Private message to Padma Patil

[alt_seamus]

So, I thought the reception today went pretty well. Do you think Sandoval's pleased with how you're doing? Mr Crispin seemed pleased enough with me. I was trying to spot whether any of the sponsors were cross with their candidates. Yaxley was unhappy with Nott, that was clear. And Avery was not pleased that Weasley arrived so late.

Anyway, you know how we left our bags in the cloak room?

Have you looked in yours? Just wondering.

Comments

[alt_padma]

What?

Sorry. I was reading.

[alt_seamus]

Yeah no worries it can wait.

I've got some reading to do myself.

[alt_padma]

What's Dovs talking about? Are we supposed to turn in Valentine's surprises now?

[alt_seamus]

I don't think he means chocs or cards, though if you got anything seditious with red hearts on it you should probably hand it over, just to be sure.

Thomas found a book, in his bag -- he told us to check our bags, too. It claims to be the original version of 'Pure Victory' but if you look in the back, there's a letter from Sirius Black.

[alt_padma]

No, it's not from Black, it's from Blaise


OH.

How did--


Oh.

[alt_seamus]

But no worries, if you got one, just turn it in sometime today.

[alt_padma]

Did you get one?

[alt_padma]

I mean, is that what you were 'reading' last night?

[alt_seamus]

No. Mr Crispin had brought a book he thought I might benefit from reading, that's what I had.

Did you get one?

[alt_padma]

No, of course not. I was reading Su Li's essay for her because she wanted a second opinion.

I wish Professor Dovs had said specifically that it was a book, though. I've already had four second-years ask if they have to turn in their sweets.

I'll ask him to clarify.

[alt_padma]

I just thought of something.

Thomas got his at Sorcere.... You don't think this is part of the competition, do you? To see if people turn in something suspicious like that.

[alt_seamus]

I doubt it.

[alt_padma]

Oh.

Good.

[alt_seamus]

Weasley turned out his bag, when Dean mentioned it, in front of all of us. Nothing in there. And he hadn't taken anything out since coming back from the village, that was obvious.

If it were a test, they'd have given it to all the candidates, right?

Also, there was this third-year I saw this morning who couldn't stop yawning. Almost like she'd been up all night reading something.

[alt_padma]

So. Thomas's copy.

Were you even a little bit tempted to have a look at it?

[alt_seamus]

Well, no, because he'd turned it in before he told us he had it.

If I'd known about it, probably I would have gone ahead and had a look. Because I quite enjoyed the first two, and I'd like to know how it all ends, and I don't think some silly book is going to corrupt me or make me believe less in Our Lord's ideals, any more than it's going to corrupt me if I've read some of the Imposter Black's letters that show up in the journals.

Of course, I think the official version where they didn't let the editor muck everything up (wasn't that what they said happened when they recalled the original?) will be out really soon, isn't it coming this week? So I'll be able to see how it ends. In the new version.

And of course it makes sense, having everyone turn it in who might have it. I quite understand why they think idiots should be kept well clear of anything seditious.

[alt_padma]

No, but it would be interesting to compare, wouldn't it? Just to see how they corrected everything.

I mean. If someone had a copy of each.