Order Only: Private Message to Poppy Pomfrey

[alt_sirius]

I couldn't help but notice that Miss Parkinson fell ill today. Is she all right?

She didn't mention what made her feel unwell, by chance, did she?

If not ... I think I may know what set her off. In case you need to know in order to help.

And if she did tell you anything ... well, have at. I know it was bound to pour vinegar on the wound but - well, I couldn't see a way round it. And I guess I underestimated her reaction, at that.

Comments

[alt_poppy]

Oh, Sirius.

Yes. You do, indeed, seem to have 'underestimated her reaction'. She's a sensitive one, and it's worse now that she's in that inbetween, adolescent stage where everything becomes ever so much more intense--more wonderful, more tragic, more romantic, more dire, more irritating, more shaming, more enviable--more unbearable for everyone concerned. They're all like that, but Miss Parkinson is just fragile enough that all that emotion can tip her into crisis in heartbeat.

Still. I think she'll survive, and I believe she'll be very glad to have those books. Yes, I know what you sent, and she-

Oh, dash it. I've got to run.

[alt_sirius]

So she did tell you about it? What did she say - I mean, if you're not prohibited from telling me, that is.

I forget that teenage girls are over-dramatic in the best of circumstances. Merlin.

[alt_poppy]

I apologise for dropping you yesterday, Sirius. It was busy here overnight.

(Today's been better. Just one bludger to the temple from this afternoon's informal quidditch.)

Miss Parkinson was out with the rest of them when I popped out to check. Looked a bit peaky, but she seemed to be enjoying herself. They had Krum on his broom, refereeing the matches. Rolanda seemed as glad for the opportunity to witness his flying as the rest of the witches--and it will not surprise you to hear there were an awful lot of them who turned out for a rather bitter afternoon of spectating! I expect I may see more than one or two young people with frostbite this evening.

But I'm not answering your question, am I?

I can tell you that Miss Parkinson felt very deeply attached to your brother, and that his death came as a terrible shock. You know that she lost her father very early in life, and while I think she viewed Regulus as more of an avuncular sort than a father figure, I think losing him brought up many feelings she was too young to formulate at the time of her father's death, but which had been building over the years. I'd almost say that losing Regulus made her understand what her father's loss had cost her in a way she hadn't properly felt before that.

That's only a guess, mind you, and may be an inaccurate projection, so bear that in mind.

In any case, she's had difficulty putting her feelings behind her. She said yesterday that when the Dementors were here last year, their primary effect on her was to make her thoughts dwell unhealthily on Regulus. She told me that she's been doing much better at enjoying her present relationships and opportunities this year, but that when the parcel arrived yesterday, it knocked her sideways (her words for it).

I'd say it also made her feel suddenly guilty that she'd been going on so well and not thinking about him.

All of that on top of the usual teenage crisis-mongering.

[alt_sirius]

Well, Krum's worth seeing. Mind you he was only a reserve player when I was commentating but we were already fairly sure he'd be a sensation when he began flying full-time. I'm sorry to have missed it.

As for Miss Parkinson, I suppose that makes a good deal of sense. And thank you; it helps me feel a bit less of a pillock. I knew they'd grown close but I hadn't really realised that she had so much else wrapped up in her attachment to him.

He was good at that, you know. Endearing people to him. Getting them to look after him.

And I'm sure you've told her not to feel guilty for moving on with her life - that's always the trickiest part, isn't it? Survivor's guilt, the Muggles call it. Merlin knows we all have enough of that in our lives.