Private message to Barty

[alt_rabastan]

Barty, know that you're busy with wotsit, but I was up all night thinking on this, and I've got to talk about it with someone. And it can't be Rory - not yet.

Have you ever been in a situation where you might've fathered a child? Unknowingly, I mean.

Well, of course you've been in those situations. We went to that Psuedo place together, after all. And I'm sure you've always known when it was happening. I certainly hope so, at least, as it tends to be more enjoyable that way.

What I mean to say is that did you ever have a former lover come up to you with a baby or child in tow and say "Guess what, Barty, this one's yours?"

Or, say, even had that actual child run up to you and say "Hallo, you're my Daddy!"

Or... yeah, things of that nature.

Comments

[alt_crouch_jr]

Ah.

Well. It never went that far. I mean, there were never any sprogs.
 
 
. . .
 
 
There were two times that 'arrangements' had to be made. Three if you count Beatrice Mackrell: that wasn't my mess, but I helped her out of it.

Sounds as if you've had a shock. What's happened?
 
 
 
4:24pm
2:24am

[alt_rabastan]

Right. They had someone working for the quidditch leagues who would make "arrangements" for players - never had to take advantage of that service, myself.

Something like that.

You know the Greengrass girl? The one who they cast as you in the play, and who appears to... fancy you a smidge? She..

Well, maybe you remember - I know you were a few years behind us, but if you recall, her Mother and I dated our last years at Hogwarts. She wanted to get married, I wanted to do other things.

And Daphne, that's her daughter - she thinks that I might be her Father.

[alt_crouch_jr]

. . .

I think I'm lucky she only fancies me. Sent me tickets for a summer concert series, you know, as a Christmas present.
 
 
Do you think you might be?
 
 
 
 
5:26pm
2:56am

[alt_crouch_jr]

Well?
 
 
 
 
You think she might be, don't you?

By the way. When you say you never had to take advantage of the league's service, were you just saving yourself for the sake of sport back then? Or did you leave it to the witches to take care of themselves?

Can't say I trusted most of my 'acquaintances' that far.
 
 
 
 
 
6:34pm
3:15am

[alt_rabastan]

I don't know.

It was after I got out of hospital- first time I was injured. I was trying to recover from both that and Evan's death, and Vic showed up, all prepared to "be there" for me. And I needed someone, so I didn't turn her away. Even though she was engaged to Greengrass by then.

And no, I wasn't saving myself, but I never seriously considered it would happen to me. That sort of thing only happened to other blokes, you see. A very mature outlook I had there- and the very reason why the possibility exists and I can't ignore it.

But she really doesn't remind me of myself at all. She... you don't see any resemblance, do you?

[alt_crouch_jr]

I really haven't paid that much attention to the girl, but if you say she doesn't look like you, well, you'd know how to judge that.

Though that could be bent by wishful thinking.

I suppose you can't ask your Astronomer what she thinks. I'd say she's best placed to give a real assessment.

At any rate, there's an obvious resemblance between the mother and daughter. That one would fly to your bedside, too, if you were injured. Or mine. Whatever. Romantic heroine type. Probably writing you into her first novel right now.

How do you want that story to go, then?
 
 
 
 
7:16pm
4:02am

[alt_rabastan]

I want that story to not be written, thanks. Just- no.

There was a time when I once wondered what I might've given up by not choosing a life with Vic, but that time is far behind me now. Might not be so far behind her, as it turns out- if what her daughter says is any indication.

Romance heroines they may be, but the girl's more drawn to danger than Vic ever was. The whole reason this mess came spilling out is because the lad she was dating, Barnabas Bole, had been brutalising her for the last few months. Sluggy and I, along with the rest of the staff, had to take steps to make sure that he'll leave her alone from here on out. When we were questioning her about what she'd endured, she just started spilling out everything.

She's been keeping this hunch of hers a secret for months, it seems. Think she surprised herself by even telling me. Now I'm not sure what I'm meant to do. Find out once and for all? And if so, what happens after?

And I will talk to Rory. Course I will. I just wanted to sort it out in my head a bit, first.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Bole? Son of the Prophet's editor? Former. Shame he's retired. You could have used that to keep the younger one in line. Since you've decided to get in the middle of it.

Must have been ugly, then.

She's not knocked up, is she? Not likely is it, during term. Did you ever wonder what sorcery keeps that from happening with the usual frequency in that school? It's not that the students abstain. To my knowledge.
 
 
 
 

8:21pm
4:04am

[alt_rabastan]

Sluggy's got connections to the elder Bole and plans to use them, from what I understand. While I've done what I can to impress upon him that I can make or break his quidditch career, if it suits me to do so.

Fair amount of ugly, yeah. But no, to my knowledge she's not in a family way. Small mercy, that.

Must be something in the castle's protective magic, though I have had cause to wonder if it extends to adults, as well. Not that I'm planning to risk that in any capacity whatsoever. Certainly not now.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Has Bole been scouted by Puddlemere, do you know? Want me to drop Mackrell a line? Surely he's not such a paragon we couldn't pass him by.

You were clever, choosing a witch committed to her career. She's got an interest in avoiding that, same as you.
 
 
 
 
8:57pm
4:09am

[alt_rabastan]

Not Puddlemere, but Tutshill, Wimbourne, and New London, I think. Just as a broom-warmer, mind. All the teams are thick with skilled beaters, but they tend to have the shortest careers, so its good to have extras on hand. What everyone's looking for is a stand out Keeper. In my day, that's what everyone wanted to play- be the big hero under pressure. Now it's more exciting to be the one who drives the crowd wild with a well-placed bludger to the skull.

We do at that I think, but you know how it goes. The longer we're together the more we'll both face scrutiny for not producing some sprog.

And as for that- was she one of those you had to make "arrangements" for? Ursula, I mean.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Yes, Puddlemere have all the skull-bashers we can use, and you're quite right, we could definitely do with a better Keeper.

Do you know the Ministry put me on the list for their population pamphlets as soon as the rumour mill got hold of my interest in Athena Belby. I started getting twice the number when I took up with M-

Nevermind. Anyway.

I thought I'd slipped that past you, about the two 'arrangements'. Ursula, to her credit, took care of all that herself. Not so, the other one.

But that was a wholly other situation. Began with Mother foisting eligible virgins on me at 'social teas' she lined up every Wednesday after I left school. Mordred's nether beard, it was awful. I decided my duty went no further than banging as many of them as I could persuade.

Unfortunately, that was exactly what Isadora Martin had in mind. Had to schedule the appointment, pay for it, and apply a bit of 'persuasion' to be sure she'd go through with the procedure.

Was never happier to send nuptial salutations than when Rowle married her.
 
 
 
 
10:22pm
4:12am

[alt_rabastan]

Well, given my past admitted carelessness, I'm now concerned that I may have some other potential child out there- learning to ride his first broomstick and water down his not-Father's firewhiskey.

But if that were the case, surely the child would have been trotted before me by now. Then again, Victoriana never did that, for her own peculiar reasons.

I'm going to have a talk with her. Got to.

But thanks for listening, mate.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Glad to do it.

Stay well, will you?
 
 
 
 
11:05pm
4:14am