Things I Mustn't Tell My Diary

[alt_sally_anne]

Well I went up to the hospital wing to take a look at the pamphlets we were told about today. (I'd have asked my Prefects but I think they've all been taken for use with the games people are playing.) Anyway, here are the ten things I mustn't tell my diary.

1. Holiday and travel plans, because someone might read it and break into our family's houses to steal.

2. Personal conversations, which means anything directed to just one or two people. I thought that one was rather funny, isn't this why we can write comments to each other? Besides we were TOLD to use the diaries to send messages to our family, when we couldn't send owls. The explanation is that we might forget everyone's reading if we're having our own private little conversation and certainly people do. But I think it's better to try to remember everyone can read the diaries and carry on having the conversations we need to have.

3. Other people's secrets, and then she goes on a bit about breaking confidences and how no one will want to be your friend.

4. Gossip about teachers. I can't imagine gossiping about teachers where everyone can see me. Not that I gossip about teachers at all, of course.

5. Gossip about other students. And she has a line about how no one trusts a gossip, it's sort of like #3 all over again except this time, it's not just that you shouldn't repeat things that were told in confidence but you really shouldn't say anything at all about your mates.

6. Our personal worries, because these might then be turned against us somehow and besides we shouldn't burden our acquaintances with complaints about sadness or stomach aches. Instead, we should take these concerns to a Prefect, our Head of House, or Madam Pomfrey.

7. Anything that would cause scandal. I think she means I shouldn't talk about my knickers. Or those of my dorm mates. Also if I'm snogging someone (I'm not) I shouldn't talk about that. Someone ought to mention that to that man in Kent who's always going on about the lady at the owl post office. You all know who I mean. The one with the lips that are 'red as frog's blood' (and it gets worse from there if you know what I mean). Not that I read his entries mind you but I've heard other people reading them out loud because they're ALL like that and can you imagine being the lady and having the man you're seeing going on about you like that in public? Anyway.

8. Anything 'indiscreet' about our little sisters and brothers at home. Although she doesn't really say what she means by 'indiscreet,' she doesn't even give that HORRID and CRUEL example that I won't repeat.

9. Anything at all about money, our own or our family's, because it's 'vulgar' and besides might make someone think about robbing our parents. I guess I will refrain from naming names because goodness knows I wouldn't want to make anyone a target, but I do know a few people at this school who come from money. First, it's hardly a secret they have money. Second (and more important) ALL their parents can rather take care of themselves!

10. Anything you think you might not like people to be able to read about you five or ten or twenty years from now, because no one knows how long this project might last. That's almost anything, come to think of it; really, how am I supposed to have any idea what might embarrass me when I'm thirty-two years old?

Anyway. The brochure said 'ten things' but there was a list on the back that went on even longer, I didn't read it though.

Comments

[alt_ron]

Yeah. I'm not sure what we are meant to write here, if not any of those things. I guess you've got it right: you're just supposed to copy out what that office has to say. It's what Madam Pomfrey's got to do, isn't it?

I think one of the ten should've been that you shouldn't write back to people you don't know, because y'know, that's the one thing I really learned on my birthday when Some People (whose names I won't mention because they'd just say they didn't do it and they'd say I was breaking #5 on the list) hexed me so I'd have to write to EVERYBODY who wrote anything in the journals that day. I mean, I even had to say hello to that daft bloke in Kent, which don't even pretend you don't remember! Anyway. If she wanted to tell us something that's dead dangerous to do in your journal, it's say stuff to the wrong people and get them hacked off at you.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

DIRECTOR SELWYN IS TALKING TO ME.

I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE LIKE THAT WRITE IN MY DIARY. IT MAKES ME THINK I SHOULD NEVER WRITE ANYTHING EVER AGAIN UNLESS IT'S IN UNDER THE LOCK SO THEY CAN'T SEE.

At least it's not Bellatrix Lestrange.

No one is as scary as Hydra's mum except for maybe Mr Crouch.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

You don't have to worry. He's really very nice, Director Selwyn is. I talked to him on my birthday, and he didn't even get angry. In fact, he wrote back and was quite jolly about it.

I think he has kids and just kind of thought it was funny.

But, yeah. Let's hope Mrs Lestrange doesn't decide to answer you, too. Or that Mr Crouch. Well, or Mr Malfoy, either. He's the one that really worries me. The way he keeps bringing me up to Pansy, about how I was along when we went into the forest. That's not good, the way he won't let go of that.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah, if I were you I'd be worried about Mr Malfoy.

And be careful about Mr Selwyn. When he realised you were hexed he started asking you all sorts of leading questions to see if you'd slip and see something incriminating, couldn't you see that?

But you're right, at least he's polite about it.

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, you know? I think 'Don't write to people you don't know' was on the back. I think they didn't make it one of the ten because they have a whole other one about not talking to strangers.

[alt_ron]

Yeah, we were reading that one. Don't talk to strangers, or take sweets from them, or go inside their houses to help them fix something even if they're just little old ladies. And don't go for broom rides or rides on carpets with people you don't know. Or if you're somewhere alone and you see someone who looks like they're hurt, don't go find out if they need help, just let some adult do that instead. Or, um. There were other things, but I can't remember. Huh. I guess if I can't remember that means I might do something dangerous and not realise.

[alt_selwyn]

Miss Perks.

I would like you to take that pamphlet, tuck it into your bag, and return it to your matron tomorrow before it can do any further damage.

Rest assured that you may write whatever you like in your diary, though you are wise to consider that anyone at all might be reading and that certain topics of gossip may make you the wrong enemies.

You should certainly feel free to write about worries and concerns, have 'personal conversations' provided you don't object to others chiming in, and don't worry yourself overmuch about whether your childish writings will embarrass you in decades to come.

And I'm quite sure Lucius Malfoy would agree with your assessment that he needn't worry overmuch about housebreakers.

[alt_sally_anne]

Am I in trouble, sir?

I'm sorry I wrote about the pamphlet if I shouldn't have, sir.

[alt_selwyn]

You are not in trouble. Didn't I just say you're free to write about whatever you like? And in fact by airing your concerns and doubts you made it clear to me just how damaging those pamphlets could be and so I have asked Madam Pomfrey to return them to my office.

What a wonderful, wonderful gift Our Lord has given us in these diaries!

[alt_sally_anne]

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate everything Our Lord does for us.