I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

Hullo,

Here it is:

Dear Mr Rosier,

I hope you received my previous note of thanks for the tea basket. As I said, I shared the contents with several of the friends I have made during my time in the Protectorate. It made quite a jolly party.

I’m sure you will not be surprised to learn that I’ve been giving your kind offer quite a lot of consideration. I shan’t deny that there are temptations here that I find compelling. But it’s a monumental decision, to choose to leave forever the only home I’ve ever known.

I had a few questions, which I hope you shall not find forward, but which would go far toward easing my mind.

To begin, you mentioned that I’d be placed in fostering. May I ask how that would be accomplished? I’m sure it’s an unusual situation, coming into a foster-family at such a late stage. As I’m only a year from my majority, I’m not keen to enter an arrangement that would present significant limitations on the independence I have enjoyed this year. Would it be possible instead to simply remain at Hogwarts over the school holidays, or to be assigned to one of the staff instead of moving in with another family for so short a period of time? Or does one’s foster-family relationship continue beyond one’s coming of age? And if so, what measure of influence does one’s foster-family have the right to exact? Over what aspects of one’s life? Apprenticeships? Property?

For example, I have been accustomed to manage my own finances. Would that be allowed to continue? And for that matter, those finances currently reside in accounts on the continent. Would I need to set up an account at Gringotts in New London or could I continue as I have been, transferring the funds there for withdrawal as-needed?

Second, the Young Protectors’ League. In our initial meeting you said that I’d be given a chance to test in and participate. At what level? Obviously, I would not expect to be a counsellor but could I attempt to join the CCF, although the application deadline has passed? Would I remain involved in the activities with the rising-fourth year class or would it be more appropriate to join the rising-fifth?

Third, there’s something that has been troubling me about the political direction you’ve said France is taking. As you know, my mother is not a witch, but a Squib. If the Magical Freedom Act passes, she may find her own independence impaired. She may even become the victim of harrassment, either pursuant to the bill in the French Wizengamot, or even as a reprisal by individuals who might take offence at my decision to remain in England. I hope you’ll understand if I say that I am not ashamed of my mother or her capability to look after herself. However I know that bringing her in to the Protectorate would represent something of an embarrassment, one to which I am not eager to subject anyone. I wonder, therefore, if it would be possible to ensure her safe conduct to a new location of her choosing, where she will be less of a target to any who might wish her harm.

Fourth, perhaps most important, would be my studies within Hogwarts. Beauxbatons has a different academic pattern. I know that half-bloods must acquire a minimum number of O.W.L.s in order to remain in school for their N.E.W.T. levels and to be considered true citizens. I think you may appreciate my concern, then, that I should be entering the O.W.L. year without the previous years’ preparation. Has there been any discussion with Headmistress McGonagall about overcoming that obstacle? I’d be willing to sit additional lessons or study under a tutor if that would be acceptable.

Finally, there is the matter of what would become of me as a denizen of the Protectorate. I should like to be able to express my gratitude, of course, but I wonder if you have any thoughts about what might be expected of me in that regard. Perhaps that’s related to the question regarding fostering but I’m sure you’d know that better than I.

I certainly appreciate the openness with which I have been met and the opportunities I have been lucky enough to experience during my tenure as a visitor to Hogwarts. Despite the challenging circumstances of my birth, I have found myself welcomed here against all expectation. I hope that the questions I have outlined may be resolved before the end of term.

Yours very sincerely,

Justin Finch-Fletchley

Comments

[alt_ron]

Oh, yeah. That's brilliant, really.

You should totally tell them you're not staying if they're going to classify you as a halfblood. I mean, why would you? And Sally Anne's right, they can totally classify you anyway they want.

That's an excellent thing to negotiate for.

[alt_pansy]

I think so too. I mean, you'd have to be careful with how you say it, of course, but you should.

So maybe you go about it by acting like you just assume that'll be the way it would happen, because of course you'd be classified as a full-blooded wizard, you're only keen to know about whether you'd get a foster family or not due to your unique position. And I wouldn't even mention the possibility of being classified as half-blooded as a deal-breaker. It'd be implied well enough.

[alt_lee]

Yes, and since you're assuming you'll be treated as a Pureblood wizard, you should speak as if you assume you'll be in control of your own money. Ask for help setting up a Gringotts account yeah, but don't act as if you have to ask for his permission (or a foster family's permission) to do so.

[alt_lee]

Frame it like you're asking for friendly advice, I mean, not permission.

[alt_ron]

Only, if he's too friendly about it, they may just not tell him what they're going to do until it's too late to go back. And they can just say, 'So sorry, but you didn't specify that' or 'It's a shame you didn't ask that question. Of course, we'd have explained if you had done.'

I mean, we know they're going to lie if they can if there's something he wants that they don't want to do. Or if they don't lie, they'll say stuff to try to trick him into thinking they're promising one thing when they're really not.

[alt_pansy]

That's what the solicitor'd be for.

[alt_luna]

Yes, they can classify you anyway they want. It's all meaningless anyway.

[alt_terry]

Tell that to someone living under meaningless muggleborn restrictions.

[alt_lee]

Don't think she meant it quite that way, mate.

[alt_luna]

No, I would never say that the sorts of things that you or Hermione have to bear don't matter, Terry.

What I meant was that I don't see any difference between you and me. You're a Ravenclaw like me, and you're a wizard just as much as me or Justin. I used to be called a Pureblood, you know, and now it suits them to call me a halfblood. But that change isn't based on anything real. It's just an excuse to treat me differently, just as their calling you a muggleborn is nothing more than an excuse to treat you differently. And to take advantage of you.

It is unfair. And unjust. That's the point.

[alt_terry]

Look

I

Sorry, Luna.

I'm sorry.

It's just been a hard day. He's been drunk all day and hard to bear, and it's put me in temper. Didn't mean to snap your nose off.

[alt_luna]

Never mind, Terry. I quite understand.