Private Message to Susan Bones and Zacharias Smith

[alt_ernie]

So did either of you ask to go along on any of the outings with the visiting delegations?

I don't want to miss too much of the time at home, of course, but it seemed the right thing to do, to put in for some of it. So I asked to go along to the camp and to Cambridge. I've never been there, but it's got to be wizard, right?

Comments

[alt_zacharias]

Yeah, I did as well, same thing. And I didn't ask about New London but we're going to be going there at least once over hols, I think, so that's all right.

Does your dad ever take you along when he goes to the camps?

[alt_ernie]

Not often. I remember once when Mum was about to have really busy, Dad took me to help her out. Mostly I remember playing gobstones on a floor in a little room, but I think I remember the guards, too. I'm not sure. I was really small then.

And then, I did go along with him last summer. When we applied for CCF, you know, I thought I might want to work in the Ministry in one of the departments that manage things in the camps. Dad said I ought to see what it's like in the camps before I think seriously about that sort of career. He said he could work out an internship with one of the camp administrators if I'm still serious about it after OWLs. He thinks even if I mean to work at the Ministry, knowing how things really work in a camp could give me a boost over other people competing for the job.

[alt_ernie]

So did they put you down for the camp visit?

Professor Siz says they're taking people who aren't very familiar with the camps or haven't gone before or something. Which means I didn't get chosen.

I mean, it's not like they just let kids go anytime they want, and I was really wanting to go and see how this one compares to the one I saw last summer. I'm kind of curious about what they'll tell the foreign students about the camps, too. I mean, it would be interesting to know how they explain them.

[alt_zacharias]

Huh.

Yeah, I'm going. Could be interesting, I guess.

I suppose I'd rather go to the camps than Cambridge but either way, the real point is that Krum's going to be there, innit?

[alt_ernie]

Rub it in a bit more, why don't you?

Have you got him to sign something for you yet?

Actually, I think the real point is that it's easy for them to pass over Hufflepuffs and not pay attention to what we request, yeah?

[alt_zacharias]

Oh, relax, Ern. It's gonna be boring, loads more 'Here's what's so great about us' so the foreigners can go home and tell everyone how much better we are. That's all.

No, I don't think Krum speaks a lot of English, does he? Every time someone asks him for an autograph he sort of looks at them like they've got two heads.

And steady on. It's not like Professor Siz isn't Hufflepuff herself, you know. But yeah, I suppose there'll be twice as many Slytherins and Ravenclaws. Still. Least we're not Gryffindors, hey?

Anyway, speaking of that, Fleet and Bobolis were thinking of having another get-together before hols. You going to bring Pip this time?

[alt_susan]

I put in to go to the Dales, myself--I've heard it's really beautiful up there.

I was thinking about Cambridge too--do you suppose it's too late to sign up?

[alt_ernie]

Well, but the Dales trip's on Easter. Mum wouldn't like it if I weren't home. The whole family comes. And now she's got kitchen help, she really goes all out for it.

Anywiz, I need to have some time for revising, too, so I'm not really wanting to go on more than one of the other trips besides the camp.

[alt_ernie]

What about you: did they put you down for the camp visit?

They're not letting me go, which is really sort of annoying. I mean, I think I've got a good reason to what to go along.

[alt_susan]

I don't think I'm down for it, either; unless I hear otherwise.

Honestly, it sounded a bit dull to me--give me the countryside any day.

[alt_ernie]

Oh. Did you not ask for it, then? The camp, I mean.

Those of us who did, heard back at lunch. And I didn't get chosen.

I don't know why I'm surprised. I guess even with Professor Siz overseeing the programme it's easy to put Hufflepuffs at the bottom of the list for things.