Private Message to Zach, Megs, Justin, and Sue

[alt_ernie]

Longbottom. Cor.

I mean, parents like his, no surprises there, I suppose.

Still.

His sister's disappeared too, I guess. She's in the same class with Pip. I think he was broken up about it. He threw down the newspaper and went to his room.

It doesn't seem like anyone knows what happened. Everything I've picked up says something different. Marvolo doesn't have a clue either. Or at least he's not saying.

Did any of you think

I mean, he doesn't seem the sort who'd be able to pull that sort of thing off.

He was just the dozy bloke with the plants, you know?

Comments

[alt_susan]

I dunno, Ernie. I'm not sure what to think.

I mean, it is the Prophet and everyone says half of what they say isn't reliable any more. So really, who knows?

[alt_megan]

I wouldn't have guessed that he was a secret traitor. If he was, I mean. Was he?

You are right that everything says something different. I am reading about it now, because I cannot sleep even though I am exhausted which is completely unfair. Not being able to sleep, I mean. The exhausted is from delivering more baskets than I can count. And putting up with Mrs Stretton being utterly cross all day.

Anyhow I don't know what to think. Except that the sheet called the Whisper cannot be right, because can you see Longbottom running a black market potion ring?

I had better try to sleep. Tomorrow is full of more baskets.

Private Message to Megs

[alt_ernie]

Are you going to have any spare time at all, then?

I mean, I know last term you were busy too, but this is really sort of mad, your working all hours like that. It isn't Christmas, really. And I thought

Well, I mean, I know you're working, but it's not like it's a walk in the park just sitting at home with the family and staring at each other.

Right. It's fine. Once you're done we can have a proper holiday.

Re: Private Message to Megs

[alt_megan]

I only just saw this now so that is probably the answer to the question about spare time. I could scream at Mrs Stretten. Jeremy must have been very cross with her when he bought presents for the family. He gave Gemma a drum. And of course Gemma won't leave me because she is all "Hufflepuffs have to stick together" and there's no use telling her she's not properly a Hufflepuff yet. And she keeps playing the drum. So Mrs Stretton keeps casting a silencing charm in here and leaving. And then she comes back in with instructions for me on deliveries and is cross with me because I cannot hear her. When it is her own Merlin-blasted charmwork stopping me! And when she casts the counterspell then Gemma starts up with the drum again.

I am sorry to be so full of complaint. It is not your fault.

Only I am not certain I'll ever get time off. Mrs Stretton said something a bit ago about getting a start on the New Years orders. Ugh.

If I did scream at her, should wouldn't be able to hear me because of the silencing charm. So perhaps I will wait until her back is turned and try it. If I do I will have to tell Sally-Anne Perks because she will laugh and laugh.

Are you at least having a good Christmas dinner?

Re: Private Message to Megs

[alt_ernie]

Yeah, it was all right.

Sounds like Gemma's being a pain, and you need to stand up for yourself more. I mean, Mrs Stretton's your boss and all but Gemma isn't. Don't they have a servant to keep her from getting underfoot?

Re: Private Message to Megs

[alt_megan]

Mrs Stretton cannot get a servant. I don't know why. Some Ministry thing. It is not improving her temper any.

I have told her I need at least some time to see you during hols or you might find someone else to because everyone needs to see the people they like at hols. I told her after doing all of today's deliveries when she was in a good mood. Well, a better mood than before. So she said yes. When do you want to see me? What shall we do?

Re: Private Message to Megs

[alt_ernie]

Ace. Tomorrow or Saturday maybe? We could walk around New London and go to some museums or something, have a nice dinner out. Anything you want to see?

Re: Private Message to Megs

[alt_megan]

The New London Zoo is always good. Or there is an ice sculpting competition at Embankment which is supposed to be judged Saturday. And a nice dinner sounds lovely.

Re: Private Message to Megs

[alt_ernie]

Let's go Saturday, then, and if we've got enough time, we'll hit up the zoo too.

Re: Private Message to Megs

[alt_megan]

Brilliant!

[alt_justin]

Happy Christmas, Ernie,

Like Sue, I'm not sure what to think. Longbottom was always quiet--perhaps too quiet, what.

Then too, Malfoy used to proclaim far and wide that Longbottom was a traitor from treasonous stock, what, and then the poor chap wound up in the clutches of some of the worst traitors the country's ever seen. Perhaps his instincts were sound. Or perhaps Longbottom will meet Malfoy's fate, quite soon.

And if it's true that our Professor Sprout had thrown in with this Order of the Phoenix, then it's quite logical she would want her protégé to follow her. It seems jolly harsh to put it so baldly, but if she were capable of concealing her loyalties so long, then I say, she must have been sorely tempted, to warrant risking Longbottom's future, as well. I say, I do wonder what she thought was so valuable as to be worth the cost she, and now it seems, Longbottom, paid.

I say, these are sombre thoughts for what's meant to be a jolly holiday. Are your family managing to enjoy it at all? The Weasleys have been very kind to host me.

-Justin

[alt_ernie]

Yeah, you said it.

It's been a little slow. I've had to take Pip and Laurie out shopping, which was a trial, and the twins just make a lot of noise and mess.

But it's been all right.

I think I needed a little normal and boring, after that business with Professor Sprout. Looks like it followed us, though.