alt_daphne | A Show of School Support

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public outreach

A Show of School Support

Today I was just thinking about how this time last year we were one day away from staging the Hogwarts Through the Ages Revue, and how nervous and excited I and many others were for that performance. The Revue was special not just because it celebrated the history of our noble institution, but also because it brought together students from all corners of the school, whether they were dancing center stage, painting sets, or providing the music. And while this school year is, in many ways, better than last year, I do miss the spirit that the Revue generated.

Which has me thinking about how while the rest of us are busy studying, revising, attending club meetings, and so forth, a small, select number of others are doing the same while also giving their all to show our Lord Protector that this next generation has, within it, the most loyal, inventive, brave, and cunning wizards and witches that Britain has ever seen. No disrespect to previous generations is intended by that statement - no indeed! If it weren't for your impeccable tutelage and example, none of us would be able to fulfill our potential half so well, you may be assured of that!

How can those of us not competing for a coveted spot on the Lord's council show our support and gratitude to those who are testing their ingenuity and valor, day after day?

I propose that each house form a support squad whose purpose is to accommodate the competitors in their quest to join the Lord's council. This accommodation may take on the form of simple, cheering comforts, such as tasty treats, uplifting music, or inspirational poems, or it may include providing more straightforward assistance, such as fetching the competitor lunch if he or she's too busy to make it down to the Great Hall, or running an errand that they simply have no time for.

While the rest of us watch on as our competitors tackle their challenges, it's important to remember that Hogwarts is a mirror of the greater Protectorate. Just as the public supports the Lord's council as best they can, so should we support those who would seek to be on that council.

I've already formed a support squad for the Slytherin competitors, and I have stepped forward as its Chair. Perhaps those of you in other houses will consider doing the same? Meanwhile, all of you competitors in Slytherin can count on accommodation from the Slytherin support squad. Any Slytherins reading, please consider joining the support squad! If you are interested in contributing, please see me, Daphne Greengrass, straight away.

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That's very kind and thoughtful of you, Daphne. I hope you'll get help from others, because Slytherin has the most competitors and that would be a lot of work if it all fell to you.

From,
Hydra

Don't worry a bit about that, Hydra. I've already got Astoria on the squad, of course ~~whether she likes it or not~~, along with her dorm-mates, Victoria and Stacia. And then there's your cousin Remy, along with Corey and Darius. Oh, and Elsie and Antigone and Troy and Erasmus, naturally. And Millie. No doubt even more will volunteer after they read this!

I'm sure you're right.

From,
Hydra

Daphne reminds me an awful lot of Auntie Narcissa, sometimes. Just in how she very much fits the part of a council wife, which is interesting because her own mother isn't one. It makes me wonder if she's been practising since back when she fancied Auror Crouch.

How much is she really like Auntie, though? I know she has a galleon, but how does she feel the way things are, do you know?

Oh, and I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make it sound as if you're dating your own mother.

~~Ugh~~ Ah, I'd forgotten that she used to fancy Auror Crouch. I'm quite certain she's long over that by now.

Daphne knows of the secret galleon group, and she knows there's an even more secret group that exists beyond that one, but aside from that, nothing else. That's at her own request - she says she'd rather not know anything that could actually implicate anyone else.

She also knows that I plan to prove my way into the council, and that I will follow my own agenda there, not the Lord Protector's. But again, no specifics. I'm not sure she wants to know them. It would force her to contemplate deeply, and in ways she'd rather not. At least not now.

She'd be an idiot not to sense the tinge of rebellion underpinning all these things, but we never really discuss it. It's a bit nice that way, in fact. There's understanding without the sharing, or the moaning on and on about the tragedy of it all.

That's very interesting, though I can't imagine being content with only knowing a little bit. The curiosity would drive me mad. I do wonder if she will be able to remain deliberately half-informed for very much longer, though.

I also can't imagine not sharing everything with the person I was dating. It would feel very lonely, I think.

You should try to have more imagination.

Believe it or not, there are many perfectly content couples who don't share everything with each other. Harry and Katie have done well, haven't they?

Consider, too, that your romance with Finch-Fletchley might have run its course by now if it weren't perpetually fueled by the dramas and secrets between you.

Imagine that the Lord Protector doesn't exist and we live in a world where muggleborns go to Hogwarts as they ought to. Imagine that you are just Hydra rather than Auror Lestrange's daughter, and he's just one of many muggleborn students. You might fancy him, certainly, just as he might fancy you. You might even date for a while. But do you really think you'd be secretly engaged? At the age of fifteen, no less?

I don't think that you would.

Why would I bother to imagine all that? I've got to live in the world we've got now, haven't I.

You're right, though. Justin and I might not be together if things were different. But I don't think it makes any difference whether two people are brought together because of something frivolous, like enjoying the same music, or by something of life-or-death significance. Or of they come together because the other one won't ask too many questions.

Just like you and Daphne, or Harry and Katie.

I just know that neither you nor Harry are in love, and I suppose I feel sorry for you.

Love doesn't necessarily make you any stronger, Hydra, and if you're not careful, it will make you weak. So take your pity elsewhere, where it's needed and wanted.

And if you've been feeling out inside my head to see whether I'm in love or not, I'll thank you to stop straight away. While it's inappropriate for dozens of reasons - we're related, ew.

Well, sorry. You needn't get cross.

And I'm not feeling out inside your head at all. I wouldn't do that without your permission.

Good.

