013 [Filtered to Greg Lestrade]

[rule_britannia]

Do you have a minute?

[Understatement. He'll need more than a minute]

I need a word.

Comments

[rule_britannia]

There's something just so incredibly satisfying about it.

[He grins cockily]

I think it's something about the thud as they hit the ground.

[di_intraining]

I prefer the looks on their faces myself.

[There's a matching smirk to Arthur's cocky grin as he slips the journal back into the back.]

[rule_britannia]

Ah, yes.. the priceless expression as they wonder what just happened.

[He laughs]

You can really be rather devious when you've the mind for it, can't you?

[di_intraining]

What, me? I have no idea what you're talking about Arthur.

[Someone's been learning a bit too much sarcasm/snark from Victoria, if that innocent look he's giving Arthur is any indication.]

[rule_britannia]

[He stares for a moment]

... You've been spending too much time around my cousin.

[di_intraining]

That a good thing or a bad one?

[rule_britannia]

... We'll see.

[Pause, thinking]

You've been spending a fair bit of time with her since school started, now I think of it, haven't you?

[di_intraining]

I guess. I offered to teach her some Keeper basics, seeing as she was trying out for the team. And then we kept bumping into each other around Hogwarts too.

[rule_britannia]

Hmn.. I suppose it's something of a relief to know she's finally managing to make friends aside from me.

[di_intraining]

[What Arthur says reminds him of his conversation with Victoria just a day or two ago. She had only mentioned Arthur and Madeline, hadn't she?]

...she doesn't have that many friends? I thought she'd have a few, charming girl like herself.

[And he really does mean that; there isn't a drop of sarcasm in his tone because really, she's a polite and helpful girl. He couldn't see people not liking her. She could be annoying, but surely there were girls who'd be friendly with Victoria.]

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur shakes his head slightly]

She's always had trouble making friends. I've never understood it, myself..

[They're so alike, after all, and Arthur never has the problems that Victoria has]

[di_intraining]

Hmm. Well, I could try introducing her to some of the Hufflepuff girls. I think they'd get along, at the very least.

[rule_britannia]

[He smiles a bit, but it looks a little forced]

I'd appreciate that.

[di_intraining]

[Today, Greg should get a golden star for being more alert.]

...there a problem?

[He sounds more curious and...worried by that little forced smile of yours Arthur.]

[rule_britannia]

[Gold star, it's yours]

A problem? No.. not exactly.

[He rubs the back of his neck and frowns]

I just worry about her. She means a lot to me.

[di_intraining]

I'm worried about her too; I didn't know she'd gone through four years in Hogwarts with less than five friends.

[He's not going to bring up how upset she had looked at the thought of Arthur not spending that much time with her anymore either.]

I know I don't have that many myself, but three isn't a healthy number.

[rule_britannia]

[Just as well, but Arthur already knows, just as much as he knows she'll be afraid of that no matter how much he reassures her]

I know. I'm not sure why she doesn't have more friends than she does. If you could help her..

[Of course he knows. Victoria is somewhat rude, and abrasive to people she doesn't know, but.. so is Arthur, so he can't quite understand it]

[di_intraining]

You don't even need to ask. I know some friendly girls in Hufflepuff, pretty hard to tick'em off too. Not that she does a lot of it, but sometimes she can be a bit, well, blunt isn't exactly the right word...you know what I mean. But yeah, I'll see about them getting together and doing some, I dunno, girly stuff or whatever it is they do.

[rule_britannia]

I think 'blunt' would be exactly the right word, Greg.

[di_intraining]

[He grins and shrugs his shoulders, submitting to Arthur's point.]

Well it comes with the situation of course.

Seriously though, I'll do my best to get her some friends by the end of the year. Promise.