alt_justin | Entries tagged with iss

Ron, Sally-Anne, Pansy: I say, how did your Apparation tests go?

I'm sorry I wasn't there if you joined the flying later on, what. I'm afraid I'm bally well never going to be a long-distance flyer of any stamina, try as I might. Then when we gained altitude to crest Snowdonia I started feeling a bit light-headed.

Oh, and Sally-Anne, wasn't your interview with the Healer yesterday? Everything went well, I trust?

-Justin

Harry,

Well done tonight, old man. I thought several of our newer additions were quite affected by the stories of Sophie and Sarah.

I say, I hope they'll continue coming, in that same spirit.

Has anyone given you a clue when the next challenge will arrive? I imagine it's rather nerve-wracking, waiting. It's been almost a week since the last. Do you suppose the next one will be another 24-hour sort or something to last longer?

-Justin

Hallo, all,

I say, I said before but I wanted to make it plain to everyone: I can't speak for anyone else, what, but I for one felt jolly useful last night. I wanted to say how much I appreciated the chance to contribute.

Diggory, were you all right? I know it was a bit nerve-wracking with Strangeweale in just that moment before you stunned him but I assure you we couldn't have done better had we taken another dose of Felix Felicis. I looked for you after returning but didn't see you until much later. You still looked a little keyed up, old chap.

My only problem was that I found out that Alfie Jugson had come into my room while I was helping guard the warehouse in the early hours this morning. Luckily, he assumed I'd popped out to meet Hydra and I didn't disabuse him, what.

Still, it was bally well smashing to be of some use, even in a small way. I'm sure not all missions are so successful but we can only improve the more closely we work together.

(It's well ironic that our CCF training has prepared us for this sort of thing, what! Of course, we've said that all along but to see it turning the tide is jolly gratifying.)

-Finch-Fletchley

Hullo, Juniors,

I say, last night wasn't so bad, was it? I hope I didn't say anything to cause trouble but I've been going over my answers and I'm rather certain it was all right.

I wanted to tell them about Saltash, what. When they were asking how Muggles live and such. Of course that would have been jolly disastrous since the official story in the papers came out. I say, then the questions should have taken on a much different tone, what!

Oh, and Draco, you probably saw at breakfast this morning but Hydra got an owl from her father; he's all right. He claims it wasn't much of an injury at all.

Anyone going flying after lunch?

-Justin

Sue,

Sorry to disturb but have you asked anyone yet to partner in Noble Arts?

Only, Patil stopped me as we were all leaving supper and asked if I'd join up with her, Zabini and Finnigan.

On the one hand, they're all studious enough and one trusts they'll not turn one's bones to liquid, what.

On the other...I say, when I suggested we spread out and take in some of the others for their own protection, the three of them were not who I had in mind.

Would it be too awkward for us to partner with Ernie, and perhaps Brocklehurst or Corner? Or Brown or even Thomas?

Of course, if you've already put together your own group, I'm sure I shall manage all right with Patil. It's no trouble.

Cheers,

-F-F

Everyone,

Did you hear Professor Dolohov as we were leaving the lesson this morning? We've got to tell him our working groups for the year before Tuesday.

I think though, if we all simply join up in our usual sets, we might give him the confirmation he's been looking for, about the Ministry and such, what? Also, we may all be mates but we're not necessarily all interested in exactly the same sorts of projects.

Has anyone else thought about partners? We might want to strategise so no one's left with a team that's completely incompatible. On the other hand, there might be some--Brocklehurst, Corner, Greengrass and even Moon--who could easily join a team without driving the others round the twist, what.

-F-F

Hullo, love,

How is Jack settling in? Does he find your dormitory familiar or has he had to adjust all over again? I expect he can't fit into the crannies where he used to hide, what.

I say, our room in Hufflepuff feels bally well empty, with Hopkins and Stebbins gone.

Tuesdays and Thursdays do rather promise to be quite difficult but tomorrow I've only Potions, so that's a blessing.

Professor Dolohov assigned loads of reading but I'm nearly done. I can read the Runes text tomorrow morning. Which means, if you'd like to meet tonight, I'd very much like to see you. In a way, I'm almost glad we only had the one brief visit, what. It was jolly hard to be with you but not allowed to be together, at the same time.

Shall we risk it?

-J

Ron,

I say, I couldn't help but notice that your mother wrote.

Everything all right, then? If you don't mind my asking, of course.

-Justin

Ron,

Has your brother come home yet? Is he all right? It sounds as if he at least escaped unscathed this time, what? Of course I'm sure he's well shaken, given that they could have taken him to MLE for questioning.

Imagine, if he'd still been back in Communications, they would have done. I say, jolly lucky for him!

Harry, I was thinking perhaps instead of Tea Appreciation tomorrow, we might fly toward the farm where Sirius's friend lives. Mrs Longbottom said she wanted to mobilise to take it. Even if the Order decide not to try now, if things at the Ministry seem to have calmed down, we ought to go for reconnaissance, what?

