A week in New London

[alt_percy]

I am genuinely grateful to my brother Bill for putting me up in his flat this week, to give me an opportunity to look around New London a bit. And my brother Charlie's here now, too! It's wonderful to see him again, and he's looking good, barring the usual singed patches. It seems like we've been all over the city. New London is certainly looking splendid, with all of the renovation that's been going on. Much more green space, and of course, much less crowded that London has been historically, I understand. Truly, this is the way a city is supposed to be!

I had been rather, well, reclusive during my last week at Hogwarts and rather thought I'd be in the same mood this week. But Bill took me the first day to see the Protectorate Retrospective: The First Decade, an exhibition at University College. It was so interesting I was quite seized by an interest in history that's got us out and walking to see the sites around London almost every day this week. We took one of the pre-arranged tours on Tuesday, but then on Wednesday night we went on our own to see Protector's Square, and the Triumphal Arch in Green Park, and so on.

I took Penny to the New London Philharmonic on Wednesday night, using the tickets that Mr Malfoy had so kindly provided. It was a world premiere, the Albion Symphony, by Eustace Euphonious. I freely admit that my knowledge of music is rudimentary at best, but even to my amateur ear, the performance was splendid. Very moving. I was so glad to be able to share it with Penny.

Penny also joined the three of us today when we went to see the gardens at Kensington. I had started to feel that perhaps I'd been a bit too ambitious with the walking tours, but that was certainly worth the trip, a highlight of the entire week.

I've tried to squeeze in a few visits with friends and acquaintances. Mr Crispin, my mentor from my internship last summer with Mr Malfoy, was gracious enough to meet me for breakfast this morning, and I had lunch with Ned Pennifold earlier in the week.

Still, it'll be a nice change to be sitting still tomorrow. Bill's gotten us tickets to see the Wimbourne Wasps play the Appleby Arrows.

Comments

Re: Order Only

[alt_arthur]

Thanks for the report Bill. I'm glad that there have been some benefits to your idea to put him up for the week. As for the rest...I'm very sorry to hear it, but as you say, it's what your mother and I feared.

Has he unburdened himself any about what happened with Carrow?

Re: Order Only

[alt_bill]

I've probed a little--very gingerly--about the aftereffects of using the Imperius. He admitted about what happened after that scene when you caught him trying to cast Crucio. I know you were relieved when he said he wouldn't try casting it anymore. But I think that's because being a sadist doesn't tempt him at all. Carrow revolted him--but perversely, that sense of his own superiority is what made it easier for him to cast Imperius. Aside from the general horror of what happened, he was shaken when he cast Imperius, but I suspect not in the same way as when he tried Crucio.

He hasn't said so, and I'm not sure he's entirely articulated it to himself. But I'm beginning to wonder whether what really shook him about it was that he liked it.

No, the temptation to cause pain isn't what's going to get Percy into trouble.

It's the temptation of power.