6th Spell

[whatthewrackspurt]

[Private to Jax]

I was hoping it would be you.



[Public]

Hello, everyone.

[Luna seems to have taken down some of the mistletoe around her door and fashioned herself a pair of mistletoe earrings, which she is now wearing.]

Curious, the level of festivity around here. The Admiral must be a very big fan of Christmas.

Happy Hanukkah!

Comments

[punched_hitler]

Oh - wow.

[Although, after a few seconds of thought,] I guess it makes sense. If you don't want to be found, it's going to take a pretty big effort and everyone's got to be on board. [Hence, it's law.

In which case,] I guess living here is at least a little enlightening, then? Even though there's plenty of things that I wouldn't call normal for, uh, Muggles, either.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Exactly. The Statute of Secrecy is to be maintained. Or at least that's what people say.

Generally, yes. It's strange to go your whole life without having any magic.

[punched_hitler]

Although no one can keep anything a secret forever. [Eventually, someone's going to slip up, aren't they?]

Strange for you, maybe. [He grins a little.] Some of us have to get by the old-fashioned way. I think we do all right.

But if it's a part of you, like you said, then I also don't blame you for thinking that.

[whatthewrackspurt]

No. Fortunately, that's what memory charms are for. There's a whole team in the Ministry assigned to do just that.

It is, but it also isn't. Sometimes there are days when I forget what's really magic, what's Barge magic, and what's Muggle invention.

[punched_hitler]

Oh - oh. I guess that would do it. [You people sure do think of everything. But necessity is the mother of invention.]

I guess things might be a little more complicated, around here. What's the strangest, uh, Muggle invention you've come across so far?

[whatthewrackspurt]

The electric apple-corer is something of a mystery.

[punched_hitler]

[He laughs a little.] I think that's a mystery to some of us, too.

I'm better at doing it with a knife.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Some things like to be done the old way.

Could you tell me what a vac-cu-um is used for? We don't have those.

[punched_hitler]

Sometimes the old way just makes more sense.

Oh - [He laughs a little.] Yeah. It's for cleaning. It sucks up dust. That one is easier than sweeping, 'cause I've done both.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Cleaning. That's funny, I never would have guessed.

[punched_hitler]

[Okay, now he's gotta ask:] What did you think it was for?

[whatthewrackspurt]

Catching small chipmunks.

[punched_hitler]

Oh - you know, I've never tried that.

But I think I know a guy who might have one powerful enough to do that.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Really? Who? Is he on the Barge?

[punched_hitler]

No. [Thank God. Probably.] His name's Tony. He's... a little bit like Iris, but human.

[Actually, he thinks Tony and Iris would get along fabulously.]

[whatthewrackspurt]

Does he have a large rodent infestation?

[punched_hitler]

No, just a lot of money and a lot of time on his hands. And a dislike of being bored.

[whatthewrackspurt]

I can understand that.


...Well, no, I can't. We don't have lots of money.

[punched_hitler]

[He smiles.] No, but you're creative and you've been bored before, hm?

[whatthewrackspurt]

[She nods, very seriously]

History of Magic with Professor Binns.

[punched_hitler]

[He has to laugh, a little.] Not as interesting as it sounds, huh?

Then again, I don't know the first thing about magic. You do.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Not especially. Not the way he teaches it.

Is your friend Tony magical?

[punched_hitler]

That's a shame, it sounds like it could be pretty interesting.

Not in the least. But he manages.

[whatthewrackspurt]

It is, but only if you teach yourself.

That's good. That's very good to hear.

[punched_hitler]

I do know that a bad teacher can be a lot worse than no teacher.

Most of us do, after all. We've just gotta use what we have.