Private Message to Daphne Greengrass

[alt_padma]

Thanks, by the way. For the advice. I mean, don't tell Perks or Parkinson, but I don't think it's really a proper date so I doubt I'll need to know all about snogging, but it's good to know the important things, like tilting your head the right way. And all that stuff about not being the first one to hold hands or anything. I think you're right and it's really important to be mysterious and not too eager.

Professor Raz said something about Page maybe being too forward or doing something confusing.

Well, I know what too forward would be. But I'm not sure about what would be confusing. I guess I'll find out if he does it. Whatever that is.

Still. It's really exciting, I have to say. I've already got butterflies in my stomach and it's not even lunchtime! I mean, I know I'm not the first in our year to go out, but with an older boy - well, it's all rather surreal, isn't it?

(Though...I'm still really...I mean, I know he's sort of decent to you, but Blaise? Really? I shouldn't think he could stop sneering long enough to kiss anyone - unless it's his mirror!)

Comments

[alt_daphne]

You're so very welcome, Padma. I know you didn't ask for advice, but I thought you could use it just the same. Ms Zabini once pulled me aside and gave me advice, sort of, and she said the very same type of things. And as for Blaise, I know that he has exceedingly high expectations, but I believe it only speaks for the quality of his character and the degree of his ambition. Maybe they're qualities only a Slytherin can truly appreciate, though?

Also, he has impeccable taste. The things he did for my birthday were the sort of gestures you see in fairy romance books. Doves and everything!

I guess that means I have a bit of a soft spot for him, but that doesn't mean that I don't have the right to fancy other boys, too! Draco's getting handsomer this year, now that he's got a bit taller and stopped doing that odd business with his hair, and Harry, well, I can see him being handsome one day, maybe. But they still act awfully young, especially Harry. You've the right idea catching the eye of an older man. Not everyone is as mature for their age as Blaise is.

[alt_padma]

Well, like I said, I know he's well decent to you - Blaise, I mean. He can be really beastly to anyone outside of Slytherin, though, and I'm not really sure why. It's fine to be ambitious and have high standards but sometimes it seems like Blaise thinks other people are not only beneath him but more like flobberworms he can just squish underfoot.

Draco's good-looking enough but he's too pale. For me, I mean. And Harry...well, I mean, anyone would like to be fancied by the Lord Protector's son, wouldn't they? But I know he's supposed to marry Hydra, and anyway, honestly? Harry's a well nice enough bloke but you're right. He's not very handsome yet. Or tall. But maybe he will be in a couple of years. Still.

Page is well fit, isn't he? I mean, not as fit as, oh, Chang or Davies or Tamblyn. Or any of the Bobolis boys. But for the first boy to ask anyone in our year, I think he's not half bad.

[alt_daphne]

That is about the way he views some people, yes.

Page is nice enough to look at, I'd say, though I did just now remember something else I once heard Ms Zabini said! She was speaking with a friend, not me, but I was close enough to listen. It was on the subject of one of her admirers, and she told her friend that one had to be careful with older men and assess them carefully. "Is there any particular reason why a woman their own age would find them lacking, that has caused them to seek out someone younger?" I believe it was something like that. It might apply more to adults than to us, but still, something to keep in mind. Also remember that it's not just you who's lucky to have his attentions, but that he is lucky to have yours!