(no subject)

[alt_pansy]

I got the most wonderful package today! Patil, I won't need to borrow that Slytherin book after all. I've got one of my own.

And I've also got a brilliant book about a wizard pirate, Magister Wigbold, and that's what I can talk about in History club if you still want me to next Wednesday. Because it looks really interesting, and I think other people would find it interesting too!

I'll write a proper thank-you note tomorrow, of course, but thank you thank you thank you!

I'll take extra care of the book about Slytherin, because I know you got it from family, and I'll give it back after I'm done, if you want, but it is lovely to have it to read through.

Comments

[alt_regulus]

I'm glad you were pleased.

You may keep both books with my compliments. I've read them, and I don't have anyone to pass them on to.

[alt_pansy]

Well, then, I'll take the books and the compliments.

I'm going to really enjoy spending time reading them over hols. I mean, I'll read enough for the History Club meeting, but really, really reading them will be awful fun.

Will you be at the Malfoy's Christmas party?

[alt_regulus]

I'm hoping for an invitation, yes. In the meantime, I'm on best behaviour lest I be stricken from the list.

[alt_pansy]

I know what you mean.

Well, I'll hope to see you there, then.

You've probably heard as much, but I'm having tea with your mum over hols too.

[alt_regulus]

I meant to ask whether you'd set a day for that.

[alt_pansy]

The 17th. So you see why I have to be on my best behaviour til right before the party. Well, I have to be on my best behaviour all the time, which is exhausting by the way, but I have to be especially good up til Christmas at least.

[alt_regulus]

Perhaps you could set aside Boxing Day to be a bit mad?

[alt_pansy]

What an excellent idea! I could stomp around and kick things and say every swear I know at the top of my lungs.

I could talk in verse.

Or I could just grin at everyone for no good reason and cackle every now and again, for added effect.

I'd probably get into terrible trouble, though. Even if I did warn everyone beforehand, and told them the reason why. Perhaps the best solution is go off and be a bit mad on my own.

[alt_regulus]

Stomping and swearing would certainly provide a break from being 'lady-like'; I've always thought that must be very difficult, having to behave like a lady.

You might get away with blank verse, but I shouldn't think that heroic couplets would be wise, though they are much, much more mad.

I find that cackling for no apparent reason is a very good strategy when one wishes to be left alone in public places. It works best on strangers, though. Family do seem to take a dim view of such behaviour.

[alt_pansy]

All duly noted.

I am pants at rhyming, so I'd have to practice first.

I will keep in mind what you have said about what's worst.

Well, that's a start.

A poor one.

It seems like it takes a lot of effort to be mad. Almost as much as being good, if not more.

[alt_regulus]

Ah. Now that is a terribly wise observation. I think I'll write that on a slip of paper and attach it to my mirror so I can consider it every morning:

It takes a lot of effort to be mad. Almost as much as being good, if not more.

Good words for going on with, those.

[alt_sally_anne]

You're having tea with Mrs Black on the 17th?

Are you going home early then?

[alt_pansy]

No... oh! I am going spare.

I wrote it wrong in my calendar.

It's on the 21st.

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh well good.

I mean I'm glad you're not leaving early.

I can't wait until Christmas. I haven't heard back from the Strettons but surely they won't mind.

[alt_pansy]

They'd better not! Or else we'll get Harry to come over and fetch you.

[alt_padma]

A wizard and a pirate? That sounds pretty nift.

Did Mr Black really give you his copy of the book about Slytherin? Why are you always talking with him? I mean, I know you said that Mr Malfoy is like an uncle, but Mr Black's no relation at all, right?

[alt_pansy]

He did.

He's related to Aunt Narcissa, isn't he?

And you don't have to be related to someone to talk to them. That's a pretty narrow way to think about things.

[alt_padma]

If I randomly talked to a man who wasn't my father, my brother, my uncle or my professor, or something like that, my parents would go spare.

I mean, I suppose at a party, or something. That would be okay. I dunno. It's just...

Well. Don't you worry that your mum will accuse Mr Black the same way she accused Mr Malfoy last year? Or whatever that was. Wasn't there some sort of trial? That Mr Malfoy won?

[alt_pansy]

That's all really none of your business, Patil.

I suggest you keep out of my family affairs.

[alt_padma]

Well, excuse me very much, but honestly, you might have thought of that before you started carrying on so publicly.

I'm only trying to help. You seem to have a knack for blundering into awkward situations, Parkinson. I would think you'd want to avoid embarrassing yourself again.

[alt_pansy]

Oh, won't you please shove off.

Honestly. We're just talking. Why does everyone

Look, I know you think you're being all helpful and everything, but I mean it when I say this is none of your business.

If I want advice from you, I'll ask for it.

[alt_sally_anne]

Your parents really don't trust you to have a simple conversation with a man who isn't a blood relation?

I think Mr Black is going to be at Draco's party -- I mean he'll be at the Malfoy's party but Mrs Malfoy is having him make some of the arrangements for the part of the party with Draco's classmates. I hope your parents will still let you come, it would be dreadful if you had to miss out. I know you said parties are alright but if you really think it's that dreadful that Pansy would talk to him in her journal, which isn't even face to face, I shouldn't think you'd want to be in the same room as him.

[alt_padma]

Oh, for Lakshmi's sake, it's not a question of trust at all, Perks, it's a question of custom and propi properi propriety. But I wouldn't expect you to know anything about what's proper and what's not.

Anyway, it has nothing to do with who makes what arrangements or parties. The way Parkinson talks to Mr Black is.... Well, it's hard to describe why it doesn't seem right, but it's a little like it ought to be a private conversation, not one that other people are part of. And for someone our age to have that kind of chat with someone old enough to be our father, well, that's just sort of.... weird. Dad says it's brazen