Justin Finch-Fletchley

I was recently reminded that there are multiple sides to every story. Nowhere is that more evident than this morning's Prophet, in which Miss Baddock gave a rather redacted account of her ordeal at Hogwarts.

Miss Baddock, rest assured that at least among your fellow students who are also members of the Order of the Phoenix, we have every possible sympathy for the trauma you suffered. I can also assure you that at least three of us who would have been ordered to kill our schoolmates--myself, Hydra, and Ron--had absolutely no intention to do so. In fact, Hydra and I were the ones who recovered everyone's wands and armed the students so they could protect themselves and escape. I'm dreadfully sorry that so many were unable to reach safety.

But that order, when it came, was not from Harry, but Voldemort in Harry's form. The ones who followed it were not members of the Order, but Councilwizards and servants of the Ministry.

I know that many of you who knew me at school may well doubt me. You recall someone who dogged Professor Dolohov's heels, who was perhaps cold or standoffish. I say, I regret that my work for the Order required me at times to behave in a way which is somewhat contrary to my nature.

Perhaps it would help to back up a few steps and remind everyone of the reasons I remained in the Protectorate when the rest of the Beauxbatons delegation returned to France. Most people attributed my decision to my infatuation with Hydra Lestrange. That was and remains undeniably true: I did base a great deal of my decision on an unwillingness to part with her. The other reason I gave my teachers, the Ministry and other sponsors of my transfer of citizenship was also true, only not in the way they were given to think. I said in my letter of intent (nearly three years ago): 'I look forward to realising the rights, privileges and duties incumbent on all Citizens to ensure our future by securing our present.'

I already knew at that time that I was including all citizens, Muggle, Squib, Muggleborn, Halfblood and Pureblood.

I already was acquainted with members of the Order of the Phoenix, actually before I ever even began school at Beauxbatons. When I came here for the Quidditch World Cup, I was already thinking of ways to aid their cause.

When I met Hydra, I say, I fancied her nearly from the first, before I even knew who her parents were. When I found out, I tried to tell myself how foolish it was to pursue her. Only, by then, I'd begun to learn who she was, and to see that she bore very, very little in common with her parents. Gradually, we grew closer, and the closer we grew, the more I could not imagine any course but remaining to be near to her.

Anyone who is familiar with the Lestranges must understand that they had quite specific expectations of their daughter. Often these were not only in conflict with what she wanted for her own life, they actually contradicted each other, and even sometimes their own previous instruction. Hydra is one of the most capable, bravest, strongest persons I know, precisely because she grew up learning to navigate her parents' particular brands of abuse, treachery, mixed signals and utter disregard for her own ambitions. She's done so well that I don't think there's anyone on earth who can intimidate, bully, or even unsettle her. I pity anyone who tries to cross her.

We tried concealing our regard for one another; that didn't work. We tried separating; that made us miserable. We tried carrying on in secret; that didn't work. Finally we decided that it was pointless and harmful to ourselves to deny our feelings. Even though she was attempting to gain Riddle's notice as a Councilwitch, we remained committed to each other. We told no one outside our circle of friends, most of whom were in the Order along with us and understood completely. We'd all seen how Riddle treated others in his circle when it came to matters of the heart and neither of us were interested in becoming puppets for his amusement. The very same day she was given the Dark Mark, she and I eloped.

I'm ever so proud, pleased and humbled to call Hydra Finch-Fletchley my wife.

Hullo, you.

Well, I say, that turned out to be a little easier than I thought it would be. He was prepared to make a strong argument, I think, but it turned out my first line of defence was the only one I needed.

L'amour, c'est tout, I said.

It was well difficult not to laugh at the way his face changed. Une fille anglaise? he asked. Luckily he didn't ask who or it might get back to your family, what? I just nodded and shrugged.

It's well amazing what a Frenchman can make of a shrug.

He did say something about how affection can change quickly at our age and then I'd be here for no reason but I could tell his heart wasn't in it. I listened and nodded and shrugged again. Then I asked, very quietly and respectfully, whether he wouldn't rather stay here if Madame Froissart decided she didn't want to go back to France.

Enfin! Je ne sais rien, entendez?, he said. Then he said, Allez, sortez! and waved me out. Somewhat impatiently, I should think. I say, I hope I didn't hit a little too close to home, what?

But it doesn't matter. He certainly won't object to my going back with him if things don't work out but I think that's the last he'll try to convince me not to stay.

