I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

So. I heard from the Strettons today. Through a private message in the journals, I suppose with me gone they had to get used to reading their own journals to see orders and so on.

Apparently they got an owl from Mrs Malfoy inviting me to take part in some special program for half-blood girls. It sounds like they're going to teach us household spells? With maybe some fashion tips? I don't know exactly.

It's going to take up a bunch of my Saturdays. At least the household spells will come in useful if the Strettons make me do all the cooking again.

I asked Bundy and she got invited too. I don't know who else did.

Comments

[alt_ron]

Household spells and fashion tips?

How boring is that?

[alt_pansy]

If by boring you mean useful.

You are such a boy.

[alt_ron]

What're they going to tell you? How to chop turnips and what colour looks best with your apron?

[alt_pansy]

I don't think Aunt Narcissa has chopped a turnip in her life, and she wouldn't be caught dead in an apron.

[alt_sally_anne]

Well, I don't think she's actually going to be running the meetings. There's some woman named Miss Catchlove who's coming later in the year.

[alt_pansy]

Oh. Well, maybe she'll be doing other things with you from time to time. She is terribly busy.

But it's still pretty funny to think of Aunt Narcissa giving advice on how to clean things.

[alt_sally_anne]

'You tell the elf it needs to be cleaned! And then you have it punish itself for letting it get dirty enough that you noticed!'

[alt_sally_anne]

I bet we use that spellbook for brides your mum sent me last winter when the Strettons had me doing all the cooking.

Or the posh version of it, anyway.

[alt_ron]

I mean to say, it sounds like stuff my mum would like.

[alt_sally_anne]

Too bad they won't have your mum teaching it. That would be fun. And she could look in on you. Make sure you were behaving yourself!

[alt_ron]

I mean, really, I could teach you most of the house spells Mum uses. I mean, who do you think gets to chop the turnips? Or dust? I know three spells to do that. Cleaning sinks? I'm your source.

And I think you should wear blue. Definitely. Or green, since it's your House colour. Whatever.

You don't need to learn stuff in bride books, right? I mean, Saturdays are days for having fun.

[alt_sally_anne]

Well the point isn't REALLY to learn house spells. It's to be mentored by people who can help me find a job after I take my NEWTs, you know?

[alt_ron]

Isn't that what YPL's about?

[alt_ron]

So.

You're doing it, I guess. When's it start?

[alt_sally_anne]

Of course I'm doing it. If someone went to all the trouble of arranging for Mrs Malfoy to create an organisation to help 'worthy' half-blood girls, I'd be a fool to say no.

Anyway, the Strettons already accepted for me.

The first meeting's in October. Wait, I guess October starts next week; it's not that soon. Mid-October.

[alt_pansy]

That's brilliant!

I think that could be a really great thing for you. I mean, I know you're worried and all about what it'll be like after you leave school, and even if you just learn household spells, it'll be with Aunt Narcissa, and that's an excellent connection to make. And you can bet that she didn't ask just everyone, either.

[alt_ron]

I wonder who didn't get asked.

[alt_pansy]

Ooooh. I suppose we'll find out after the first meeting.

[alt_sally_anne]

Well.

I would for sure expect that Su Li will be in, because she tries hard to be friends with all the right people. And that Sarah Fawcett would not, because of how upset she got over her mum.

I was trying to think whether anyone might have been asked, but refuse. I'm sure anyone in fostering who gets asked would say yes, but if someone's a halfblood and it's not common knowledge, like Susan Bones before Megan blabbed to Patil, they might say no.

Or Milli. She got one of the letters, last winter when all the halfbloods were put under quarantine. Only I don't think the teachers knew because they didn't make her sit away from the rest and I don't think anyone noticed but me that she got the letter. Anyway, I doubt she was asked but if she WAS I expect her parents said no.

[alt_ron]

Oh, hey. One good thing: Patil won't be in it!

[alt_pansy]

Point!

[alt_sally_anne]

HA.

That's one good thing, anyway.

[alt_terry]

Definitely a benefit.

[alt_neville]

Huh. You know, it might be sort of revealing, in a way. If you think about it. Maybe it's all about the sort of stuff that a pureblood like Mrs Malfoy thinks half-blood girls ought to know. What's important. At least, that's sort of the idea I got from hearing Katrina Bundy talking about it.

[alt_terry]

Huh. I wonder if there'll be something for half-blood boys?