Order Only: Private Message to Harry

[alt_sirius]

Hey, kiddo,

How's it going, with you and Hydra? I know I've been a bit more focused on Justin at present but don't forget I'm here for you, too. No matter what the circumstances it's not easy, breaking up, and just because you're not in this competition, it doesn't mean you're not feeling the pressure as well.

Don't think I didn't notice you were pretty quiet at the meeting. And before it. And after.

If you ever want to talk, you've only to say.

Comments

[alt_harry]

It's okay, I guess.

I mean, Hydra's still really sad about Justin. But we're talking a lot, which is good. And we're working really hard to be a team -- to plan out things together, and talk about what we want to do and how we're going to do it, so we can do it together.

It's sort of hard sorting out things with Justin, but I'm trying. Like I want it to be really clear that Justin's still a mate, and that he's okay with it, but that means he'll have to be around us, you know? And it's all kind of complicated. And it's really awkward sometimes. With both of them. But Justin especially.

[alt_harry]

And.

I got the report from Katie today.

She just sort of dropped it on my plate at lunch.

She was told that since she was no longer under my protection, that she needed to find someone else, and she was told right out to seduce a council member who wasn't a sponsor. So she did. Cal Pummel.

I didn't

I know she's really angry with me, and that's not what I wanted to happen. And it's my fault.

[alt_sirius]

Circe, Harry, you don't half start with the easy stuff, do you?

Well, look. It's not your fault, what she did. It's those bastards' fault for setting her any kind of a challenge like that in the first place.

[alt_harry]

Yeah. But it was because of me she was chosen to begin with, and now I've dropped her, and I guess I told myself that it would be better for her, you know? Only it really isn't.

And I can't help everyone all the time, I know that. And I'd rather

I guess I'd rather Hydra was okay, if I had to, you know, pick.

[alt_sirius]

Have you talked to Katie about how things are? Have you asked her what she thinks about the Council and enslaving Muggleborns and so on? I think she's aware of how bad it is all round, isn't she? So she won't hold any of this against you forever. And if she does, in the short term, well ... that's not your fault, either. She has every right to be angry for what they've made her do. She's taking it out on you because she knows you'll care, while they obviously don't.

Harry, you thought breaking up with her was for the best. You can't stay with someone forever just because you think you're protecting her. You can still try to protect her, you know, unless you think that would harm her more. What about telling her sponsor or this Pummel bloke to get bent?

As for things with Justin and Hydra - yes, it's bound to be awkward. I've a feeling you're in another situation there where you're doomed no matter what. It helps that he knows you two aren't really in love or anything, even if it's going to be difficult for him to act as if he doesn't care. I suppose the best thing I can recommend is to make sure you spend as much time in public with each of them alone as you do publicly all together.

[alt_harry]

That was one of the problems we had, I guess. Not really talking about stuff like that. We sort of avoided it before the contest. Maybe I was afraid of what she'd say. And it was nice to be normal sometimes. You know.

Once she's not as hacked off, I might see if she'd talk more about it. Maybe it'll be easier to talk about when we aren't dating.

And yeah, I told her I'd keep an eye out for her, and I meant it. And Ptolemy Baddock can jump off a bridge.