(no subject)

[alt_pansy]

Well, I'm definitely looking forward to starting the CCF programme, because it's boring as all get-out around here.

I've been riding every day, which has been nice, and Onions is a really great horse. I think he likes me, because he always seems happy to see me, and he doesn't get nearly as much exercise when I'm not around.

It's funny, being away from Hogwarts makes everything feel different. Everything's lighter somehow. Even food tastes different. I think that being around the Dementors for such a long time numbed everything a bit, and now I'm waking up again. Like when your foot falls asleep and you don't even notice it happening, but then when you start to feel it, it's all needles and pins. So I feel itchy, and excited, and bored, and am looking forward to doing anything other than just sitting around here.

It really is too bad that they couldn't accept everyone in our class for the programme. At least the people that didn't get in can still be a part of the YPL, though, and I'm sure that there will be plenty of nift things they can do to help with the younger students and all. I've written Mr Tenebridge, the person I sent my initial letter to, so that he'd know. I'm very much hoping to schedule a meeting with him this summer as well. We'll see!

Comments

Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_pansy]

How've you been?

Have you talked to your parents about us doing something? When were you thinking would be a good time for you? I've got absolutely nothing planned that can't be rearranged, so my schedule is very open. Once we sort out which day would be best, we can look up the bands and things, or see what else is going on we might want to catch.

Private message to Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

I am really looking forward to July. Are you doing anything special to prepare? Patil was going on about running and so on, and it sounds like a good idea but I just don't have time.

Although partly it's because I'm trying to learn Arithmancy over the summer. Professor Slughorn recommended against me dropping Dark Arts because it would leave me with one fewer OWL and I'll already be at a disadvantage. And he's right. So I talked to Professor Vector to see if MAYBE I could join the Arithmancy class and she said if I could learn enough over the summer I could.

And Jeremy got a NEWT in Arithmancy so he's tutoring me, which is decent of him. But. I don't have a lot of free time for physical training.

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

I'm good. All right over there?

I know what you mean about feeling better, lighter and such. Even though it's never a treat to get punished by the Lord Protector, my parents have been more than decent about it. I asked Mother about going to Kensington sometime after the opening CCF week, and she agreed readily, even though I know she likes the Manor better and likely wishes that I did, too, since I was born here and all. The weather in Wiltshire's been really lovely and the flying's fantastic, but I can't help but wonder what's going on in New London. So yes, sometime after next week we'll be at Kensington. Possibly I might be able to have a non-birthday party at that time, too.

And you and I will have our night on the town, of course. Mother hasn't been to any new restaurants lately, but all the ones on her list of favourites are nice. Rather romant posh, really. And I can't remember what day it's scheduled for, but Dirty Cauldron Jones is playing in Chelsea sometime in mid-July. He's that gent who gets on stage with just his guitar - sometimes drums, too - and his lyrics are really sharp and sort of off-colour? Kind of a "blues" style. I thought I remembered that you liked him.

Only I hope this security stuff won't be a hassle. The man who tried to assault Mother was captured and all, but Father says that you can't stamp out all the vermin at once. I wish that Prophet article hadn't brought it all up again, making a massive fuss about how the Lestrange side of the family played such a big part in those arrests. Do you know Hydra's been sent to Buckingham this week? Part of me wonders if it's because her parents want to make sure nothing happens to her.

Private Message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_pansy]

Aunt Narcissa, I've been meaning to ask you -- I want to feel at least a little bit useful this summer, and except for the CCF programme and my lessons, I want to do something. Do you know of any volunteer opportunities that you think would be appropriate? I'd be willing to do just about anything, and I know that you have many connections at St Mungo's, and with other charity groups, and I'd appreciate your advice on the matter.

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_pansy]

Excellent! I know how you mean about New London being so much more interesting. I wish mum weren't so stuck on being in Scotland. I might get her to come down to New London for a weekend's shopping, but that's it.

I'm really looking forward to CCF week, and going out to New London after that would be brilliant. I haven't got any albums of Dirty Cauldron, but I've heard him on the radio, and I think he'd be really ace to see live. That's an excellent idea.

Do you think we'll have to bring a body guard or something? That'd be a bit of a hassle. I mean, I'd understand if they thought it necessary, and I suppose it's better than getting hurt or worrying your parents. I'm sure your mum is relieved that they've caught that awful man.

And I hadn't heard about Hydra. There's no place safer than Buckingham, though, and I know she loves spending time with Harry. And I'm sure he could use the company. It's too bad she's in the year below us. I'll miss her on the CCF trip.

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

Apparently his live shows are even better than what's on the wireless, because he improvises and gets really raucous.

Oh, I don't think we'll need any kind of security detail... No one's mentioned anything to me about needing one, anyway. I suppose we could go out in disguise, if you wanted. That might be a bit of a laugh, yeah?

