Private Message to Daphne Greengrass

[alt_blaise]

I suppose you're packed and ready for term? The Welcome Feast can't come soon enough for me. Mother is... Mother. I suppose it's natural that we're finding it difficult. I should have taken a flat if I hadn't believed her when she said she needed my company.

I can't believe I'm saying it, but I wish she'd find someone.

Actually, I wonder if I could persuade you to come out for an early supper with me on Friday and then go along as my plus-one to a soirée at Sophia Novello's. We needn't stay long if it's dull.

What do you say? I think it's fitting that the Slytherin Seventh-year Prefect should take the new Head Girl for a celebratory evening on the town. Who knows? We might make Whirl and give everyone something to chatter about when the next issue arrives with the post owls next week.

Comments

[alt_daphne]

I do have most things packed, but I do wish that Headmaster Dolohov would have been available to meet privately before the start of term so that we could have discussed how, exactly, the Head Boy and Head Girl are meant to enforce rules and guide students when there will also be council wizards and witches within the student body. I don't anticipate that Hydra Lestrange will present any problems, but honestly, I don't know what to expect with Seamus and Padma. Particularly when Padma is no doubt feeling stung about having not been chosen as Head Girl.

But oh, I'm sure your mother will find someone new, Blaise. She's never remained unattached for long, and she's still very beautiful, besides.

Jason was just telling me about Sophia Novello's party the other day at lunch. It sounds as if she's splashing out proper, so it will be quite the event to witness, if nothing else. So yes, consider me your plus-one. Though don't worry, I shan't be cross if we don't make Whirl or any of the others. They'll probably only say snide things about Draco, anyway.

[alt_blaise]

Perhaps Headmaster Dolohov means you to understand that he'll take care of whatever might arise with Padma and Seamus. After all, he made the decisions about who would be Heads--or, at any rate, he had more to do with the decisions than you did. So perhaps he merely means you to accept that any issues with a Councilwizard will be handled by the highest ranking Councilwizard in the school and will not be your concern.

I suppose I'm saying that he may be hinting that you oughtn't mention it and giving you time to set your concerns aside. Do you think?

As for Mother, the only hint she's given so far of being interested in anyone has been calling on Mr Nott. I'm sincerely hoping that means nothing more than that she's found some well of compassion for a person who's also recently suffered a loss. Surely, surely it can't mean anything more than that.

Enough said.

I think Novello's got enough taste to keep Draco out of it if she writes about you. You could give her something fresh to focus on, though. Think of it as an opportunity. And, it's true: I hear her parties are quite the thing. Some of them are downright legendary. Actually, the stories always make me think of you, though, and the party you got up for my birthday that time. I expect one day it will be your parties everyone covets an invitation to.

[alt_daphne]

I can put concerns aside for now, but that doesn't help me for later, when Padma will inevitably pull rank on me. She'll do it to you, too - it doesn't matter if you've snogged her or shagged her.

It's honestly rather shocking that she's a council witch. Those on the council have just always seemed so... beyond us, I suppose. Only someone like Draco really had that air about him, you know? And Lana Sandoval, but she's older. Draco is the only one our age who ever fit that part, at least in my head.

Sorry, I'm sure I'll stop talking about him so much. One day.

And Jason as a council wizard...even more unfathomable. And of course he took me to lunch at Acclivity, that new place that seems to attract MLE types, so that I was sure to be impressed by how he's coming up in the world. Auror Crouch was there dining with Hydra Lestrange, so I went over to say Hello to both of them, of course, and after, Jason acted as if I'd committed some terrible breach of conduct. I had to spend nearly fifteen minutes explaining to him that Hydra Lestrange is my friend, not just a council witch.

Oh, and Mr Nott is OLD. Your mother surely can't be entertaining him as a romantic prospect. Beacause.. no.

You do make a good point. About Novello, and anyone else who happens to be there. It could be an opportunity to make an Impression.

[alt_blaise]

Of course she will. And it will either lead to a smashing-good shag or it will make me hate her entirely. Either would suit.

Daphs. I'm sorry it's still so difficult to think about him. Perhaps we can do something to memorialise him when we get back. Just the two of us, you know, because no one else would understand. But we could each bury something he gave us, and remember him the way he was before he was ensorcelled.

Montague. Quite. It must have taken most of your acting skills to keep up the appearance of sparkling interest through an entire lunch with him. A sign of your utter brilliance, that.

Which was exactly my point about Friday evening. I look forward to your performance!

[alt_daphne]

I'm sure it will all fade in time, only it's difficult now, with school starting and all. And to think Linus is Head Boy when we all know it would have been Draco. The comparison is laughable!

I do like your idea to memorialise him. Let's do that, shall we? Under a new moon, to signify new beginnings.

Oh, now you're just goading me to do something memorable at Sophia Novello's, aren't you? Be careful what you wish for, Blaise!

[alt_blaise]

First new moon, we'll do it.