I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

Hullo, everyone,

Terry's suggested that we put together a survival kit, what, and that I might take it with me when the group visits Lincoln over hols. He's told me where to hide it so if he is ever able to escape, he can take it along.

I think it's a smashing idea. And since some of you will be going along to a few things before then, you might even get me items to put in it after hols, what? I say, at first I thought we only had two days to put it together but there's the Yorkshire trip and all.

So if you've got something to contribute, you can give it to me before the end of the day Friday or on the train, or on any of the events on April 6, 7, or 8 (those of you who are coming, that is).

Terry mentioned clothes, what, and I thought a bedroll and perhaps some toiletries, maybe even cooking tools if we can put that bally old shrinking spell on them, yes? And some money, of course. Perhaps a map, maybe to yours, Ron and Fred and George? Or if that wouldn't be wise, then to somewhere else safer. Sally-Anne, perhaps he could get to the Strettons' and blend in, what?

And we shall need a good knapsack to carry it all, perhaps with an expansion charm on it. That's well advanced magic, though: Fred, George and Lee, could you manage that? Perhaps Sally-Anne's clever enough to do it. That might be more difficult as I don't think I've got anything appropriate, what. And while I might be able to get one in New London at the weekend, then we might not have time or privacy to put the charms on it while we're all in our groups.

So does anyone else have something we could use? I suppose that's the start and we may all add to it as we can. The Lincoln trip is on 9 April, so as long as I have the contents by then, I shall be able to convey them.

-Justin

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

He shouldn't come to the Stretton's -- a stranger would stand out. He could go to one of the villages full of Sleepers; that would be better. (Creepy, though.)

Terry, can you do a summoning charm? Because maybe Justin could put it in a hollow tree, or something, and you could summon it once you got away? It might be easier than digging.

Fred and George, maybe you could make something that would always point to wherever you are? Or a charm that Terry could activate that would be like a portkey, only a beacon instead, you know? A "here I am" that would only work for you, but would point you to him?

I can't do an expansion charm yet, and undetectable expansion charms are a lot harder, and Terry's would really need to be undetectable. Although really, we don't want to hide him as a muggle. We want to hide him as a wizard. So maybe a little aging potion so people think he's old enough to be out of school, and robes that are a little tattered?

[alt_sally_anne]

And Fred and George won't be going on the trips but Ron will, so they can just give things to Ron to give to you to put in the knapsack.

[alt_justin]

Yes, quite.

-Justin

[alt_justin]

Come to think of it, if he can get out, and tell us, he could send word to Sirius, what, and then the wand-smugglers would help him. They've tried to do before, after all.

I thought about putting a charm on the bag that would give off a light or sound when Terry's nearby it, what, but that's not well safe, is it. Because what if he escapes at night and needs to slip away quietly? It's got to be well concealed, though, so no one else can stumble upon the thing.

Perhaps there's a similar sort of charm that would only be noticeable by Terry, what?

-Justin

[alt_gredforge]

We've got it. This is a spell we sometimes use to find each other when we're exploring.

Professor, you can get your hand on small stones there inside the castle, we assume, right? Find two that are as close to each other in size as you can find.

Take the two and pass your wand over them both in a figure eight and say, 'gemina vocationem ad geminos.' Then send one of the stones to Justin and keep the other yourself, somewhere safe. Maybe put it into one of the beads on your bracelet.

Say Justin buries the backpack and puts the stone over it. If you can get away, take your stone out, tap it with your wand and say, 'vocant vibrationis.' Turn in a circle, and you'll feel the stone vibrate when you're turned in the direction of the one that Justin's placed over the backpack. It'll vibrate harder the closer you get.

[alt_terry]

That's really clever. I'll do that. Thanks!

Someone will have to send me Pig, though. I don't know who has him now.

[alt_gredforge]

He's here at the school, in the owlry. We'll send him so he'll arrive Friday night. The git's usually drunk then, right?

[alt_terry]

Usually, yeah. I'll ask the ghost to keep a watch out, distract him when Pig arrives, if needed, too.

