I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hydra]

I think I know where Professor Dolohov and Raz are.

Daddy's just written and says he's been summoned to Ireland. Mummy's already been there a while, it seems. He says that the IMA are "kicking up their heels" which I suppose must mean that they're staging a rebellion of some kind.

They must have done something big. He seemed to be in an awful rush.

Comments

[alt_justin]

Are you all right?


I'll skive off Charms if you need me to do.

[alt_hydra]

No, I'm fine. They used to go off on these sort of missions all the time when I was little, but it's been a while since they've both been called somewhere.

I don't know what sort of outcome to hope for this time. I wish that nobody would be hurt - on either side - but of course that can't be.

Private message to Pansy

[alt_hydra]

Uncle Lucius wasn't at the quidditch match either, was he?

I'm sure he's in Ireland with the rest of them. Do you think Draco knows?

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

You're right. I'm sure of it.

I believe Draco knows, yes. He's said something about tracking down a wireless to see what we can sort out.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_hydra]

If someone we're related to or grew up around dies, I'll be sad. Probably worse than sad.

I suppose the others will be happy, and will try not to show it.

This can be so confusing, sometimes.

Re: Private message to Pansy

[alt_pansy]

I know what you mean.

I'm worried about Lucius and Sirius, and they're on opposite sides of things, and I feel like I'm being stretched out thin thinking about both at once.

But I honestly don't know what I'd do if Lucius died. And if anyone on here

If anyone was happy about it.

[alt_pansy]

Terry, Hermione, what do you know? Have you heard anything?

[alt_justin]

Hullo,

MacMillan, Smith and I went up to listen to Applebee's wireless.

There was some sort of explosion in Dublin. Dublin Castle, what? And there are loads of casualties, mostly Ministry people who worked there.

They just said that a device that was meant to go off in a village school in Limerick was disabled and that MLE are rounding up suspects.

Oh.

They just received a report of another explosion. The Belfast Customs House. I say. A whole part of the Donegall Quay has gone into the water.

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

Explosions?

How awful.

Private Message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_ron]

Hey.

I know this is dumb to ask, but are you all right? Given that you're totally not. If you know what I mean.

Re: Private Message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_pansy]

I know what you mean.

I feel sick to my stomach.

I keep remembering the Cup.

I keep imagining that somehow Sirius Black will fight Lucius and they'll end up killing each other and I feel awful about all of it.

I don't think any of us are all right, really. I mean, some are less all right than others, I guess. But it's all a giant mess and someone tried to set off a bomb in a school and that's just not okay. It's sort of the worst thing I can think of.

How are you doing, tuna breath? Other than the obvious.

Re: Private Message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_ron]

I'm all right.

I've spent the evening trying to distract other people from paying much attention to Nev and Evelyn. They wanted to show that they weren't, y'know, worried or anything. Not that they told me that, but I think it's pretty obvious, and y'know, even here in Gryffindor, there are people who sort of watch them. Like they'd tell if they noticed anything suspicious about them.

Anywiz, Bundy and I've been playing a really vicious series of chess matches with the pieces really murdering each other. And people were mostly watching us rather than them.

About the other thing...

I hope they're both all right when this is over. Sirius Black and your godfather. It must be horrible worrying about both of them, and knowing-

And the worst is we won't really know anything unless someone dies. Then they might say on the news. We don't even know who's involved, and Terry won't tell us even though he knows some of it. I mean, how many of the wand smugglers have gone to Ireland? And-

I don't want the Ministry win, y'know. I can hope that Mr Malfoy doesn't die because it would make you sad, but-

It's just really amazing that someone's stood up to them, even if it is in Ireland. And, yeah, it does sound like the IMA've done terrible things if what they're saying on the wireless is true about there being bombs in schools and all, but... I'm not sure I believe what they're saying, y'know? I mean, they lie all the time, don't they? They say what the Ministry want us to hear. So how can we know anything about what's happening there?

It's horrible.

[alt_hydra]

I suppose that's not too surprising. After the Quidditch World Cup, MLE was worried that someone would try to use more bombs again - especially IMA. The Irish muggles used bombs and explosives against English muggles, back before the Protectorate, didn't they?

But in a school, even?

[alt_justin]

Yes, I think they did do. The 'troubles,' is what the Muggles called it, what? That was about English rule over Ireland, though.

MacMillan wants to switch it off so we can go to Dark Arts.

-J

[alt_terry]

The people I'm with. They got wind of it.

They were trying to stop it. But I think they ran out of time.

[alt_neville]

Terry...

Can you tell me...

Could you say...?

[alt_terry]

I mustn't say any more. Don't ask me, Neville!

[alt_pansy]

They were trying to stop it. You're sure of that?

[alt_terry]

Yes! Yes, I'm positive.

Private Message to Neville

[alt_evelyn]

Terry Boot said they're trying to stop it. Which means they're there. With the bombs and the people who want to kill them are there too and I'm so scared, and I have to sit through another thirty minutes of Herbology and I have to pretend

and every time I put down my quill my hands start shaking and

I can't. I can't be brave.

they could die, Pete.

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_neville]

You have to, Lindy. I know, I'm sorry, it's awful. But this is what you have to do to be strong for them. You mustn't give away that you think the news affects you.

Listen, come to dinner with me. And let's--let's play chess in the Common Room tonight. Revision can go hang for once.

If it gets really bad, or if you think you're starting to panic, try that two to four breathing exercise. Breathe in for two counts, out for four. Remember?

And just imagine that Mum and Dad are doing it along with you. Like they showed us.

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_evelyn]

In two out four.

Okay.

Fifteen more minutes.

And then dinner.

Do we have to be in front of everyone? They'll look at us. I know they will. And they'll hate us all over again, like they did when I first got here and

In two.

Out four.

In two.

Out four.

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_neville]

If neither of us has much appetite (I probably won't) we can bring bread and butter and sit overlooking the lake. And throw bits to the squid.

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_evelyn]

Yes please.