alt_ron | I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

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?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

alt_hermione

Maybe you shouldn't be answering people just now.

From:

alt_draco

But it was furry!

From:

alt_draco

But it was funny!

There.

From:

alt_hermione

Maybe you shouldn't use that quill, either.

From:

alt_justin

Draco,

I say, old man, are you all right?

-Justin

From:

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?

From:

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

From:

alt_justin

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

-Justin

From:

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.

From:

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

From:

alt_draco

You really don't want that.

From:

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

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

alt_ron

Steady on there, mate!

From:

alt_ron

Really?

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

From:

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.

From:

alt_hermione

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

From:

alt_sally_anne

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

From:

alt_sally_anne

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

From:

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

From:

alt_sally_anne

Oh. Teddy's party?

Right.

From:

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?

From:

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

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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?

From:

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?

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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

From:

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!

From:

alt_ron

Yeah. Thank Merlin for Pans.

But it won't be the same.

At all.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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

From:

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.

From:

alt_ron

That might look nice.

I'd like to see you with curls.

From:

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.

From:

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