Order Only: Private Message to Ron and Sally-Anne

[alt_justin]

Ron,

How is Ginny adjusting to all the new revelations about the Order? I'm well pleased she seemed so ready to embrace the fact that her family are all resistance fighters, but one. I know you've all been quite tormented worrying whether she would really be able to throw off the Protectorate's propaganda, what. I hope she doesn't find us inhospitable, considering the circumstances of her discovery, and how tense things have been.

Speaking of tense--Sally-Anne, I'm sure you're relieved that all the other dares and blackmail stunts rather overshadowed Dean Thomas's tasteless fable but I did want to say that I'm well sorry he attempted to embarrass you that way. You and Hermione have had a jolly bad time of it, what, and please don't hesitate should you want support to teach Thomas when to restrain himself. Oh, and did I hear you've got an interview for an internship? Congratulations and good luck. I say, I'm sure you'll do brilliantly. How are things at the Strettons? Four days to go, right?


Cedric and I met and went running this morning and then he said that his mother was expecting us back for breakfast. They live quite near the Burrow, what, have you met his brother and sisters? Jasper's getting ready to start Hogwarts next year. I rather think his mother wasn't expecting someone who'd been in the papers but we got on well enough. Still, I doubt very much I'll be making a habit of coming back with him.


Ron, are we still on for Quidditch? I shall have to borrow a broom but it would be good to concentrate on something that isn't altogether catastrophic, what. Shall Neville and I be staying over or is it back to Grimmauld? (I've got to go back to the Jugsons on Monday but I say, I'd rather put that off if possible.)

-Justin

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Between Demelza Robins wanting to sleep with her family's muggleborn servant, Megan Jones drinking the potion that made all her hair fall out, and Vince and Greg crawling all over the school -- yeah. I think Ron taught Thomas a bit of a lesson, so there's that.

Things at the Strettons have been pretty wretched, Mrs Stretton is in what seems to be a permanent strop, she took Megan's baldness personally -- it didn't seem to occur to either of them that she could wear a hat or a headscarf -- and decided that I'd have to do all the hand deliveries until we could re-grow Megan's hair properly. At least it's not utter madness the way it is at Christmas. They do have an assistant of sorts these days but she let him go on holiday because she'd have Megan and I... Anyway. Yeah. Four more days. The interview is next week, with an older Russian lady who does ophthalmancy. Madam Pomfrey says she's brilliant -- she made Mad-Eye Moody's eye, apparently, but she REALLY doesn't like the implication there's anything mad about the eye!

Anyway how are you doing? Are you not staying with the Jugsons this holiday?

[alt_justin]

Oh, he did? I say, good show. I suppose we barely spoke on the train, what.

Jones did rather make a meal of her predicament, though it must be said that the table was well covered in hair after she'd done. I did think a scarf would be a simple solution. You told me how once you made Patil's hair fall out; didn't she just wear head coverings? I say, Ernie was well upset but mostly because she found the ordeal so upsetting.

I'm still living with the Jugsons, technically. I've been thinking of ways to avoid being there as much as possible, what--particularly with those photos in today's Prophet. Have you seen them? I expect Mr and Mrs Jugson won't be very pleased. And even if they don't travel in precisely the same circles as the Lestranges, I think it's best for everyone if I make my exit from the household as quickly as possible. Sirius and I talked through a few options last night but we haven't got very far just yet. I say, we had more--pressing matters to talk about first.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

I'll let Ron tell you what he did, I'm not actually sure what the specifics were but it definitely looked painful and I know Thomas spent the night in the hospital wing.

And yeah, Patil's hair. What was it we did? I think it was actually the Twins who made her hair fall out. Ron and Pansy and I caused the Great Insect Invasion of Ravenclaw Tower, but we didn't hex her bald, maybe the Twins did that because she was nasty to Terry? I can't remember. I DO remember everyone wearing scarves in solidarity (including me and Pansy, because, well, why not?) Daphne put a theatrical glamour on Megan but it wore off.

She really does look a bit strange, the potion made her eyelashes and eyebrows fall out, too.

