Order Only: Private message to Ron

[alt_ginny]

The Twins came by a little while ago and got Mum out of bed with ice water. She was pretty cross. They told her it was for her own good.

I think they were actually glad she got cross, she sounded more like herself.

Anyway we had tea together (Mum and I did, while the Twins dried out her bed and so on) and talked about my classes. She found my book list. I guess I was worried over nothing; she just wanted to know how I was going to keep myself safe around Dolohov. How worried do you think I actually need to be? He's never treated us any differently from anyone else, as far as I can tell, it's not like he actually has a blood feud with our family even though he killed two of our uncles, and Percy, or at least Mum thinks he was responsible for Percy. (Because of the galleon she found after the funeral.)

I had all my arguments ready for why I ought to take Dark Arts, but she didn't seem cross, exactly. It was like having a conversation about it with Sirius, almost, she was sensible about it.

Comments

[alt_ron]

What's your definition of a blood-feud, Gin? Does it take one of us killing someone related to him before it's a feud?

Sorry. The thing is, I don't think you have to worry as long as you're his student. And as long as you don't cross him. Or get caught trying to. Sally Anne thinks he's serious about keeping students safe, and I think she's right. Only, I reckon he's not protecting us out of, um, concern for us as people, but because it's his aim to recruit as many of us as he can to serve the LP. That's why he's so keen to train the ones that have talent. The others he doesn't care so much about. I don't think Sally Anne really thinks he's that calculating about it--I mean, I think she wants to think he's actually interested in her because she's an ace student and has loads of potential--but I figure it's best to assume his motives are dead cold ones, yeah? Less chance of getting a nasty surprise that way.

So Mum's still not really feeling herself, then?

[alt_ginny]

By 'blood feud' I mean him trying to kill the rest of us, that's all. I don't think he's going to, unless he has a reason. So if I don't give him a reason (or don't let him find out there's a reason, I guess) I should be okay, right?

Anyway, Mum. She's been not herself since the funeral. I mean when you come over she tries a bit harder to act normal. Today she got out of bed in late morning and then went back to bed at four. Until the Twins came over and rousted her out again.

I don't know. I can't remember whether she was like this after Dad died, because I was kind of like this, too, and now -- well, she says she's set herself a waking charm and she'll get up and make breakfast tomorrow. I'm worried what it'll be like when I go back to school, though.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. It was a lot like that after Dad...

Sorry it's been awful there this summer. I guess I should've asked if you wanted to come kip with us. Only, yeah, it was probably good you were there for Mum even if she's not acting like she wants the company. At least with you there, she eats a bit, right?

Don't worry, though. When you leave, either twins'll do more or Bill will. Probably Bill.

And she'll be alright eventually.

Don't you think?

[alt_ginny]

Yeah, I do. I wish someone were still living at home, but I don't blame Bill for wanting to have his own place. Or you.

Anyway at least we didn't row over my NEWT classes. Or my marks.

If Percy were still alive, and talking to me, he'd have been cross about my Arithmancy OWL.

[alt_ron]

Why? How low was it?

It's not like you'll probably ever need Arithmancy once you leave school, y'know? Or History. Or, well, most of the stuff we have to read. Spells and some of the theory behind them, yeah. That stuff's practical, right? But the rest is only useful for a few professions, and then it's probably more about shaking out the field so they only get applications from people who are really well-suited for whatever it is, and then when you get into training, they teach it all to you again.

They've been talking to us about Auror training, and that's totally what it sounds like. The first nine months or so are all in the classroom and on the sparring floor, and Travers was telling us today that they pretty much assume they'll have to get us to bin all sorts of nonsense we studied at school and unlearn loads of bad habits we picked up there.

Makes you wonder what it's all for, doesn't it?

So what were your Marks, anywiz?

[alt_ginny]

I got As in Arithmancy and Astronomy. So passing, you know, but not well enough to go on.

I got Os in Ancient Runes, Charms, Dark Arts, and Defence. Es in Herbology, Potions, and Transfiguration.

I got a P in History of Magic. Probably because I spent two years sleeping through that class.

I'm going on in everything I got an E or an O in. I have no idea what I ought to be trying to do with my life, though. Is it pathetic that I think I'd most like to play quidditch for the Harpies?

[alt_ron]

You did better than I did, so you know. No need to worry you came last in the family.

And no use crying over Arithmancy or Astronomy, either.

As for History of Magic? I worry about those people who stay awake, they're the ones need serious help.

[alt_ron]

Did you see Fred wrote me and Charlie?

I just did. Oh, well. He was giving a warning about what they planned to do to Mum tonight. So, yeah. Guess they did it.

He says to tell you to tell Luna thanks for helping with harvesting and canning and all.

[alt_ginny]

Oh yeah? I wondered why they seemed to think I knew they were coming. Did they forget you don't live here anymore?

Anyway I'll pass that on to Luna.

[alt_ron]

Mind you, he didn't tell me to thank you for helping with all that.

So, um. Thanks.

[alt_ginny]

Well, I'm family.

Of course, so's Luna.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. Exactly.