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_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.