Private Message to Padma Patil

[alt_blaise]

Where are Harry and Weasley? They should be here for this briefing. Unless...

Draco looks like something the cat sicked up this morning. And did you see how his broom was listing off-centre?

At least our side's only got one of them to carry along.

But really, if Harry's ill, we could promote a lieutenant to commander and not let ourselves be dragged down. I mean, listen between the lines of what they're saying: this is going to be loads more challenging than anything we've done yet.

Comments

[alt_padma]

Well, Finch-Fletchley went to see them last night and he said that Harry's loads more coherent than Weasel or Draco. And Harry's replies to me last night were fine. I mean, they weren't all loopy or anything. So I don't think his head is damaged. He already mentioned he might not come back right away. I think we need to be prepared to go on without him, which is fine. Finch-Fletchley will fall in line behind whatever we decide--he is a Hufflepuff, after all--so if we can just convince him to stop with the 'fair play' nonsense we'll be fine.

And when I went to turn in our requisitions for equipment, Harry's list was really comprehensive. I mean, really comprehensive. The list Seamus had for Ron's team was maybe half as long.

Not that it's a competition between us anymore. If you can believe that. Which I don't, really. I mean, we won't target the others if we're all supposed to be on the same side, of course, but we're still being judged on how well each group does, right?

[alt_blaise]

Exactly. It's complete misdirection, their saying we're not competing. We're meant to be playing separate units of Our Lord's loyal forces in the war, and obviously each unit competes to win advantage for His cause. And that holds for CCF, for what we're really doing here: we're all competing for His favour.

It's fortunate we're on Marvolo's side. And... I don't know whether you know, but if what's in the wind is true, it may be as well we're not on Malfoy's side. By which, I mean, it would be fine if he were with us in Marvolo's number, but if we were still on Weasel's side, having Malfoy with us wouldn't outweigh the Weasley deficit.

I think all in all, the sides have shaken out just as they ought: all the better people are here. And the halfies and muddle-brained are all over there.

But that means it's ours to lose. And a loss would be a serious embarrassment. So we will not be losing.

[alt_padma]

Right.

Wait. What do you mean about Malfoy? Seamus used to go over to the Malfoys' once in a while over the summers, you know, and now he doesn't anymore. And then he told me that last June, right after they got home, Mr Rosier took him on a fishing trip, and he said it was really nice but just a little odd. Like, neither of them had their journals and there wasn't any crew, it was just them, and Mr Rosier didn't give him any warning or anything. Like it was meant to be a surprise.

I sort of wish Seamus were on our team, though. He's not just a halfie, really. This year you'll get to know him better and you'll see.

[alt_blaise]

The Malfoys are not so secure in their place as they once were. To put it baldly.

And Rosier... Well, he's the sort to stay out of the way when the wind's blowing change.

As for Finnigan, it's fine to have pets, Padma, but don't confuse that with anything more. Rosier's fostering him because they need to control the Irish situation, and in Ireland Finnigan's family are all that. But, really, that tells you all you need to know: he's Irish and will never be more. On top of that he's a halfblood. So if he entertains you, fine. Only, don't get carried away with his bollocks about being a prince of the Irish. This isn't a romance novel we're living in.

[alt_padma]

Perks is a pet--Porkinson's or Weasel's, take your pick. Su Li is a pet. Lakshmi, I bet even Archer thinks of Bones as a pet, and she's only technically a half-blood.

Seamus may be Irish but there's more to him. Sometimes I think he even has the potential to make the Council--and you know there are a few Councilwizards who aren't strictly pureblood. There are things...things you don't know about him. I can't tell you--I mean, he wouldn't want me to tell you until you know each other better. But it's not about romance and it's not just because he's a mate. He genuinely feels the same way about Our Lord and the Protectorate as we do.

[alt_blaise]

You sound exactly like Porks and Archer: none of you'll admit that a pet is a pet.

But you're not like them. You don't lack for proper friends.

And of course Finnigan shows loyal. In his position, he'd be mad not to: everything depends on his making a very convincing show of it.

