I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_hydra]

How is everyone feeling? We're supposed to be happy, I suppose.

I'm happy about some things, but not about others. I'm happy that the bomb in the school didn't explode. And that members of my family weren't killed. Yet I'm a rather sick at the thought of how many people who weren't involved were killed. And then there's those strange things they've said about what was done to the airport. It can't have been good.

When I was little and first heard the word "airport," I thought it was a place for ships that carried air in their cargo.

I keep thinking about odd memories like that and getting distracted. In Potions yesterday, I nearly exploded our dizziness draught by stirring in billywig eyes instead of black beetle eyes. If Remy hadn't shouted at me just as I was about to add them, we would have probably both slept in hospital wing last night. And this morning, I tried to re-read my Arithmancy notes and could barely follow them, which I suppose means I wasn't concentrating during lessons. At least I'm not the only one. I've seen a lot of people who look as if they're having trouble concentrating.

And did anyone see that Mummy said some rather unkind things to Madam Umbridge on the journals? It made me a little pleased, just for a second, but then I remembered that she doesn't really deserve that - even if she does hate kittens. And you know, if Mr Yaxley is injured that probably means that Mummy is in charge of MLE, which I'm sure she doesn't like one bit. She doesn't like having to manage people and mind little details, so it's probably driving her mental. That pleases me a little, too.

That's all. I just felt like talking to all of you.

Comments

[alt_ron]

Yeah.

I've mostly been trying not to think about any of it. And then thinking about it all the time, anyway. It's been- not good in our room with Finnigan because he's got family in the middle of it. And I guess he heard his cousin got killed, which, y'know, even as much as I don't like Finnigan, I didn't wish he'd have that happen. And so, anywiz, he's been making himself mental, trying to get every piece of news there is about what's happening.

And, well. I guess the rest of us haven't been much better. It's hard to sleep when all that's happening.

So your mum's head of MLE now?

[alt_hydra]

I know what you mean. It seems like the more I try not to think about it, the more it slips in. I suppose that's why I decided to write here, so I could just get it out.

I'm sorry to hear that about Finnigan. But surely even he knows that the wireless and the news aren't all that reliable?

She's head of MLE for now, but probably not for good, if she can help it.

[alt_ron]

Yeah, I think that's why Finnigan's trying to listen to all the reports and read everything the Prophet says and all the stuff that people are writing in the journals because maybe you can tell what they're lying about from the way they say stuff or from the stuff that's totally different in one report from the rest.

The thing about it is, you can't just say all of it's rubbish, because some of it is true or the true part is in there underneath a load of bollocks meant to make it sound as if the people over there all deserve to be murdered.

And what you said about your mum. Ha. Probably not for good, if she can help it.

Sorry, but that has two completely different meanings, and I think the second one's as true as the way you meant it.

Don't get cross. Only, your mum as head of MLE is a really scary thing. Not good at all. For the rest of us, I mean.

[alt_hydra]

Yes, it isn't all rubbish, but it's all so confusing that one never knows what to believe. And I don't think that it's even safe to say that MLE and the Ministry always lie, because sometimes they probably tell the truth. And sometimes what they say is probably what they think is the truth, if you see what I mean.

I know that it has two different meanings. She won't like being head of MLE, so I'm hoping that she isn't for long. The longer she is, the scarier it gets.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. You're right. So mostly I don't try to sort it out. I mean, Finnigan can listen to it all if he wants, but it would just twist my brains round if I tried to figure out what's really what.

Say. Have you written your essay for Dolohov yet? I mean, we've got the same assignment, don't we? I can't decide which of the charms to pick. I mean there are a few boring ones I've marked off the list, but there are still too many really interesting ones left. And I'm not daft enough to want to write about all of them. Only, it usually matters which ones we do pick with him. I mean, he'll want us to go on working with them, yeah? And answering questions about them. And maybe he'll tell us to learn those, so.

Yeah, I'm probably thinking way too much about this. I mean, it's only homework, right? And he's not even here to collect it.

[alt_pansy]

I'm sure you'll do just fine. I thought the study session tonight went really well, don't you?

[alt_ron]

Yeah, it was great, actually.

Only, it didn't help me narrow down the spells for the essay, it just made me think a bunch more of them are dead interesting.

