I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

So CCF starts tomorrow, and the letter they sent back in July didn't answer very many questions, did it? What do you suppose they're going to make us do?

I mean, it's got to be better without Umbridge, right? But what are we meant to be doing besides camping and flying? At least they told us to have our brooms in top form, that was a hint.

Or do some of you know more? Malfoy? Harry? Anyone?

I'm Flooing at ten o'clock. How about you lot?

Comments

Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_ron]

I hate that you're not going. That's totally squib. I mean, I know. It is better- safer. Whatever. For you. And I know that. But I still can't believe it's two bloody weeks and I can't see you at all.

Argh.

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

I feel silly being this put out given how much I HATED it last year.

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_ron]

I know. But it's naff, them cutting you when you've been one of the best all along.

I'm not saying you were wrong not asking if it could be reconsidered. I just. I wish I didn't have to go if you can't.

Who's going to tell me not to do some idiotic thing before I do it and make a complete buffoon of myself?

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

Well I was never a top student in Dark Arts when it was Alecto Carrow teaching. But, yeah. I don't know. Maybe I should have asked. I didn't want to ask Professor Dolohov for any favours this summer, though, especially given that he said he'd let me take NEWT Dark Arts without violating a Healer's ethical code so he's already doing me a favour.

I feel like I need to be careful what favours I ask for because I'm probably not going to get an unlimited number.

Anyway. I'll be sure to let Pansy know she needs to keep you in line, at least enough that you come back in one piece. That should work, don't you think?

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_ron]

Yeah. Thank Merlin for Pans.

But it won't be the same.


At all.

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah.

Well, Gemma was complaining she hasn't seen as much of me this summer as she'd like. With you AND Pansy off at CCF I'll have plenty of time to make it up to her.

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_ron]

Just don't let her talk you into letting her cut your hair off.

Gin did that once to me and it was awful. I thought it was going to be a lark, but then my hair decided it liked sticking up and it wasn't right again for months. Mum was so cross. At me.

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

Actually she wants me to put a curling charm on it. No worries there, my hair won't hold a curling charm for more than ten minutes. We can poodle me up and I'll look normal again by the next morning.

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_ron]

That might look nice.

I'd like to see you with curls.

Re: Private Message to Sally Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

Okay. I'll do them when you get back from CCF, so you can see.

If that doesn't motivate you to stay in one piece, I don't know what will!

[alt_hermione]

I think Professor Dolohov's involved. I heard someone saying here.

But I don't know if you lot are supposed to know that.

[alt_ron]

Really?

If that's right, at least it'll be dead interesting. Whatever they set us to doing.

[alt_draco]

They'll probably make us fly around and look for stuff. Rubbishy stuff, most likely. And then we'll have to sort out how to squeeze a zillion muggleborns into a shoe, only some will get shoes and others will get boots, just to make it more of a challenge.

[alt_hermione]

Maybe you shouldn't be answering people just now.

[alt_draco]

But it was furry!

[alt_hermione]

Maybe you shouldn't use that quill, either.

[alt_draco]

You really don't want that.

[alt_hermione]

Are you going to be sick? Seriously, eat some bread or something.

[alt_draco]

Bread? That sounds awful. I want chips like the ones that girl made at the shop I visited on holiday when I was twelve.

You seem really irritated with me right now! Is it because I'm enjoying myself?

[alt_hermione]

I'm not irritated. We knew this would happen. I just don't see why you'd have had so much to drink when you knew it would all hit you at once like this.

And I don't want you to be hung over at CCF, either.

[alt_ron]

Steady on there, mate!

[alt_draco]

But it was funny!

There.

[alt_justin]

Draco,

I say, old man, are you all right?

-Justin

[alt_draco]

I am well and truly pissed, but no matter. I knew this was going to happen.

Shall we write together in French and make the others jealous? haha. Comment vas-tu?

[alt_justin]

Je vais très bien, merci. Pourquoi es-tu ivre?

-Justin

[alt_draco]

Je devais garder mes esprits lors d'une fête.

Which meant losing them today.

You're so bloody polite, man. How do you do it? Perhaps you ought to give me lesions.

Lessons.

[alt_justin]

Je pense que ma mère a pris soin des leçons de politesse; ce n'est pas quelque chose qu'on peut apprendre après l'âge de peut-être huit; quel dommage, n'est-ce pas? Après ça, on est trop utilisé pour ses habitudes seulement!

On the other hand, one finds it's impossible to break the habit of politeness, what, once its been ingrained. Even when one should dearly love to be frightfully rude.

I say, do you think you'd have had more fun at the party if you'd been this drunk then?

-Justin

[alt_draco]

J'ai été formé pour être poli aussi. Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé, je me demande?

Ah maybe you need lessons in being rude and speaking your mind, then!

Oh, no I think the only reason I'm even enjoying myself at all is because I'm in the safety and comfort of my own rooms, all by myself. I also took precautions, having charmed my spelling quill so that it will only work in a locked journal entry, and won't allow me to say anything that I wouldn't allow myself to say when perfectly sober.