There's something else, though: Remember the parcels Maggie's been receiving? Hydra talked to Ms Tonks about them and the last time we were at Doughty Conduit, what, she said that no one at Laszlo's has been sending them (as far as she knows). But she did tell me that Mr Macnair, the one who used to be Creatures professor and is now somewhat allied to the Order, believes that Maggie is his sister.

I say, I've been trying to talk to her alone since Ms Tonks told me that. But she's been bally well impossible to catch by herself. It's almost as if after that incident with the Jugsons, she's extra-careful not to be alone with me.

I say, you don't think she still thinks I've got a crush, what? That would be well ridiculous.

How was everyone else's weekend?

-Justin

Hullo, all,

Thanks for hosting us yesterday.

I say, it was well useful to go back over our notes from rescuing Sarah.

And I'm especially glad we all had the chance to discover what was happening to Hydra, what! Perhaps I ought to explain.

Everyone in the Institute knows that since she got home, Hydra's been rather unavailable. She made a post that she couldn't talk to any of us because she was 'storming the castle'--none of us were sure what that meant. But then Harry went to see her at my request and found her playing nearly non-stop with her younger brother. Today I came to visit and convinced her to come with me to tea.

I say, nearly as soon as we got away from St James' Palace, she was altogether different. She rather...came back to herself, one might say. She realised she'd been...influenced, I suppose. Rather like the way she remembered being possessed by that bally awful diary. It's as if Rigel has the ability to make people do as he wishes. Not exactly like an Imperius curse, what, but more like...a desire to please him, if you follow me. Of course, that brought several other things about him into perspective. Like his nanny and why she can't bear to be apart from him, what.

Unfortunately it makes him rather a handful when one doesn't respond to him. But one can resist if one tries. I'm sure we'll be careful of Rigel in future.

Hydra, have you thought about telling your father? Someone ought to know who has the authority to curb his tendencies.

Oh, before I forget: Harry, when do you think you'll organise the first flying party? I'm not much of a flyer but Ron had something of the same idea. I think if Ron said he's hosting distance flight on Fridays, you might be able to tell your minders that you're with him, what? It might be a clever idea to become more comfortable on a broom.

I shall have to find excuses for Remy and Alfie not to come along, if we're going to do what you suggested.

-Justin

Hullo, Dux,

I hope storming the castle went well. But Rigel has to sleep sometime, hasn't he?

I'm quite glad you seem to be enjoying yourself with him, however.

Do you think Remy and Alfie and I might visit tomorrow?

-Justin

Hullo, all,

Sorry to disturb but has anyone heard from Hydra?

Hermione, I saw you wrote to her. Has she answered? I suppose she might be asleep, what.

Only I've sent her several messages over the past week and barely had a response. I shall ask the Order next only I don't wish to panic them if it turns out to be nothing.

But I had a horrid thought--well, one does worry and I had the most awful thought that perhaps her mother suspected something. I can't imagine we'd all be here if she'd found anything, what, but then again the Council did bide their time quite a while before turning on Mr Selwyn.

Well. Dux, if you're reading, please reply and tell me I'm a jolly well nervous girls' blouse for asking after you like this.

-Justin

Hullo, Dux.

No chance you could come visit Remy, is there?

Probably not. ~~Merde~~ Zut.

I'm sure you've seen everyone chatting about their O.W.L.s.

I was ranked third. Third--I say, not that I'm upset at coming third, but--I've no idea how. It's all jolly well embarrassing. I got an 'O' on Noble Arts, as well. I was so certain I couldn't get better than an 'A'.

I'd been hoping to bow out after this year, what.

I'm sure he'll object if I don't stay.

Well. The Jugsons were so pleased they lifted their punishment and have allowed me to go out again starting tomorrow. So if you can't pay a visit here, I could come to see you, perhaps.

Zut alors....

-J

Hullo, everyone!

I say, I suppose I ought to bring this to the Order but it still feels...odd, what, to ask for their help directly.

There was a spot of bother at the Jugsons' at brunch this morning.

It seems all year long, their servant Maggie has been receiving little care parcels, mostly of food and clothes, nothing all too extravagant. But this morning Mrs Jugson commented that Maggie's put on almost a stone, from the look of her, and accused her to pinching extra portions from the larder.

They insisted on inspecting her room and saw the extra clothes and her cupboard of food. Mr Jugson demanded to know where she'd got them. She said someone was sending them and she didn't know who.

It was clear they were about to do something rash, what, so I spoke up and said that I'd sent the parcels, just as remembrances.

No one was too pleased with that, of course, but what else could one do? Mrs Jugson was bally well upset. 'Don't you think we feed or clothe our own mudblood well enough?' she said. I said no, of course, Maggie has all she needs but that one wishes from time to time to bestow largesse on one's inferiors, what.

At that, Mrs Jugson decided I must be sweet on Maggie--I say, I'm not sure which assumption was more repugnant to her (though if truth be told, they could provide better for her so in a way it was better to let her think I admire Maggie). But they let it go, at least, provided I stopped immediately. I promised I should never do it again and they left.

