I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Well.

Hate to admit it, but today was well brilliant. I thought it was going to be dull, dragging around museums again. Thought we'd seen them all when we were there before. Did you hear them say there are four hundred museums in wizarding New London? FOUR HUNDRED?! I mean, sure, some of em are just people's old houses and little places like that daft commemoration thinger about the Fire that you climb up inside, but that's a serious load of museums, that is! I hope they don't expect us to go to all of them.

Anywiz, the new one we saw today was snitch and a half. And it was hilarious going past the empty spot in the Wizarding History museum where old Slytherin's armour used to stand--like they were just going to leave that big, empty spot with just that little card on the wall, saying how it was out on temporary loan--and then seeing it this afternoon in the new museum. Didn't look very temporary over there, did it? With that whole model of Slytherin's rooms at Hogwarts and all.

So, yeah. I'm sort of sorry we had to come home tonight. Things are dull here. Well, the twins went off to stay with Bill for their birthday, and I bet they're seeing parts of New London the YPL doesn't show us! Now they're of age and all. And Mum's ill. She didn't even come down for supper. Dad had to cook, and that's always- Yeah, anywiz, it was eggs. And Percy made a stink about how they weren't even fresh and how Dad'd scorched them and how it was just like the twins to go larking off. And he was just winding up to go on and on, only Dad gave him a look. So then he stomped off to his room, which, well, that's just as well, anywiz, but now Dad's gone off to sit with Mum. And Ginny's doing I don't know what, but it's not like we'd do anything anywiz, cause she never wants to play chess or cards or anything any more. So I'm just sat here, looking back through a really ancient Quidditch World, and wondering what everyone else is getting up to.

Is it the camp tomorrow for you lot that get to go?

Comments

[alt_neville]

It's been real quiet here, too. Well, it's always quiet, because Gran doesn't like noise.

I've been thinking about that camp visit business. It really is odd, when you think about it. I mean, I've seen the camp at Wyre. Gran always took Evelyn and me to do shifts in the soup kitchen there. Some of her friends were shocked that she did that, because it is depressing. Really bleak and run down. But Gran always insisted we had to know what those places were like.

So why are they taking the foreign visitors to show off a place like that?

[alt_lee]

I hadn't thought about it before, but it is odd. Huh. But maybe not all the camps are like that.

I expect you'd know better than me, Ron, 'cause your Dad works in those places.

[alt_ron]

I wouldn't say he works there. But he does have to go there sometimes, mostly when things go pearshaped and there's some kind of bad trouble. Yeah, I think they're dead grim, the camps. Most all of them, I think. Dad's always done in when he comes home after a trip into one of them.

[alt_pansy]

I've never seen one.

I'm not sure I want to.

But I'm going to.

[alt_ron]

Yeah, well.

I've decided not to be worried about the fact they didn't let me go. I mean, I know what Professor Siz said about it and all. I mean, I only asked to go because I wanted to show loyal, but then they didn't let me go along and I thought, well, maybe they don't think I really am, y'know, one of the ones they trust or whatever.

I mean, they'd be right, but I don't want them to think that.

[alt_pansy]

No, you oughtn't.

Really.

And that's why I signed up too, anyways.

It's not tomorrow, though, I don't think. So there's that.

[alt_ron]

You all right, there?

Only, you sound sort of- off?

You're not coming ill, are you?

[alt_pansy]

Of course not, tuna lips.

I'll be fine. I just tend to think myself into a corner sometimes.

[alt_ron]

Oh. All right, then.

We'll just have to follow you into your corner, yeah? And have a party there. Who's got the albums?!

[alt_pansy]

I have plenty of those.

I can't wait to play awful Quidditch with you, you know.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. Me, too.

Oh. Meant to say. If you wanted to bring whatsisname, it'd be okay. Mum wouldn't mind.

[alt_pansy]

That's incredibly sweet of you, Ron.

I'll ask.

It'll be a bit different than what he's used to, so he might not say yes, but it'd be good for him to know he's invited.

And it's good for me to know he's invited too.

[alt_ron]

Well, that's me, y'know. Incredibly sweet.

[alt_sally_anne]

They're taking the foreign visitors to a camp because Viktor asked to see one.

And he may have implied in his letter, that if he DIDN'T get taken to see one, that would show that the Protectorate had something to hide.

(He meant to imply it. He may have said it outright. It's harder to be devious in a language you don't speak all that well. He should have had me read the letter for him before he sent it, I think.)

[alt_ron]

Huh.

Why would he want to see that?

[alt_sally_anne]

He said the Protectorate wants them to think everything is perfect. Everywhere they go, things are clean, everyone is well-dressed and well-fed and happy, and they're supposed to think that's all they see because that's all there IS.

It's a lie. He knows it's a lie. He wants to see the parts they're hiding, and 'show me a muggle camp' was something he could ask for that they might actually do.

And they're taking all the foreigners! He was really glad about that, because some of the others from Durmstrang say stupid things like, 'if there ARE hungry people, where are they?'

[alt_ron]

Huh.

I wonder if you could invite him to visit you at the Strettons before he has to go back. I mean, I don't know if there are hungry people there, but you could show him what it's really like for Muggles and Muggleborns who have to work in places like that.

[alt_sally_anne]

Well, it certainly didn't work out for spring hols, they're keeping him so busy.