[alt_terry]

I'll send your birthday present back with him, too.

[alt_gredforge]

It's gonna be okay, mate. You know we're not going to forget you or abandon you.

[alt_terry]

I know.

It's just going to be harder. A little. That I can't talk right to you, whenever I like.

[alt_gredforge]

This is dead brilliant, Justin, and yeah, we'll do everything we can to help, including the charms. We're good at those, but we'd be willing to cross check stuff with Perks.

Lee, how about we use that old book bag of yours, the one in the bottom of your trunk? You got a new one for Christmas when the strap broke, right? We could just repair the strap on the old one.

[alt_lee]

Sure, I'd be willing to donate it to the cause.

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Lee,

Capital! Do you think you could fix it and bring it to the Great Hall tomorrow?

-Justin

[alt_lee]

Yeah, I'll hand it off to you at dinner. We'll have it fixed by then.

[alt_neville]

My sister and I go camping every year with my Great-Uncle, and we have extra gear. I can go through the stuff when I get home from break and send you what might be useful. It's already charmed to shrink real easy. Things like a set of nested plates and bowls and tableware, and a tarp that can double as a one-person tent. I think we have a very small pot that will cook stuff without fire, too.

[alt_justin]

Neville,

That's positively brilliant, what! I say, that's just the sort of thing I was thinking. I'd thought to pick up supplies in New London but if you could find them easily when you get home, what, that'll be smashing.

Provided it shan't put you out, of course. Are you able to come to any of the outings, then, Neville?

-Justin

[alt_neville]

It'll be fine. We probably have too much camping stuff, and my Great-Uncle isn't very organised. I don't think he'll miss anything I'll pull out.

I'll be going to Cambridge.

[alt_luna]

I don't have any camping equipment or anything like that. But I have some Galleons that I've saved, and I'll give those to Justin. The Browns gave me some pocket money to spend on Christmas presents, but I ended up mostly making mine instead. And I can knit you a jumper. Mrs Weasley taught me how to speed knit using magic, and she just sent me a whole bunch of yarn.

I have some amulets that will protect you from evil eyes, too. We can put those in. Just in case.

[alt_justin]

Luna,

I didn't mean to pick your pocket, what! You needn't pauper yourself, please, do keep some money back. The jumper will be well perfect, I'm sure, provided you can get it done in time, what.

Are you coming along to anything, then?

-Justin

[alt_luna]

Oh, I don't mind in the least, because nothing would give me more pleasure than spending the money for a friend.

I've got my name down for the Cambridge visit for sure. I've heard my foster sister Lavender Brown talking about the Camelot trip, but I'm not sure yet whether they will want I will be going along.

[alt_justin]

Hm, yes, I see.

Unfortunately, Cambridge is after Lincoln but perhaps you might send the jumper by owl, what? We shall be in Newcastle the day before.

Oh, here's Hydra. Cheerio.

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

I can buy a bedroll. And some winter things.

And let me know if there's anything else left while we're on hols and I can get it.

[alt_justin]

Pansy,

I say, good show!

I wonder. Muggles outside, you know, they have these well brilliant blankets that reflect heat in the summer and keep it in during the cold months. I don't know if wizards have anything similar but that might be well useful, what? As we don't know what time of year it shall be when Terry makes his escape, if you follow me.

I'm also going to put in several pairs of socks. I say, I'd put in a stout pair of shoes but I've no idea Terry's size, what?

-Justin

[alt_ron]

I can put in a Sneak-o-Scope, and a Finder we learned to charm in CCF. It's the one I use, but I can always make another one. The S-o-S isn't a very exp the best, but it works, which is what matters, yeah?

I wrote up some surveying instructions, too. Simple stuff, but it could help, maybe, if Terry gets somewhere and thinks he's going in circles instead of forwards, you know.

[alt_sally_anne]

I finished knitting some socks. I'll try to get them to you this morning, Justin.

I had another idea but I'm less sure it'll work. Ron or Nev, I'll try to find you on the train.