I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

I say, I think it's dashed unfair to ask us to sit through this dry old lecture, what, after all the swimming, running, flying and marching we've been doing since before breakfast!

(If anyone asks, we're taking notes, yes? And if anyone should need to know something about the Falklands, my mother had a cousin in the Royal Navy--but I rather think it does make sense, given how it took the military out of the country at just the right (or wrong) time.)

Still, this is the only way I think I shall bally well keep awake, if he insists on droning on, what?

-Justin

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Did you hear about Capper, by the way?

[alt_ron]

They really, actually snapped his wand? For real?

[alt_ron]

I mean, that's so dire it's got to just be talk, yeah?

[alt_sally_anne]

I asked Professor Siz.

It's true, all of it. They snapped his wand and took him to the camps.

And then she said, 'it won't happen to you, you're clever and you work hard and the examiners are fair.'

I heard his foster family's going to try to have him assigned to them as a domestic servant.

[alt_ron]

REALLY?

I mean-

Have you ever heard of that happening to anyone? For failing exams, I mean. I know there are people who've got caught doing illegal stuff, and got sent to the camps.

But they really took his wand?!!!

Merlin.

[alt_justin]

Yes, Ron,

They not only took his wand, what, they snapped it. Right in front of Steven, as well.

MacMillan heard from Corner--you know they're mates, he and Steven Capper--and that Professor Vector tried to petition on his behalf with the Educational Board--but it didn't make any difference.

He's got an older sister and a younger one but they weren't fostered with him. She's in contact with his foster-parents, though.

Somehow I doubt they'll be allowed to take him into service, what?

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

Maybe someone else will.

[alt_sally_anne]

I don't know, it'll be interesting. I mean there's a lot of demand now for muggleborn servants, actually, but imagine having a 'servant' who had been trained at Hogwarts like your own children but wasn't allowed to carry a wand anymore. But COULD, you know, if he picked one up.

I don't think they really thought it through, you know?

[alt_justin]

Yes, I don't think he's got much hope.

I didn't want to say it to MacMillan or Corner but I very much doubt his sister's efforts will do any good, nor his foster-family's.

I mean to say, if the Ministry were willing for him to stay in their home, they could have simply filled out the proper forms and done it that way, what?

They've chosen to make an example of him. I only wonder why now, why him, and not anyone else before, if you follow me.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Yes.

That's an interesting question. It's possible he's the first to really fail, but not all that likely.

[alt_justin]

Perhaps he's the first who didn't achieve the minimum number of O.W.L.s? He only got two, according to his brother.

How many does one need? I should think it almost takes effort to fail all but two, what?

-Justin

[alt_luna]

I received an owl from Portia Rubens, one of my roommates. She's dreadfully upset about what happened to Thomas. He used to help her sometimes with her Arithmancy homework.

I think all of the Ravenclaws will be quite shaken by this, not just the half-bloods. One of the not-so-nice things about our House is that sometimes we take some excessive pride in our cleverness, think it's all we need. And it's true: he wasn't just clever in Arithmancy, he was truly brilliant. I suppose he thought he was so good at that one subject, that he would be safe.

Merlin, listen to me talking about him as if he's dead or something.

It truly is awful.

[alt_terry]

That's right, he was a Ravenclaw, wasn't he? A Housemate.

How awful.

I wonder if...if any of the people I'm with can do something.

I can ask.

Although it might be really hard. I suppose part of the point is that they want to make a public example of him.

[alt_neville]

It is. Because as far as most wizards go, if you're without your wand, you're as good as dead. Legally, you're practically nothing.

Blimey, the poor bloke.

[alt_sally_anne]

I haven't heard of it happening before but it's what the law says happens.

Bet you a knut it wouldn't happen to Finnigan no matter how many exams he got a T on, though.

[alt_justin]

Yes, that's just it. I'm sure that if the Cappers' foster-family had any sort of pull, we'd be hearing different consequences.

Although in Finnigan's case, it might be just as dire, in its way. After all, he may have special privileges (so does Dean Thomas--and so do I, come to that) but he's just as removed from his family as any halfblood in fostering.

It strikes me that they had a reason for placing him so well, what? And for making him such a massive pillock. I shouldn't think they'd like to throw away that sort of asset, if he did manage to muff things for himself.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Well Ireland's supposed to be a right mess. I don't know why they'd take an IRISH half-blood and say, 'you're going to be our special favourite, provided that when we say "jump" you say "how high?"'

