All 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.)