Let me go grab the Prophet. I got sent out on deliveries this morning, haven't had a chance to look.

[alt_sally_anne]

Okay SERIOUSLY Justin no one's going to remember those photos of you, you're just standing there with Ron and anyway talk about being overshadowed. '27 traitors in Exeter taken in their lair in the act of plotting subversion,' with photos completely inappropriate to show in mixed company, over breakfast, or to small children.

Ugh. UGH. It's sort of extra awful when you think about the fact that the Burrow also had ...

heh

TWENTY-SEVEN traitors. In a 'lair,' if you want to call the Burrow that. Plotting subversion against Our Lord. No wonder Charlie thinks we should hold the next meeting at 12GP!

[alt_justin]

I'm not concerned with everyone 'remembering' me, Sally-Anne. I'd be perfectly happy if the whole business would settle down and never get mentioned again. But the Jugsons' attitude will be different from most people's. They'll be bitterly disappointed because they believed my relationship with Hydra improved their standing, if you follow me. I'm quite happy to be 'overshadowed' (though not that those poor people were killed, what)--I've just no patience for yet another dressing-down, particularly by people who have no business doing so and no authority over me. I'm sure you understand.

Were we twenty-seven? I suppose. No, 28 with Mr Lee. Twenty-nine if one includes Ginny, what, but by then several people had left.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, you're right, I looked at the minutes and counted 'Order Members,' I wonder why they didn't list Mr Lee as a member? Just because he can't read the journals? But he'd certainly count as part of the 'nest of traitors' if MLE had walked in.

Are the Jugsons truly upset about those pictures of you in the Prophet? You know you were in Posh as well? Though Posh seemed to be on your side, if not exactly ... well, I just don't want to be in the gossip magazines at all, but if I AM in them, I want them to be breathless about how pretty I am, you know, not sighing over my tragedies. (Although that's better than them calling me vile names.)

[alt_justin]

Yes, I've seen the Posh article. I hope they haven't--if anything, they'll be much more upset about that, even if it does appear to take my part. I say, did you read the section on the Lestrange family? They hide behind their 'anonymous source,' what, but that source has given them a perfect excuse to attack Bellatrix for her snobbery and almost accuses her of tyranny over Hydra, her husband and indeed, her entire clan.

It's entirely too accurate, what.

Even if the Jugsons agree with the sentiments, I can't think they'll be happy with the idea that Bellatrix Lestrange will take it into her head to find out who told intimate tales of the family's dynamics. I'm not afraid they'll think it was me, what, though that is of course a possibility. I'm afraid they'll be justifiably fearful of her revenge.

And anything that paints us as tragic, mistreated lovers is hardly going to help Hydra at present.

I can't even imagine anything good coming out of it, what. Such as Teddy f Nott reading it and realising how out of line he's been.

On the whole, if they had to cover the story at all, I'd rather they called me every vile name imaginable and left her family untouched. It's just dashed unfortunate that the magazine clearly saw a chance to strike at Bellatrix and used us to do it.

Ron and Ginny are feeling ready to play Quidditch, what. I think I'll volunteer to play Beater.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

SURELY Bellatrix would consider it below her dignity to take revenge on anyone because they complained she's a snob! Do you think it was Remy who But yeah. No, I can't imagine Teddy Nott reading it and thinking 'oh my, perhaps I should leave Hydra alone for a bit.'

I don't know what Posh was thinking going after Bellatrix at all. She's just not someone you tangle with, if you can avoid it.

Have fun flying. The Strettons just got a late order for a rush delivery, they're sending me out again.

[alt_ron]

Wish you could be here. We've got quaffles and a snitch and brooms and bats and bludgers. And mud! in case anyone gets clumsy.

But we don't have you!

Think you could sneak out?

You and Jeremy could both come and then we'd just add you in on the sides?

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, ha. That would be brilliant, BUT, someone just firecalled with an order of some extra-extra-extra large basket with special handling and I'm being sent out with it because they might as well get every last bit of free work out of me that they can, right?

Looking at the note here, I'm going to hazard a guess that some bloke's mistress is really, really cross with him right now and he's trying to make it up to her.