I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good: Private Message to Hermione Granger and Harry Marvolo

[alt_justin]

Hermione,

How certain are you that no one reads Harry's PM's, what? I mean to say, if someone sent him a PM that said 'Oh, by the bye, Sirius Black is living in his old parents' house,' would anyone take notice? (No, don't fret, I'm not planning anything that daft!)

I'd really like you to be able to come to tea tomorrow. I asked Hydra if she thought we should invite Harry on the premise that we could encourage him to bring you along, and then--I don't know, perhaps he'd see that the others treat you fairly or the others would then see that he doesn't treat you badly at all, and they'd see how Hydra is about things as well.

But. Perhaps it's a really bad idea, at that, what? Is it asking for trouble? Would we all sit round feeling awkward and afraid to make the first move?

I guess I'm asking if you thought that if I wrote him, I could signal him somehow that this group of mates I've assembled are all right. Or perhaps you could do. But I need to know how careful I'd have to be in my note. I could easily tell him that I'm seeking his advice as the Lord Protector's son and who better to ask about the Protectorate, what, but the trick is letting him know somehow without letting any of the authorities know that I'd like you along as an equal, not as a servant. And that he doesn't need to treat you like one in front of us all.

I bally well shouldn't wish to make things worse for anyone, though, if you follow me. I say, what's your advice?

Comments

[alt_hermione]

Well I said something nearly as daft the other day. Honestly I didn't mean to but for a moment I just forgot that we weren't under the lock, and I called Mr Milland Mr Snape. I didn't say anything because I thought it would only make it worse but nobody can be reading, can they, if they didn't notice something like that?

I suppose they could read backward. But it doesn't bear thinking about.

But why do you have to say you want me along as an equal?? You could just say "Hydra would like to see her" - we spent an awful lot of time together before you know so it wouldn't be in the least odd.

[alt_justin]

Oh, I wasn't planning to say anything that obvious, what? Only that, if one needed to speak in codes, I didn't wish him to think me some crass idiot who only wished to gawk at a muggleborn.

Wait. Do you mean to say the caretaker is that fugitive everyone was looking for last year? Is he one of Sirius's friends, then? A smuggler? Or is he simply hiding in plain sight, what? Goodness, and I thought I was bally well cheeky!

And does that mean the Matron's helping him to hide, or someone else at the castle?

-Justin

[alt_hermione]

Oh MERLIN.

[alt_hermione]

I just mean, I didn't mean to say that to you TOO. But there's a lot of things going on.

Look, you can't ever say and I can't say anything else about it at all, okay? Only if you're ever in trouble you can go to him. Just don't ever ever ever say anything.

[alt_justin]

I suppose it's a jolly good thing nothing dire happens to you anymore if you speak out of turn, what? But all right, I shan't ask. Or tell.

I did speak to Harry, right at the end of supper. I'm not sure he'll come if Draco Malfoy doesn't but, well, dash it, I've a feeling Pansy shan't come either if she thinks Draco's not welcome.

Would you mind it, terribly, if Draco did come along? I'm afraid I don't trust him very much but I know you know him better than I do so if you'll be comfortable enough then that's all right with me. I did tell Harry that Draco would be welcome, of course--but I would have said that anyway as he's Pansy's boyfriend.

I'm not sure why things have to be so dashed complicated, what? Particularly with everything else we have to worry about!

-Justin