alt_justin | Order Only

Good morning,

I say, terribly sorry to have worried everyone. I'll be all right.

I'm back at the Jugsons' and Harry, I apologise but I shan't be able to go flying on Friday. Or any other Friday this summer, I'm afraid. Nor Tea Appreciation, what.

But everything's really, quite fine, apart from that.

-Justin

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

alt_nymphadora

I'm very glad to know that you are with the Jugsons. Are you safe there?

Is there anything you could use if we found a way to slip it to you? Are you hurt at all? Do you need a healer? They would take you to St Mungo's, wouldn't they, if you did need to be seen?

From:

alt_justin

Thank you, but I'm not hurt. I've a bit of a cold but a day's rest ought to put that to rights.

Considering his options, Mr Lestrange was dashed restrained, what.

I'm fine, really. Thanks very much for your concern.

-Justin

From:

alt_nymphadora

That's excellent news, then. We're glad you're all right.

But our offer stands: if there's something you need that we could slip in to you, we'll certainly do our best. I think we could manage to get round the Jugsons without too much difficulty if we tried!

From:

alt_justin

In this case, I believe Mr Jugson would be hyper-vigilant. He was most chagrined to have been called by Mr Lestrange.

It's probably best to let the situation calm down for a while, what. And truly, you've all done more than enough. I say, everything's fine.

One thing that does occur to me is that it rather scuppers our plans to bring Maggie to Tea Appreciation. Perhaps there's another way to arrange for her to meet Mr Macnair?

-Justin

From:

alt_nymphadora

Well, Maggie was actually one of my thoughts for getting things in to you. Is she speaking to you at all now? Only, I wonder... if you hinted that the Ponds have a parcel for you that would really help you now, perhaps she'd agree to come pick it up from us.

She knows the way. And she's been here once by herself. She just hasn't made a habit of it like I hoped she might. We could try it, anyway.

And I don't mean we'd surprise her with Mac right off on this visit. It would just be nice if she knew that she could come here and that we're friendly and willing to help.

From:

alt_justin

She's been much more solicitous so far this afternoon. I'll see if I can take advantage of her mood to ask her to go round to you.

I say, I think part of the problem was she wasn't well convinced I had no romantic interest in her myself! Now that there's direct evidence my affections are firmly planted elsewhere, what, she seems to be far more affable.

-Justin

From:

alt_justin

Don't worry, Dux. It's going to be all right.

I can't quite believe how all right, what.

I just wish I could see you. I'm not to leave except for the CCF and trips to buy school supplies and things.

I say, it's a small price to pay, considering. And we'll see each other soon.

All my love,

-J

From:

alt_hydra

Well, I'm already thinking, perhaps if I'm extra good, Auntie Narcissa might let Draco serve as our chaperone one day? Only that's a daft idea - whoever heard of a teenager chaperoning another teenager? And you're older than Draco, besides.

I suppose it would be wise to live with the situation for a while.

And to think, once we've waited long enough, we can be married!

From:

alt_justin

I don't think she'd be fooled, love. But, what about someone like Draco's cousin Ned? It seems to me he'd feel obligated to agree but not bally well invested in paying too close attention, if you follow me.

But then...perhaps we'd best go quite, quite careful. We were lucky to have won this time; if we're caught again he jolly well might not see things the same way anymore.

I...I would do anything for you, love, but I hope you'll not think less of me if I say I'm not well keen to spend another moment in your father's dungeons.

-Justin

From:

alt_hydra

I don't think that any chaperone we might suggest would be given serious consideration.

So yes, we should be quite, quite careful. And grateful. I suppose we really were being careless... which reminds me that I still need to figure out how Daddy found us. I'll have to look through all the things I was wearing or carrying with me yesterday.

I'm sorry, was it horrible? Were there any ghosts? Queen Bloody Mary is supposed to haunt the palace - her heart was buried in the Chapel Royal. And they say there's another, a man named Sellis who had his throat slit.

From:

alt_justin

It was...chilly, what.

I think there were ghosts, come to that. I'm not certain. There was a breeze and then a bit more glow through the cell but--well, it did at least frighten the rats.

I say, sorry to go on about it. I don't wish to worry you. It wasn't so bad.

-J

From:

alt_hydra

I'm sorry you've got ill because of it.

I'm not worried - I know how strong you are. And now Daddy does, too.

From:

alt_justin

It's all right. I've got my scarf, though Alfie says it looks daft in the middle of summer.

And I've got Jack to keep me company. I daresay he's not the same but he doesn't care, what!

Do you think he thinks better of me now? Your father? I say, I'm not sure why it matters but it does.