But then Maggie--well, she must not have known, in truth, because she believed Mrs Jugson's conclusion. She looked at me rather piteously, what, and tried to tell me that she felt no attraction. I corrected her as gently as I could and explained that I've had nothing whatever to do with her parcels and haven't the slightest idea who might be sending them.

The interesting thing was that she wondered if her benefactor could be sending her these gifts as an elabourate trap, what? And she allowed that it would be good to know who's behind it and why. 'So that I'll know whether to thank the person or send the things back,' she said.

I can't imagine that someone's entrapping her, what, but it does occur to me that someone in the Order might be sending her things, because they feel sorry for her, what? Only, it's a rather delicate question to ask and I shouldn't like to offend anyone by asking. My guess is that it's either Mr Lupin, sending her things from Laszlo's stock, or it's Mrs Weasley.

What do you think we ought to do? Ron, Hermione? Might we ask privately when we visit next (and does anyone know when that might be)?

-Justin

Sally-Anne,

How are you feeling?

I say, I've been reading back through all the Order posts, as well. I...have you come across the posts about Mr Milland--the real Mr Milland, that is?

Have you given any thought to whether you'll take Professor Dolohov's offer to stay in his N.E.W.T.-level course, regardless of marks?

I've been thinking about your week with your father. If there's anything you can think of to make it more tolerable, what, I hope you'll let us know. I'm not sure what I might be able to talk the Jugsons into doing or not doing but I feel certain I can shake off Alfie and Remy for most of the summer, what.

At this rate, we might well be devising missions for the Order before the end of July.

-Justin

Hullo,

Are you feeling any better? Was the music too loud? Too many sweets?

Perhaps I should have insisted you go to the hospital wing instead of just lying down in your dormitory. Then I could at least have stayed with you, what. Perhaps Madam Pomfrey would have let me stay the night as well, or given me more Dreamless Sleep.

I say, it's well ridiculous at our age to be afraid of the dark.

We're quite the pair, aren't we?

-Justin

Listen, everyone:

Does anyone know if they're going to clean out Madam Umbridge's office and quarters soon?

I think we might want to have a look in there before anything can be binned, what.

I've been talking with Megan Jones. I know, Sally-Anne, that you'd prefer on the whole that we never speak to her again, what, but she's been terribly abused by Madam Umbridge just as much as anyone else this year. Perhaps more. But she was privy to some of Madam Umbridge's plans, or at least, her collaborators' plans. Last night, Megan said:

Madam Umbridge wanted me to make a list so one particular fellow servant of Our Lord would have what he needs for his work. And what he needs is expendable people. Who are halfbloods.

I say, even if MLE were to come and investigate her death, I bally well doubt they'll be looking for that sort of thing. Or that they'd jolly well care if they found it.

I think we ought to have a look round. Tonight.

-Finch-Fletchley

Hullo,

How has Jack been today? Settling down yet? Or still exploring every corner and crevice of Slytherin?

I spent almost half the day just relaxing. But of course, now it's after midnight and I'm not at all tired. Lessons tomorrow, however!

We ought to get him a bed and a dish and things. I think pets are supposed to have collars, as well, what? Hogsmeade, perhaps.

Today's been...better. Zach was flying nearly all day and Ernie went to the library quite early. The whole House is still quite shaken about Cedric, of course.

I hope you're asleep but if you're not...well. It was so splendid, being able to stay together last night.

-J

Hullo, all,

I think if we're to endure these Saturday formal suppers from now to the end of term, we'd best get some permanent supplies into the secret room, so we can all have quite a hearty luncheon and not go hungry.

I say, I tried to get Smith and Bobolis not to tuck in so greedily, but it was difficult with the seating what it was.

I nearly fell asleep listening to that speaker, what?

But I wanted to tell you all that Susan, Hydra and I went up to the hospital wing this morning to look in on Megan and see if we could get her to tell us anything more about what happened last night. It started off well enough--she really was rather pathetically pleased to have visitors, what--but just as we were settling in to a comfortable chat, a card, a vase of pink flowers and a box appeared on her bedside table. Susan helped Megan open the card and the box; there was a new badge inside for Megan. The card was--well, it was the sort of get-well card one might send to a distant niece on hearing she's broken her arm or something. Bally well perfunctory, what. And the less said about the badge the better.

But Megan's whole face transformed and she said to Sue, 'You see?' and then she refused to say anything more than small talk. We did linger a while, not wishing to be rude, but it was bally well clear she had no intention of giving anything away after that arrived.

She had the decency to ask after Fawcett. We told her that she's missing, of course, and presumably was brought to harm in the Forbidden Forest. I say, she rather blanched at that, and quite rightly, too.

-Justin

Sally-Anne,

What's your timetable this afternoon? Megan's been having more and more trouble in lessons all day. I say, I think she might need something to reverse the damage. If we can figure out how to get something to relieve her, what, without her being any the wiser as to who came to her aid.

Sue, don't you agree?

-Justin