Private message to Professor Lestrange

[alt_hydra]

Dear Uncle Raz,

Do you know about the lists that were passed around this week?
They were made by someone in the third year and the Head Boy wrote about them yesterday.
The lists have different categories, like "Most Fit" and "Most Talented" and "Mousiest" and "Biggest Mudblood Lover," and under every category there are five people listed and you're supposed to vote for one of them.
I asked Draco about the lists yesterday because I was curious, but he said if I just waited until third year I would probably see them because they would surface again, like a new tradition.
So because of that didn't see the lists until this morning, because Jeremy had a copy at breakfast.
He's good at getting his hands on stuff like that.
Now I'm worried, though, that someone in the second year might decide to copy the lists and pass them around for the second years.
And even if that doesn't happen, I'm worried about it happening next year, when I'm a third.
I just don't know what I'll do if my name is under "Most Squibbish," or "Biggest Crybaby."
Or what if there are whole new categories by then, like "Most Disloyal," or "Weakest Character"?
I just don't know what I would do, and I know that Mummy would be so angry and disappointed.
Can we make it a new school rule that lists aren't allowed anymore?

From,
Hydra

Comments

[alt_rabastan]

Ducks, you're going to make yourself sick if you keep worrying about things before they happen. No one but a plonker would put you down as "most squibbish" or "most disloyal," and in fact they'd be far more likely to list you as "most caring" or "most delightful." You can throw "favourite niece" in there too, while you're at it.

I wish I could stop the lists, but we professors have a pretty limited range when it comes to predicting and snuffing out the sort of inventive nastiness that blossoms in the minds of thirteen and fourteen-year-olds.

[alt_hydra]

I'm you're only niece, though.
If they say nice things about me it will probably only be because of Mummy.
The same way that they said nice things about Harry because of his Father.

From,
Hydra

[alt_rabastan]

And you're very good at counting. But even if I had a hundred of them, who all fancied the colour pink and loved rabbits and snorted when they giggled, you'd still be my favourite.

People will treat you differently your whole life because of your Mother, just as they'll treat Harry differently because of his Father. There's nothing to be done about that. Remember that you are your own person, though, and that the people who really matter will judge you on your own merits. And you'll know them when you see them - trust me on that.

[alt_hydra]

I don't snort when I giggle!
How do you know when they're judging you on your own merits, though?
I don't know if some people would like it very much if I were my own person.

From,
Hydra

[alt_rabastan]

Oh, but you do. So see, you're already on your way to becoming your own person, even if it someone who snorts when they giggle.

It takes time to suss out who's being real with you, though. Over time, you get a sense for it. Folks who are quick to smile for you, but no one else...that's something to watch out for. If they give you gifts that say more about them than they say about you. If they speak with their voice a shade higher than usual, or if they always want to talk about politics and other official, so-called "important" matters. After a while you just hone an instinct for the whole sorry thing.

[alt_hydra]

I guess you had to learn all of that when you became a Hero of the Protectorate.

Do you tell Harry the same things, about honing an instinct for people who are real and who aren't?

From,
Hydra

[alt_rabastan]

True. The name "Lestrange" was notorious before I was, though.

It's come up with Harry, yes. He worries about it too.

[alt_hydra]

I'm glad I'm not the only one, then.

From,
Hydra