What I really wish is that these angry, restless traitor types would just back off and let my family be. Sometimes I wish it were thirty years from now and Harry was already over-seeing the Protectorate, you know? It's sure to be a lot calmer by then.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

I think you'll do fine. You work so hard at the Stretton's, I'm sure you'll have plenty of energy for what they'll be asking us to do. It can't be as strenuous as running after Gemma all the time!

I think

I think I might be going on a date? Only I'm not sure it is one, but it might be? I don't know.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

a DATE?
who with?

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

Is that what you and Draco are having your private conversation about?

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_pansy]

Hah! You could turn your hair black, and I could go blonde. I don't think we have the colouring for it, though.

We could sport mustaches, or monocles, or both -- only you're a bit young to be sporting that sort of look, and I'd draw quite a bit of attention if I had facial hair, which sort of defeats the purpose. That, and I'm pretty sure it'd tickle.

I wonder what thirty years from now would look like. You'd be right around Lucius's age, wouldn't you?

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

Sort of?

He was sad about missing out on a birthday, so I suggested a trip to London, and now it's dinner and seeing a show. Which is very date-like. From what little I know about that sort of thing. Which is nothing.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

That DOES sound date-like.

Not that I really know anything about it either.

What did Patil do on her outings with what's his name? Page? Other than bring along half of Gryffindor House to chaperone?

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

They just talked, mostly. He tried snogging her, but she didn't want him to, which is why they broke it off.

What if he wants to snog?

I have no idea what I'd do.

Except, you know, snog back.

I don't even know if this is a date!

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

I don't even know if I want to snog him. I mean, I might want to, I might not, I have no earthly idea. If he walked right up to me right now and said, "Pansy, let's snog," (which he would NEVER do), I still don't know whether I'd say yes or no.

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

Or we could both go green. Very pro-Slytherin.

Hey, I could grow a mustache if I wanted to. Maybe. Blond mustaches look ridiculous, though, like you've got some kind of pale, fluffy biscuit balanced on your upper lip.

A few years older, but close. I suppose I'll probably look something like him, though. With no mustache, of course. Or, I don't know, sometimes I think I look more like my Mother, really. But I wouldn't hold your breath on me ending up on the cover of one of her ladies fashion magazines. I'll leave that to you.

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_pansy]

How magnanimous!

I agree about the blond mustaches, now that I think about it. I suppose that's why they aren't terribly common. Except it doesn't look as funny when it's white hair. I wonder why that's the case?

You really do look like both your parents combined.

Sometimes I'm sorry I look so very much like Rosa. I wish I had more of my father in me. Other than my eye colour, of course.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

I was going to ask if you wanted to snog him or not.

And no, if he walked up and said 'Pansy, let's snog' you'd know for sure it wasn't really Draco.

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_draco]

Because when you're so old you've gone to white you can do whatever you want to your face and it looks just fine?

My parents look rather alike, as far as colouring goes, so I suppose it does appear that way.

And just so you know...just because you look like your mother doesn't mean you don't have a lot of your father in you, too.

Re: Private Message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_narcissa]

Pansy, I do apologise for not replying sooner; I hadn't seen this at all until Draco pointed out that you had written to me in your own journal.

I think it's marvellous that you are already showing an interest in upholding your obligations as a benefactress of the realm. There are dozens of places one could offer to help, of course. I was going to suggest accompanying your mother but then I recalled that she doesn't much participate in the WI or the DoP, does she? Makes it more difficult to simply tag along, I'm sure.

Well. St Mungo's always needs young people to read to the infirm and give them a little cheering up. But I think the real need for that sort of thing nowadays is in the Vale of Health. That's where St M's moved many of the most incurable victims of Black's Paralysis, dear. I'm sure they have a Floo connection so you could get yourself there and back. It's not the most enjoyable of tasks, but then, that's rather the point of volunteering: To do those things with which most people don't wish to bother.

If that's too difficult, I'm sure you could speak to your step-father about opportunities closer to home. I'm afraid I've no idea what exactly might be in the area but I would imagine smaller convalescence homes are everywhere and there are always historical societies and museums looking for docents and tea shops looking for attendants. That might be more to your liking.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

It'd be a sure sign of polyjuice or Imperius, that's for certain!

Re: Private Message to Draco Malfoy

[alt_pansy]

That's very sweet of you to say, Draco.

Re: Private Message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_pansy]

Aunt Narcissa;

Thank you for the excellent suggestions, it hadn't occurred to me to look for historical societies or museums. I'll ask Prospero if there's anything nearby, because that'd tie in nicely with the History Club at school, wouldn't it!

And I'll write a letter to the people at the Vale of Health too. I can certainly read aloud. Do you know a specific person I ought to write to?

I also wanted to thank you for giving permission for Draco and I to go on our outing. I really am looking forward to it very much.