I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

Hullo, all.

I say, the news this morning has been well dire, hasn't it? Well, as Pansy said, everyone's been trying to gather up as much information about it all as possible.

And Neville, I hope you'll accept my sympathies, as well. I didn't know any of you last year, of course, but I can bally well understand how you all must feel today.

But listen, I've got to tell you all - after the YPL presentation yesterday, I don't think any of you noticed but Mr Helpmann spoke to me. He'd been the one organising my visit back at the Quidditch World Cup. At first I thought he simply wanted to say hello, what, but it became clear that Mr Rosier's been talking to him about my letter. He was clearly trying to get me to say something then and there. Which I say, I thought that was bally well cheeky, what, given all the DogStar business Friday!

Well, of course I put him off as politely as I could do, but it just happened at that moment that Professor Froissart saw us talking. He asked to speak to me and led me away from all the others.

Once we were alone, he demanded to know whether I'd been talking to the Ministry on my own. I said that they approached me, which was the complete truth, what, and then he got very upset. Luckily he was speaking French so I don't think many people would have understood him but--he said I couldn't possibly think of staying, that the patriotic thing to do would be to return to France and explain how badly we need to change things there, instead.

I told him I hadn't made a decision and that if anything, this weekend's news was something to consider seriously. He reminded me that we're leaving in three weeks but he asked me to come and see him on Monday so he could explain why I need to go back with him.

I rather got the impression he thought he'd be blamed for it, if I stay.

But I hadn't even thought that we really shall be leaving in three weeks, if I leave. If Mr Rosier's going to respond and everything's to work out, he'll have to move quickly, what?

I say, I really do mean that this weekend's events give one pause. I'm well certain these DogStar chaps aren't our wand smugglers but...do any of you suppose the smugglers will rethink what they're doing because of the DogStar being routed?

-Justin

Comments

[alt_pansy]

What did he mean by telling people in France to change things?

Did he mean change them to make them more like us? Or less?

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Pansy.

Well, I say, they've been working on it for several years now, what? Ever since your Mr Malfoy went to France. They've been passing all sorts of laws that increase wizards' rights and lessen the penalties for performing magic in front of or on Muggles.

There's a bill in front of the French Wizengamot now, in fact. I'm not sure when it will be coming up to the vote, but it's called the Magical Freedom Act. If it's passed, wizards and witches there shall be able to cast spells openly. There's another proposal but it's not quite as far along, from what some of the others have heard from home. Some of our students' parents send them L'Étoile now and then, you see.

Mr Rosier said several things as well, when he talked to me over hols. That's what I meant when I said that it's happening in France, anyway, if you follow me. That's why the most important thing is to make sure my mother can leave there if I stay here. And I still think staying here is the best way to arrange that.

Professor Froissart has no reason to offer any sort of incentives, what? Nor any ability to negotiate.

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

But what do you think Professor Froissart thinks about it? Do you think he liked what he saw? Does he want to tell them to go ahead with it? Or change the direction they're going in?

[alt_justin]

I thought I just answered that, what?

Yes, he means to further the cause. No doubt about that.

-Justin