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alt_siriusAll right, you two.
I've had another letter from Harry. I want to make sure the bits about women are on-target. You're the two who immediately come to mind to make sure I give him advice that shan't result in a hexing.
So, you should both know he's very concerned about the prophecy and that killing Voldemort (if he even can do) will instantaneously turn him into some soul-sucking Dementor (which is rubbish, of course, and I'm telling him so).
But beyond that, he's quite concerned that any girl he asks will feel as if she has to acquiesce to him because of his powerful connections.
There's one girl he mentions in particular. I can't tell from what he says if he's actually interested in her but I think I recall that she's the one he asked to the Yule Ball last year. She's apparently just broken up with the Head Boy (so right away, not necessarily a great time to catch her, if she's on the rebound) and Harry says, '[Cedric's] been under lots of pressure because of being Head Boy and other things, and he told her so, and she got angry and split up with him because of it. How would I ever know that they liked me because of me, and not because of .... how important I’m supposed to be.'
Right. Here's what I plan to tell him:
There are ways you can tell if a girl likes you for you and not just your family or your reputation or your Gringotts account. But mostly they have to do with getting to know her and letting her get to know you. In this case, if she couldn't handle dating a boy who has the normal sorts of pressures, Head Boy and so on, I don't think she'd necessarily give you the sort of support you need. But perhaps you're not interested in talking to her, just snogging her.
Nothing wrong with that, so long as that's all she's interested in, too.
As far as figuring out if you're taking advantage - well, again, I think it's all in how you read the signals she gives you. If she smiles back or if you get the feeling she'd rather be somewhere else. I can't imagine you'd go on spending time with someone who tells you one thing while her attitude is saying something different. So, watch for the signs that she's bored or unhappy. Try a double-date if you think that would help take the pressure off, or go with her and a group of friends so you'll feel more comfortable. (Don't ask when she's with a group, mind. Get her alone so she can say no if that's what she wants to say - and tell her that it's okay if she does, no hard feelings.) But even if a girl accepts on the basis of who she thinks you are, that's all right. It means she's getting something she's looking for, too, doesn't it? And I think you'll be able to tell, sooner or later, if that's all there is or if there might be something more meaningful in your, er, relationship.
He's not liable to get himself slapped or jinxed, following that, is he?
(Oh, and Alice, he asked about Dudley and whether there's a chance he'll reply. All right if I tell him that Duds is working on a response? I want to warn him to be kind since writing is not something that comes easily to his cousin.)
I've had another letter from Harry. I want to make sure the bits about women are on-target. You're the two who immediately come to mind to make sure I give him advice that shan't result in a hexing.
So, you should both know he's very concerned about the prophecy and that killing Voldemort (if he even can do) will instantaneously turn him into some soul-sucking Dementor (which is rubbish, of course, and I'm telling him so).
But beyond that, he's quite concerned that any girl he asks will feel as if she has to acquiesce to him because of his powerful connections.
There's one girl he mentions in particular. I can't tell from what he says if he's actually interested in her but I think I recall that she's the one he asked to the Yule Ball last year. She's apparently just broken up with the Head Boy (so right away, not necessarily a great time to catch her, if she's on the rebound) and Harry says, '[Cedric's] been under lots of pressure because of being Head Boy and other things, and he told her so, and she got angry and split up with him because of it. How would I ever know that they liked me because of me, and not because of .... how important I’m supposed to be.'
Right. Here's what I plan to tell him:
There are ways you can tell if a girl likes you for you and not just your family or your reputation or your Gringotts account. But mostly they have to do with getting to know her and letting her get to know you. In this case, if she couldn't handle dating a boy who has the normal sorts of pressures, Head Boy and so on, I don't think she'd necessarily give you the sort of support you need. But perhaps you're not interested in talking to her, just snogging her.
Nothing wrong with that, so long as that's all she's interested in, too.
As far as figuring out if you're taking advantage - well, again, I think it's all in how you read the signals she gives you. If she smiles back or if you get the feeling she'd rather be somewhere else. I can't imagine you'd go on spending time with someone who tells you one thing while her attitude is saying something different. So, watch for the signs that she's bored or unhappy. Try a double-date if you think that would help take the pressure off, or go with her and a group of friends so you'll feel more comfortable. (Don't ask when she's with a group, mind. Get her alone so she can say no if that's what she wants to say - and tell her that it's okay if she does, no hard feelings.) But even if a girl accepts on the basis of who she thinks you are, that's all right. It means she's getting something she's looking for, too, doesn't it? And I think you'll be able to tell, sooner or later, if that's all there is or if there might be something more meaningful in your, er, relationship.
He's not liable to get himself slapped or jinxed, following that, is he?
(Oh, and Alice, he asked about Dudley and whether there's a chance he'll reply. All right if I tell him that Duds is working on a response? I want to warn him to be kind since writing is not something that comes easily to his cousin.)
no subject
Date: 2012-10-22 04:16 am (UTC)Not sure if there's any easy answers to that one, but I do think you've given him something to start with. I can see how he'd be a bit unsure about letting people get to know him. And how he'd be the sort to worry about taking advantage, which is rather sweet, and means he's far less likely to as a result -- and as long as he's upfront about his worries, the right sort of girl could find that endearing.
Dudley's working on his response, yes. He's taking his time with it, and this is the most I've ever seen him think about anything.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-22 04:26 am (UTC)I hadn't thought that the right sort of girl would like him asking but you're right. Of course, a clever girl would tell him it's gallant and sweet, too.
And yes, anytime Ellie needs to write things it's a fairly involved process. We've been having her copy out sections of the Standard Book of Spells as practice for both penmanship and casting.
Since I'm sending owls, I'm also putting together an addendum to the orders for Aleks. Can we tell him about how many people to expect making their way to France on his return trip? It'll help him to know approximately the number of blankets, food for the ship, and other immediate supplies he'll need to leave room for in the hold.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-22 04:35 am (UTC)The Hopeful can carry fifteen plus two crew, and we can certainly see if we can find that many people between now and solstice to bring along. Let Frank and I know if it'd be too many.
no subject
Date: 2012-10-22 12:52 pm (UTC)