Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling.
**RTDU**
Entry 16: 25th September, 1999
I want to continue my schooling, but I don't want to leave work to do so. So I made a decision and wrote Headmistress McGonagall a letter today. I asked if it would be possible to continue through correspondence rather than in person. I am more than willing to take the time t study and complete the work outside of the ministry. Whether or not Ronald and Harry would want to do so as well isn't really my decision so depending on McGonagall's answer, I might meet with the two of them and see what they say. Either way, I am doing this for me, it is something I can do for myself regardless of what anyone else wants. Hopefully her response will be favorable.
For now,
Friendship, bravery, and love.
**RTDU**
Entry 17: 26th September, 1999
I'll copy here the letter I received. I'm so happy.
Ms. Granger:
I must admit I had wondered how long it would be before you contacted me about your schooling. I very much respect your points and have spoken to the staff. In practicality, it is difficult to be sure that someone has actually grasped the material without demonstration. We concluded that throughout the week you could correspond via owl with your assignments, but we would require you coming to the castle one day each weekend to demonstrate what you have learned. This is in particular for charms, transfiguration, potions and defense. Based on your arithmancy and runes focus it may be necessary as well. Do you intend to continue with care of magical creatures as well? There are details to iron out, so we can communicate about those over the next weeks until we finalize plans.
Ultimately, we would be glad to support your education while you work. Not a one of us fails to appreciate what you may do with the N.E.W.T.s under your belt. Let me know what you think.
Minerva
I can do it. Its actually going to work! Now I just need to see if Ronald and Harry are interested.
**RTDU**
Entry 18: 28th September, 1999
I don't really have any way not to be angry right now. Nor do I feel as if I have the energy to rage. Perhaps not energy, emotion, investment, emotional investment, that's it.
Yesterday I had dinner with Ronald and Harry to show them McGonagall's letter. Dinner was fine honestly. I didn't exactly get what I had hoped for, but again it isn't my decision what Harry and Ronald do with their lives. Harry did say that he thinks it wise to complete our schooling and would be happy to join me. That's great and I'm very happy about that. We later decided to meet up after work to study and complete the work. Believe it or not, Harry said he doesn't want me doing any work for him anymore. As if I would. We joked about it later because he really does mean it. Harry said he wants his scores and grades honestly. We will help each other as needed of course but I'm glad that he has grown up in that respect.
Ronald.
At dinner he was appropriate about it. He said that he doesn't want to continue because he doesn't need to at this point. He has a job and he hopes to play professionally as a Keeper. Honestly, that's fine. I never expected him to do it just because I am. I never expected Ronald to actually want to further his education.
What I also never expected was him to run his mouth about me to Harry after dinner.
Harry asked to see me after work today when we were at lunch. I think he didn't want to upset me during the day. I've decided to write the encounter in my book to better sort out my thoughts, but basically the poor thing was worried sick. Harry didn't want to cause problems but he felt that while Ronald hadn't necessarily meant what he said out of malice, that it was still not okay. As it turns out, I'm not exactly sure where to place it. In a way it is classic Ronald and I don't think he actually understands how awful it is. He'd likely be upset with himself and take it in to consideration, but of course it is all speculation since I haven't confronted him yet.
It comes down to that he and Harry had a row since Ronald told Harry that he found it annoying that I wanted to get him to go back to school and he'd thought that he wouldn't have to after marrying me. My career and his being enough for him to be able to sit school out even if i went. Apparently to him, school is my thing and he's fine with not being the primary breadwinner, and that it was rather his intent by marrying me.
I want to be clear, he isn't awful. Ronald has never liked school and I have no problem with being the breadwinner. That is fine. But to marry someone directly so you can avoid working harder, so you don't have to be the responsible one, so you can let them put in the effort? That isn't alright by any sense. It may be the household he grew up in. After all Molly never worked once she had the kids and that was fine. But I doubt Molly married Arthur specifically to avoid working herself. In this case it is intent over outcome. Perhaps i am not explaining it well, but to be expected to carry him along, to be expected to keep doing all the hard work, that isn't sitting well with me. I won't have my effort and work be sat upon like some, wealthy hag who takes a trophy husband. That isn't how I operate.
It is as i said, likely that Ronald doesn't mean it like that. But I don't think he wants to be a stay-at-home father either, so I'm not quite sure how this all works out for him. Either way it comes don to me needing to talk to him about it. I won't allow continued presumptions to colour my feelings toward him such as they are, without further discussion. He deserves that from me.
Hopefully he will want to talk.
Harry is really messed up about this. Apparently he hexed Ronald and they aren't talking now. Ronald did seem a bit off when he came up to bed last night but said he just wan't feeling well. Harry really wasn't sure what to do and I kind of had to drag answers out of him. I don't blame him, the decision of whether or not to say anything is rather difficult after all. After our discussion on my birthday, well, I think he's getting a bigger picture of this partnership than is probably wise.
At least I'll be able to talk to Sasha about it tomorrow.
For now,
Friendship, bravery, and love.
**RTDU**
Entry 19: 29th September, 1999
I finished writing the discussion down after my appointment with Sasha. If eels liberating, being able to share with someone what is going on. We briefly went over the current stuff, but she wanted to get an idea of how our friendship came about in the first place, the three of us i mean. I had to alter some events of course but it was sufficient. Perhaps I should see if i can get a pass for her on the Statute? It might be worth it. Maybe if Kingsly will back me I can get it done.
I am rather tired now though, and still a bit confused. Sasha did suggest talking to Ronald as well, so that will be my homework for the next few days.
For now,
Friendship, bravery, and love.