Private Message to Cedric

[alt_harry]

Thanks for letting me know.

I'll see what I can do.

I guess I know a little bit about how someone's parents make other people think differently about them, yeah?

Did he say anything else, about why he thought they might need a heads up? Or was he just concerned, do you think?

Comments

[alt_cedric]

He is most concerned about McLaggen's circle of friends who might be "purporting to act on his behalf" to curry favor with the grieving family of a dead Council Wizard. He questioned whether any of them were going to move from talk to action. It was eerily like many of our conversations about people doing stuff to me in your name after the Triwizard.

He brought it to my attention in the journals. I assume he overheard rumblings in class or caught something with his uncanny eye for guessing what people will do. As to why he was specifically concerned he also said "I only do not wish for the sins of the father to be visited upon the children." It also seemed like he thought having me bring it up was less of an escalation than stepping in himself. If we learn that they are planning something specific he'll take it to the Headmistress and they'll step on it, but if we don't know something specific he wants to let McLaggen's circle verbally blow off steam, which is why I didn't go after them directly.

I came to you because I know how much both of them are Gryffindors and wanted to make sure they actually did stuff to protect themselves. McLaggen may have circle of cronies but they have a circle of friends to, even if it's not quite so obvious and it includes ... well we both know it includes a surprisingly diverse group who will have their back no matter what. No matter what anyone may say, because we all know what we all care about.

[alt_harry]

Yeah. You're right. It might not be the popular thing to do, but it's the right thing to do. We'll keep an eye out.

The people I know from Gryffindor say McLaggen really is a piece of work.

And it's good to know he'd step in if it gets serious.

[alt_cedric]

Let's just say if half the things are true that I heard he did behind closed doors, he's a truly unpleasant thug. I wish I'd had proof back in my prefect days, sometimes a bully can be pulled out of it. But I highly doubt having his brother, even after washing out of Auror training, elevated as he was improved his disposition.

[alt_harry]

Yeah.

Sometimes, it feels like lots of people think that sort of stuff just isn't a problem. Like he isn't ever going to get punished, you know? Or if he is, it'll be a slap on the wrist.

Because the sort of people who get ahead, who run things, seems like an awful lot of them are like him.

[alt_cedric]

I'm down in Devonshire with the family. Mum would be disapointed if I came back for flying tomorrow, but I think I'm going to start coming most weekends after this.

[alt_harry]

Good to know.

We'll keep that in mind.