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

[alt_justin]

Hullo, love,

Are you all right? What did she want?

I say, I do hope we shall really be able to meet at your cousin's. And perhaps you can visit Remy as well.

I bally well am looking forward to getting out of the castle for a few days but there is a downside, what? We shan't see each other every day. Or be able to sit together in your secret stairwell most evenings.

On the other hand...there are advantages. For example, a private bedroom with a locking door.

-Justin

Comments

[alt_hydra]

She said she wanted to know more about my health. Healer Kerr was looking at Madam P's notes and came across some things about my eating habits, and my problems with tooth cavities. Madam Umbridge said she was concerned and wanted to know if everything was alright.

I don't know, I didn't want to talk about food with her. It's not something I want her to bring up with Mummy, after all, so I was looking to change the subject to something else.

So I told her I liked her kitten plate collection, and asked where she collected them all from. Her answer wasn't at all what I was expecting.

[alt_justin]

Sorry, that meeting tonight was so long. Worth it, what, but long. Only there wasn't a way to ask you in private what you meant.

I suppose she turned all soppy about them? But you said months ago that she doesn't actually fancy cats at all, so no, that doesn't make sense.

Well. We can talk tomorrow on the train if you prefer. I mean to say, if you're busy packing.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

Justin-

Now that I think back on it, I'm not sure how I knew that she didn't really like cats at all. She never said anything about them, not then.

And when I asked her about them today she said something like "oh, magic can do a great many things when you apply it," and then "Isn't it lovely how it can preserve those fleeting moments of youth and innocence forever?" Which on its own doesn't really say anything about how she collected all the plates.

But she was saying something else, too. Just not aloud.

The kittens in the plates - they were alive. They are alive. She transfigured them from real kittens.

I don't know how... I mean, I had thought I made it go away with my meditation, all those accidental flashes I was getting from Remy, from cousin Dora. But this was different.

[alt_justin]

I see.

Shall I come down? It's late but Ernie's patrolling tonight and he never fusses if I break curfew.

-Justin

[alt_hydra]

Yes, maybe. If you think you can risk it, I mean.

From,
Hydra

[alt_justin]

It's no trouble. Everyone's practically used to it by now, anyway. And it's holidays, if one wishes to be technical about it, what?

I'm on my way, sweetheart.

-J