I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

Hullo,

Here it is:

Dear Mr Rosier,

I hope you received my previous note of thanks for the tea basket. As I said, I shared the contents with several of the friends I have made during my time in the Protectorate. It made quite a jolly party.

I’m sure you will not be surprised to learn that I’ve been giving your kind offer quite a lot of consideration. I shan’t deny that there are temptations here that I find compelling. But it’s a monumental decision, to choose to leave forever the only home I’ve ever known.

I had a few questions, which I hope you shall not find forward, but which would go far toward easing my mind.

To begin, you mentioned that I’d be placed in fostering. May I ask how that would be accomplished? I’m sure it’s an unusual situation, coming into a foster-family at such a late stage. As I’m only a year from my majority, I’m not keen to enter an arrangement that would present significant limitations on the independence I have enjoyed this year. Would it be possible instead to simply remain at Hogwarts over the school holidays, or to be assigned to one of the staff instead of moving in with another family for so short a period of time? Or does one’s foster-family relationship continue beyond one’s coming of age? And if so, what measure of influence does one’s foster-family have the right to exact? Over what aspects of one’s life? Apprenticeships? Property?

For example, I have been accustomed to manage my own finances. Would that be allowed to continue? And for that matter, those finances currently reside in accounts on the continent. Would I need to set up an account at Gringotts in New London or could I continue as I have been, transferring the funds there for withdrawal as-needed?

Second, the Young Protectors’ League. In our initial meeting you said that I’d be given a chance to test in and participate. At what level? Obviously, I would not expect to be a counsellor but could I attempt to join the CCF, although the application deadline has passed? Would I remain involved in the activities with the rising-fourth year class or would it be more appropriate to join the rising-fifth?

Third, there’s something that has been troubling me about the political direction you’ve said France is taking. As you know, my mother is not a witch, but a Squib. If the Magical Freedom Act passes, she may find her own independence impaired. She may even become the victim of harrassment, either pursuant to the bill in the French Wizengamot, or even as a reprisal by individuals who might take offence at my decision to remain in England. I hope you’ll understand if I say that I am not ashamed of my mother or her capability to look after herself. However I know that bringing her in to the Protectorate would represent something of an embarrassment, one to which I am not eager to subject anyone. I wonder, therefore, if it would be possible to ensure her safe conduct to a new location of her choosing, where she will be less of a target to any who might wish her harm.

Fourth, perhaps most important, would be my studies within Hogwarts. Beauxbatons has a different academic pattern. I know that half-bloods must acquire a minimum number of O.W.L.s in order to remain in school for their N.E.W.T. levels and to be considered true citizens. I think you may appreciate my concern, then, that I should be entering the O.W.L. year without the previous years’ preparation. Has there been any discussion with Headmistress McGonagall about overcoming that obstacle? I’d be willing to sit additional lessons or study under a tutor if that would be acceptable.

Finally, there is the matter of what would become of me as a denizen of the Protectorate. I should like to be able to express my gratitude, of course, but I wonder if you have any thoughts about what might be expected of me in that regard. Perhaps that’s related to the question regarding fostering but I’m sure you’d know that better than I.

I certainly appreciate the openness with which I have been met and the opportunities I have been lucky enough to experience during my tenure as a visitor to Hogwarts. Despite the challenging circumstances of my birth, I have found myself welcomed here against all expectation. I hope that the questions I have outlined may be resolved before the end of term.

Yours very sincerely,

Justin Finch-Fletchley

Comments

[alt_pansy]

1. I wouldn't say "temptations." I'd say "opportunities."

2. You've got a good point about foster-families, but I'd make it a little less like you're assuming any foster-parents would automatically be bad. Because they're not supposed to be, it's more to make sure that you'd have good influences, even though it doesn't always end up that way. Maybe instead of saying "exact," which makes it sound like they'd be punishing you or something, you could put it like you're asking about the advantages and disadvantages of gaining a foster-family, like first you can ask about what sort of help they could provide with getting a job, and then you could ask about things like property without coming off wrong.

