I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good: Private Message to Ron

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Ron,

I say, I couldn't help noticing the subjects of your messages this morning. Worried about your family? I can't blame you, old man.

Hydra's well torn about it all. Pansy, too, I expect. It's bally well hard when one knows or loves someone who's directly involved, no matter on which side. Or who might be, what?

But it's jolly difficult, isn't it, to act as if one stands in full support of the Council's actions over there.

I've not got the same claim, of course, as Neville or you, perhaps. But I do think I know a little of how it feels. And I'm well sorry you have to go through it, mate.

-Justin

Comments

[alt_ron]

Thanks.

Yeah. It's not easy pretending.

Especially when you know you can't believe what the papers and the wireless say. That most of it's lies or stuff that's so twisted wrong side round that it might as well be made up.

[alt_justin]

Yes, I know just what you mean.

I find it a great comfort to say something ironic and know that others miss it entirely.

Like dealing with the likes of Padma Patil, what? Do you know the horrid thing is that she obviously could be likable, if she wished to be. But she puts far too much emphasis on the wrong qualities, if you follow me.

-Justin

[alt_ron]

Heh.

Yeah, I guess I don't really do irony much. I leave that to you and Sally Anne.

Like dealing with Patil. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about whether she could be likable. I just know she isn't, and if I have to talk to her, I'm mostly trying not to give her the satisfaction of thinking she's all that.

I mean, really, now she's a Prefect, Patil goes around pretending she's the next Lana Sandoval.

You're lucky you weren't here when Sandoval was Head Girl. Except I'll wager Patil's going to be ours, and won't that just be a festival?

[alt_justin]

Oh, Sally-Anne's much better at insulting people, what? I confess I've never had the knack of it; I'm always far too certain the person will realise I'm doing it.

I suppose it's the product of not growing up with so many brothers who'll happily take the mick. I say, I do envy you that.

Besides, trading insults doesn't really get one anywhere, does it? It may be gratifying in the short-term, what, but more often than not one's goals fall by the wayside.

Patil's got her strong points but I agree she's rather exhausting. Still, if you're right and she is on track to be Head Girl (and I well think you're right, old man), then it also pays to remain at least marginally on her good side.

I say, I do know how you feel and how hard it is to smile at someone who one thinks is a liar or a two-faced snob. It's just--well, I think in some ways, we're all liars and we're all two-faced, what? For different reasons, if you follow me.

-Justin

[alt_ron]

Say. You don't think everyone will have thought my messages this morning were suspicious, do you? Only, it makes me queasy that you figured I was writing because I was worried.

That wouldn't be good.

Because, yeah, it'd be bad to get caught out being that sort of two-faced, y'know?

[alt_justin]

Well, it wasn't difficult to work out, partly because I know you're close with your family.

But I shouldn't worry about whether it's remarkable, what? Because at times like this, well--I say, loads of people write to their families.

-Justin