Overseas

[alt_hydra]

The firsties are so cute and amusing, and they don't even realise it.

Some of them were in the common room before supper talking about French Kissing, and they said that it's when you kiss someone on each cheek after having not seen them in a very long time. Cheek kissing is popular in France, and we do it here in England, too, but of course that's not what French Kissing is at all. So Remy told them that it's really snogging and they looked so embarrassed and also like they expected to be in trouble for talking about such a thing. I told them that if they felt confused they should talk to a prefect, because if Remy had kept talking about snogging then all their hair might've gone white.

The third year course work has been challenging so far. Transfiguration and Defense, especially. But both Runes and Dark Arts are covering material that I've already known for a while, so that helps. It's still a lot of reading, and I was almost thinking I should put learning German and French off to concentrate on homework, but then I received a fantastic book in the mail and thank you, Justin, for thinking to send it to me. It seems very thorough, and I especially like how you left your notes in the margins, they make it even more helpful. Thank you again! It should be terribly useful.

Does anyone know if Professor Grubbly-Plank minds speaking with students who aren't taking Care of Magical Creatures? I wish I coul I tried to talk to Professor Brutka about changing Tevis' diet for the winter, and he seemed grumpy didn't say much but reminded me that he doesn't teach Creatures anymore. So maybe I should ask her, if she doesn't mind.

Comments

[alt_justin]

Oh, it arrived, then? Jolly good! P Froissart thought it would go through without trouble. I'm quite glad you like it.

There's also a charm you can cast on it--'Traduire' (that's pronounced trah-DWEER with the funny French gargled 'R')--and it will switch back and forth from French to English for you. Sorry it's a bit naff in that respect, what.

Sorry, but, I'm not sure I know what those firsties mean by 'French kissing.' Though if it's snogging--Oh, are they talking about a patin? Oh, I say. Well. Now they're not the only ones blushing!

Er.... Why aren't you taking Creatures? And who's Tevis?

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

Trah-DWEER. I think I will have to practise that first. But thank you, I was trying different thinks with my wand to make it translate and hadn't yet sorted it out.

Well, they weren't talking about patin, or at least didn't mean to be. I suppose they heard one of the older kids talking about French kis things and got confused. That's all!

I've always wanted to study Runes and Mummy my parents think Dart Arts is important, which it is of course, so that doesn't leave time to take Creatures, too. And Tevis is my rabbit.

From,
Hydra

[alt_justin]

No, I meant--oh, well, nevermind.

Just, if anyone from our lot asks if you want to rouler un patin or rouler une pelle, hex him. And then tell Draco.

I thought third-years could take three extra lessons?

How long have you had him? Your rabbit, I mean. I'm not allowed any pets at home. My mother thinks it would be bad for my health, do you see.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

Oh, I'll try to remember that, then.

Right, you can. But Arithmancy is my third. Not Creatures.

I've had Tevis since the end of my first year, ever since Tully died. Tully was my first rabbit. Why are rabbits bad for your health?

From,
Hydra

[alt_justin]

Do.

I say, Runes and Arithmancy! That's quite the intellectual slate, what?

We all did Creatures in our third year and we'll return to it again next. Right now we're taking Runes, as well, but we shan't get a crack at Arithmancy until sixth.

And it's not just rabbits, if you follow me. It's anything with fur. My mother thinks I have allergies (I don't, really). Yet she insisted I learn to ride, oddly enough.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

So everyone gets to take Creatures at Beauxbatons? That must be very nice.

Horses don't have fur? The ones I've seen always do, except for thestrals don't have much, anyway. I also ride, you know. When I'm able to.

From,
Hydra

[alt_justin]

They do things a bit differently here, yes. We've got two years of each subject and then in our final year we may pick a concentration for our lycées classes.

Horses have hair, mostly, but that's the odd thing about it. Loads of people who have animal allergies have positively horrid allergies to horses, so one would think my mother should have kept me well away, if she thought I'd have a reaction. But I don't think it would have occurred to her that a gentleman not know how to ride. So there you have it, what?

Do you prefer horses or brooms, then?

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

If you've never had any reactions I suppose you might not be allergic to any animals at all?

Oh, I like horses, and I always wanted one, but I only know how to ride because Aunt Narcissa bought me one. Mummy doesn't think riding a horse is nearly so important for a witch as being able to fly. So, I like brooms for that reason, their usefulness, but when I was younger I didn't like to fly because I didn't like to be high up in the air. But after a while I got used to it, and now I don't mind.

From,
Hydra

[alt_justin]

Well, yes, that's it exactly, well done! I don't think I really am allergic to anything at all. I made friends with a dog once and

But then, he wasn't in the house. And I might have been allergic when I was younger. I wasn't a particularly healthy sprog, you know.

