Foolishness

[alt_terry]

boot thinks that foolishness is not so simple as it seems, always.

that is almost a joke

sometimes people are foolish because they really are fools. not much can be done about that.

sometimes people just seem foolish, maybe because someone made them look that way. like they played a prank on them. but perhaps they are really wise, even if everyone is laughing at them.

how would someone who is truly a fool react to a prank? how about someone who is really wise?

its strange. boot thinks that the one who is most truly a fool would try the hardest to make people see it was a prank and to convince others he is really wise. (but of course it is hard to look wise when you have fallen for a prank.)

but maybe you didnt fall for it because you are stupid. maybe just because you are kind or innocent, because you have a hard time even imagining people could be so spiteful. that isnt a bad thing, maybe. even if you are a fool. maybe its better to be a fool than to be cruel.

maybe if you are wise person who has been made to look foolish to others, you dont mind so much. maybe you laugh along with everyone else. because you learned something. like that you arent wise every single moment, all the time. or who your true friends really are. (they are the ones who are not laughing, if the joke was really spiteful). or maybe just that you like to laugh yourself. because you can enjoy a joke, even if its on you.

And if people think you are a fool, when youre really not, maybe then its good if you keep your wisdom a secret for yourself. especially if people are cruel.

Comments

[alt_terry]

sir . . . please, sir . . . what can boot say?

boot knows he is a mudblood
boot knows he is low
boot told the great man so when he saw him before
boot is lower than a fool even
because fools are human, but
a mudblood is not even human

boot has said it again and again
boot played no pranks
said no insults
boot was only thinking in his own journal a bit
and said something because -- because he wanted to help the young master a bit
mr weasley
because he saw how he felt badly today
please do not blame boot if he was stupid and blundered in what he said.
and hermione has said she is stupid, too

The king may have the fool's tongue out, yes,
but is it not his mercy that makes the king so much better than the fool?

[alt_lucius]

If a king suspects his fool's tongue is made of silver, wouldn't he be foolish not to have it out of him?

And as for protestations of helping young Weasley, I am curious: What is it to you if he has been jinxed? For what unctuous purpose do you wish him your friend? Or are you seriously suggesting that even in your lowly position, you may sympathise - even more: Pity a rightful wizard?

[alt_terry]

If the king takes the mudblood's tongue out, he punishes him for one word, one sentence
by doing that he prevents the mudblood from ever speaking in his king's service or on his behalf
for all the days that follow
and does he not then make his servant less able to serve?
it hurts the king more than the servant

boot never claimed to be a friend to mr weasley!
for how can the low befriend the high?
how can the mud befriend the sun?
yet the animal who lives in the mud,
when he sees mud splattered on the great
he simply knows how it feels
because of his own experience
not because they are friends

and as for pity,
well, the mudblood understands burdens because he is a servant
does not the great wizard have the greater burdens?
because of his position as the best and the purest?
and may not the low look upon the high
and pity the burden that the great must bear,
simply because he knows what it is to bear his own,
but not because he dreams that he could ever dare to take it himself?

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[alt_molly]

Oh, Arthur. I'm almost in tears reading this.

Will he do it? Can he save himself?

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[alt_arthur]

I don't know, Molly. The boy clearly realises what's at stake and is doing the best he can to defend himself and Hermione without openly challenging Malfoy too much.

Merlin, but he is clever. I never quite realised how much before. It would be a terrible waste if Malfoy sinks in his claws.

[alt_lucius]

We were speaking of fools, not mudbloods, but clearly in this case, they are one and the same.

Carrow, you've proven that torture leads to poetry. Bad poetry at that. Might want to have it checked for an overabundance of impassioned profundity. Next the creature will be spouting passages out of Coleridge - or worse: Alfred Noyes.

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[alt_arthur]

I think the boy has done the thing. Malfoy's backing off. Unbelievable!

Minerva, you might send the boy to Poppy for a calming draught tomorrow. My nerves were all but hexed to pieces merely watching from the sidelines, and so I can only imagine how he feels.

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[alt_mcgonagall]

I certainly shall, and I shall have a word with Miss Granger as well.

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[alt_sirius]

I'm not so sure, Arthur. Reading this over this morning ... I think he grew tired of playing cat-and-mouse with the fellow. He pulled Carrow into it, after all.

I think he's up to something, the snake.

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[alt_arthur]

He usually is. A snake indeed.

Bugger. Poppy better make sure her blood-replenishing potions are fully stocked, then. Minerva, let us know if you hear anything more?

(Poor blighter.)