Rallying hard for Head Girl, I see.

I'd say that you're a sure bet, except you know they'll never choose a Head Boy and Head Girl from the same house, and since someone from Slytherin is always chosen, year after year...your biggest competition is me.

Oh, hush - or no tasty treats for you!

Yes, one of us will be either Head Boy or Head Girl. If it's me who's chosen, then Boy will go to either Moon or Finnigan (despite Macmillan being pureblooded, I think Finnigan's being a competitor gives him the edge). If it's you who's chosen, then Girl will be Padma, for sure.

Now, you don't really want to work that closely with Padma for a whole year, do you?

I can handle Padma just fine.

You're also not considering that they might break tradition and make Harry Head Boy. Head Student, maybe. Now that would be something to talk about.

Truth told, while I would prefer to be Head Boy rather than not, it's not quite so very important to me as it once was.

No, I imagine that it's not.

Which is why you're going to stand aside and let me shine, yes? Oh, I knew I could count on you! You're such a gentleman...

You don't need me to stand aside in order to shine. You do it very well all on your own.

By the way, Daphs... if you ever want to share anything with me... I mean, really share, you can. You know I can't promise the same from myself, but that doesn't mean I can't be there for you. If you need it.

Just so you know.

Thank you for that offer, Draco. I already knew that, really, but thank you just the same.

You'll join the support squad for Slytherin, won't you?

And do you think anyone will start a squad for Gryffindor, so that Ron gets proper support? Perhaps I'll try and see if Lavender will do it.. she might whinge but if I imply it's her prefect-ly duty she might come 'round.

Of course I will. Maybe tell Lavender that Evelyn Longbottom offered but you wanted to give Lavender the opportunity to be in the leadership role. Honestly, I think Demelza Robins would be better at this than Lavender, she's less of an airhead. But if you want Lavender you could also nudge Moon to twist her arm. You know he'll think this is the best idea ever.

(Because while quite honestly I'm not sure he fancies a seat on the council, he'll quite enjoy having people fetching him things, don't you think?)

Oh, there's no reason it needs to be Lav. You're right, Demelza would be better.

I never thought I'd see Padma compete so hard for a place at the Lord's side. Especially after her brother - well, it's simply surprising, is all.

Can you imagine if she ends up both on the council and Head Girl?

That seems like a terrible idea, honestly; how could she possibly devote sufficient attention to Head Girl duties if she's Council membership to attend to? (As well as NEWTs -- she's planning to stand for every exam.) I hope the Headmistress takes that issue into consideration.

Well if there's anyone who believes themselves capable of all that, it would be Padma. Even Draco's told me that being Head Boy isn't so very important to him anymore.

You can tell from her comment below that she's really feeling the strain of all this.

I don't think Padma really believes she's capable of all of it. I think she believes she OUGHT to be, and that admitting she's not would cause Sandoval to scorn her, which she can't bear.

Draco's from an old pureblood family, one of the most influential families in the Protectorate -- he's really got nothing to prove. Padma, well, her family's certainly pure but they're in a different category, she can't afford to slack off, or at least that's what she thinks.

I wonder if she knows what she actually wants?

Oh, probably not.

I mean, does anyone?

Well, I know I want to be a Healer. And that helps, you know, knowing what to focus on.

Of course, if all of Professor Dolohov's influence and Madam Pomfrey's support and Pansy's offers of generous donations fail to get me into an apprenticeship programme I'll be right back at the beginning, trying to figure out what to do next.

And I want to be a stage actress, and with Grandmother's influence I don't see that as beyond my reach at all. But no one sees that as a terribly impressive aspiration, except those who appreciate the arts.

I'm sorry that your future hinges on so many delicate factors, Sally Anne, but I hope you can at least take comfort in being surrounded by people who want to see you achieve your goals.

It's a tremendous comfort, actually.

I will always be grateful that the Hat put me in Slytherin. It's where I've 'found my true friends,' or whatever the song said, and not just Pansy.

I wish the school as a whole had more respect for the arts. I never thought of acting as particularly hard until I tried it, because good actors make it look so easy! NEVER AGAIN. You're brilliant at it, though.

Cheers, Daphs. Trust you to find ways to make any occasion into a social activity, and gracefully, too, of course.

I'm quite pleased and gratified to say that Ravenclaw Corner are taking excellent care of myself and Tamblyn, and have been since the start. Oh, and Moon, of course, as well. But of course, more assistance and encouragement is always welcome!

There are bound to be some people helping across house lines, too, for those who are mates with candidates outside their own houses. I don't think you meant to imply that your support squad was entirely partisan, but some people might take it that way.

Anyway, it's good to see that the importance of our quest is understood by all. Particularly when the competition's difficulty increases, as I'm sure it will, perhaps the support squad will be willing to supply ready sources for all the candidates' needs. I'm sure we'd all greatly appreciate it, and if nothing else, we appreciate everyone understanding that part of these tests is to discover each of our limits, so we all have to push ourselves to the very edges in our loyalty to Our Lord.

You needn't thank me at all.

Oh, no, the Slytherin support squad is quite partisan in some ways. Though anyone should feel free to offer assistance to anyone they like, Slytherin has the most competitors by far and thus deserves our foremost attention. Indeed, I don't think the founders would have divided us up into four separate houses if they hadn't intended there to be some friendly competition between us! But we're all here under the same banner, which is precisely why I hope that those in other houses will take my message under consideration.

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A Show of School Support

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