2 Sad, Sad Stories

[heartwrenching]

Oh yes oh yes, even when the world is reduced to a charred husk and the society of man lies in crumbled oblivion, I maintain that the rumor mill will somehow STILL be chugging along splendidly! Perhaps gossip is its own sentient species and we thrive together in symbiosis! Which came first: the human being or the gossip?!

Let's take this current situation for example. I'm sure the Ministry and our esteemed faculty would like to keep this mystery fairly quiet until it is fully solved, yet already I know that some people have been busy little bees, humming away like mad! People far, far outside the ministry know.

How am I so sure? Why, from the owl I just received from a family member congratulating me for performing an Unforgivable. Now, what were the exact words?? AH, YES - "finally coming to [my] senses, better late than never"!!

If they couldn't get me to cast those spells during the war, why would I now?

Comments

[styxiedust]

...Graham.

Breathe.

[heartwrenching]

But I am breathing. In fact, I'm breathing quite a lot! I'm breathing so much and so hard that my head is spinning slightly, although no, no, perhaps my head is spinning and in response I'm breathing as much as I am!

[styxiedust]

Errr...well, perhaps we don't want you to be breathing that much.

I'm worried you might be having a panic attack.

[heartwrenching]

By your logic, there is a perfect level of breathing - a shangri-la of the lungs which solves all ills! But are you sure, CAN you be sure, of such a utopia?!

Ah, but you see, panic implies fear - justified or otherwise! And what do I have to fear?

[styxiedust]

Mate, if I knew that much I wouldn't be in school trying to learn about it.

And panic attacks aren't necessarily caused by fear, just anxiety. Things that make you worry. Like, say, that letter you received seems to have sent you into a sort of fit that appears to be like a panic attack.

Do you need a paper bag?

[heartwrenching]

I see, I see. In the event that you never learn about it, I suggest you invent it yourself. Botan's Art of Breath: breathe your troubles away!!

Ahh, but what does anxiety feel like? Have I felt it? I DO know that I am sad, so very, very sad, to be the subject of such miscalculation on the part of my family! But I'm also happy, so happy, THE HAPPIEST to know that not only can I handle their ways, but have handled them in the past, and have the support of at least one wonderful soul in such a pit of vipers! Happiness and sadness whirling in a spiral, an endless loop curling together into infinity, contradicting and complimenting in turn!! Is this anxiety?

BUT REGARDLESS OF THE DEFINITION OF ANXIETY, where does a paper bag fit in?

[styxiedust]

...You breathe into it. It stops you from hyperventilating.

Although in your case your--err--passion might pop it.

[heartwrenching]

... Pop? That's another way of saying break. PopbreakpopbreakpopbreakpopBREAK-

I WANT THE BAG AND HAVE ALWAYS WANTED IT.

[styxiedust]

O




kay



I'll get you a bag. I'll get you lots of bags.

[heartwrenching]

I appreciate your cooperation!!

But if any of the bags are indestructible in any way, I want NOTHING to do with them. Such a terrible concept. An affront to all things natural!

[styxiedust]

Of course not!

They'll all be made of lovely destroyable paper.

[reportedly]

You sound stressed. Need to go beat a Bludger around to feel better?