-J

From:

alt_hydra

I don't know. I believe he didn't want to leave me with any impression of approval whatsoever, but that's to be expected. But I hope so.

From:

alt_sally_anne

So after all that, you're just grounded?

Or is it worse than that? You're not hurt, are you?

From:

alt_justin

Sally-Anne,

No, I'm not hurt. I've a cold and I can't say my stay in the Lestrange dungeon improved my opinions on rats, what, but that's a minor complaint.

-Justin

From:

alt_ron

Justin, mate. You're really all right, then?

I can't tell whether you're telling us straight or keeping the worst back. Can't see behind all that stiff upper lip business.

From:

alt_sally_anne

I don't imagine he'd be saying he's not hurt if Hydra's father had his bits in a jar. So there's that.

From:

alt_ron

Well. He might just not want everyone to know if it were something like that. Especially Hydra. Until he could talk to her properly, you know.

Only, I don't think it's that extreme. I mean to say, I think he's got his bits still attached. Not sure he's not hurt at all, though.

Ugh.

What are you up to today? It's your day for the perimeter check, isn't it? I could come fly it with you if you wanted.

From:

alt_sally_anne

Yes.

And please, yes, come.

From:

alt_ron

All right then!

I'll be there as soon as I finish with the goat pen. And the weeding.

I think that's all Mum's got on my list today.

From:

alt_justin

Ron,

I don't wish to worry anyone more than necessary, least of all Hydra. All right?

I'll be fine. Let's say that I can attest that putting the poison in rings was a good thought. That and my bead bracelet were all I had for...oh, I guess about eight hours, I expect. Also, now I've an insight to Mr Lestrange's unorthodox interrogative and duelling tactics I'm not eager to revisit.

I didn't fight back, you see. I defended as best I could, shielding and so on, but that wasn't foolproof. He, er, kept saying that if I swore I'd never see Hydra again, he'd stop. Naturally, I refused.

I suppose he eventually tired...or perhaps he realised he could continue forever with no different result. At any rate, he decided he'd had enough. He offered me a brandy and said that he'd seen wizards with purer pedigrees comport themselves much more shamefully, what.

He said he hoped I'd be more aggressive if it came to protecting Hydra. I told him that I rather thought attacking him would only have made my situation worse but that if someone were hurting Hydra no power on earth could stop me protecting her.

I.... We talked for a while longer and came to an agreement. We've three years--until Hydra completes her N.E.W.T.s--in which to convince Auror Lestrange that I'm a better match than Harry. Until then, Mr Lestrange is content to consider us engaged, what. Provided we see each other only under the supervision of chaperones.

It's the best outcome we could have hoped to achieve, what. And for that, I'd endure a great deal more torturous circumstances.

-Justin

From:

alt_ron

Well, it's good you got through it. He didn't, um. He didn't hex you where it matters, did he? Everything still works? I mean, under the circumstances, I'd think he might've, well-

Only, I can see why you wouldn't want anyone to know. If he did. But then, you'd want to get a healer to see if whatever... could be healed... or anyway be sure it's not something Dark that'll get worse if you don't get it seen to.

Sorry. Just worried for you, I guess.

But the brandy. That's a good sign. And that you've got an agreement. Only the bit about the chaperone. That's awful. Who's that going to be? I mean, is he sending a nanny to school with her, then, or what?

At least Harry doesn't seem to want to challenge you for Hydra, so there's that. But convincing Auror Lestrange. That seems like the impossible part, doesn't it? I guess a lot could happen in three years, though. To her. And everything else.

Do you want me to see if I can get in touch with Madam Pomfrey for you? Or I could ask Charlie if he knows anyone that specialises in wizardly problems. Dragonhandlers seem to know those sorts of things and he wouldn't think anything of it if I asked.

From:

alt_justin

No, nothing like that. I was worried for hours, that's what awaited me. But...Mr Lestrange's spells were more the type that affect the mind. I think he feared Hydra might not forgive him if he did any major physical damage, what.

I'm not saying I'm unharmed, old man, but--well, I know how lucky I am to have escaped with, er, everything intact.

-Justin

From:

alt_ron

Oh, well then. That's lucky!

A few nightmares, maybe, then. But that's nothing to the kind of nightmare the other sort of thing could cause, yeah?

From:

alt_sirius

I hope you know how lucky you are he went easy on you.

Sounds like there won't be an opportunity to talk for a while.

So, what was his condition? You and Hydra can never see one another again?

From:

alt_justin

Sirius,

Yes, I'm quite aware. I rather think it was more a question of his devotion to Hydra, which he was able to see we have in common, what.

The condition's quite the opposite, you see. He says I've got to marry her.

-Justin