I told Hydra a few days ago that if I hadn't had NEWTS and Antonin as entirely good reasons to return, I might not have done. Do you know what she said? That she's already decided not to come back for her final year. I mean to say, right now I can entirely understand why it might be pointless for her, what, but I hope she's not shorting herself on my account. It's got me thinking about how we'll manage being secretly married when we're not at school.

Of course if things continue between Daphne and Crouch, I might be able to arrange to let Spencer House from her--but one doesn't like to endorse that relationship too enthusiastically, what. Which is ironic, considering that his attention to Daphne is one of the only things that allows Hydra a break from his bally well incessant 'training.'

I say, didn't mean to complain. It's not nearly as bad as it might be.

-J

Really? Ron, what's your take, if you don't mind my asking.

Of course, excepting you two, Daphne always has had something of a...propensity, one might say, for cruel men. Crouch is no different in his way. I'm sure she thinks she's in full control of herself and one can't exactly throw stones--we are all playacting parts here at school. It's frightfully condescending to suggest that Ron or I or Hydra can maintain our distance but Daphne can't, what.

But then again, we're not attempting to make ourselves into Mata Hari.

-J

Ah, well, with Hydra.... I might have had a fleeting thought that getting close to her would make it possible to gain access to Bellatrix. But that was nothing more than arrogance. I couldn't have hurt Bellatrix then any more than a buzzing insect, what. I think rather that I was justifying my attraction to Hydra by reasoning that I was looking for an opportunity to foil Bellatrix, more than the other way round. The sad reality is, it was simply love at first sight.

As much as one believes in that sort of thing, what. But infatuation, at the very least. Then the more I got to know her, the more I couldn't look at anyone else. I don't know, perhaps if she hadn't felt the same, I might not have become so attached. Now, it's far too late for that, but luckily for me, she was the sort who was bound to reject her upbringing.

For Daphne.... Well, one can't say Crouch is incapable of feeling affection, loyalty, even deep regard. But selfless love? I jolly well doubt she's enough to engender that in him. No disrespect to her, of course; in this case it's because the object of her desire is a psychopath. He's simply more refined than Bole (or Zabini).

I say, have you and Sally-Anne ever talked about her? Has she mentioned being worried? Perhaps this is one of those times when we, as blokes, are simply not allowed to imply that a lady might be vulnerable to losing her way. (I shan't tell Ginny, never fear!)

-J

No, I expect his patience for that sort of thing is jolly well limited.

But I suspect they haven't really done much in the way of talking, at all.

I ought to ask Hydra what she's perceived compared to earlier, and if anything has changed.

Do you mean what has she said about Daphne's state of mind, or what does Hydra think about Daphne's course of action?

If the former, she told you herself that Daphne believes she's doing the Order a service and yet she's simultaneously very much in love with him.

If it's the latter...I don't think she ever did come up with the right thing to say to Crouch. I wonder if we could frame it appropriately when we're all together tomorrow.

-J