It doesn't speak to his intelligence if he actually believes it himself, but perhaps he does. Or perhaps he's good enough at his rôle to be believable. The Irish are like that. And you wouldn't be the first to have been taken in by one of them. But, trust me, don't give him a chance to hex you from behind.

It's embarrassing, you having visions of grandeur for him. Don't waste your daydreams on Finnigan. He might be included, but he'll never belong.

[alt_padma]

I have no problem admitting that Su Li is a pet! There's a difference between someone like her and Seamus.

And I'm not wasting time on daydreams. I just meant.... If it happens, it happens. I wish I could explain in detail but his loyalties have been tested, you don't even know how much.

I mean, it's true his stakes are high. He knows that. But he is a proper friend. He has been. He's not even like any of the other Irish at school.

Look, Harry's still under the weather and Lines is obsessing over trying to Apparate and this time I might hex him myself (talk about pets, there's one for you and he isn't even a halfie!), so can we not do this now? We agreed that winning is more important.

[alt_blaise]

Winning is definitely more important than arguing over Finnigan.

Only, it's irritating when you speak of him as though you don't see the distinctions. I mean, you almost sounded as if you could think of him as a possible match--a halfie, Irish shirt-lifter.

[alt_padma]

What? No! No, not like that--I mean--where did you hear that about him? That he's a poufter?

Anyway, no, I've never been interested in him so you don't have to be jealous. We're just mates. And I'm not saying he's equal to a pureblood, exactly. Just that he's a cut above the average half-blood.

Okay, let's give everyone ten more minutes for a break, then get back on the trail.

[alt_blaise]

If he wanted it secret, he should never have snogged Jugson. If you know what I mean.

You're right it's time to get this lot moving. We want to make camp before dusk.

At least the shrubbery's not exploding. Yet. Do you get the idea they didn't plan to stage this here? I mean, it seemed they were making a bunch of things up on the fly this noon.

And we're back to maps that are at least half wrong about more than half of what they show. Jolly, that.

[alt_padma]

You mean, because we're all being told to move southeast and all the other exercises so far have been mostly north?

Yes.

We can put Lines on map detail again, although we could also send F-F forward by Apparation and he could scout round and then come back.

Oh, that reminds me, though, I think Harry put maps on his list. We should check and see if there are any accurate ones in the bags. Slim chance but worth a try.

[alt_blaise]

Score! Excellent thinking there, Patil!

Proper maps. And a stash of very nice chocolate. The former will save us Moon's endless nattering about surveying variances. The latter, I've commandeered. No need mentioning it to anyone else.

[alt_padma]

Oh. Do you think you're ready to try Apparating again? If we have a little time to try, I mean.

I think it'll be crucial to have as many of us who can as possible. I'm getting better at distance and F-F can do it. I think Daphs will get it with a little more practice and Lines might do if he'd just quit asking questions about it and feel how it works. (Did I tell you he followed me through the mess tent peppering me for technical details? He practically followed me to the loo!)

That just leaves Macmillan and someone could side-along him if he's really nowhere close. But if we could all do it then we could switch off who's taking an extra person. Even if half of us can, then we can each take someone else. Especially if Harry's told not to Apparate for a while. Haruman says that sometimes if you've got dizzy spells or things that you shouldn't Apparate and shouldn't even Floo, if it's really bad. Not that we'll be taking a Floo anywhere but you know. There's a witch who comes to St Mungo's for a recurring case of vertigo and she has to take the Knight Bus, you know?

Anyway. If you're still worried we can wait another day but it'd be really useful if you can manage it.

[alt_blaise]

Ahead of you there. I managed it last night. It's easier in the dark, did you know? I mean, I suppose it stands to reason that you aren't distracted by seeing peripheral things or concentrating too much on the ring you're meant to be materialising in.

Whatever. I've got it.

It really is... well, once you've done it, you can't imagine what the difficulty was, can you?

[alt_padma]

Oh, good! I should have known you'd do better when no one was watching.