Private message to Mum

[alt_ginny]

So Ron told me he'd owl you with the news. There were twenty-one students who got pins today from Councilwizards saying that they were being honoured with consideration and maybe if they were good enough they'd get to be Councilwizards, even though they're all still in school and Hydra Lestrange hasn't even sat OWLs yet, she's the same year as me.

Ron was one of them.

We talked this afternoon, he took me for a walk down by the lake and we talked about how he doesn't want this never sought this sort of attention. And why he wants to be an Auror. He said all the things you'd expect but also he talked about how our family is sometimes a target and treated unfairly, and he wants people to feel like it's not safe to mess with us. And of course being a Councilwizard is even better in some ways, but -- 

You know sometimes it's hard being a Weasley? There are so many MANY people who think they're better than we were. Part of what I liked about that tia modeling is it made me feel like I was better than the people who snubbed me. It didn't work forever, though. 

I thought for a long time it didn't bother Ron because he was a boy, but of course it does, he just hides it better. Anyway, of course mixing with the others who got pins means a lot of time spent with people who think their families are better than ours. He's not looking forward to that. 

Joining the Council was never something he'd thought to try for. And I think he's frightened. Mum I didn't know what to say to him.  I still don't.

Comments

[alt_molly]

My goodness.

Well, Ginny, I know just what you mean, because I don't quite know what to say to him, either...except that he has all of my love and support, of course.

I'll look for Ron's owl, but if you see him tonight, please tell him that I love him, and I'll write to him more fully. (And that a big batch of shortbread will be its way to him tomorrow.)

As for what you can say to him, I think saying something isn't nearly as important as just being willing to listen to him. He's a Gryffindor, and a teenage boy, which may give him the illusion that he has to be without fear all the time. But you're his little sister, so he already trusts you, and in the time-honoured manner of big brothers, he probably doesn't think he needs to impress you. That puts you in a very important role: you may be one of the few people at Hogwarts he might feel safe in expressing how he really feels about this. So listen to him with all that fierce family loyalty, and let him know his confidences are safe with you.

Thank you for letting me know, dear; I'm very grateful. I feel better knowing that you're there to listen for the both of us.