[alt_justin]

Oh, je n'ai pas beaucoup de mal à parler mon esprit, quand je suis enclin à le faire. Mais j'ai trouvé que c'est préférable généralement de retenir certaines observations lors de leur nuirait sa position. Ou au moins, quand on peut faire une question de point sans que personne réalisant l'être insultant. Vous avez ce don ainsi, je l'ai vu.

It sounds as if you thought ahead. I say, it must be quite a bother to have to take such measures for the sake of appearances.

One wonders, if alcohol is a prevalent part of these gatherings, who else might be choosing to hide distaste behind a companionable drink or four?

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

WHY are you pissed? Blowing off steam the day before CCF or something?

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh. Teddy's party?

Right.

[alt_draco]

Hermione helped me find a spell to delay the effects until 24-48 hours after drinking, and now she appears to be sorry she did it. Probably because I'm not contributing anything serious or helpful to the discussion about CCF. Perhaps I should have just locked up all my quails but I didn't expect the effects to be quite so dramatic.

[alt_sally_anne]

That's an excellent spell.

She's probably right you should have drunk less. Did it all hit you at once? I mean if you drink your firewhiskey slowly over the course of an evening you can keep from ever getting REALLY drunk but if you slug it back all at once you'll be utterly rat arsed.

At least you're conscious and able to write? That's something.

[alt_justin]

Ron,

I hope there's not too much flying, what. As it is, I'm borrowing Remy's broom and he's in quite a strop about it. But as it's probably the only opportunity I shall have, I shall be grateful for the practice, if we do fly a great deal.

And perhaps while we're flying we could keep our eyes open for those Orobouros things, what?

I'm supposed to Floo in at ten minutes past ten.

-Justin

[alt_ron]

I wish they'd told us.

It's much worse not knowing what to expect, y'know?

You'll do fine on the broom. And if they're setting us something you really can't stomach, then you've a perfect excuse to get out of it. If you dare fall off, that is. It's a bit of a trick to fall off, have it look persuasive, and not hurt yourself much. That's something younger brothers learn early, though. Maybe I'll have a chance to show you.

[alt_justin]

I say, I might take you up on that!

Perhaps I should have tried harder to fail my O.W.L. in Noble Arts, what. Although, I will say that it seems Professor Dolohov won't stand for us being made to do anything completely against our principles, so that's a comfort.

It's just deciding which principles one ought to show him one has, that's the trick.

-Justin

[alt_ron]

Hm. Actually, now you say it, I wonder if he doesn't guess what mine are. I mean to say, he's never really set me anything I could see my way to doing. And I didn't think about it before, but I wonder.

I guess we'll see.

Private Message to Ron

[alt_justin]

I say, it's dashed unfortunate Sally-Anne was cut. I wonder, if Hermione's correct and Professor Dolohov is involved, why didn't he extend her an invitation? He made sure that she could continue in Noble Arts, what?

I wonder if she ought to write to him and he'd make room for her. Ought we to suggest it?

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_ron]

To be honest, she thinks she's well out of it. But I think it stings her anyway. And I think it reeks.

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_justin]

I see.

Well, chin up, mate. We'll muddle through it together, what? And we've got journals so we may write to them whenever we like.

Two weeks isn't very long and you and Sally-Anne shall see each other as soon as it's over. It'll be all right.

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_ron]

Yeah, sorry. I didn't think about, well, your situation. They're really not going to let you see Hydra at all until school?

Is your cold better, at least? I hope.

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_justin]

Oh, don't be, old man. It's a minor setback, what.

As for how soon I might see her, that's...apparently a matter for negotiation. I'd thought not to ask for the rest of summer but Mr Jugson said yesterday that perhaps Mrs Malfoy might allow a visit after we return. That's something to look forward to, at any rate!

My cold? Yes, it's fine, thanks for asking.

Oh, I say, did your sister have a pleasant birthday? I ought to have asked earlier.

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_ron]

Well, it was lucky for Gin that we don't leave until tomorrow. Imagine her having to have a birthday supper without me to sing embarrassing songs to her and help everyone remember all the ridiculous things she did when she was wee.

Mind you, 'everyone' was only Bill and Mum and Percy and me this year. Makes it extra good I was still around to make a real party of it!

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_justin]

Yes, I can imagine all your family occasions must be bittersweet this year, what. I say, well done you for making the best of it! I'm sure she greatly appreciates all your effort, old man.

Deep inside, of course.

How are you all coping, then? Is there anything any of us can do to help, apart from providing distraction and routine? I mean to say, do you or your family need anything? Perhaps we ought to remember to send your mother flowers after we go back to school or some such.

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Ron

[alt_ron]

We're managing. It's just things like birthdays that set Mum off. And turn awkward, y'know?

Thanks, though.

And, um. Remind me about that idea about flowers when we get back to the castle.