Picnic

[alt_justin]

Hullo, friends,

I say, I thought yesterday's picnic was positively corking. Thank you all for coming; I hope I shall be able to host other jolly gatherings once in a while before end of term. Marvolo, Malfoy, I was very pleased to see you decided to come along! We've not spent much time at all this year, despite being thrown together somewhat when I came for the Quidditch World Cup, what? I say, it was grand to make your acquaintance again.

It's well hard to believe that it's already May. It seems like just yesterday I was wondering whether I'd be coming back to England with the other students from Beauxbatons but at the same time, it feels as if I've been here ages and ages. I suppose it's down to meeting so many people who've become good friends.

-Justin

Comments

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

I do think it went rather well. Admittedly not as well as one might have hoped, what, but it's a start.

Hermione, I hope it wasn't too awkward. I'd hoped--well, I'd hoped that we'd all be able to relax a bit more. Perhaps next time, what.

-Justin

Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

Sorry I didn't call you "Effs," but I don't want people to realise that that's you're secret name, which they will if I leave it as a comment here.

It was nice of you to invite everyone. Draco and Harry seemed to stick out a little. I think Draco, especially, felt a little outnumbered by Gryffindors - not that that sort of thing really puts him off his step. And no one was rude to Granger, so that's good.

But the way you told everyone about Uncle Stephen and the Protectorate's offer... it makes me think that you've already made up your mind, or are close to doing so.

From,
Hydra

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_lee]

Thanks for sharing the hamper with this disreputable lot. I hope you don't mind the twins slipping in the Canary Creams.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_neville]

It was rather fun to see someone besides me getting caught by those things.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_lee]

Oh, I wasn't caught by them. I knew what they were. George suggested it.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_neville]

Really? You ate one on purpose?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_lee]

Sure. They figured it would break the ice. And it worked, didn't it?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_neville]

Well, it was funny.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_luna]

Yes, it was.

I was glad to try one, too. That sensation of feathers erupting all over the skin, it quite tickles, doesn't it?

(Sorry I got feathers into the clotted cream though, Justin!)

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_luna]

I do quite like Hydra, Justin. I know what it's like to prefer to be a little quiet by nature.

[alt_gredforge]

Thanks for the invitation, Finch-Fletchley. It was fun, and we were sorry we weren't able to stay long, but it's probably just as well: Ron no doubt ate enough Stilton for all of us.

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Dux.

Don't mind it at all, and quite clever of you, what.

I'm glad Draco and Harry both came, even if, as you say, it put everyone on their guard for a little while. I say, Fred and George's Canary Creams are jolly droll, aren't they?

And no, I shouldn't have thought any of that crowd would be rude to Granger. I've got to know them here and there throughout the year--you know I've tried, perhaps harder than most, to meet people from all over the school--and I do believe I'm a fair judge of their characters.

But I wouldn't say I've made up my mind completely, what? Only that I bally well feel as if either choice could go the worse for me so...if either choice is no choice, if you follow me, then I might as well stay where I've a ghost's chance of being happy. And possibly making a difference, to boot.

That's not to say I shan't wake up tomorrow and change my mind, what? But no matter how I weigh the options it seems to always come out the same.

Did your mother answer you about the CCF programme? (That reminds me, I should ask about the YPL in my thank-you letter to Mr Rosier.)

-Justin

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

Thank you, Luna.

I'm rather fond of her, myself.

It was good to have you there, too. You've quite a way of seeing people without judging them harshly.

-Justin

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Lee,

Not at all. I thought it was jolly fun! I had planned a few other methods in case we needed some help but that did the trick bally well perfectly.

-Justin

[alt_justin]

Oh, I say, most welcome, Weasley and Weasley. And Weasley, as well. I'm glad there was more than enough to go round, what!

And those transforming sweets of yours are bally well smashing, as well. It made quite the entertainment and just when we needed a laugh, too.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_hydra]

It's not that I don't want you to stay, but I do wish that there weren't so many things that came along with it, if you see what I mean. But I know that it isn't up to me.

And yes, she answered. I wanted to tell you, but not with everyone there. She advised me to write to Erasmus Croaker's father, who works in the Department of Mysteries. No one knows much about what that work involves, only that it requires you to be very good at keeping secrets. So I wrote to him, but it wasn't very long, because as I said, no one really knows what he does, not exactly. No one is supposed to have anything but the most general idea. I know he's done projects on how time and magic works, but that's the extent of it.

I told him that I grew up with parents who do very important work, and that I've learnt that you have to keep things to yourself, and to not let them affect your emotions if you can help it, and that you can't let it change who you really are, either. That sort of thing.

I just hope I wasn't too general. But how specific can you be with a man whose career is a secret?

From,
Hydra

[alt_ron]

Yeah, it was snitch. Thanks for asking us all.

It is a funny old thing how fast time goes, innit? It's almost time for the Third Task of the tournament. Guess Marvolo isn't letting it worry him much. Good on him, yeah?