I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

Hullo, all,

Viktor called the Strettons' and Mrs Stretton answered. She told him that Sally-Anne couldn't come and speak to him as she's been grounded. He said she was polite but a bit frosty, what, and mentioned that Sally-Anne's been coming and going on her own too much for a girl of her age. I say, it sounds as if she wasn't impressed by Krum at all. I hope that didn't make things worse for her, having an older boy ask for her.

He asked if she was all right and Mrs Stretton said yes, she's fine. He asked if he could speak to Jeremy. She didn't bally well like that, what, but she had him fetched to the grate and he more or less confirmed that Sally-Anne's all right and that she'd see us on the train. Of course, Viktor says Mrs Stretton was just there off to the side, so Jeremy could hardly do anything else, if you follow me.

Has anyone else heard more?

Oh, and Ron: I can't tell you much about the Quidditch, sorry to say. I, er, fell asleep, what?

-Justin

Comments

[alt_ron]

Fell asleep? Oi.

I suppose they've had you doing rather a lot, though, haven't they?

Still.

I'd've sold my baby sister to get those tickets. Heh.

I'm glad Krum talked with Stretton, though. That's good, yeah? She's all right. Just in trouble, which we sort of figured. Mind you, that's rubbish, what they're doing, but at least it's just another day.

[alt_justin]

What ho, Ron,

Yes, that's just it. I'm sure you've had chores and such at home but at least you've had a few days not spent trekking about being shown points of interest and having to maintain a somewhat curious attitude about the whole of it, what? It's been well exhausting. Though I say, it was really only yesterday I had enough personal time to realise just how little rest we've had this holiday.

As far as Sally-Anne...I'm glad we've got it sorted, though I agree it's ruddy well not on keeping her from her journal and all.

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

Thank you, Justin.

That makes me feel a good deal better.

I should've thought to write you a private message in case he got curious how you knew, but you can just say I sent you an owl if it comes to that.

[alt_justin]

Pansy,

That's what I told Poliakoff this morning, what?

Don't fret about it, it's fine.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Hullo everyone.

I'm sorry to have worried everyone so much.

The Strettons got in trouble because they were supposed to report the measles outbreak to St Mungo's, or someone at the Ministry, or maybe both. And since I went to the estate I also broke quarantine and that got them into extra trouble. They had to pay fines AND they're going to have to pay a healer to inspect all their farms and so on AND they're going to have to submit a bunch of paperwork to the Ministry about how they'll handle this sort of thing in the future.

And then when they went to look for me they found a note on my pillow saying I'd gone to Pansy's.

So they were really furious when I came back.

Mrs Stretton tried to cruciate me only she couldn't manage it. So then she took my journal and my wand and they locked me up and left me there until the messenger came from Harry and then they let me out so I could write him a note saying I was okay. Which I did. I thought they might lock me back up but they let me have something to eat and then Mr and Mrs Stretton had a HUGE fight because he was still utterly furious and wanted me punished more but she said it was too risky because my friends 'knew what strings to pull' and finally they gave me back my journal and wand but I'm supposed to stay in my room and I'm not allowed to go on visits or broom rides or do much of anything fun for the rest of hols. Fortunately it's almost time to go back to school.

[alt_pansy]

She's right about pulling strings.

And if she tries anything like that next time you're there, I will pull them again.

Hard.

I'm glad the message from Harry worked.

I'm sorry they were being stupid arses who were punishing you for THEIR mistake.

I can't wait to see you on the train. It'll just be a little while longer.

[alt_lee]

Yeah, you would pull 'em hard, wouldn't you? Probably right around their throats.

Good to hear you're all right, Perks.

And good on Malvolo. And Krum. And all you lot for doing what you could to make sure.

[alt_terry]

i'm glad Mrs Stretton couldn't cruciate you, Perks. and yeah, it's a good thing you don't have to stay there much longer. well, until summer

[alt_neville]

That's just not on. Them punishing you, I mean, when they were the ones doing stuff wrong.

[alt_luna]

Yes. But haven't you ever noticed that knowing they're really wrong deep down inside sometimes makes people even angrier?

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah, it did.

I kind of think that's part of why she couldn't manage the cruciatus curse, though.

[alt_justin]

Sally-Anne,

I say, what a nice message to see when I woke up this morning! I'm well glad to see you writing again, though it's shocking bad form of them to treat you so ill.

I suppose you rather stirred up a hornets' billywigs' nest for them but that's only because they obviously weren't looking after things properly--I mean to say, properly even for this place, what?

Has Jeremy been helpful? Viktor said it seemed as if he wanted to say more but couldn't as his mother was standing just a few feet away.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

They were furious at Jeremy too, because he said he was the one who gave me the note. (It was actually Maureen but he didn't want her to get in trouble.) So he couldn't do much but he put a note under my door in the night so I know he replied to your owl, which is good, worrying wasn't going to do any good.