I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_justin]

What ho, all,

I say, it was fun today, wasn't it?

Something interesting happened tonight, though. You may have noticed that Hydra's father wrote to her (and I'm well glad I thought not to send her a Private Message or to say anything improper, what!). Well, she told me that she's keeping the fact that we're dating secret from him. Which makes sense, I daresay, and it's fine with me for the time being, at any rate.

But then she scratched something out in her last reply to me. You know how she signs everything 'From, Hydra' but this time she started to write something else.

I think it was 'Love.'

I can't be sure. And I say, it doesn't necessarily mean anything, what? Because it's common enough to sign a letter 'With love' or 'Love,' just as one might use 'Sincerely' or 'Yours.'

Only. Hydra doesn't. Sign off that way, I mean.

So.

I'm not sure what to think, if you follow me.

Do you think she meant it but didn't want to be the first to say it? Or that she doesn't mean it and scratched it out so I wouldn't think she cares more than she does? Or was it just a mistake?

And what I told Padma about Valentine's? It's not true at all, of course. I only didn't wish her to pry where anyone might see the answer. But if Hydra doesn't want to continue--well, why would she lie to her father about me, what? Unless she thinks she's about to break things off and he never needs to know.

What do you think I ought to do?

-Justin

Comments

[alt_ron]

Um.

No idea, really. I think one of the girls is going to have to help you there, mate.

(And don't take anything the twins say seriously, yeah? Not about something like this!)

[alt_justin]

Cheers, Ron.

(We've got to get you a girlfriend, mate!)

Still on for chess, what?

-Justin

[alt_gredforge]

Get Ron a girlfriend?

Justin. Justin, Justin, Justin. Think of the poor girl.

[alt_ron]

Nice.

[alt_pansy]

I thought girls were the only ones that worried about that sort of thing.

I guess not.

I wouldn't over-think it honestly. Regardless of her reasons for scratching it out, she did start to write it in the first place, and that has to count for something.

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Pansy,

Are you saying I'm a girl, what? No, you're quite right; I oughtn't to have taken on so. It was late and we were all very tired and I'm sure it doesn't really mean anything, in light of day.

I say, though, I hope your party goes well this afternoon. Hydra did say she would be going so I hope you all have a lovely time, what?

-Justin

[alt_pansy]

I think it's rather endearing.

And sort of nice. I mean, I overthink things all the time, and I guess it's good to know I'm not the only one.

[alt_sally_anne]

I'd say you should keep on as you've been. She's probably trying not to get too attached to you as you're going back to France at the end of the year but she clearly does care for you quite a lot.

[alt_justin]

Hullo, Sally-Anne,

Yes, you're quite right, of course. I think I was merely overtired--well, we all were, what--and regardless, I know she's not half sincere. As Pansy points out, I was simply being a girl's blouse over the whole thing.

Do have fun this afternoon, despite Patil.

-Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, we will.

[alt_gredforge]

Indeed.

[alt_luna]

I think that's good advice. I wouldn't ask her about it, because she might be embarrassed or shy. She might realise that you saw it and is worrying about it, too. Just show that you care about her as much as ever and you aren't embarrassed yourself.

I think it is something she might not be able to admit to unless she's willing to say it aloud to you. And she may not be brave enough to do so unless you say it first.

But whether you're willing to do that is something for you to decide.