[alt_justin]

Does anyone know anything about Finnigan's family? Perhaps he's related to someone important there. A political hostage, or something like that.

In the Middle Ages, nobles' sons were fostered to one another as hostages. It could be that sort of arrangement.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

From what he's said, I think his mother's family basically runs Ireland. They've got castles all over the place, although it doesn't sound particularly pleasant there, as there are muggles running around trying to blow things up.

[alt_justin]

From what I understand about Ireland, there have pretty nearly always been muggles running round trying to blow things up.

But that's right: Everyone thought it might have been the Irish Muggle Army that set the explosions at the Quidditch Cup last year, remember?

Well, in any case, that well explains everything, doesn't it--why he was placed so well and he's been so carefully raised.

But I'm knackered and we're up early again tomorrow, so, I think it's time to put out the lights.

-Justin

[alt_neville]

I do. I'm afraid I can't talk about it, because he told me what he did in confidence, so I've never spoken to Ron about it, even. What he told me makes me more sympathetic toward him, even when he's at his worst.

Like I said, I can't talk about it, but he's in a really awful position.

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Neville,

Are you camping, then? We're all taking it in turns to shoot at targets at the moment, so there's a little bit of time when we can check our journals. But then it's back to running, swimming and flying. (Oh, and shooting the targets while on broomback!)

You've no need to break his confidence, old chap, but that's interesting. So you don't think his attitude is an act at all, what? I mean to say, if he's in the sort of spot one could imagine, one option is to behave as if one swallows the Protectorate line whole. The other option is to actually swallow it whole, what?

I don't suppose it's possible he could be pretending? We spent a little time together over the Easter holidays--Mr Rosier wanted him to be friendly, what--and there were times when one could almost like him.

-Justin

[alt_neville]

Yes, Evelyn and I are off camping now, with my great uncle Algie. We take this trip every year. It's been fun, although it rained last night.

I don't know if Seamus has actually swallowed it or not. But I believe he thinks he has to work as hard as possible to convince everyone he has swallowed it.

Which maybe means it doesn't really make much difference whether he really has or not, right? He'll act the same either way.

My gran always said it's your actions that show who you really are.

[alt_pansy]

That's just awful.

Isn't he brilliant at arithmancy? And they're just never going to let him do magic again.

Ugh.

Ugh ugh ugh.

[alt_justin]

Yes, it is. Bally well awful, indeed.

It's not discussed much outside of Ravenclaw, what, but I did notice that a great many professors were trying to help him pull up his marks in advance of O.W.L.s. I mean to say, it's quite clear in the documents concerning halfbloods that if one doesn't qualify after taking the exams, one's status may be revoked.

I do think Ron's right and it's the first time it's happened quite so blatantly, what?

Still, it's sobering. According to Ernie, Michael's trying to make sure that he and Steve are in decent revising groups. I can't bally well blame him, can you?

-Justin

[alt_ron]

That's just daft, isn't it?

I mean, if he's all that in Arithmancy, well. You'd think they'd want the best wizards in a field like that to have jobs. Isn't that better for the Protectorate than changing his status and sending him away?

[alt_justin]

If one wants to make an example of a halfblood who didn't think rules would apply to him?

It's barbaric, what, but it's not daft. Or, well, of course it's daft--it's mad ridiculous!--but there's method in the madness.

I'm sure it should have been quite different had Capper been fostered to an important or influential family--or if he'd even made an effort in subjects other than Arithmancy.

It's a bally well terrible thing to happen to him, all the same. But there's no denying that it's having quite an effect on every other halfblood in Hogwarts, what?

I say, suddenly tonight's lecture seems a bit more important. I think Linus Moon took loads of notes. Perhaps I'll ask if I might compare.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

He is, yes. When I was in the library he helped me with one of my problems, once. Or he tried to. I'm afraid I didn't really understand his explanation, as it went entirely over my head.

Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_pansy]

It will NEVER happen to you. Never.

I promise.

I'd empty out my account and we'd fly to Ireland and take your mum with us and we'd hide until Sirius Black could get us all over to France and get your mum a wand, and then we'd go anywhere in the world you wanted and live there.

Re: Private Message to Sally-Anne

[alt_sally_anne]

Okay.

That makes me feel a lot better, actually. I mean I've always done fine on exams in the past but it's different knowing that if you fail, they will send you to the camps.

[alt_justin]

Yes, I heard.

Shocking business, what?

-Justin