Order Only: Private Message to Sally-Anne and Hermione

[alt_justin]

Hullo, you two,

I say, I can well imagine how poor Stretton feels, learning about all this right now.

In a way I think it was quite cruel to simply swear him in with so little preparation.

On the other hand, what, perhaps it's best to overload him and see how he does at absorbing it all.

It's too bad you're not at the Strettons', Sally-Anne - not to inflict them on you, what, but to give him someone he can talk to about it all.

I expect he'll get bally well next to no sleep tonight!

-Justin

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

And here I was thinking, 'at least I'm not at the Strettons so he can't come wake me up at 3 a.m. to say, "Hydra? HYDRA LESTRANGE is in your secret group?"'

[alt_justin]

I say, rather!

Er.

Speaking of Hydra.... I mean to say, Ron's told you, I expect, that we went to Edinburgh on my birthday.

I wish we could sneak away more often, what, but I don't think we ought to risk it. To be quite honest, I thought we'd finish our errand relatively quickly. I had no idea there were so many choices!

I've been corresponding via owl with the jeweller whose work we particularly liked. But now that I've an idea of what Hydra might like, I sort of want the finished product to be a surprise. I wonder, would you and Hermione and Pansy be willing to look at some options and tell me what you think?

-J

[alt_sally_anne]

Wait, you went to Edinburgh to shop for jewellery? I thought

[alt_justin]

Well, we went to Edinburgh to spend a night together and not in a cramped stairwell.

But while we were there we looked for a proper engagement ring.

Why, what did you think we were doing?

-J

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, RING shopping. I guess that makes sense.

If you want me to look at the options with you, sure. I think Pansy would be happy to as well. Are you trying to pick a design or a gem or a particular charm or what?

[alt_justin]

That's just it: There's the gem itself, the shape, the size, the colour, the cut, the setting, all the charms--it's rather a very small version of what Stretton's encountering now, what!

Did you think...I say. Did you think we were going to Gretna Green?

-J

[alt_sally_anne]

Well when I heard you'd sneaked off it might have crossed my mind.

I mean you COULD have shopped for a ring in Hogsmeade, they've got a jewellery store or two!

[alt_justin]

Yes, but not that sort of jewellery, what!

Besides, someone would have noticed us shopping for rings in Hogsmeade.

Oh, one charm we're definitely having on the ring is a spell to keep anyone from noticing who doesn't already know about the betrothal. But it's all the other charms.... I'm not sure what's typical for pureblood families.

-J

[alt_sally_anne]

Of course they sell engagement rings! Don't be silly. Of course, it's true someone might have seen, and spread gossip.

There are all sorts of charms I've heard of. When you say 'what's typical for pureblood families' do you mean pureblood families like Hydra's? Because what's typical for them isn't necessarily typical for anyone else. What sorts of charms would you WANT? I mean the charm that lets you know that the other person is healthy and safe might be nice. You probably want to skip the one for fertility just now, though!

[alt_justin]

Mm. Not that I've seen--or at least, not quite of the same calibre, perhaps. (I've looked before, what.)

Healthy and safe is worth the trouble. Smith said that there's a fidelity charm but I don't think that's necessary, what. Also the charm to prevent quarrels because that's not a problem for us. Anti-loss, of course, and protection from damage to the ring itself. I'm not sure about the spells protecting the wearer--I mean to say, it would be splendid but it's also rather expensive.

I say, I'm not sure what it is that compels wizards to put spells on every item one owns. Though that anti-loss will bally well be a comfort, what.

-J

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, you wouldn't do that to Hydra, anyway -- the anti-quarrel one. I mean, there are a couple of different ways to do it but there's at least a half-dozen I think are more like 'cursed objects' than 'lovely charms you'd give to your future wife.' And they DO put them on engagement rings, I know at least one person in my House whose Mum has a ring like that.

[alt_sally_anne]

As for what compels wizards to put spells on everything, there's probably some charm a clever shopkeeper used on the hats we all wore as babies to make us believe forever and ever that it couldn't possibly be a proper engagement ring unless there was enough magic on it to make it truly dear!

[alt_sally_anne]

I've seen a colour-change charm on diamonds so they always match what you're wearing. (It's a little silly since diamonds are clear if you just leave them alone, THAT will always match what you're wearing, won't it?)

[alt_hermione]

That's ridiculous.

[alt_sally_anne]

Well I'd take it over the anti-quarrel charm that makes you always just agree with whatever your fiance says.

But yeah. It's pretty silly.

[alt_hermione]

Well, an anti-quarrel like that is just evil.

So are the fidelity charms. I've read that if they're not done properly they have unintentional effects. Sometimes they make the person look really unattractive to someone they'd be attracted to.

And there are others. I think you should get the sensible ones and nothing else.

Can't you always add charms later if they become practical?

[alt_sally_anne]

Some of the charms could be added later, others someone would have to re-make the ring.

[alt_justin]

No, but speaking of colour.... I can't decide whether to get a pink-hued diamond or not.

I know she'd love it but it's not quite traditional. And she might still change her mind about pink, what?

-J

[alt_sally_anne]

And it WAS cruel. They could have at least taken him back to 12GP and let Sirius answer his questions or something instead of just saying, 'here's how to find all our secret messages in the journals. There's loads of juicy gossip! Have fun!'

(I mean Mr Lupin and Tonks run the beer garden in the evenings but Sirius is just the dog all the time, it's not like they HAVE to have him there.)

[alt_justin]

I suppose it depends on how overwhelmed he was already. There was quite a lot to talk about, I expect, with Bill discussing the situation at the Ministry. But Mrs Longbottom was there and they did tell him about Grimmauld, surely?

Perhaps he didn't want to make his parents suspect by being out so late?

-J

[alt_sally_anne]

They did tell him about Grimmauld, Mr Lupin said in his message.

The Strettons would probably notice if Jeremy were out late, so yes, that might have been an issue, I suppose.

[alt_hermione]

He'll manage. I think it's better to give him a little and then let him read the rest. At his own pace, more or less.