I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Okay.

That was dead odd.

I just followed Gin to the secret room. She was acting completely... guilty. Um, that's not the word I mean, but sort of like that. She was carrying something and she just looked like she didn't want anyone to see what she had, which- well, let's just say that's an excellent way to get your brothers' attention in a family like ours.

So I followed her and she went to the room. And it let her in! I mean, she knew to walk three times past the door, and she was thinking really hard about what she wanted, you could tell. It was all she was thinking about. I mean, if she'd turned around, she'd have seen me, but she never did. Even before she opened the door. I mean, when I go in, I always look to make sure no one's around to see. Don't you?

Anywiz.

She was in for a while. And when she came out, she didn't have it any more. The box she'd been carrying.

I'd ducked into that alcove at the end of the corridor, and y'know, we should be really careful about that. Just in case. Because someone could hide there and watch us come and go. If they ever got suspicious. It's a pretty good hiding place, actually, because when she came out, she was looking all around as if she'd realised she ought to look sharp to be sure no one saw her.

Once she was gone, I went in. Well, actually, it took me a while. It wouldn't open at first. I was thinking that I needed to find what she hid in there, but that didn't do it. So then I tried thinking that I needed to hide something because I figured that's what she'd been thinking. Only, I don't know. When I went in it was like a giant attic with mountains of old things in, and I looked for a long time, but I couldn't find anything like the box I'd seen her with. Maybe it didn't want me to. Or maybe she told it not to let anyone find it. Or maybe- yeah. I really don't know.

Maybe it doesn't matter what it was. Only, Evelyn told me that she'd seen a box in Ginny's trunk the other day when they spent time together and that Ginny'd got all upset when Ev saw it. So. Maybe... maybe Ginny stole something from somebody and she's afraid she'll get caught with it now Evelyn knows she had the box. Only, it was just a wooden box, right Ev? That's what she was carrying tonight so far as I could tell. Just an ordinary box. About the size of our Charms textbook, y'know, but a little deeper, maybe.

I'm actually more worried, though, that she knows about the room. And she knows how to make it open when she wants.

That's not really good.

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Ugh.

Maybe we can tell the room that we need the door to lock from the inside?

What do you suppose she stole? If that's what it is. Doesn't she have loads and loads of money from modeling?

[alt_hermione]

We could post a guard during the meetings. I could sit outside, maybe, since I can't very well go in and practise with the rest of you.

[alt_ron]

I wonder, actually, if it's something of Sandoval's. Y'know, something really expensive from that store her parents own.

And I don't really know about the money. She got loads of clothes from it, and some other things they used as props. Mostly she just won't talk about what they paid her, and I think Mum and Dad might've made her put most of it in a vault so she'd have it later when she'd need it more.

But she always does have pocket money now, so I reckon she's got enough for things she really wants.

Only, she just does queer things sometimes. And sometimes she doesn't act like she even grew up with the same parents the rest of us did. So I guess anything's possible.

[alt_ron]

What would you do if someone came along?

[alt_sally_anne]

She could keep her galleon in her pocket and send an alert that way.

We'd have to pay attention to our galleons during the meetings, though.

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah, sometimes she reminds me of Percy. Only Percy would never have sent a PM when Umbridge had made it clear she'd make anyone sending a PM read it. Partly because he's got more sense and partly because he's an arse-kisser.

[alt_sally_anne]

Maybe it had something to do with catching the snitch today?

Only I can't think what. You don't HIDE the snitch after you catch it.

[alt_ron]

Well. Maybe that's not all she found while she was out flying. Or- no, I don't know.

Really, it could be anything.

[alt_luna]

How curious.

I don't have any notion what might be in the box. We haven't been very close for awhile, you know. Although she has been giving me signs lately that she's rather sorry about that and would like to mend things.

I would be surprised if she had stolen something. I mean, she never seemed to me to be the type...

But then I don't know her as well now as I did when we first started at Hogwarts. And she has been acting oddly lately, hasn't she?

I just don't know what to think.

[alt_ron]

I don't know about the stealing. It's just the way she was acting. And what Evelyn said about the other day when Ev saw something in Gin's trunk and she went all shouty crackers, as if Ev was going to take it or touch it or something.

And, y'know, she's just got so she always talks about what the best broom is or which shop everyone's clothes come from and which designers and how someone's quill shows they've got no taste or how much some witch paid for her earrings or how much she wants to have a certain kind of scent or--

After Christmas she was saying how much she wanted to have one of those charm bracelets that some of the girls have--like Daphne's--and saying she'd do anything to have one because everyone knows you appreciate really nice things if you have one, and, well, I remembered the way she looked when she said that last night when I saw her and it made me wonder is all.

Mum would have her skin if she stole anything, though, you're right.

[alt_ron]

Say, Lunes.

I know you haven't been spending much time with her, and well- it's not your fault you haven't been close. I know that.

Only, I wondered if you could maybe try again? Because we think there's something just off about Gin, and we thought maybe you or Ev could, I dunno, get her talking? Or I dunno. Maybe it's not fair to ask you to try again. It's not like she's been nice to be around.

[alt_ron]

Say, I'm going to go again to look for it. Actually, I have to go because I hid something that I want to get back. Don't laugh. I figured the room would know if I wasn't really wanting to hide anything, and I didn't have a lot with me. I mean, I didn't think it would believe I really needed to hide my Dark Arts notes.

I've got Revue tonight until curfew, so I was thinking I'd go tomorrow after supper. Want to come?

I mean we could search more of the room if there were more of us. And I still don't know if we'll find it since the room is so completely full of odd stuff. But it's worth seeing, don't you think?

[alt_evelyn]

Maybe me and Luna could try to do it together at the same time. Maybe that'd be not so bad.

And she wasn't shouty the whole time. Sometimes she was really nice. She up and gave me a lot of her fancy clothes that don't fit her any more.

[alt_evelyn]

Should I come too?

I mean, if that'd be all right.

Because I've seen it and all.

[alt_ron]

Course you should!

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah, I'll come. As soon as I heard the room can turn into the Hogwarts' attic full of mysterious junk I wanted to go have a look, actually.

[alt_luna]

I would be willing to try again, of course I would.

[alt_luna]

Talking to her together is a good idea, I think.