I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hydra]

Is anyone going to Smith's proposed water fight?

I'm not; it wouldn't be worth trying to lie around Mummy for. She doesn't ask many questions when I say I'm going to see Remy, but she would certainly ask about Smith. Especially now. Earlier this week she pointed out that I've been very neglectful of Harry and that I haven't tried hard to see him at all since CCF ended. I pointed out that he was on holiday but she acted as if that wasn't much of an excuse. So, to make her happy I told her that Harry had been confiding in me more that he used to. That's at least a little bit true, and she didn't press for details, either, so that's good.

I suppose this is where I say that when we're at school this year, I'll have to be careful about who I associate with from the lock. Of course, no one would say a thing if I spent time with Sally Anne and Pansy...also, Luna is in my year, so that makes some sense as well. And Justin and I are always careful, or try to be.

Right now I'm certainly not planning to purposefully ignore or be unkind to anyone, but if I seem a little aloof and distant, it's only because I don't want anyone to be hurt because of my parents. Because of my Mother, I mean.

I always have to be careful. She might go for months and months with scarcely a comment to me, and then, out of nowhere, unleash her disdain for something I didn't even realise she was aware of, or even cared about. And it's not because she's a legilimens. It's because she notices everything. She stores it away and saves it, and then, when she's ready, she uses it against you. I don't ever want her to be able to every use this against me, because I need it.

So, that's all. Have fun at the water fight (if you're going).

Comments

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good: Private message to Harry Marvolo and Hermione Granger

[alt_hydra]

I'm writing a private message to Harry about what happened after the Tournament, because he asked me if I could ask Daddy about the ritual the Lord Protector did with him. I wanted you to know about what I found out, too, so I included you on the private message. I suppose Harry might think it strange but then again, he might not notice.

From,
Hydra

[alt_justin]

Hullo,

I'm surprised she didn't point out that you were with him on holiday, part of the time. Dash it all, it's well intolerable.

At any rate, Remy and Alfie want to go to the park and leave Maggie to do all the packing. I told them we could do but only if we spent the morning helping at least to gather up anything they want to bring to school. I say, they seemed to think she could simply guess what they'd need, what!

So if you told her you were going to meet them, it wouldn't be a lie. But I can see why you might wish to be cautious.

Only one more day, love.

I say, have you read any of the new books for this year? I started on the Callidus. I wasn't able to get a copy of the translation he mentioned, what, so I got a concordance. Only, this translation is quite wrong in places, so I've taken to checking the Latin over to make certain I'm getting it right.

It's...not as distasteful as one might have imagined. Still, one hopes that passing or failing shan't adversely affect one's O.W.L. marks overall, what?

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

I think that in her mind, seeing Harry on holiday isn't the same as making sure that he doesn't "need me." She wants me to make myself indispensable to him.

It's funny, I don't think she even realises that she's suggesting that I be the way that she is around the Lord Protector.

Maybe they think Maggie can use her magic that she's not allowed to use to divine just what it is that they'll need in their truck throughout the school year?

And I do wish I could go, but I should probably be careful - I'm sorry. But it is only one more day, after all.

I looked through a few of the books out of interest, but I've mostly been trying to get a jump on my Arithmancy reading, since it was such a challenge for me last year. I didn't struggle nearly so much with Dark Arts, but that was with Miss Professor Carrow. Professor Dolohov seems as if he will be more challenging than her, but in a different way. I don't think, though, that he can expect students who are entirely new to the subject to be at O.W.L. level by the end of the year. Or not reasonably expect, at least.

[alt_justin]

I think it's that they're not well used to having a servant, if you follow me. From what I've seen about elves, they do have a way of anticipating what one might wish to have handy. But of course, Maggie's not an elf, nor a mind-reader, what. I've seen your Aunt sometimes expect something bally well unreasonable and then get cross when Maggie can't deliver. I've tried to very gently intercede so Maggie doesn't get into trouble. But it's well uncomfortable to see them grope their way, or to watch her wonder whether she's about to be cursed for her efforts. I don't blame her if she wishes she could get cross right back, what.

Yes, I read the first few chapters of the Arithmancy text, too, and that tutor spent quite a while over the summer bringing me up to snuff to enter lessons this year. Though he was somewhat surprised at things I already knew, so I suppose helping you revise has done me some good, after all. But he had Professor Vector's syllabus (I'm not sure why or how), so the fourth year is rather fresh in my mind, if you've any questions.

