Private Message to Seamus

[alt_padma]

Lana asked if I'm going to Snowdonia next weekend and I told her I am. Are you?

I've been trying to think about what to pack. It's just a weekend but there will probably be at least one formal meal, right? And there's that reception thing on the invitation.

Mum says in the old days, witches didn't necessarily have to go broom-back and hunt, they could stay in the lodge and just come out for luncheon and such, but I think that would not look well with the Mark and all.

Have you ever been on something like this, with Mr Rosier? What should we expect?

Oh, and she said Weasley was coming and I thought she meant Ron, but she meant Percy. Isn't that funny! I completely forgot that he got Marked when we did. Anyway, he's coming, but she did tell me a thing or two about his brother, as well. (Unfortunately, he's apparently not completely hopeless.)

Comments

[alt_seamus]

Oh, yeah, I'm going. I haven't been to Snowdonia before, actually -- Mr Rosier went once or twice years ago and didn't much care for it. Said it's a better sport for younger men but he thought I ought to be of age, anyway. Anyway, I'm sure there are witches who just stay in the lodge but I think you're right, you're a Councilwitch yourself, not someone's wife.

[alt_padma]

Right. Well, at least with all the flying we've been doing with Marvolo, I don't think I'll fall off my broom at the top of a mountain or anything.

So...you know what Marvolo said the other day, about giving up my religion? I asked Lana and she said that I'll have to find some way to convince him that my loyalty isn't in question. (Which it's not.)

But the thing is...most of my dress robes are saris. Do you think I should make sure I've got all western robes?

(Because if so, then I think I need to go shopping.)

[alt_seamus]

Are your saris religious? I thought they were just, I don't know, cultural? They're really pretty. Maybe you could get one set of western-style robes, though, so you won't stand out at Council-specific events?

Honestly I don't know what he's after, there.

[alt_padma]

Well, they're cultural, but they're a reminder that I'm Hindu. And if that's what Harry has a problem with then maybe, dressing differently will signal that I'm taking him seriously.

(Although, seriously, does he expect everyone else to stop celebrating Christmas? or wearing those little cross-shaped necklaces?)

Lana says it's some sort of loyalty test. He wants me to set aside something I value to prove to him how devoted I am to Our Lord.

Which would be fine if he were asking me to set aside, oh, I don't know, ice creams or something. But I'm not sure Harry has the right to tell me to stop observing my family's traditions when they don't have any bearing on my loyalty.

But if he's got a notion that it's a bad thing, then I have to somehow indicate that I'm listening, y'know? And I thought dressing differently, that's easy.

(And I have one set of western dress robes; I'll just need to get more. Without Mum going spare.)

[alt_seamus]

Oh, well, good thought on the robes being a way to show that you're listening and taking him seriously. But what does he even MEAN about setting aside your religion? It's not like you go around being Hindu AT people, and you're right, he's not likely to insist everyone give up Christmas. And the Headmistress was a Councilwitch and she used to go to church, sometimes.

[alt_padma]

It was the way he said that Our Lord has to be my god now.

I think he doesn't understand it. I mean, it was the sort of comment that could only be made be someone who doesn't practice a religion with any sort of regularity. I mean, I know you're not really religious but you still give Christmas presents and you still get an Easter basket every year, but do you really think about it beyond that? No.

And for us, it's more a remembrance, or a way of being ethical, and honouring our ancestors and our heritage, and things like that. It's not as if we're one of those sects that sacrifices animals or anything.

So there's no conflict between Krishna or Rama or Sarasvati and Our Lord. It's hard to explain that to Marvolo, though, without sounding disrespectful.

(Also, it's really none of his business but you just can't come out and say that, can you? Honestly it was easier when he didn't want much to do with us. This having to kiss his arse is somewhat tedious. Is this how Draco felt all the time?)

