I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

Um.

Sue. I'm sorry I got you into this mess.

So I did a stupid thing this morning. I wrote Sue a private message about stuff we'd done yesterday, and I needed to write it so Thomas and Finnigan could see I was sending a PM because they were around and could see I was writing.

Anywiz, I didn't even think... and I was writing about Apparating because Sue did it yesterday for the first time while we were paired up for an evasion exercise, and I wanted her to know I reported to Dolohov that we'd both used it during the exercise since neither of us had done it in lessons yet. But I said something about that meaning that we could go ahead and do it in lessons today and not have to try not to...

And long story short, we got back to camp tonight and both of us had got notified by Magical Malfeasance that our private messages revealed we'd confessed 'self-tutoring an age-restricted magical skill without benefit of permit or proper instruction'.

And. It's worse than that because the notices were delivered in the afternoon direct to Professor Dolohov and Auror Desai, so they called us in and gave them to us. Well, Desai talked to Sue and Dolohov took me aside.

He wasn't cross. Actually, he said he was impressed I'd been trying to learn magic above my level--he said it showed I was taking initiative. And he told me not to worry because he wrote the office of Magical Malfeasance for me and told them I'd had his permission to study Apparition independently during the summer. So it should all be taken care of.

Only, that makes me worry a bit. If you know what I mean.

And it really was stupid.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Comments

[alt_justin]

Ron,

I say, rotten luck. As it happens, I Apparated yesterday as well, but when I wrote to Harry I tried to make it sound as if we'd talked about trying to Apparate if those MLE chaps came after us, what.

When Harry started talking about having practised for so long, what, I was worried someone might be reading. I made sure to stress that a week wasn't very long at all and that Harry's clearly extraordinary for managing it first of all of us.

I say, I expect whomever was reading the message must have believed it.

Do you think that'll be the end of things for you, then?

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Are they going to tell your mum?

[alt_harry]

I was stupid too. I was tired, I guess, and just assumed Justin'd written under the lock.

I guess we'll all just have to be a bit more careful. Especially this week.

[alt_harry]

Thanks for covering for me.

Private Message to Justin

[alt_harry]

You all right then?

[alt_justin]

Harry,

Not at all, old man. It's bally well surprising what fatigue can do, what!

Oh, I say, you're the one who said you'd rather take on MLE and see how you fared. Were you pleased with the results?

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Justin

[alt_justin]

Me? Yes, of course, mate.

Cheers.

-Justin

[alt_harry]

It's hard to tell. I mean, they weren't really putting everything into it, were they? And it was just stunner spells. So nothing really tricky.

I took one of them by surprise, and had an exchange with another that lasted a few minutes before he got me.

So.

Could be a lot better.

Re: Private Message to Justin

[alt_harry]

I guess we're all well knackered.

Although it does take talent to fit in a nap while things are exploding nearby.

Re: Private Message to Justin

[alt_justin]

I really hadn't meant to fall asleep. Well, that is, if everyone had decided to call things quits, I'd've been happy for the rest, what, but it made no sense if others weren't interested in rebelling against the exercise.

In fact, I'd thought to watch Auror Desai and Professor Dolohov while everyone else was out, perhaps challenge Desai one of them and then when they eliminated me, at least I'd be close to camp, what!

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

I'd imagine they would.

Although there hasn't been a howler yet, or a 'the world's going to end' post from Bill, so I suppose everything's all right for the time being.

I think loads of people practise for Apparation early. Not just us. So it could've been a lot worse.

[alt_justin]

Still, not bad, what? Did you try Apparating again?

-Justin

Re: Private Message to Justin

[alt_harry]

Now I didn't think about that.

I wonder what it'd be like to have a duel with Auror Desai.

Even if she was holding back a bit, and just using stunners. I bet it'd be something.

We ought to ask for some really proper duelling sometime from Sirius and the Longbottoms and Kingsley. I bet they'd hand us our arses, but it'd be worth it, just to see if we could get in a few ourselves. You know?

[alt_harry]

Yeah, that's how I took the first one.

[alt_justin]

Oh, I say, good show!

