Allo?

[alt_justin]

Bonsoir! Je m'appelle Justin. J'ai quatorze ans et j'habite en

Oh, I say, sorry about that! I forgot that the quill I've brought with me was charmed to write in French. Let's try that again, what?

Hello! My name is Justin. I'm fourteen and I live in France, but really I'm English. It's sort of a long story. I'm a student at Beauxbatons but I've been given this book so I can write about what I'm seeing here. I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity to come see the World Cup in my native home and to see what sort of place the Lord Protector has created for wizards and witches to live in.

I just arrived today, but already everyone I've met is quite pleasant, really. I'd like to thank Draco Malfoy especially for making me feel so welcome. And Professeur and Madame Froissart, of course, for agreeing to chaperon me. And all the Malfoys, truly; they've been such gracious hosts. I hope I meet many more wonderful wizarding folk while I'm visiting.

I say, I hope I'm doing this right. I'm not quite sure how to end it, so: I look forward to the rest of my time in the Protectorate. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Justin Finch-Fletchley

Comments

[alt_luna]

And I'm Luna. I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I didn't mean to be rude.

[alt_justin]

How do you do, Luna? I say, that's a pretty name.

-Justin

[alt_luna]

Thank you. I suppose it's close to the word you have for 'moon,' isn't it? I know the piece of music called "Claire de Lune."

[alt_justin]

Alors, exactement! La lune. And I know that piece, as well. That's rather a famous one, what? Debussy was French, after all. I quite like a lot of classical music, it's what my Mother listens to most of the time.

Of course, my mates at school have introduced me to 'Les Têtes Crackés' and 'Mon Pied Gauche' and bands like that. And they're quite good, too.

I suppose you must have all your own groups here, and no one knows the French bands at all, eh?

[alt_luna]

I'm afraid I don't know much about French bands at all, and it's a little too far for us to hear French music on the Wizarding Wireless Network. I do like classical music myself, although I don't know much about it at all.

My favourite band is Saucy Salamanders. But they're not very well known, even here in the Protectorate.

[alt_justin]

What sort of music do they play?

[alt_luna]

They're mostly instrumental. They use instruments that were more popular hundreds of years ago, things like lutes, crumhorns, rebecs, viols, pipe and tabor, hammer dulcimers and so on. They do very lively jigs and reels, extremely intricate. I like them because the music sounds so odd to modern ears, but it's great fun!