I know just what you mean about flying. It does rather take getting used to, doesn't it? I was really rather awful at it my first time on a broom.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

Oh yes, dogs. I like them but a lot of them will eat rabbits, so I have to be careful. Cats will, too, but Tevis has a charm on his collar to keep the cats in the dormitory away.

You seem healthy now?

I wasn't any good at flying the first time, either. But I was fairly young, too. Five or six I think. I'm much better now, but I don't think I am interested in playing quidditch or anything. Plus, the Slytherin team is already so good I don't even know what they'd let me play.

From,
Hydra

[alt_justin]

I'm quite healthy, thanks. But you know mothers--or, I say, I'm sorry. Perhaps you don't, what?

At least I don't have a worry about that--Quidditch, I mean. I've no interest in that sort of flying.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

Oh yes, I know how Mothers are!

I should get back to all that reading I have to do. But thank you again for the French primer. I hope to be able to study it more this weekend.

From,
Hydra

[alt_daphne]

I can't believe there are first years who only just now figured out that french kissing is the same as snogging! Hm, I wonder if the ones in question come from Wales.

[alt_hydra]

I don't know but I don't think so.

Isn't Teddy from Wales?

From,
Hydra

[alt_daphne]

Yes, he is, and now that all this interest in foreign languages is running rampant he's speaking in Welsh just to remind us that he's always been multi-lingual.

But it's Welsh, so his point isn't particularly valid.

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Daphne!

How do you do?

Why, what does Welsh sound like? Is it very different to English?

-Justin

[alt_daphne]

I'm doing very well, Justin. Thank you ever so much for asking. I hope you are doing well yourself.

Welsh sounds very different from English. It's one of the Celtic languages, and sounds similar to Scottish or Irish. I understand that England used to have its own Celtic language called "British," and Welsh and Irish and the rest grew out of that. Then the Anglo-Saxons came and changed everything about and that's why modern day English doesn't sound Celtic at all.

Welsh sounds rather pretty, actually, but no one really wants to live in Wales. Nothing happens there, and the people are rather...backwards. Though Teddy is a happy exception to all of that mostly.

[alt_justin]

Oh, yes, I knew that there were different languages, but I suppose I thought they were all quite similar, you know. The way Spanish, French and Italian are all quite similar as they've the same root in Latin. I've never heard anyone speak Welsh, though, isn't that odd?

I've heard that Wales has some lovely countryside, though. And Cornwall as well. They speak old Breton there, don't they? I say, I do hope I get to come back for a proper long visit. Do you suppose they'd allow the visitors to travel? Perhaps not.

It seems so strange to think that it's one country but so many different languages. I suppose that's rather like India, only not quite so many dialects, what?

I say, what electives are you taking, then, Daphne?

-Justin

[alt_daphne]

You'll get to hear Teddy speak it when you're here, no doubt.

The country is just as lovely in England, and Wales is even wetter than Scotland. I suppose I'm just a New Londoner at heart, though, and if I want a bit of country I can always wander the heath!

Me? I'm taking Dark Arts, Divination, and Creatures.

[alt_justin]

Oh, Divination's a lark, isn't it? It must be jolly nice to have it as a break for the Dark Arts lessons. We've just started Magical Theory, which somewhat touches on Dark Arts but Beauxbatons doesn't offer it as a subject all its own.

-Justin

[alt_daphne]

I take Divination more as a study in performance than anything else. I don't think Professor Carpenter likes that particular approach, however, so I do try my best to tap into the realms of prophecy.

Perhaps you'll get to see what a full-on Dark Arts class is like when you're here. It can be quite interesting, and teaches you, well, a lot about yourself. Yes.

[alt_justin]

Well, yes, assuming I come. They still haven't told us for sure who gets to visit.

-Justin

[alt_daphne]

Oh, I'm sure it will all work out for the best.

[alt_justin]

Cheers, let's hope!

[alt_blaise]

Say, Daphs. Do you have a minute or six? I'm a bit stuck on this Dark Arts problem and wonder if I'm just reading it wrong. I'm sure you could help me sort it.

[alt_daphne]

If it's the same problem that I've been stuck on then I don't know how much help I'll be! But perhaps we can figure it out together.

Shall I come find you, then?

[alt_blaise]

Yes, do.

I've got a dish of Enlighten Mints here, too, though they haven't helped yet.

[alt_draco]

Professor Grubbly-Plank would help out any student who had a question about an animal, I reckon. Nothing to worry about on that count. Too bad you couldn't take the class itself, though. Justin is right: Runes, Arithmancy, and Dark Arts are more or less the most difficult combination there is. And with you loving animals so much...well, I can see why you didn't, but I bet you're wishing it could be otherwise.

[alt_hydra]

I don't love every single animal there is, but I do like a lot of them. But, I don't know, perhaps Tevis would feel left out or jealous if I was taking Creatures with all those other animals.

And thank you for telling me about Professor Grubbly-Plank.

From,
Hydra