I just wish I'd hear back from Mr Rosier's office.

-Justin

Hullo,

Here it is:

Dear Mr Rosier,

I hope you received my previous note of thanks for the tea basket. As I said, I shared the contents with several of the friends I have made during my time in the Protectorate. It made quite a jolly party.

I’m sure you will not be surprised to learn that I’ve been giving your kind offer quite a lot of consideration. I shan’t deny that there are temptations here that I find compelling. But it’s a monumental decision, to choose to leave forever the only home I’ve ever known.

I had a few questions, which I hope you shall not find forward, but which would go far toward easing my mind.

To begin, you mentioned that I’d be placed in fostering. May I ask how that would be accomplished? I’m sure it’s an unusual situation, coming into a foster-family at such a late stage. As I’m only a year from my majority, I’m not keen to enter an arrangement that would present significant limitations on the independence I have enjoyed this year. Would it be possible instead to simply remain at Hogwarts over the school holidays, or to be assigned to one of the staff instead of moving in with another family for so short a period of time? Or does one’s foster-family relationship continue beyond one’s coming of age? And if so, what measure of influence does one’s foster-family have the right to exact? Over what aspects of one’s life? Apprenticeships? Property?

For example, I have been accustomed to manage my own finances. Would that be allowed to continue? And for that matter, those finances currently reside in accounts on the continent. Would I need to set up an account at Gringotts in New London or could I continue as I have been, transferring the funds there for withdrawal as-needed?

Second, the Young Protectors’ League. In our initial meeting you said that I’d be given a chance to test in and participate. At what level? Obviously, I would not expect to be a counsellor but could I attempt to join the CCF, although the application deadline has passed? Would I remain involved in the activities with the rising-fourth year class or would it be more appropriate to join the rising-fifth?

Third, there’s something that has been troubling me about the political direction you’ve said France is taking. As you know, my mother is not a witch, but a Squib. If the Magical Freedom Act passes, she may find her own independence impaired. She may even become the victim of harrassment, either pursuant to the bill in the French Wizengamot, or even as a reprisal by individuals who might take offence at my decision to remain in England. I hope you’ll understand if I say that I am not ashamed of my mother or her capability to look after herself. However I know that bringing her in to the Protectorate would represent something of an embarrassment, one to which I am not eager to subject anyone. I wonder, therefore, if it would be possible to ensure her safe conduct to a new location of her choosing, where she will be less of a target to any who might wish her harm.

Fourth, perhaps most important, would be my studies within Hogwarts. Beauxbatons has a different academic pattern. I know that half-bloods must acquire a minimum number of O.W.L.s in order to remain in school for their N.E.W.T. levels and to be considered true citizens. I think you may appreciate my concern, then, that I should be entering the O.W.L. year without the previous years’ preparation. Has there been any discussion with Headmistress McGonagall about overcoming that obstacle? I’d be willing to sit additional lessons or study under a tutor if that would be acceptable.

Finally, there is the matter of what would become of me as a denizen of the Protectorate. I should like to be able to express my gratitude, of course, but I wonder if you have any thoughts about what might be expected of me in that regard. Perhaps that’s related to the question regarding fostering but I’m sure you’d know that better than I.

I certainly appreciate the openness with which I have been met and the opportunities I have been lucky enough to experience during my tenure as a visitor to Hogwarts. Despite the challenging circumstances of my birth, I have found myself welcomed here against all expectation. I hope that the questions I have outlined may be resolved before the end of term.

Yours very sincerely,

Justin Finch-Fletchley

What, ho, all,

I say, it looks as if the weather's supposed to be fine at the weekend. About bally well time, what!

I received a parcel this morning. I don't suppose anyone else noticed. Well, I should say, that was rather the point, what? It was packaged with a shrinking charm, so it looked nothing like that great huge hamper Malfoy got last week! But that's what it was, nonetheless, though not quite as enormous. It expanded after I brought it up to the dormitories at lunchtime.

It was from Mr Rosier. 'Just a reminder of what we have to offer,' according to the card.

There are biscuits and crumpet, clotted cream, jams (not Stretton jam, Sally-Anne, what), goose liver and potted quail and all sorts of lovely things for a smashing tea, along with a tea service and pot. And cheese! There are four kinds, including Stilton which is simply the rarest cheese imaginable in France and it's well brilliant. And there's a tin of my favourite tea blend. I say, I've not a clue how he knew that it's my favourite but I jolly well doubt it's just luck.

