Farewell for now

[alt_justin]

I just wanted everyone to know that I'm back in France, and quite safe. I've been hearing very grave reports - Draco, I surely hope your father will be on the mend soon. And anyone else who was injured.

Also, I suppose many of you are starting at school today, so bonchances to you all!

As for what happened to me, well, the French delegations were all checked by your Healers and some of them had some minor cuts and bruises but mostly the protections, as I'm sure you all know, worked smashingly well. (I'm not sure my mother quite agrees; in her opinion no bomb should have gone off in the first place!)

So as soon as we were all pronounced healthy, Professor Froissart and M Froissart said their farewells, as Mr Malfoy is her brother, you know, and naturally she wanted to stay to be with the family. But P Froissart had to get me home as soon as possible, they decided. Which is a shame - I mean, I was meant to go home afterward anyway, but I'd hoped there would be some celebrations. It's too bad that all had to get ruined and so many people were hurt.

Apart from that rather horrible ending, of course, I really did enjoy my time in England. I don't know if I'll get to come back, now, though. I mean, if there's ever another opportunity. I'll have a job convincing my mother that it's ordinarily very peaceful.

Only we've heard the news and someone said that it's all been revealed to be the work of Sirius Black?! Is that even How can that be? We heard he'd been caught here in France ages ago, and people told me while I was visiting that everyone viewed his remains. Blimey Merlin, I should think he's even more dangerous than anyone realised if he could pull off a switch that fooled everyone, including the Lord Protector, and he's about as clever a wizard as I've ever heard of!

Ron, Sally-Anne, Blaise, Pansy, Daphne, Harry - it was lovely to meet you all. I was very relieved to see you all posting and know that you're okay. They did let me keep the book, as you see, so let's keep on writing, shall we? I mean, if you've time. Luna, Padma, Michael, anyone else I may have forgot - the invitation stands for you as well. Do tell me how you're getting on this year, and watch out for mad terrorists! I'm sure your duelling club will come up with loads of ways to send them packing, what?

Comments

[alt_pansy]

That's very kind of you, Justin.

I'm sorry your visit ended the way that it did, but I'm so glad that the people you came with weren't injured too badly.

It's a shame you have to go back to France, but it will be ever so much fun to be able to write back and forth in our books. I'm absolutely terrible at written French (I'm rotten at spelling!), but it was delightful to practice speaking with you, and I hope that some day I can return the visit.

[alt_justin]

Bien sûr, nous pouvons écrire les uns aux autres pour la pratique: l'anglais pour moi et vous le français!

And I can correct you whenever you need it, I'm quite good as you see.

Are you truly all right, then? You and Sally-Anne were brilliant, you know, jumping in to help like that. I'm afraid my minders whisked me away without giving me much choice about it all.

[alt_pansy]

I'll be better once Lucius is more himself, but thank you for asking. Nous vous remercions de votre préoccupation.

It's funny, isn't it, how someone can do something they didn't think they could? I'm not the sort to jump into something headlong, but being with a friend who was also helping made me braver than I usually am, I guess.

[alt_justin]

Lucius? Oh, do you mean Mr Malfoy?

I didn't know you were that close. Goodness, I am dashed sorry, then. What a way to start off the year, eh?

But as for the other, you don't strike me as someone who cowers behind when there's work to be done. Not that I know very well. But you didn't seem anything other than fearless to me!

[alt_ron]

Hey, Pans.

Do you see where Justin thought he'd met my dad--some bloke who looks like a pirate!

Was probably Bill, but still!

A pirate!!

[alt_pansy]

That is rich!

I mean, Mr Weasley is just so very not pirate-like. Not even close. Like the absolute opposite of one.

If the man was ginger and wearing an earring, I'd bet it was Bill. At least Justin's good at spotting Weasleys!

[alt_luna]

It's good to hear that you were not hurt, either.

Yes, it would be lovely to continue to write back and forth. I don't think a person can have too many pen friends. Good luck to you with your new year at school. When do you start? We're here on the train on our way back to Hogwarts now.

[alt_justin]

I do rather have to admit that I shouldn't have minded being hurt just a tiny bit, to have a scar I could show off as a souvenir, but on the whole, I think being not hurt is much preferrable to being hurt at all, and certainly not when so many people were quite seriously wounded.

But this Sirius Black chap - everyone's saying he's quite the devil of a fellow, what? Mind you, we haven't seen pictures recently but I do recall when they were looking for him all over Europe, and he seemed the sort that would harm a hundred just to get at one.

Our term doesn't start until the 6th. So I've nothing but my schoolbooks - and pen friends - to keep me occupied for a little while longer.

[alt_ron]

Hey, Justin.

Good you got home, then.

Sorry I didn't get to meet you, really. Next time you come, maybe?

[alt_justin]

If there is a next time, then yes, I'd quite like that, I think.

By the way, I never did get a chance to tell you: You asked about your father. Well, I said I think it was your father, anyway. Tall bloke, thin, wears a queue - and an earring! I say, I'm not sure where that doesn't mark a chap as a cool one. Like a pirate, rather, what?

[alt_ron]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa!!!!!

Erm. That wasn't my dad, mate.

Might've been my brother Bill, I guess. Probably was, if someone told you he was a Weasley.

Heh.

That's a good one!

I mean, my dad's nice and all, but he's not what anyone would call cool.

Or a pirate!!!!

Man, Fisheye's gonna to have a laugh at that one!

[alt_sally_anne]

It was very nice to meet you, and I'm sorry things went so horribly wrong.