3.The whole "expected of me" part is tricky. I don't know if you ought to ask right out like that. Maybe Sally-Anne has a better way to word it. I think you can plan on being paraded around a bit, and interviewed for the paper and things, but I'm not sure it's worth asking in the first place, really, unless there's something more specific you want to know.

Also. I have a solicitor, Ari Baddock, and he looks over all my contracts and things. I'm not sure if he'd be willing to take you on as a client, but it might be worth looking into to have a solicitor who's familiar with all of these things in the Protectorate who can read over anything that's been put in writing about you. And your mother. And if you mention that we're friends, and that you're also friends with Hydra, that might help. I'm not sure how much he'd ask for in terms of payment, but he'd tell you. And if he's too busy or something, he'd be able to direct you to one of his friends who could take you on. And if you were worried about your mother, and really wanted to be sure they'd do what they promised, it'd be better to do it that way than try to negotiate something on your own.

It'd also be a way to help keep your money safe. Mr Baddock is very good at that.

I'm not sure how long you can wait to send the letter, so I'm not sure you could send it to him first to look over, but I think he'd probably also want a copy of it, along with copies of letters from Mr Rosier. So I'd make a duplicate before sending it off. Just in case.

I think if you got a solicitor, they might think it's a good sign that you're very serious about coming to the Protectorate, but you'd have to be careful how you put it so they wouldn't think you thought they were trying to pull anything over on you.

[alt_pansy]

Maybe you could put that in the letter -- that you were looking into a solicitor to help you sort through the necessary paperwork for banks and things, because you were very serious about considering your options, or something. So they wouldn't be taken by surprise if you ended up with one.

And the solicitor wouldn't just be for finances -- he'd also help with other things -- only you wouldn't have to put that in there.

[alt_ron]

Um. Wow.

That is a lot.

What Pansy said, I guess. That was smart about getting someone like Mr Baddock.

I wonder about the fostering thing. I think you're right to not want to be placed in a family. But maybe instead of saying that, you should start with the stuff about school and say more about wanting to be sure you'll be ready for exams, and ask if you couldn't maybe stay here and be tutored instead of spending the long vacation with a family, yeah?

And now I think of it. Um. Maybe you could ask one of the teachers if they'd be willing to tutor you. And willing to tell the Ministry they think that's what you need. And you asked the right person, the Ministry might think it was a good idea to ask them to be like a foster parent for you instead of a family. I mean, my first idea was you could ask Professor Raz, because it would make sense you might need extra work on Defence, but he's in charge of Harry Marvolo's security, isn't he? I'd sort of forgotten about that, but I think that's right. But what about Professor Brutka. He'd be sort of perfect because he's taught us two subjects--Creatures and Transfig--and he's really wizard at both of them. Plus he's French. Or came from France to here, anywiz. And he's got an in with the Malfoys, I heard, so I think he's probably someone the Ministry would think was good for you to spend time with.

Um. That's all I can think of for now. Hope it helps.

[alt_sally_anne]

Are both of your parents supposed to have been squibs not muggles? Because if you're meant to have had four wizard grandparents then I think you ought to say you want to be classified as a pureblood (albeit one in fostering). In fact even if you didn't you should ask for that, why would you emigrate only to be classed as a second-class citizen? I mean they upgrade people sometimes for political reasons so they could certainly say that your desire to live forever in the Protectorate shows the True Wizarding Blood that flows through your veins. Or whatever. If they wanted.

You could still ask about OWLs because they're important even if you're a pureblood. But.

There's a book of regulations in the library, I'll show you where. You should have a look through that, too. There's one that's about halfbloods and another that's about fostering, you should probably look through both.

[alt_ron]

Oh, yeah. That's brilliant, really.

You should totally tell them you're not staying if they're going to classify you as a halfblood. I mean, why would you? And Sally Anne's right, they can totally classify you anyway they want.

That's an excellent thing to negotiate for.

[alt_pansy]

I think so too. I mean, you'd have to be careful with how you say it, of course, but you should.

