Order Only: Private message to Hermione and Draco

[alt_harry]

I hate being in Buckingham.

I hate the smell, I hate the food, I hate my bed, I hate the way people tiptoe around because they're so terrified of my Father. Including me.

Anyway, I spent today wandering around looking for horcruxes. What was the thing Mrs Longbottom mentioned, that Dumbledore gave you? Or gave her? If I can get to 12GP can you lend it to me?

Comments

[alt_hermione]

We should meet, yes. The thing is a gem, it's about the size of a walnut, and it's sort of a...a dowsing rod, I guess.

Did you and Draco ever play hot/cold? It works a bit like that, only it doesn't get warm or anything, but it lets you know if you're close to a Dark Object that means a lot to someone.

I'm sorry you have to stay at Buckingham, though. Grimmauld hasn't been any particular picnic right now, you should know.

Maybe you should ask to go and stay with Daphne for a while, you know, to help her adjust to life as the daughter of a Councilwizard.

[alt_harry]

I've been thinking about people I could visit. Pansy, Daphne, Ron. But I keep wondering, after Doughty Conduit, how carefully MLE is going to insist on checking someplace over if I'm going there. At best it's a hassle. At worst, I don't even want to think about it.

I could visit Blaise. He'd think that was brilliant and he's got nothing to hide, so far as I know.

Sorry Grimmauld's no picnic. Are Sirius and Remus and Tonks just there all the time, then? What do they do all day?

[alt_hermione]

Sirius and Remus can come and go, but Tonks is stuck because she can't Apparate and no one can risk using the Floo anymore. And Sirius tries not to go unless he has to do, since you know he gets sick when he Apparates.

And then a few days ago Mr Snape invited Professor Sinistra to the potions lab. I've absolutely no idea why. She's no skill at Potions and--well, it was just ever so irritating. We don't need her help.

(I'm not even sure what she's meant to do in the Order, now she's not teaching anymore. Or, well, I suppose she's going to teach at Moddey a little. But I hope she doesn't keep coming to watch us brewing or talk with us while we're brewing or whatever it was he wanted her to do. If she comes again, I'm going to Sherwood, even though Tim says it's getting more and more dangerous.)

[alt_harry]

Didn't Professor Sinistra fail her Potions OWL? Or was it Herbology? I remember she told a story about it in class.

Anyway. She's probably trying to work out what she can do to be useful now she's on the run. But I'm sure you're better at brewing Potions than she is.

[alt_hermione]

I think she said she 'barely passed' in Potions. And it's not like he wanted her to help us actually brew, he said something about how trying to explain it to her might help us realise something we'd overlooked.

I could understand that if we were talking it over with Sirius, he's actually very good at Potions. Or even the twins, they're always concocting something for the shop. I don't know why it vexed me so much. Maybe--no, I don't--

You know what it was. He was treating her...differently.

[alt_harry]

Differently, what do you mean? What kind of differently?

[alt_hermione]

Maybe not too differently.... I mean, it wasn't something most people would notice. He certainly didn't cluck over her like some people in the Order have done. And it's not as if he asked her anything personal, so I can't say he was being particularly nice to her. Though in some ways I think even asking her to talk about things that have nothing to do with her was an act of kindness (which is...not much different from how he's normally kind to people, you know, in that sort of backward way he has). Maybe I'm not even sure why he felt she needed that sort of attention.

Unless it's because she seems to need that sort of attention.

[alt_harry]

I think people wanted to fuss over you and Draco, last summer. The main reason they didn't is they were a little bit afraid if they tried, you'd remove their entrails through their nostrils.

No one's the least bit frightened of Siz, though.

And, I think you're right that she likes being fussed over. (More than you or Draco, anyway.)

[alt_harry]

Do you think he fancies her? Is that what you're saying?

[alt_hermione]

What? No! No.

[alt_hermione]

I don't think so, anyway.

[alt_hermione]

Oh, I hope not! Ew.

[alt_harry]

Why? I mean she's widowed and he's ... I think he's hung up on my Mum. And really it's high time he got over her, don't you agree?

[alt_hermione]

You say that now, but just imagine them snogging and you'll change your mind!

[alt_harry]

I don't want to imagine any of the adults snogging but that doesn't mean I think that Sirius and Remus should break up. Or Mr and Mrs Longbottom.

[alt_hermione]

No, of course not! But. I don't know. It's just...disturbing to think about Mr Snape snogging. Anyone.

[alt_harry]

Well I definitely wouldn't want him to snog anyone where I could see!

[alt_hermione]

Exactly. And what if she's always in the Potions laboratory? Or if I walked in on them sometime?

I don't even want to think about it!

[alt_harry]

Well, if that ever happens, you look down your nose, try to imagine how one of the Slytherin girls would say this to a firstie, and say, 'don't you have a room, Mr Snape?'

[alt_hermione]

Ha, and then immediately cast a self-Obliviation!

Private message to Hermione

[alt_harry]

So by the way how are things going with Tim?

Re: Private message to Hermione

[alt_hermione]

Tim?

Oh...all right, I suppose.

He's--well, sometimes I think he resents that I live here at Grimmauld, but he doesn't want to suggest I should have to rough it in Sherwood just because that's where he is. I think he dwells on it a bit too much. But then I think maybe it's because he really misses having a snug place to live, himself. And I wonder if I should ask if he wants to stay here. Only--I know he doesn't, really, and he doesn't really want me to give it up when there's no good reason to do.

Mostly we just don't talk about it.

Re: Private message to Hermione

[alt_harry]

That sounds difficult.

I mean, he had his reasons for leaving Moddey, right? He could have stayed there. But, you're more use to the Order living at 12GP than you would be in Sherwood. Loads more.

Re: Private message to Hermione

[alt_hermione]

Moddey was never a good fit for him. I mean, he got on well there but, he's much happier in Sherwood. Mostly, of course--I mean, no one's exactly happy to live in the wild out of tents and with the threat of MLE breaking through the pickets at any moment, but--well, he can't very well make maps for people sitting at Grimmauld.

And I can't very well brew or help Mr Snape with the Sleepers or go with Draco looking for Horcruxes when I'm there, that's completely true.

I don't know. Maybe if we could be together all the time, we wouldn't be. Does that make sense?

Re: Private message to Hermione

[alt_harry]

It does make sense, actually. Perfect sense.