And. Can I just say? That Vox Similo spell just gets more hilarious every time I see someone do it! I totally want to do it for the play audition. Someone who can sing properly could make me do a duet with them. We'd have everyone dying!!

Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

I know it's almost curfew, but do you think we could meet in the stairwell again?

Remy's cross with me, I think. He kept trying to avoid me all day, and I don't know why. And I really, really miss having a rabbit today, for some reason. I wish I could take Tevis back from Rigel.

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

Hullo,

Yes, I'm sure I can slip out. The 7th-years are getting ready to go to Astronomy and it seems like half the others are all off at their secret meetings no one's supposed to know about.

Why should he be cross with you when you didn't blow up your potion, what?

Hang on, I'd already changed. Down in a tick.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

I don't know why he's cross with me. Only he's been odd with me off and on ever since I asked him about you, and how he, ah, thought of you.

I suppose that's what it's to do with. But I thought he'd forgotten. He seemed as if he had, but now it's as if he's remembered again, and I can't think why.

Anyway, I'll stop dwelling on it now. See you soon.

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

It's going to be a moment; there are still several 7th-years in the Common Room, including Diggory, what. If I say I'm heading to the hospital wing, he'll want to send someone along with me.

As soon as they leave, I ought to be able to follow.

I say, I don't see why we can't get you another rabbit, love.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

Because I don't want her to do something to it, that's why.

[alt_sally_anne]

I saw your mum talking to Madam Umbridge. I felt a little pleased at how nasty she was to her. And then wondered if I was being unfair to Hembridge.

[alt_hydra]

You felt the same as I did, then.

It was the first time I'd thought of Madam Umbridge as being a little helpless.

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah.

I don't like Patil at all but I felt sorry for her the time your mum went after her in the journals.

I didn't feel sorry for Hembridge at all. But maybe I should have.

[alt_pansy]

Ugh. No.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. Definitely no.

[alt_evelyn]

I know what you mean about feeling happy and sick all at the same time.

[alt_evelyn]

This is also really weird. Weird in a good way, but still weird. Because I'm pretty sure our parents would try really hard to kill each other Because of who our parents are and everything.

[alt_hydra]

What's weird? You mean.. who you and Neville's parents are?

Sorry, I don't know if I follow.

[alt_evelyn]

It's weird to talk to you because of who my parents are and who your parents are. Because they're enemies, aren't they. At least they were.

I don't really ever talk about them, mum and dad I mean, so I'm not used to being able to say anything at all, and until I found out about the lock, I never imagined in a million years that I'd ever talk to you about anything.

That's all.

I'm sorry.

[alt_hydra]

Mummy probably had something to do with my cousin Dora's mum's death (my Aunt Andromeda - and I don't know for sure that Mummy was involved but it wouldn't surprise me), but she and I have still become friends.

And I'm dating a muggleborn who was taught by the traitor Sirius Black.

So I suppose I don't think that talking to you is very weird?

[alt_evelyn]

That's fair enough.

And I'm glad we can talk. Truly I am. It's not bad weird. It's just something that takes a bit of getting used to.

[alt_ron]

Hey, you.

We've got a rematch this weekend sometime, yeah?

And are you going to try out for Greengrass's musical thinger? You should, y'know. You'd be good. And it'd look good if you did, too.

That's why I'm doing it.

Well, that and maybe I'll get another mad death scene!

[alt_sally_anne]

She'd be mad not to write one in, just for you. Arista Selwyn will SURELY demand to come see the play if you'll be in it!

[alt_evelyn]

You were brilliant. I'm sure they'll give you a part.

I couldn't get in front of people like that. Even if it would look good.

[alt_ron]

Well if it's just nerves, I've got a brilliant idea! We could use the Vox Similo spell we've been learning, and then you'd just say whatever I say or sing exactly what I sing. And we could make it a dead hilarious act like you were a ventriloquist's doll, y'know? And you wouldn't have to do anything at all or worry about being nervous, see?

Or. Ooooh. We could totally add a twist to it, too, if you wanted. Because partway through, you could show the doll having an idea that turns the tables--I could teach you the spell that makes the other person do exactly what the caster does, so you'd still be singing my song with me and saying whatever I say, but all of a sudden I'd have to do whatever sort of movements you wanted to try. It could be the funniest thing ever!

