I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Ugh.

Acton made a total meal of it during our lesson today, going through all the Apparent Characteristics of the Curse I was under ('Or was it the journal itself?')--she wrote it all up on the blackboard. Blerg! I was so hacked off I could have curled those long, pointy nails of hers just by thinking about it, but I didn't.

Really, I didn't do anything. I just sat there. And I even answered her questions when she was horrible and made me answer. Mostly because she was trying to make out it might have been a spell that I cast that went wrong because of my wand, and I didn't want to prove she's right that I'm sometimes doing stuff I don't really try to do (when I get frustrated, y'know or angry, like that time in Carrow's lesson).

But everyone knows I didn't curse my journal yesterday. For one thing, I only do stuff accidentally that I kind of want to see happen (like roast Carrow alive). It's never stuff I don't wish would happen. Like me having to chat up the Malfoys and Mrs Lestrange!

Er. Except when stuff rebounds, I guess.

And she's totally right. Mrs Lestrange, I mean. I have to get Padma back for this. Right away!

I've been thinking all afternoon, but I can't decide. What do you think I should do? What's the best way to really wipe that smug sneer off her ugly face?

I could make her nose look like a pig's. I think I could do that one and make it stick. But, I don't know. I don't think I could do it without anyone knowing.

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Ron, you did good today in Acton's class. Really. She wanted you to take the bait and you didn't, and you're right, everyone knows someone cursed you, you didn't do this to yourself.

But

It's really true that it's better to wait a bit before you get revenge on someone, because first of all they aren't as likely to be watching their back, and second they aren't as likely to know it was you if you'd rather not get caught (and it's always better not to get caught).

So I really don't think you should take strategy advice from BELLATRIX LESTRANGE, honestly. She might be sincere (because I expect she was terrifying even when she was a second year, she doesn't know how it works when you're NOT someone everyone's scared of) but she also might be baiting you, just like Acton, to see if she can get you to make a big enough mistake to get yourself expelled.

[alt_ron]

Oh.

Yeah, you might be right. I hadn't thought about Mrs Lestrange wanting to get me to get myself in trouble. I was too busy thinking she probably wants to kill me.

[alt_sally_anne]

I mean in some ways it's a little less satisfying when you get your revenge but they DON'T know it's you. But not getting in trouble kind of makes up for it.

[alt_ron]

Well, yeah. I can see that, I guess. Just. I don't know how long I can wait.

By the way, did you see SeaFinnigan wants to take Dark Arts. That bloody figures.

[alt_ron]

Wait.

You haven't decided you're going to take it, have you?

D'you think you have to so you, I dunno, keep the right people thinking you think the right things or whatever it is you do. That whole Slytherin-thinking thing makes my brain hurt. You do know that, don't you?

I mean, I thought it sounded sort of nift, but now it's just all prats and evil wankers wanting to take it. And, like, what are they going to learn? How to curse Weasleys, isn't it?

[alt_sally_anne]

Pansy might feel like she has to take it if Lucius Malfoy tells her to, and if she does, I may try to take it to keep her company. But I don't expect I'll get in, I mean I'm a half-blood and Amycus Carrow hates me, I don't expect his sister will be keen on letting me in. If there's a half-blood in our year who does get in it'll be Finnigan.

OF COURSE it's the prats and evil wankers, anyway, they don't call it 'Dark Arts' because it's all sunshine and kittens do they?

[alt_ron]

I didn't think about that. That they wouldn't let you in. That's so daft.

And, well obviously it's not about nice stuff, but I'd be totally keen on learning how to hex people without them knowing it's me, right? I mean, Dark Arts means it's secret and, what's it called, not stealthy

yeah, suttle

right?

when you get stuff done and no one can figure it out, right?

I guess that's not really something I'd be naturally good at, but I can see how it'd be dead useful. And I know you see it, too. It's too bad, really: if we were all three in there, then look out Padma Patil! We'd be totally unstoppable, terrorising all the filthy backstabbing prats around here.

[alt_sally_anne]

The word you're looking for is 'subtlety,' and you Gryffindors are not exactly known for it.

Clearly it's a learnable skill, though!