I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

What ho, all,

How did the first day of exams go? I've finished two of the essays Professor Froissart set for us but I've still four more to complete. Don't suppose it matters much but I expect the professors here might want them to determine where I've need of additional tutoring.

I heard from Mr Rosier that they'll arrange for the paperwork to move my mother to Kenya. (I remembered that she's got a friend there, sort of an unrelated aunt of mine, if you follow me. They went to school together. If she goes there at least she'll be able to look someone up, what. I'm sending her an owl to explain everything and tell her why and all that. She'll understand.) And I'd asked Inglebee in Ravenclaw to have his father look over the other information, including the Gringott's paperwork, as he's a solicitor. And he wrote back today as well, saying it's all quite sound. So. I guess that means I'm staying.

I haven't worked out when to tell the others, particularly JP. Perhaps the Headmistress will take care of that. Or if nothing else, it'll become obvious when they leave and I don't, what?

But I suppose I bally well ought to tell Jean-Pierre and soon. It'll be a wrench for him, rather. I say, Luna, this means we'll be trying for the CCF together, in the same cohort. Which is good, as I'm not entirely certain I shall have much of a summer, otherwise!

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

So when are they Sorting you? Before we leave for the summer, or after we get back?

[alt_justin]

Hello, Sally-Anne,

I'm to be Sorted as soon as possible, in fact. Mr Rosier says I may stay with the Beauxbatons students until the Tournament is over but then I'll move to my new House. I suppose it'll be best to meet them all, officially, before we leave for the summer holiday.

But I don't know when the Headmistress will choose to do it. It might be while you are all in your exams, what? Since then I can slip up to her office with no one the wiser.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Mm. I can see why you can't do it in front of the whole school but it seems like you at least ought to have your mates there.

[alt_justin]

You want to be there when I'm Sorted?

Why? Is it terribly entertaining?

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

It is QUITE entertaining when the Firsties are Sorted, actually. You'll see next autumn.

[alt_terry]

Well, guess that means, welcome home, to stay, i mean.

I'll be really proud when you get Sorted.

[alt_justin]

Cheers, Terry.

[alt_neville]

I suppose it's a relief to have the decision made then, isn't it?

I hope it turns out to be all that you hope it will be.

[alt_justin]

Neville,

If it helps the others then it's worth it.

-Justin

[alt_luna]

Well, I think the Protectorate will be very lucky to have you.

[alt_justin]

Thanks, Luna. Cheers.

I hope they regret it soundly, if you follow me.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Cheers.

Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

I wish I could move my mum to Kenya.

Back when we were asking Sirius Black questions -- through Hermione, you know, you probably saw all that although it was before you came on the Lock -- I asked how a person could get out of the Protectorate. He said that if I sent him an owl with the specifics he'd see what he could do.

Except I never did.

Because here's the thing, she's not SUPPOSED to leave, and if anyone came looking and she was missing they might come after me. Families like mine, everyone's sort of a hostage to everyone else's proper behavior -- it goes the other way, too, if I got caught doing something awful they might send my mum to the camps. Anyway. The more I thought about it the more I thought she'd refuse to go. And having her KNOW that Sirius Black was about, able to smuggle out muggleborns and all the rest -- it could put people in danger, including her.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just telling myself that's what she'd want because if I did send Sirius to her and she left and anyone noticed I'd be in such trouble. If it's selfishness.

If it weren't for me she wouldn't even be stuck here, you know, she'd be off at that Advanced Institute that offered her a fellowship for research. She got pregnant with me and arranged to defer, and then she never got to go because they put up the wards.

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

Oh, I say.

Well. But, Sally-Anne, surely Sirius - or, the wand smugglers, I should say - surely they've got ways of helping people that keep the rest of their families safe?

For example, they could make it look like your mother died. Accidentally or something like that. I saw a film once where a woman faked her own drowning and she didn't even have magic. I'm sure they could come up with loads of ways for your mother to go missing without anyone assuming the worst.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh! I didn't even think of that.

I suppose they could, at that.

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Ron and Pansy were going to help me visit her this summer, though.

I guess -- I wouldn't want him to take her away before I got to see her again. Is that horrible?

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

That's not horrible at all. It's rather sweet, in fact.

Well, I suppose one could use your visit to sound her out and see if she'd even consider escape if it were possible to do it without causing you trouble. Or if she's not interested in leaving, do you think she might want to help them? The smugglers, I mean to say.

I say, do you think Mrs Weasley's one of them? She's got that barter network and she's helped you pass things to your mother in the past, hasn't she? I wonder if she were, and if your mother joined them, too, if they couldn't work to help others in a similar situation.

Ron seems quite unsure as to whether his mother could be part of something like that, of course. But you've met her; I've not.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, you'll like Mrs Weasley. Ron will probably have everyone over for Quidditch this summer and you'll be able to come this time, don't you think?

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

I'm sure I shall like her, too.

But I don't know about coming there. I mean to say, I suppose it partly depends on how well I do at the CCF trials and then there's all the catching up I've got to do to be ready to enter the O.W.L. lessons in September. I'll need tutoring, what?

And beyond that--well, it shan't be up to me, shall it? It'll be up to my foster-family. Oh, dash it, I meant to tell you that I know who they're to be. It's the Jugsons. You know, Remy and Alfie's parents. They volunteered, I'm told.

-Justin

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

The Jugsons aren't awful, not usually at least. I think they'll let you go play quidditch, especially if you're meant to be settling in to life in the Protectorate and making real friends and all that.

We'll have to work it around CCF anyway. So as long as they don't mean to make you keep your nose to the books all summer you ought to be able to come.

Re: Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

And yes.

I think she is.

That doesn't mean the whole barter network is, though. It's an enormous group of people and they're all quite open and above-board, they don't act like a secret organisation at all. I suppose there's something to be said for hiding in plain sight but they have people who are utterly dotty, you know? Luna's father was in the network!

Ron (and his brothers) laughed when I said I thought their mum was a Wand Smuggler but here's why I think she is.

1. She passes messages to my mum, but more than that, she's completely casual about it. Not nervous or hesitant, like most people would be (even nice people who didn't mind doing me a favour). It makes me think she's done a lot worse than pass messages, if it just doesn't seem like any sort of big deal.

but also

2. When Sirius Black was captured she spent the whole day carrying her clock from room to room (she has a clock that tells her whether her family members are at 'home' or 'work' or in 'mortal danger') and wouldn't let Ron (or Fred or George or any of them) go ANYWHERE, all day.

and

3. At the beginning of second year Ron got into some trouble that really shouldn't have been all that big a deal and she was FURIOUS. Her house got searched by MLE and I think she was terrified they'd find something they shouldn't and that's why she was SO CROSS.

Anyway. I'm not going to push it with Ron or his brothers (maybe they DO know and have to keep it a secret, even from us) but if you ever need help she's someone to ask.

I think Madam Pomfrey is one of them, too. I thought so even before she came to help me with the sick muggles at the Strettons.

[alt_lee]

Hey Justin, the twins say congratulations. And that doubtless you'll liven up the place. Which to them is the very highest of compliments.

And I say congratulations, too, mate.

[alt_pansy]

I'm glad you had a solicitor look over the papers. And that things look like they'll work out for your mum.