I always knew

[alt_padma]

there was something dodgy about you, Longbottom.

But I guess this morning's paper explains everything. It must be really terrible to live with that kind of shame in the family, even if you thought they were dead just like everyone else. I'm sorry you have to go through all this, really. It's so much to have to overcome.

I guess my question is, if everyone they knew thought they were dead, what did they want to go sending out a birth announcement for? And who else got it? I mean, it seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to just to send one to Sirius Black and no one else.

How d'you figure they knew him, anyway? I mean, the article gives some facts about them and I thought Black was much younger than that. D'you reckon they were mates at school or did they hold a big meeting one day for traitors and they all came to it?

Anyway, Longbottom, I can't really imagine what you must be feeling now, but it must be awful.

Comments

[alt_seamus]

Well, everyone knew Sirius Black had followers, if he was in France this whole time he'd have had a hard time infecting everyone with his poison without help. There are probably loads of traitors. Or a few more anyroad.

As far as shame goes you get used to it, I don't cry into my pillow about my worthless muggle dad. What's important is that I'm a wizard and I make my own choices. Same's true for Neville.

[alt_padma]

You're right - most of the time I don't even think about the fact that you had a muggle father. But that's the difference, isn't it? I mean, you act like a wizard and you don't give yourself airs, either. But it's also got to be hard to find out that his parents went and started over without him, and they've been hiding out and working with Black all this time.

I mean, it's sort of how the Blacks all must have felt every time Sirius Black posted one of his naff essays - like he was shaming them all over again. I'd be dead embarrassed, wouldn't you?

[alt_draco]

I'm from the Black line, if you're forgetting, and I don't feel any shame. Why should I? He isn't wasn't me and I'm not him and it's nothing to do with me, really. His essays were naff because they were so long and self-righteous and boring.

Anyone can have a traitor in the family; you might even be friends with a traitor now and not know it! My Mother and Aunt Bellatrix, well, their sister was as different as them as can be, even though they had the exact same upbringing. You just never know, that's all I'm saying.

[alt_padma]

No, I'm not forgetting, but you can't deny that seeing his posts used to upset some people in your family - and I guess I'm just saying I'd understand if they were upset not just because he was saying horrid, hateful things, but because it reminded everyone all over again that he used to be in your family. Or part of your family, anyway.

And the only thing you can do if someone you know turns out a traitor is to do what your family did, which is to cast them out. But that doesn't change the fact that when they still do horrible things, it brings up the bad blood all over again.

And anyway, you're from a whole other part of the family, aren't you? So it's not even like he was closely related, and no one could doubt your part of the family, ever.

[alt_draco]

He was already cast out of the family before I was born, so I guess I've never thought of him as a part of it at all.

I can't say I'm disappointed that my last name is Malfoy, though.

[alt_luna]

I never saw Neville Longbottom give himself any airs, either.

[alt_draco]

They knew him because they were in league with him, probably before the Lord Protector ascended. They were probably part of the same group of people that my Aunt and Uncles and others were fighting against for the Lord Protector's cause.

That was really idiotic to send out a birth announcement, though. They should have at least written it in code, or something.

[alt_padma]

Well, yeah, obviously, they've been in league with him for a long time. But how do you figure anyone gets started at that sort of thing? I mean, unless they're really thick, they'd never say something unless they were sure the other person felt the same way, but then the other person's waiting for them to be the first one to admit traitorous thoughts, and...I dunno, it just seems like it would be too much work. But then I guess with Black being all daft and practically shouting he's a traitor, people would know they could admit it to him, too.

And anyway, the point is, imagine what it's like to have parents who let you think they're dead and then went and started over without you? It's no wonder Longbottom's so strange.

[alt_draco]

But the people who were fighting against the Lord Protector's ascension weren't traitors, not back then anyway. I mean, it was always a subject of debate, wasn't it? The mudblood issue, I mean. And for ages and ages we just kept ourselves separate from them but then in this century the muggles had so many technologies and horrible wars and the separation got harder to maintain and most people got worried about the future of wizardkind and they liked the Lord Protector's message, but some people didn't.

The might've thought they were doing him a favour by being dead. I mean, look how many people wrote about it in their journals today.

Personally, I don't plan to say a thing about it to him at all.

[alt_zacharias]

Not even to tell him how sorry you are about it? Crikey.

[alt_draco]

Sometimes people don't like everyone to tell them how sorry they are for them.

[alt_padma]

I guess that's true.

D'you think I ought to apologise to Longbottom for telling him I'm sorry?

[alt_draco]

I suppose you can if you want, but I probably wouldn't.

