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[alt_hydra]

I'm looking forward to your birthday party tonight, Draco. Daphne and Lizzie already put up some of the ornaments and decorations this morning. I think when she's finished we won't even recognise the common room.

Has anyone seen the articles that have come out in the papers and magazines this week? Some of them are are more serious in tone, and they discussed how the current generation of council members are bringing their children into the fold, and they profiled Harry, Draco, me, Teddy, and Pansy, and spoke of how impressive we are and what an asset we'll be to a "maturing Protectorate." And then there was some mention of the "newcomers" like Ron and Padma and Finnigan and some speculation on whether or not they will be able to keep up. The article made it sound as if we all already had the mark. So I guess the news sources are under the impression that you're doing well, Pansy, though I don't think they have any specifics on the challenge at all and are just speculating. And it's funny because they also described Harry, Draco, and Teddy as "old chums."

And some of the more gossipy magazines were going on and on about Draco finally being of age and how Harry will soon be, too, and they had photographs of Draco looking rather regal (though the caption said "smoldering"). They did mention Daphne but wondered if she would just be another schoolgirl fling, like her mother was for Raz. Oh, and they also said that with Raz being married now, and Barty Crouch getting up there in years, that Barty couldn't really carry on as the Protectorate's most eligible bachelor. So they named Draco as "the newest, freshest most eligible bachelor in the Protectorate" and had a list of things he loves in a woman.

Draco, did you know that you love a woman who wears designers fashions, keeps her hair in curls, speaks French, doesn't swear, and smells like evening primrose?

Well, I enjoyed reading something entertaining for a change.

Comments

[alt_harry]

That sounds pretty daft. All round.

Private Message to Hydra

[alt_harry]

Did they say anything about Justin, then?

Good or bad?

Re: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

No, they didn't say anything. If they had, I wouldn't have written about the articles.

Re: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_harry]

I guess that's better than trying to set it up like we're enemies or something.

[alt_sally_anne]

I've been reading those articles every time I get a chance. I thought it was interesting the way they wrote about Teddy -- on one hand they clearly didn't want to hack off Mr Nott but there are some interesting bits between the lines. Like, they don't tell you what sort of girl Teddy likes, or talk about how he's eligible, or go on much about his eyes. Even though he's not exactly bad looking, if you can get past the minor detail of his entire personality. They mention him getting in trouble at school but they try to make it sound like it's schoolboy antics, as opposed to Professor Dolohov giving him the boot last year from the Practical section of Dark Arts.

The way they wrote about Pansy was also pretty interesting. It's clear everyone's always assumed that she was destined to become a society wife (there are all these comparisons to Mrs Malfoy), but her performance in the Challenge made people rethink that a bit. The whole unspoken bit was, 'my goodness, perhaps she's not a witless pretty face after all, WHO EVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED!' which is more than a bit insulting. The only hint I saw about the joke shop was this one article that mentioned that she's been 'dabbling in business investments' since coming of age (though, I haven't seen all the articles -- I don't have any subscriptions, it's all scrounging, though most everything gets left in the common room sooner or later.)

There was one article that mentioned Zabini making a name for himself in philanthropy. He got something named after him -- I guess a youth quidditch pitch in some village in Yorkshire is now the Blaise Zabini Outdoor Recreation Facility?

I'm glad to hear Draco's smoldering looks are getting some proper recognition and respect. They talked about Harry's 'boyish charm' but seemed to realise they ought not to call him an eligible bachelor before he comes of age -- just wait, though, it's clearly coming. There was one article that mentioned Katie, but they spelled her name wrong (and made it clear she was an ex.)

[alt_hydra]

Teddy would be handsome if you only knew him from photographs and had never once been in his presence. But as soon as you're around him, you feel all crawly.

You know, there really wasn't much discussion about our sponsors. People like Lana and Ned and Jason. I wonder why that is. Maybe they think it's safer to write about people who are still at school. But then that doesn't stop them from implying that Barty Crouch ought to have been married by now.

[alt_justin]

Did it give any predictions for how soon you and Harry will start producing the third generation?

Hullo,

I wonder how Mr Crouch will feel about being supplanted, what.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

He doesn't seem the sort to care overly much. Though they did suggest that he ought to follow Raz's example and finally settle down.

Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

I know your handwriting well enough to decipher most of that, you know.

I'm sorry if it hurts you. I don't enjoy it either.

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

You cou

I say, I'm sorry. I should have--

I didn't mean to sound resentful, what. I know you're only doing what you must, we both are.

You're better at it than I am, I suppose. More practice, what.

I'm so tired. Well glad the year's almost over, only one more exam (Runes) and then one more week and away from here.

-J

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

Maybe you are resentful. I know I am. It might be better to go somewhere alone and just let yourself feel it, instead of pretending it isn't there. Because it won't go away.

I'm tired, too. I miss you

Good luck on your last exam.

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

Only I'm not ever alone, really. I can't afford to be.

And no, it's not going away. I'm sorry if I've been--shirty, what. It's not your fault. None of this is. It's just more difficult than I anticipated, seeing you all the time. With h It's one reason I've been just as happy that Professor Dolohov has been restricting my movements so much, including the duelling training that Harry's arranged. Though it does sound as if you're learning valuable skills.

Summer will be easier, what.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

Will it really be easier? We're bound to both be at 12 Grimmauld and Doughty Conduit at the same time. Where we could be alone Unless you plan to stay in your new flat all summer. Unless my mother chains me to her.

I don't suppose this conversation is helping, at any rate.

At least dating Harry seems to have put Teddy off. He almost seems to be avoiding me. But that doesn't mean he's stopped being peculiar. Cressida and I were just helping in the common room and he came trodding through and dropped a mess of things, including a little pocket mirror, like the sort a girl might check her hair with. Cressida tried to give it back to him and he just laughed and said he's finished with it. I hope it doesn't belong to some other girl he's been pestering.

Will you be skipping the party?

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

I'm sure we will be but we won't have to pretend not to be miserable, at least. And we don't have to stay there if we don't want to do. I may be at the flat more, I'm not sure. Did you hear me mention that we might have found one? I say, we liked the look of the listing and I wrote the agent and she's showing it to us a week and Sunday. I suppose it all depends on how Ron and I get on once we're actually sharing a flat, what.

Good that Teddy's avoiding you. I'd heard he tried to chat up Daphne, what, but if ever there were someone who needed a thrashing, it's him.

Professor Dolohov has promised to let me go in time to attend part of the party, provided I 'behave myself,' what. One can't very well skip the whole without appearing to snub Draco, to say nothing of the fact that it won't do to make people think one's still sulking and maudlin after so many weeks.

It hasn't been so very many weeks, though, has it. Only a few.

I say, I'm getting quite good at achieving a meditative state. There's a silver lining, I suppose.

-J

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

Sally Anne mentioned that you and Ron might've found a flat, yes. I'm happy for you both.

Teddy was pestering Daphne, yes. I'm not sure I have all the details, but Daphne now seems quite intent to show everyone how serious she and Draco are. Except, of course, they're not.

How long has it been? I feel I've lost track of time completely. It seems like it's been ages, though, and yet not long at all. Strange.

I suppose I'll see you at the party in a bit, then.

Private message to Ron

[alt_sally_anne]

If you find the one that talks about you, I hope you find it funny.

They mention your ginger hair, your freckles, your sister's brief modeling career, and the fact that your father died saving a Councilwizard (though they left out which one). Then they go on at some length about how poor your family is and they hint that your family is a bit disreputable and suggest that your excellence in the challenge could redeem your family, which ... I don't even. I think they tried to get a quote from Percy but couldn't get him to say anything on the record, and I think they tried to get a quote from Bill and couldn't get him to acknowledge they were trying to contact him, and thank goodness I guess they couldn't be bothered to show up at the Burrow and harass your Mum.

It's sort of funny in the same way that the one where I was supposedly sobbing in front of the reporter was funny later.

One of the profiles about Pansy mentions me, though not by name. I'm her 'plain, quiet shadow.'

[alt_draco]

Oh, bloody nightshade. I wouldn't know the scent of evening primrose if it took up house in my nose.

I suppose this is just the beginning of what's to come, though. Might as well get used to it.

[alt_sally_anne]

Well, if you're curious, stand close to Antigone Fletcher tonight and take a whiff.