London home every week to watch out for anything new. It's quite draining, though in a different way to meeting with Headmaster Dolohov altogether.

Oh, and he's invited me to lunch with him throughout the rest of the summer. I'm well happy to do it since I'm afraid I've been spending a bit too much in the canteen and I'm bally well tired of sandwiches, what.

I doubt Auror Crouch cares much for leisurely luncheons! But at least it means you don't have to pretend to hang on his wisdom throughout the meal.

Do let me know when you can break away. Pontner's immensely happy with my performance this summer; even if it's mid-day I'm sure I can take time to meet you. If it's after working hours that's even better, as we can get others there and it won't look suspicious.

Moon as Head Boy, what? Almost as difficult to fathom as Professor Sinistra here in the Order.

-J

[alt_sally_anne]

Yes, I got a note, too. I showed it to Pansy.

Pretty fantastic. And Daphne DID get Head Girl, so good work cutting down Padma. Did you give him dirt on Macmillan, too? I can't for the life of me figure out why he'd have picked Moon.

[alt_justin]

Sally-Anne, please, I thought you knew me better than that, what! I've never said a word against anyone to him, least of all Ernie. All I said was that I'd been more than happy to help Padma with our assignments, since she was so preoccupied with the far greater task of proving her worth to Our Lord. Padma was only taking advantage of my generosity in allowing me to write her homework for her.

As for Moon, you and I are not Professor Dolohov's only favourites. Moon's a particular project of his, as well. He's got quite a gift for analysis and one imagines Professor Dolohov sees other advantages in keeping him close. At any rate, Moon may be ill-suited for Head Boy but he shan't be a disaster, what--I mean to say, I very much doubt he'll interfere with anything we might need to do next year, if you follow me. I'd much rather cope with foolishness than malice.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, and well done to you, too.

I wonder where Draco would've been in the standings, if things hadn't....well, and you know, Hermione would leave us all in the dust, if she were allowed to be a student at the school.

[alt_hydra]

I'm sure Draco is wondering the same thing.

Oh, and Justin, I forgot to answer your question:

I passed my OWL exams with all "O"s, which I ought to be over the moon about, but of course I know that I wouldn't have pulled off such a feat if I hadn't used my legilimency.