I mean to say, I bally well doubt they're inclined to take 'No' for an answer, come to that.

But one can't send it back, what, that would offend, I'm sure.

So, shall we have a picnic on Saturday?

-Justin

Hullo again,

I say, it's been quite a long couple of weeks, what, with Terry's and Sally-Anne's difficulties.

There's something I've been wanting to tell you all but we've all been preoccupied with their more pressing problems. But now that they're both able to monitor their journals again--well, I mean to say, I had best get this in before something else happens, what!

So, I'm not sure whether any of you who were there realised it but at that camp in Newcastle, while the rest of you went to see the herb garden, a camp official called my name and told me to come with him. I didn't see much choice and it certainly wasn't worth a panic, not to mention that had I looked guilty or tried to signal any of you or done anything else well odd, I'm sure he might have thought something was amiss and chosen to scrutinise me further. Hydra says she saw that I was well frightened but that it looked more or less the way anyone would do when one can't imagine why one's in trouble--sort of like the look people got in Cambridge when the Proctors told them they weren't meant to walk on the grass, what?

Well, anyway, as I said, this bloke asked me if I were Justin Finch-Fletchley and of course I bally well said that I was, and then he said that I was to come with him, so I did. And he led me into the large house they told us were their administrative offices. I was getting more and more nervous, I can tell you! But when I managed to ask him whatever could be the matter he just said, 'Don't know, do I? Someone wants to meet you,' and then grumbled a bit about being put off the schedule for the morning. He took me to a rather nice little study overlooking the lawn. Mr Rosier was there--Finnigan's guardian, what--and he invited me to sit down and then he asked had I given any thought to staying in England at the end of the year.

I say, of course I have done, what! But I tried to stay calm and listened to what he had to say about it. It was difficult to tell if he knew anything; I don't think he did, really, because at one point he tried to make it sound as if I could escape Toubon and the others by declaring right away and getting Sorted so that I'd no longer be considered a Beauxbatons student. I suppose he didn't consider that one would still have to see them in the corridors or that they are sharing Ravenclaw Tower to be much of an impediment, what?

But he didn't say anything that even remotely sounded like a threat. And he did offer tea but I said no, thank you, I was quite content, so that I wouldn't become tempted to tell him things I might not have done otherwise. I don't think it was his own idea to talk to me, though: I think that someone else at the Ministry believes it would be a coup for them to gain a defector out of the Beauxbatons delegation. They asked Mr Rosier to come because of Seamus and in his new job I suppose it's rather under his jurisdiction.

I didn't ask just then about my mother. I didn't wish to give them any reason to look into her any more than the French have done. Besides, he mentioned going into fostering so I doubt they'd want her to come to England--which jolly well suits me since I'd want her to leave France altogether, what? And go to Canada or America or somewhere it'll be much harder for them to decide they do want her hostage against my good behaviour.

Because that's the pill among the sugar, isn't it? The reason they want me to stay is to show everyone how brilliant life is here and declare myself a bally old convert to the Protectorate's way of life. So if I were to stay, I expect I'd have some responsibilities to uphold and of course, while Mr Rosier didn't say anything of the kind, it stands to reason that if I displeased the Ministry, there could be repercussions, what?

But if no one's thought already of holding her then perhaps I could say that as a condition of my remaining, I want to make sure no one in France can retaliate against her, and that I want confirmation she's been able to go somewhere else to live. I think she has an aunt in America; perhaps she can go and live with her and then she'll be safe. That would give them something they want while making sure I've got something I want without necessarily making them realise their mistake.

He said that there were a number of details we'd have to work out, such as where I'd be fostered (but he implied that it'd be with a well-to-do family, what) and I don't know about the YPL or anything, I didn't ask. He also didn't say I had to give an answer straightaway, that I should take all the time I needed, but of course, it should be decided before the end of the term.

So. I thought we should all have a think about what else I might want to ask for by way of assurances, before I give an answer. Or what else there is to think about. I've a list and it's growing longer but I know you lot will jolly well have questions I can't think of and wouldn't necessarily know to ask.

What's Hufflepuff like? I mean to say, I've barely spent any time with Smith, MacMillan, Hopkins and Stebbins. (Isn't there another one in the 4^th? Oh, Summers.) I say, we'd be rather cramped, what?

-Justin