I only just thought of it

[alt_hydra]

I probably should have asked Mr Selwyn this when he made his announcement about the journals the other day, but we were still setting up our tent.
The one we were given hasn't been used since last years camping trip, I think.
Someone left a packet of biscuits in it but the had gone really stale, and I didn't even want them, and I found a dirty sock, too, which I definitely didn't want.
And then today we were walking around the moors for hours, it was really windy and now I keep finding little sticks and brambles in my hair.
Tonight there will be some star gazing, which should be lovely.
I wonder if I'll be able to see the constellation Hydra from here?
I've never seen it before, maybe Professor Sinistra will help me if she isn't too busy.
Oh, but I almost forgot why I wrote in the first place!
It was to ask if anyone knows whether or not people are allowed to write private messages to our Lord Protector?
It might be nice to be able to, just to send our thanks, or maybe devotional thoughts, and it would be faster than sending an owl, too.

Comments

[alt_lucius]

Although the private message function has only been in effect a brief while, I understand that Our Lord has already received a number of messages of thanks and other sentiment. He is, as you must be aware, extraordinarily busy, but He does set aside a certain amount of time each day to monitor the journals and therefore He would, of course, see messages directed to His attention especially. I am sure He has not the time to answer every personal greeting.

However, I am equally certain that He would be, as always, pleased by the gestures of His particular favourites.

[alt_hydra]

Thank you for telling me Uncle Lucius, that's very good to know.
Now I should wait and see if Mummy says the same thing and that it's all right to do so.

From,
Hydra

[alt_bellatrix]

As your Uncle already indicated, private messages to the Dark Lord are not discouraged, so long as they are respectful in nature and appropriate in topic. Also as your Uncle said, the Lord is far too busy to answer all personal greetings, particularly when they are trivial in nature. Take care, then, to craft your message carefully.

[alt_narcissa]

I should think Our Lord would be very happy to see that you thought first to thank Him for making the feature possible, Hydra dear.

But I had not even considered that they might offer you a second-hand tent! Are you enjoying the trip, otherwise? And your tent-mates, are you getting on well?

[alt_hydra]

Does the tent having been used for the last YPL trip make it second-hand?
They just might have had some elves tidy it up before it was packed away or brought out again, that's all, but otherwise it's very cosy.
We didn't get to pick who we stayed in the tents with, so I'm not with any girls in my House.
There's two Hufflepuffs, a Ravenclaw, and a Gryffindor: Eflluvia Stevens, Ethel Zimmerman, Celia Thompson, Ginny Weasley, and me.

From,
Hydra

[alt_narcissa]

Ginny Weasley? I must say that seems ... remarkable.

Your comment about the tent not being tidied adequately is exactly the sort of thing I mean, Hydra. Last year we sent one of our small tents with Draco. I ought to have thought of the same for you. At least then you should not have been confronted with others' refuse!

Were you and Professor Sinistra able to find your star? It should have been very, very low on the western horizon, if you could see it at all. Do you know, your cousin Regulus used to think, oh, for a very long time, that because he was named for a star, it was his very own? He used to refer to all our stars that way, so he would speak of finding 'Grandfather' and mean Arcturus (or sometimes Grandfather Pollux). It took quite a while to convince him that it was we who were named for the stars and not the other way 'round!

[alt_hydra]

No, we didn't find it, but maybe next time.
Or if not then, maybe when we're all on holiday?
I like that story about cousin Regulus and his star.
I wish he would have got to tell it to me himself, I think he would have if he had read this, don't you?

From,
Hydra

[alt_narcissa]

Yes, I was afraid of that - it's the wrong time of year, just. But perhaps when we're on holiday. It should be lovely weather for it and not raining at all, by then.

And I'm sure he would have loved to tell you about it, dear. He

Well, he always related well to young people.

But now, I think you ought to be getting to sleep, sweetheart. You've another long day tomorrow.

Private message to Hydra Lestrange

[alt_bellatrix]

If this is in reference to any of the conversations you've had with him during tea, you should indeed write him a private message at once, so long as you have new information to provide him with. And I do hope, small one, that you will have more to say on the matter soon. I still believe that you do not entirely fathom that extremely rare and remarkable experience you've had this past year, and the fact that your mind reflects none of it is unacceptable. Since your Father has managed to convince me that this is not a result of your own sheer stubbornness, and instead an effect of having been Graced by Him, I will make no further attempts to ply the information from you when you return. Our Lord, of course, may do as He pleases until He has reached a satisfactory conclusion to the matter.

Oh, but Mummy is terribly stretched at the moment, Hydra. You know that if you please Our Lord you will be pleasing me as well, so be a good girl, hmm? Try not to get too filthy on your trip. Keep yourself clean and stay close to those you know well.

Re: Private message to Hydra Lestrange

[alt_hydra]

He said that if I had any more dreams I should tell him, because even if dreams aren't the same as memory, they reveal truths in the unconsious.
I promise that I did tell Him everything that I remember, and I said I would drink veritaserum if He wanted, and He only said that it wasn't the method He preferred for this situation and that He wanted to know more about my character and not just about what happened.
I know that I can please both of you, thank you for being patient because I know how important your work is, and His especially.

Mummy, Ginny Weasley is in my tent and
she's one of the ones I hurt last year except in a different way than the others.
She walked beside me on the moors today and it was too windy to talk but I think she wanted to.
What should I do?

From,
Hydra

Re: Private message to Hydra Lestrange

[alt_bellatrix]

Don't talk to her, obviously.

You could always try hexing her, should that fail, but I don't think that you'll do that, will you?

Re: Private message to Hydra Lestrange

[alt_hydra]

I don't know, but thank you for the advice, Mummy.

From,
Hydra

[alt_sinistra]

Miss Lestrange -

I am always delighted to stargaze even when I've got other tasks. I hope the few minutes earlier were enjoyable. We'll have more time later in the week for a longer viewing, if the weather holds, but please feel free to come find me any evening you'd like to look upwards. It's a delight to share my joy in the heavens with anyone who's interested.

We're especially lucky next week to have the the Perseid showers: I know you spotted a few falling stars tonight (good eye!) but it's worth keeping an eye out all through this week and into next, if you have a chance to be out somewhere with a clear sky. This year's Perseids should be especially clear, due to the position and phase of the moon.

[alt_hydra]

Oh yes, Professor, I like it very much and I cannot wait to see the showers!
I'm confused though, because I thought they weren't actually stars falling but bits of rock and debris?
Maybe I'm remembering wrong, though?

From,
Hydra