Is that brilliant or what?!

[alt_evelyn]

Oh.

I'd rather not.

It does sound clever.

I just

I'm sorry.

[alt_neville]

I'd rather she didn't either.

[alt_terry]

Are you fucking mental? Don't you know that's how it starts?

No.

[alt_terry]

What's being said about what happened at the airport?

Because what I'm hearing is rather different than what you might be hearing. If you knew what I

As I understand it, it's not 'what was done to the airport' that's the important thing.

[alt_sally_anne]

I've been mostly trying to ignore the wireless but it's hard, because someone's got it on in the common room all the time. Because so many Slytherins have parents or other relatives who went over, you know?

Anyway I heard the destruction of the airport was done to execute a whole lot of people who'd been in on the conspiracy.

What are you hearing?

[alt_terry]

That they weren't in on the conspiracy.

And that there were a lot more people killed than they're admitting.

Don't you think it's quite strange that the week that Ireland is blowing up, the Ministry gets a sudden yen to do an urban renewal project, getting rid of an old airport that's been there for ten years? Don't you think there's more to the story?

[alt_neville]

Blimey. What are you saying, Terry?

[alt_luna]

And how do you know it?

[alt_terry]

I can't reveal how I know it, but I do. But if you just think about it, their whole stinking story falls apart.

Okay, so they say they executed collaborators. And they had to sink the airport in the Irish Sea to do it. Pretty fast 'justice,' wasn't it? So how did they find and identify all those collaborators, AND uncover the evidence AND bring them to trial AND prove them guilty. They didn't, did they? They wouldn't have had TIME!

If they had actual evidence, they would have made a big public trial of them and trumpeted it everywhere.

No. They buried them in the Irish Sea so no one could see how many victims there were.

[alt_neville]

I doubt they give trials to muggles or muggleborns.

[alt_terry]

No, they don't. People like you think it's perfectly fine to kill people like me for no reason. Other than who my parents were.

[alt_neville]

Terry! That's...that's not fair. People like me?

[alt_terry]

Who are dead by the way. I just found out recently. They died of typhoid. Along with my sister.

[alt_sally_anne]

Terry, no one on the Lock thinks it's okay to kill people like you. Or your parents. Or my mother. Or Hermione.

[alt_terry]

I--

that--

I just--

[alt_ron]

You're wrong about the kinds of people. There are people who are evil, who kill other people because they want to rule over everything. And there are the rest of us. The ones who could get killed any time we step wrong or say the wrong thing.

[alt_sally_anne]

A big public trial?!?

Even the Woods didn't get a big public trial, they just got shipped off to Azkaban. And they were wizards. I'm not sure the wizengamot is even set up to put muggles on trial. Or were these wizards they were killing because I would have thought someone would've been talking about whether they were related to Finnigan, if they were.

[alt_sally_anne]

There's ALWAYS more to the story than they tell us.

I mean they're still insisting that Sirius Black is dead. And apparently he was SEEN -- or at least the 'impostor' was, and everyone knows that was Sirius. (Or so I heard today. I can't remember if that was on the wireless, or just a rumour. He wasn't in Ireland, I guess, he was somewhere else.)

And of course they killed loads of people and some of them weren't in on it. I mean at the Froste Faire they fed muggles to wild animals for a laugh. I don't imagine Auror Lestrange would be picky about whether muggles she's killing are actually guilty of anything at all.

[alt_terry]

So what's your point?

My point is there damn well is more to the story than they tell us. The people I'm with know more of it. And I'm not allowed to explain everything I know, even if it's killing me to keep my mouth shut, and if I said everything I know about Luc some people there would probably be some people on this lock who would call me a liar. Because they don't want to believe that people they care about can do something so bleeding inhuman.

And I'm angry. There's no excuse for what the Irish did, I'm not defending them.

But for Merlin's sake, get your heads out of the sand.

[alt_sally_anne]

We get it, Terry.

YOU KNOW MORE THAN WE DO.

I'm really not sure what you expect us to do with this information we don't have.

[alt_ron]

Hello! Have you even read what we've all been saying here?

Any of it?

Do you think it's more whatever when you say it than when the rest of us do? Because. Everything you just said is what we've been talking about. How the news is lies, yeah? And how what they're doing over in Ireland is horrible.