-J

Re: Private Message to Justin

[alt_justin]

Yes. Quite.

Do you think Sirius would agree to hold something like that at Grimmauld? I mean to say, we'd do a great deal of damage.

From Terry's descriptions, Moddey Dhoo would be perfect. And then Lisa Turpin and the others could also participate. Oh, but Sirius.... Has he ever explained to you why he'll not go to Moddey Dhoo? I say, I don't quite understand it. It's not as if he's not on good terms with anyone there, what?

-Justin

[alt_ron]

Ugh.

Why did you have to say that? I hadn't even thought-

I'm really not thinking straight at all.

What an eejit. Seriously.

[alt_ron]

No lie. I think we're all beyond tired.

[alt_ron]

You think so?

Blast.

[alt_ron]

It sounded as if that's all there'd be.

But Pansy thinks they'll have written Mum. Magical Malfeasance, I mean. Not Dolohov.

Ugh. Now that would be bad. Dolohov writing Mum.

She'd have kittens.

[alt_sally_anne]

Well if you haven't got a Howler yet you're probably safe.

And if they went to Dolohov first, you're also probably safe. I mean if he was tutoring you then it's fine.

And even if they do go to your mum, no one really cares THAT much about teenagers trying to Apparate before they're old enough for a license. I mean the worst case scenario is splinching, it's not like you'll hurt someone ELSE.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. I've heard of people getting written up for it before. Can't remember what happened to them, though.

[alt_justin]

I don't think he would do, do you?

As for MLE, well, as Sally-Anne says, it can't be that serious an offence, surely?

-Justin

[alt_ron]

No, I don't reckon he would. At least I hope not, because it would seriously send Mum round the twist.

And MLE, well. I think the people in Magical Malfeasance just like sending out letters that lecture people for being eejits. They used loads of long words and sentences that took three or four inches of parchment.

I'm just hoping there's not a Howler from Mum in the morning.

Private Message to F-F

[alt_ron]

Say.

Are you all right? I mean, it seems like you haven't been sleeping too well.

Until this afternoon, anywiz. Did you really fall asleep out there?

Only, they might give you something to help you sleep if you need it.

Re: Private Message to Justin

[alt_harry]

No, he hasn't said why.

It'd be a good reason for us all to go there, though.

Re: Private Message to F-F

[alt_justin]

What? Yes, of course, old chap. I'll be fine.

I've...not been disturbing anyone else, have I? I suppose I was bally well exhausted. I told Harry, I hadn't meant to fall asleep, what, not at all.

I'd rather not ask for anything, cheers. I'm sure I'll be all right.

-J

[alt_susan]

Sorry--I fell asleep early last night and then couldn't get away anywhere private this morning.

Don't feel too badly--I wasn't exactly thinking sharp there either.

To be honest I didn't think they monitored PMs for stuff like that--I mean, unlicenced Apparition is like breaking the Firewhiskey age statutes. Everyone says they don't but a lot of people are well fibbing! I thought they only checked for really criminal or treasonous stuff.

Now I'm worried about Aurelia's and my PMs--we never said anything outright. but someone looking for something to disapprove of would totally find it.

[alt_ron]

Ugh. Yeah. It does just make you paranoid, doesn't it?

I mean, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about people reading my private messages, because they're always under the locks. Except while we're here because you have to worry people will get suspicious about what we're writing. At school, I just pull the curtains or only use one ink at a time and anywiz, people aren't ever paying so much attention there because there's so much else to be doing, but here... Well.

Anywiz, it was a stupid mistake and I'm really sorry it included you.

I wish I could say don't worry about Aurelia, but who really knows what they'll nose into?

I don't know anyone who'd really disapprove of you and Aurelia, though. You know? I mean, I know why you'd think that so I guess it's obvious some people do, but not very many, yeah?

[alt_susan]

Some really pureblooded people do--or at least they disapprove of being open about it--cos it might take away from getting married and having lots of babies like proper witches and wizards ought.

And I'm afraid that those are the kind of people who might be monitoring PMs--it doesn't help that I'm nowhere near Aurelia's league according to them. And there's the whole thing with her uncle too.