He asked me about my real family, months ago. When he figured out that I was a half-blood and that I'd grown up in a blood-traitor family, he figured if anyone out there was hungry, unhappy, and running about in rags it would be my parents.

Your mum says my parents are doing a lot better now because of the barter network. But the winter I was nine, we really didn't have enough. I mean REALLY didn't have enough -- we almost starved. I told him about the healer, too (the bad one), and village school, and how when I was a firstie I didn't have any gloves or warm clothes because they weren't on the list from the Ministry.

So he knows it's not all sunshine and roses no matter what they say.

[alt_ron]

Oh. You told him all that?

You know, I'd been thinking that you could maybe try to go see your parents if we had you over for flying and whatever here during hols. And that's still on. I mean, Mum even said people could stay over so we could fly all day or do whatever and have supper and all, but the weather's been so rubbish, you really couldn't go all that way even if we came up with a way to hide what you were really doing.

But we'll work it out for this summer, yeah? I mean, we could even tell my mum, because I know she'd want to help you. She might even take you there, y'know? By side-along. Think about it. I mean, I wouldn't ever say anything to her unless said it would be all right, but-

I think you could.

If you wanted.

[alt_sally_anne]

I told him all that eventually.

I mean, he kept asking. And he really wanted to know. So I told him about almost starving, and waited to see if he reacted like Lana Sandoval and said clearly we almost starved because we were stupid and traitors and so on, but he didn't, and I told him about the healer and not having warm gloves. Village school came last.

We can't fly all the way to Bagwyllydiart from the Burrow. It's over a hundred miles. If we could come up with some excuse to floo to Gloucester, maybe. Asking your mum to side-along me would probably actually be safer.

[alt_ron]

Do you want me to ask her for you?

I would, you know.

[alt_sally_anne]

Not while she's ill.

Maybe this summer, though.

[alt_ron]

All right, then.

How're things at the Strettons?

Or. You're not with Fisheye, are you?

[alt_sally_anne]

No, I'm at the Strettons. I asked about visiting Pansy and Mrs Stretton said maybe and then complained about all the trips I'll be going on.

[alt_ron]

Wait.

You get to come for Quidditch at ours, don't you?

Say. Is Stretton living at home, now? Would he want to come, too?

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, good thought. Yes, I'm sure he would, and I'm sure they'll let us if he's going.

Of course that means Gemma will want to come, too. And Philip. And Philip will want to play. So I might start by seeing whether I can persuade them to just let me come. (Philip is ten now, and he has a broom. Jeremy takes him out to throw quaffles around pretty regularly, I think he's hoping eventually Philip will make the Ravenclaw team.)

[alt_sally_anne]

I'm sorry to hear your mum's ill.

That museum really was BRILLIANT. I wonder if they might sell reproductions of the hangings they put in the model of Slytherin's rooms? Because some of them would look really good in the Slytherin Common Room.

[alt_pansy]

Agreed.

And the armour was extra brilliant. It was my favourite part, really.

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Ron,

If it makes you feel better, I don't think we're going to see a real camp this time, either.

And it's Saturday, not tomorrow, what?

Now, as to what your brothers are up to...I say, you don't think they would have tried one of their snacks on your mother, do you? That seems a touch low for them. But I can't think what else might have made her ill, can you?

[alt_ron]

Could've been Dad's cooking! Because, I mean, seriously.

Only, she was already sick before that. I dunno. I guess it's just a spring fever or summat.

[alt_justin]

Perhaps.

There must be something going 'round. Hydra was under the weather, too, that's why she wasn't along today.

I say, did you get a close look at Gryffindor's sword?

-Justin

[alt_ron]

Was she? I just thought they hadn't included her on the list for today. Shame she's sick.

It's wicked snitch, innit, Gryffindor's sword?!

Actually. Did they have anything of Ravenclaw's or Hufflepuff's? I mean, the other founders. I didn't notice.

And, oh. I was meaning to ask you about some of that French stuff. Funny old thing, the Protector having those French paintings, yeah? I wouldn't have probably gone in that room at all, except some of your mates from Beauxbatons were in there, whispering about it. Did you see them? The pictures of those witches in frilly dresses that weren't really properly done up all the way? There was one on a swing, going up and back and showing well up her skirt, yeah? And there was one of a wizard playing a lute while his lady friend's sitting there, laughing at the jokes that two other blokes are telling her, and one of them was leaning over her, like he's looking down her front. I mean, those paintings must've been three hundred years old or four, maybe. They were seriously old, but whoa! I didn't know they painted stuff like that!

[alt_justin]

At least those witches were mostly clothed, what! There's whole floors of paintings in the Champs-du-Lacs featuring nudes, old chap. Including some where the men are all clothed and the women aren't, and some that are just the reverse!

I'm not at all sure why they're in the Protector's Collection but I'll tell you something: Finnigan and that bloke he chums about with, Uloshenko? I couldn't shake them off - not without being bally unspeakably rude, what. Which of course, I didn't wish to be, if you follow me.

It was well fun, talking about art with Uloshenko - he knows rather a lot, actually, though he's quite wrong about his Tinteretti vs his Titians, but one doesn't care to start a squabble over something so trivial, what? - but mind you, I hope he doesn't clamp on like a limpet for the whole of the holidays!

Goodness, I said I was going to bed ages ago. I really ought to put out the light.

Cheers, Ron. See you in Cambridge? And don't forget to tell Fred and George to get me the rest of your things by Sunday, right?

-Justin