Chapter 7
AN: I don't own or gain anything concerning the characters or original plot.
Ag. Long chapter. Have skipped January so I can include July at the end of Year 2. It is strategic and cunning and you will realise in about two chapters! Enjoy.
Easy read link: emsana . livejournal . com / 75278 . html
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Hogwarts, December 1992
Dear Charlie,
Out of the kindness of their hearts Mum and Dad have decided to abandon us here over the holidays in favour of our --primogentic-- --primogender-- eldest brother so we're all being kept in this mad house for Christmas. You'd think they'd want us home and dry seeing as how the Heir of Salazar Slytherin is amongst us, but no. Ron has this theory that some snotty nosed kid in his year might be at the source of all these petrifications; none other than Lucius Malfoy's kid, who talked his slimy father into getting all the Slytherin team Nimbus Two-thousand and One's. So, actually, on second thoughts, he might actually be onto something there. Regardless, we're stuck here.
We had a theory about this Heir ourselves; Giddy Lockhart seemed a likely candidate, right up until he started this bizarre Duelling Club. It may be the --best-- only decent thing he's ever done in his life but there it is. And before you jump to the conclusion that the Club itself is the only evidence in his favour think again. Potter got put up in this Duel against Malfoy Junior and the Slytherin summoned up this snake and next thing you know Harry's having a nice chat with it. No, really. Some daft Hufflepuff kid thought Harry was trying to get it to kill him which is, you know, unlikely, but then Ron's little girlfriend had this little speech prepared about parsleymoths which we --listened in on-- accidentally overheard. Then, Potter basically fell over the same Hufflepuff and Nearly Headless Nick petrified. Did you know ghosts could be petrified? So, yeah, apparently Potter's here to kill is all. Except we're safe, because we're Pure-Blood. But still, our Seeker's on the rampage.
We were going to take your advice about Percy, we really were, honest. But, well, we sort of didn't have to. Before you judge and accuse us, hear this out. You know how Dumbledore likes to have Mistletoe all over the castle? Well, there was some in the Common Room and, somehow Percy managed to walk into Oliver right beneath it. We swear, we had nothing to do with it... much. When Percy realised he sort of just froze and stared and his eyes went ever so slightly manic. Wood didn't seem too impressed either but he tried to act as if it was nothing. Some utter prat yelled something stupid about Wood showing Percy "how it was done", don't worry, we dung bombed him later. But before Wood could do anything Percy just ran off. As in actually lunged at the nearest exit. While everyone else was giggling their silly heads off Wood followed after him, and we followed after Wood, out of concern for our brother, you understand. Long conversation short, Wood told Percy he knew. Percy sort of laughed it off but Wood wasn't having it. Then he said something really strange about what if he were interested too. Percy did that magic blanching thing he does with his face, muttered something incomprehensible, and left.
So, as you can see, everything's perfectly normal here.
Fred and George
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Where all sensation in my feet is lost, December 1992
Dear Fred and George,
After reading your letter I --actually wept-- needed a stiff drink. I can't believe I'm saying this, but being alone in a Research Centre with nothing but a few Hands and some hibernating dragons for Christmas almost makes me envy Bill. I hope you're enjoying Christmas, I really do, because as I'm alone, Bill has to deal with Mum, Percy's life has been --single-- dual-handedly trashed by you two, Ron's best friend has turned into the Anti-Merlin, and Goblins' know what's happened to Ginny all this time, you two seem like the only Weasley children eligible for a decent celebration. Make the most of it.
Seeing as how well you're destroying others' lives I can only hope something will pop up in our lineage that disproves the purity of our blood and then you two can appreciate the fear of petrification like these poor students you're luring into a false sense of security with your talismans and tricks. And if you did get petrified then it would also give you some time off from interfering in others' affairs.
Right, down to business. It appears as if Percy's affections for your Keeper do not go entirely unrequited. Do you think maybe this means you could leave him alone now? If anything is going on then I'm sure it's not too --normal-- complicated for our dear brother to handle. You've meddled enough and now Percy has a chance to take hold of his life, do as I said in my last letter and leave, him, alone.
Charlie
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Hogwarts, February 1993
Dear Charlie,
First off, sorry for the lateness of our reply. You see, Ron's been a prat. He and his chums did something stupid with something potent and his girlfriend ended up in the Hospital Wing looking like a cross between Mum's old cat and Aunt Muriel. Anyway, she turned up all better the other week but we've had to pull Ron through the whole sordid affair. --This is starting to sound like one of Mum's mystery novels-- So, anyway, sorry.
On your insistence we stopped selling protective stuff to the younger kids but then MacMillan started suggesting that by holding out on the students we were joining forces with --Potter-- the Heir of Slytherin and so we had to start up again. We really did try though.
We were also rather busy last week --sabotaging-- giving Lockhart a hand with his Valentine's Day Extravaganza cum Disaster. It was bloody awful, but there was a rather amusing moment with Potter and a rhyming card. All we can say is that we would never stoop to such levels, but it was --good-- vaguely funny for what it was worth.
Speaking of Valentine's Day. Well, we took into account all that you said about Percy and Wood but, in all honesty, we couldn't help ourselves. So we sort of did them both a favour, of kinds. We have mastered the use of --supple-- --supper-- subtle tactics so we arranged a meeting. For the two of them. On Valentine's Day. It was just an empty Charms classroom – we thought maybe they could have a chat. Or something. It didn't quite go all that well though. As soon as Percy walked in his face was set in --a most unattractive-- --sorry, Fred's turned into Bathilda Bagshot-- an expression of shock. Wood tried to get a word in but Perce just legged it. He saved enough time to shout "are you trying to kill me?" at us as he rushed past, but we think maybe he thought we were someone else. We think next time it'll go much better.
Fred and George
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Baçau, February 1993
Dear Fred and George,
When I didn't hear from you last month --I thought I might finally be rid of your pestilent owls-- I feared the worst. That is, for Percy, not you. It seems that my worry was not without cause. I can sort of see the positive motives behind trying to set our brother up with Wood but I can't say I can ever see a scenario where you two would make good matchmakers. Sorry. At least Percy is in one piece, although you have to feel a little sorry for Oliver. Regardless, I'd give them both some space (if you can) for the next week or so. It can't hurt for them to be alone with their thoughts... or whatever.
Valentine's Day organised by the author of Year With The Yeti cannot have been anything less than terrifying and hideous. Despite the cold snap here --and my continuing poverty – did you manage to talk to Mum?-- I do feel for you all.
Can't stay - we've a hatching today – as if twenty assorted dragons and the bitter wind weren't enough to occupy us as it is. Don't emotionally cripple any more of your siblings before your next correspondence.
Charlie