[alt_harry]

D'you really think so?

[alt_draco]

It seems likely, but I suppose there's no way of knowing for sure.

[alt_padma]

Oh, and Perks, I saw your question about the bracelets. There's an advert that'll be in Wednesday's paper, I think, and Saturday's, if the Strettons get that.

There are all sorts of spells, and the Point Me is one of them. But the deluxe direction spell is really nift. You tap it with your wand and tell it where you want to go, and an arrow appears in the pattern. The arrow changes direction when you're supposed to turn. And if you go completely the wrong direction the bracelet gets cold. But that's a powerful spell, so it costs a little extra.

Anyway, they're in all colours and some are being done up in silk ribbons and others in velvet and yes, Mum's doing House ones of course, with snakes or badgers or ravens or lions in, but also some that aren't in House colours at all, like pink and purple or red and black, because it's nice sometimes to not always have things have to be in your House colours.

And Mum said one of her designers knows loads of braiding patterns, and woven patterns too, so there will be more than one style of plaiting to choose from.

She's also going to be working with Mrs Malfoy, did I tell you? She's designing a whole line of robes with shoes and hats and gloves and all that compliment them, and Mrs Malfoy's going to help, and then Mrs Malfoy's going to have Witch Weekly come and photograph the line, and she'll be wearing her pick of the designs. I guess they want it done in time for Christmas, so she'll be working on it all summer.

Dad's not too happy about her being at the studio all the time, but then, he's been talking about going back to playing instead of producing. And Mum's not all that chuffed about that, since producing pays better. But maybe with the new robe line she won't worry about that as much.

[alt_sally_anne]

The deluxe direction spell would've been awfully handy during my first weeks at Hogwarts. I got lost about ten times a day for a while.

Mrs Malfoy always looks stunning whenever I see her. Your mum's lucky to be working with her, I expect it'll work out really well for your mum.

[alt_hannah]

Did anyone have any idea? I never heard anyone say that his parents were wanted criminals!

[alt_padma]

I never did, either, but anyone could look at him and know there's something off there. I guess now we know what.

I mean, not that I think he knew all this time that they weren't really dead - because that would make him a traitor, too, if he never said anything! - but knowing your parents were traitors and went and died, even that much, must be really shameful to live with.

[alt_hydra]

What was off about him?
I never noticed anything.

From,
Hydra

[alt_percy]

Neville has the right to be judged for only what HE does. Not because of his family.

[alt_padma]

Yeah, Weasley, and I'm saying that it's no wonder he likes to keep his head down and he doesn't care for loads of attention, and he's hardly a proper wizard. I can't even begin to think what it's like to grow up keeping that kind of a secret in your family - that your parents were traitors.

I don't think he knew they weren't really dead - that would make him a traitor, too, if he knew and he never said - but it must be terrible to know you have to make up for what your family's done.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

I wonder if she's ever noticed that Harry also likes to keep his head down, and doesn't care for loads of attention? She probably thinks that's just modesty.

[alt_percy]

Well, I can imagine what you're feeling right now, Patil.

I think it's awful, too.

[alt_zacharias]

Do you read Mr Malfoy's journal? Because I sometimes do (when I can understand what he's saying, that is, alot of times I don't really), and he's been talking about Longbottom's parents too.

I'm not sure what the book is that he mentions, Mr Malfoy, that is, but he said that Longbottom's brother's not in it and that the most likely reason is that he's a Squib. I mean - on top of all this, he also finds out his brother's a squib? That's probably worse than all the rest put together.

[alt_hannah]

Well, not really. I mean, having a squib for a brother is awful, of course. But I think it's his parents being traitors that's really shocking.

[alt_zacharias]

No, I don't think so, Abbott. I mean, he doesn't know his parents and he's thought they were dead all this time - that's obviously shocking. But now he's got a brother, only the brother can never really be a real brother because he's not a proper wizard. Even if they catch his parents, the baby will get taken to the camps. So it's like someone's held out a toffee to you and then at the last second, before you take it, they snatch it away.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

That's actually sort of funny.

Her idea about a big meeting for traitors where they all get together. Kind of like this spell where we can all figure stuff out and say what we really think.

Like 'Padma Patil is a warthog' and 'Seamus Finnigan stinks of doxy dung'.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_neville]

It's a good thing it'll be a long time before I see her. Because I want to HEX her into next week. Even if I'm so pants at hexing that I'd end up blowing up my own wand by trying it.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_gredforge]

We'd be happy to take a little jaunt and hex her for you. It's sort of a specialty of ours.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_neville]

Don't tempt me.