Private Message to Hydra and Draco

[alt_narcissa]

How are you both holding up?

I've been so tempted to send you both hampers like I used to do when you were younger but I suspect I shall be told you're too mature for that sort of thing, and particularly with the additional scrutiny on you both at present.

But if there's anything you should need or want, I hardly think an aunt or a mother could be accused of interfering with due process.

Everything here has been perfectly uninteresting of late; it seems everyone else is hibernating through worst of winter this year and simply waiting for either Valentine's or the first breath of spring. Oh, and of course last night was the Ministry 'holiday party,' which one could not quite decline to attend but which was just as dreary as one could possibly imagine. I shouldn't be surprised if there had been no one left in the banquet hall by half-ten! As it was, we left after only 45 minutes and believe me, if we could have departed earlier, we would have done.

Oh, and Hydra, Rigel wanted me to tell you that he hopes you will 'beat everyone' (though presumably not everyone including you, Draco, dear) and that he's very proud of his big sister.

All my love to you both.

Comments

[alt_hydra]

I always love your hampers, but I think you're right, that people will be watching, wondering, and judging. But they will do that with everything so I'm not sure it matters much.

I'm sorry that your party wasn't much fun.

Thank you for sending along Rigel's message. I'll be sure to write to him very soon. And thank you for checking in on Draco and me.

From,
Hydra

[alt_narcissa]

Well, perhaps a small box for Valentine's, then. One wouldn't want to give the impression of abandonment.

Rigel will simply adore receiving post that is just for him! He's quite proud of his reading, though of course he still needs help sounding out most of his books - the ones he has not already memorised, that is.

[alt_draco]

Everything's well in hand, Mother. Thank you for the offer, but hampers are unnecessary, and may perhaps even pose distraction. The latest challenge requires especially forward thinking.

[alt_narcissa]

Oh, and why is that - or ought one not to ask, lest it 'distract' you? You've always been a strategic thinker, though, so whatever it is, I'm sure you'll manage it.

[alt_draco]

Find someone of lesser blood status and draw their most shameful secret out of them...

No specifics. I assume that they want to see a range of shameful secrets and targets, as well as a range of methods for "drawing" those secrets out.

[alt_narcissa]

How very droll. Are they training you to be members of Our Lord's Council or gossip columnists?

[alt_draco]

The language used is admittedly juvenile. I reckon CCF presents itself as more serious.

Then again, the use of language could be intentional, I suppose.