So maybe you go about it by acting like you just assume that'll be the way it would happen, because of course you'd be classified as a full-blooded wizard, you're only keen to know about whether you'd get a foster family or not due to your unique position. And I wouldn't even mention the possibility of being classified as half-blooded as a deal-breaker. It'd be implied well enough.

[alt_lee]

Yes, and since you're assuming you'll be treated as a Pureblood wizard, you should speak as if you assume you'll be in control of your own money. Ask for help setting up a Gringotts account yeah, but don't act as if you have to ask for his permission (or a foster family's permission) to do so.

[alt_lee]

Frame it like you're asking for friendly advice, I mean, not permission.

[alt_ron]

Only, if he's too friendly about it, they may just not tell him what they're going to do until it's too late to go back. And they can just say, 'So sorry, but you didn't specify that' or 'It's a shame you didn't ask that question. Of course, we'd have explained if you had done.'

I mean, we know they're going to lie if they can if there's something he wants that they don't want to do. Or if they don't lie, they'll say stuff to try to trick him into thinking they're promising one thing when they're really not.

[alt_pansy]

That's what the solicitor'd be for.

[alt_luna]

Yes, they can classify you anyway they want. It's all meaningless anyway.

[alt_terry]

Tell that to someone living under meaningless muggleborn restrictions.

[alt_lee]

Don't think she meant it quite that way, mate.

[alt_luna]

No, I would never say that the sorts of things that you or Hermione have to bear don't matter, Terry.

What I meant was that I don't see any difference between you and me. You're a Ravenclaw like me, and you're a wizard just as much as me or Justin. I used to be called a Pureblood, you know, and now it suits them to call me a halfblood. But that change isn't based on anything real. It's just an excuse to treat me differently, just as their calling you a muggleborn is nothing more than an excuse to treat you differently. And to take advantage of you.

It is unfair. And unjust. That's the point.

[alt_terry]

Look

I

Sorry, Luna.

I'm sorry.

It's just been a hard day. He's been drunk all day and hard to bear, and it's put me in temper. Didn't mean to snap your nose off.

[alt_luna]

Never mind, Terry. I quite understand.

[alt_neville]

Yes, that IS very clever.

Do you know what your parchmentwork said when you were admitted here at the Protectorate? About your blood status, I mean? Because they might go by that. But maybe those documents didn't say anything at all about your blood status since you were simply coming as a guest for the Triwizard tournament, rather applying for immigration. Perks is right: you'd definitely be a lot safer, and have a lot less restrictions, if you were accepted as a Pureblood.

[alt_terry]

dunno if I have any particular advice about the letter.

Just that you'd better be awfully sure about this. And that there's not a chance that your real blood status could come out.

Pity there's no way to find out what would happen if it did without tipping your hand. But it wouldn't be pretty.

Do you have any kind of plan in place if it does?

[alt_justin]

Thanks, everyone.

I've made loads of the changes and I shall send it tomorrow. I'm taking your advice about presuming that I'll be a pureblood (that's well brilliant, what) and Sally-Anne, thanks for showing me the book. Even with this tactic, that had a great deal of bally good information.

Pansy, I well think a solicitor would be wise. But...I say, isn't Mr Baddock rather close to Mr Rosier, socially? I mean to say, aren't they both Councilwizards? I don't think it would do to go to him, specifically. Perhaps someone else, what?

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

Well, you've got to figure that any good solicitor would have connections. I'd figure that'd be a good thing on the one hand, and a not-so-good thing on the other.

The good thing is that he'd know all the politics and things, and would be able to sort out the trickier things much easier because of that.

The bad thing is that he'd be a little harder to trust that he's got your best interests in mind. But from what I've seen of Mr Baddock, he tends to be very straightforward. He treats me like a client, not like a child, and I trust him. I understand if you'd want to talk to someone else instead, but here, knowing important people typically makes things easier.

I wouldn't trust him so far as to tell him who your mother really is, for instance. But I wouldn't think you'd want to tell that to any solicitor regardless.