Private message to Padma Patil

[alt_seamus]

So, that Oliver Pennyworth bloke that Zabini was writing to.

Do you happen to know if he's the person who manages Zabini's money? (He is someone who manages money for people -- I checked.)

I have a hunch I know why they're suddenly corresponding.

Comments

[alt_padma]

That's rather brilliant. He does tend to think any problem can be solved with sufficient application of gold.

I'm sure I could have done more this time but after what happened to Thomas I thought I'd better go easy. I did make sure to hex everyone who'd been eliminated (even Lines) but mostly I laid low. Next challenge will be enough to make up for that, don't you think?

(Don't hex me for not living up to my potential, though!)

By the way, did you know that Lestrange tried to read everyone's minds not too long ago? She told me that she would 'keep my secret' about Pure Victory but I don't think she really understood what she saw.

[alt_seamus]

You're safe from me on this challenge! Anyway it makes sense what you decided.

I wondered if Lestrange was trying to read my mind when she stopped me to chat. Do you think she brought up Pure Victory just to make you nervous?

[alt_padma]

I'm not sure.... I mean, we didn't actually talk about Pure Victory at all. Then all of a sudden she was writing to me about it.

The thing is, I think what she saw was those copies that got put in people's bags a while back, remember? And I did look at one then, but of course it was rubbish.

[alt_seamus]

Well, yeah. She either saw it in your head, or she guessed you might have seen one, given the rumours that went round after Professor Dolohov wrote about 'seditious materials.' (For that matter, maybe someone put one in her bag. I know she read the first two, and I didn't see her reading the proper third book once it was released.)

[alt_padma]

She also as much as said that Council families can enjoy the privilege of 'little vices' like hanging on to contraband. So maybe she did get one and she's kept it.

Which wouldn't be too surprising, I mean, it can't have been worse than the official one.

Hey, can you Occlude? She said something about it to me, that the only way to really Occlude is to practise with a Legilimens. I think she thought I was trying, maybe. But I mean, who wouldn't?

[alt_seamus]

No, I can't Occlude. That's the mental discipline used against legilimency, isn't it? I don't think they really want us learning.