I'm a bit concerned that I might have to let Runes or Creatures go, what, as I wasn't planning on taking Dark Arts until now. I should like to have skived off it, of course, but one can't afford to appear to be shirking. Not after 'asking' to move to the Protectorate, what?

I say, I'm not well certain there's even going to be an O.W.L. exam in Dark Arts, what? I don't see how there can be, if Professor Dolohov is only just developing a curriculum. Or doesn't the Ministry need to approve it first?

I wonder if one ought to ask.

I say, do you think your mother or father will go with you to the station? Or Mrs...is it Mrs Baylock? I think the most difficult part of the day will be waiting on the platform and not being able to hold your hand or kiss you hello. I suppose we'll manage--we'll bally well have to do, shan't we?--but it's going to be well tempting.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

Yes, Elves usually don't require much instruction, especially if they've been with a family for generations. Mummy says that mudbloods are stupid and the people who keep them as servants even stupider. I do think she has a point about the people who keep them as servants being stupid... though sometimes I wonder, if mudbloods were servants - well, slaves - for a long enough time, for hundreds and hundreds of years, would they start to act like elves? I mean, would they get used to it? Or even enjoy it? I keep thinking of Dennis... he was raised by house elves so he could be the perfect mudblood servant. The others will remember how he was. He would even punish himself if he did something wrong, just like a house elf does.

That's a scary thought.

Do you want me to ask if there will be an O.W.L. exam? Daddy is friends with Professor Dolohov, so I could introduce myself, and then ask him about it. Through a private message, I mean.

I don't think Mummy will go, she hasn't since first year. It will either be Daddy or Mrs Baylock. But you know, if you're that eager we could always meet behind that giant mountain of trucks and luggage...

Private Message to Dux

[alt_justin]

If you're with your father I don't think we'd better. But if it's Mrs Baylock then do you think she'd care if you told her you're going to stand with some friends and she doesn't need to wait for the train to leave?

-J

Re: Private Message to Dux

[alt_hydra]

I'm sure she'll be too busy with Rigel, since she takes him along everywhere, and will probably be in a hurry to get him back home.

We'll need to mind that all the luggage doesn't topple over, though!

[alt_ron]

Why? Have you heard someone say they're cancelling the OWL for Dark Arts? Because the teacher's changing, maybe. Only, they didn't cancel the Creatures OWL when Brutka took it over or when G-P took it from him. Or the Transfig exam when Brutka took over from Carrow.

You're lucky you never had to take anything from either of them. The Carrows, I mean.

[alt_justin]

Wait, do you mean to say it's--oh, but of course it was an elective, what, but surely there hasn't been an official Ordinary Wizarding Level for it all this time?

I say, that's dashed inconvenient.

I do beg pardon, old chap, I can't say what I was thinking. Of course, there's already an O.W.L. in them.

-Justin

[alt_ron]

No worries. I wish you'd been right!

So which electives are you taking? I've got Creatures and Runes. I'm leaving off Divination, though. I mean I took it because it's meant to be soft, but I've got to drop something. And when the twins got Dolohov's list for their year, it's got a Runes text on it, so I might as well stick with that. And no way I'm dropping Creatures!

[alt_justin]

I had already signed on for Arithmancy, Runes and Creatures before we learned about Dark Arts as well. I shall have to see how the year goes but I'm well concerned it's going to be rather too much, what?

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

I'm sorry about your mum. I mean, I know that's just how it is, but still.

And we can talk over these as much as we want, so there's that.

We can also be discreet about the Tea too, just in case.

[alt_hydra]

I don't the Tea is much to worry about, they only happen on occasion. But I always try to be as discreet as I can, anyway.

We can always change it to a Tea Appreciation Club meeting, even if it's just the name. I think that a "Tea of the Strange" might be something that would get Madam Umbridge's attention, eventually, and perhaps not in a good way.

[alt_luna]

I'm sorry. That does sound extremely uncomfortable, and it's a shame you can't go to the water fight. It turns out I can't go either, because Mrs Brown wants me to go with her while she does some visits and meetings this afternoon. I think she hopes I'll pick up how to act like a 'proper' witch if I sit through a planning meeting for the St Mungo's fundraiser, but I don't think it will work like that.

I will look for you on the train tomorrow, if you don't mind sitting with someone not in your House.

[alt_hydra]

What's a 'proper' witch?

Do you still have a hedgehog?