[alt_seamus]

Yeah, I don't really understand religion. But this almost sounds like someone who went somewhere like Durmstrang telling you you'd have to give up your House and everything it stands for, and you trying to figure out if that means you have to quit wearing Ravenclaw robes or if he means you have to quit reading and excelling in your classes. You know?

[alt_padma]

That's actually a good way to put it.

Which is why it's not on but--well, Lana says not to push it. So I shan't, I suppose.

[alt_padma]

And it's creatures, right? I mean, we'll be hunting magical creatures. I was looking for brochures but mostly I remembered when Ms Drumgoole was in the papers because of Auror Crouch.

[alt_seamus]

Well, Snowdonia can arrange for you to hunt just about anything. (I wonder if anyone's ever asked for a lethifold? That seems less like sport and more like playing dice with Dementors, but who knows?) Anyway. I imagine Cadmus Mulciber might find it hilarious to watch the lot of us devoured by a dragon, but dragons are dead expensive, plus they require some teamwork to take down and they aren't recommended for a first hunt.

If he wants to see how we work together, it'll be a single creature, something a bit dangerous, that we'll have to cooperate on to take down. A troll, maybe, or a sphinx or hippogryff, something like that.

But it could also be muggles, because they're less expensive and we could each have one. Mr Rosier says they arm the muggles with knives and bows, to make it a more interesting challenge, and people do occasionally get hurt, but they're usually less dangerous than the larger creatures.

[alt_padma]

Ooh, I hope it's not a lethifold!

Am I going to regret not taking Creatures?

Only if it's muggles, I guess that won't matter. I think Lana's expecting muggles, actually, she said that the weekend would be a 'better example' of what being on the Council is like.

I just noticed my CCF robes in the wardrobe. Would those do?

[alt_seamus]

Oh, good thought on the CCF robes. Those would be perfect, I think, whatever we end up hunting.

We'll both regret not taking Creatures if they send us out after a nundu! (Just kidding. It won't be a nundu.)

[alt_padma]

If it's a nundu then we just offer to fly lookout and let someone else handle it.

[alt_seamus]

Yeah, we can fly lookout, all right. Over Ipswitch or Canterbury, that ought to be a good distance. They might rather insist we join in with the fun, though, seeing as supposedly they've never been subdued by fewer than a HUNDRED wizards.

[alt_padma]

Oh, that's easy, then. If there's something we think is really dangerous, we just tell Weasley (Percy, that is) that he ought to have the first shot at it.

Isn't that how it's supposed to be done? See, we can figure out this Council business easily enough.

[alt_seamus]

Oh, sure. After all, he was HEAD BOY.

Who do you think they'll choose as Head Boy, with Draco gone? I think it's between me and Macmillan, and not just because you'll surely be Head Girl.

[alt_padma]

I dunno, I've been thinking about that. Because has there ever been a year recently when one of the Heads wasn't in Slytherin? So this will be a first, either way.

Unless they make Marvolo Head Boy, but they couldn't, could they? He's not even a Prefect.

Anyway, obviously I'd prefer it be you, but if it's Macmillan it ought to be fine, he's easily led.

[alt_seamus]

Oh, and too funny about Percy! He's really EMINENTLY forgettable. What did you hear about Ron?

[alt_padma]

Lana didn't have much to say about him, actually. Just that he's not the worst of the lot. She told me Aelis Fletcher nearly burnt Auror Crouch to a crisp trying to clean her robes when he confronted her. But all she said about Weasel was that Desai has been pleased with him. Which may just mean that he hasn't fumbled yet.

[alt_seamus]

Well if he's competing with someone who tried to set Auror Crouch on fire, that would make just about anyone look good.

[alt_seamus]

I mean. I've set MYSELF on fire.

But at least I've never set an AUROR on fire.

[alt_padma]

Too bad we couldn't hex Weasley to set Auror Crouch on fire. He'd be the pile of ashes by the end of the day!

[alt_seamus]

Yeah, unless they traced it back to us, in which case we wouldn't live to enjoy the gloating!