I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

One last outing before we all go back to school, right? Anyone coming? I should warn you that Jeremy's coming with me. He stopped pouting about not getting a quidditch day at the Burrow when I pointed out that Mrs Weasley is BEREAVED and perhaps doesn't feel like hosting yet this summer. (He wanted to organise one here but Mrs Stretton said no.) But he really wanted to come flying with us, at least.

(And one last posting before our year starts dropping off this lock. Who all has a birthday in the autumn? Hermione, yours is in September, isn't it?)

Comments

[alt_hermione]

What makes you say that? I think Sirius is one of the ones who's more likely to respect our wanting a little privacy.

[alt_sally_anne]

Because I think if anyone ever made him take an Unbreakable Vow not to put his oar in, he'd be dead in a week?

But you know him better than I do.

[alt_hermione]

Well, he can't help that he's bored most of the time. So's Mr Snape, if you ask me. But he's good at respecting boundaries when people tell him they're there.

And he knows it's important to be able to complain now and then, I mean, have you ever listened to those things his mother's portrait says? I think he really understands what it's like to be in a place where the people who're supposed to be your parents don't love you--don't even like you--and things like that.

Have you ever just talked to him? Or have you mostly tried to impress him by proving you know what you're talking about?

Anyway, I know he can be brash and if you listen to Mr Snape he's sometimes more like a six-year-old than a thirty-six-year-old (but then Mr Snape can be awfully immature sometimes, too, have you noticed? Mostly when he's talking about Sirius, I think that goes way back to when they were at school) but I also know he cares about all of us. And Mr Lupin loves him so he can't be all bad. If I had to choose parents He could be loads worse.

[alt_hermione]

And honestly, if you're going by what Mr Snape says, it's not really an indication at all. They just dislike each other. Intensely, I suppose.

It's really pretty amazing that they've even been working on that potion together.

[alt_sally_anne]

When would I have ever just talked to him? He'd need to want to talk to me, and I don't think he does. I mean I stayed at his house for a few days over Christmas hols with my mum but he kept his distance except that one utterly awkward night when we all had dinner together and he was only there for about five minutes before Bea threw a fit and he took her off to her room.

I just

Yes, I know that he and Mr Snape don't get on and it's not all Sirius's fault, they're both gits to each other constantly, they're worse than Draco and Ron used to be before they finally decided to tolerate each other.

[alt_sally_anne]

I mean it's not as if I can say 'hey Sirius, let's go grab a pint sometime.'

You know them all, I mean, you've KNOWN them all so much longer than I have sometimes it's like you're just one of the grownups, but I'm not, you know, I don't even know how to talk to him. Calling him Mr Black feels wrong because that's what I called his br but calling a grownup 'Sirius' also feels wrong.

[alt_hermione]

It was a little awkward at first because I didn't know him, either. But of all of the--all of the real adults, that is, not Bill or Charlie, and obviously not the twins or Lee Jordan--he's the only one I do call by his name, and not 'Mr Black'. Well, and Tonks, of course, but that's also because she's told us to call her that.

Anyway. I don't think it's because I've known them longer. I've known Professor McGonagall the longest but I'd never call her anything else, I don't think. But I know that when Harry Justin other people have had things they want to talk to him about, he listens. And he doesn't judge, either, not like Mrs We Mrs Lo Madam some of the others.

I mean, it's sort of like he has the least ability to judge us, in a way, because he's the first one to say he's not a good role model. Or a hero.

But I don't--I mean, it's not like I fancy him or anything. I just think he's one of the nicest members, so it's a shame you don't get on.

[alt_sally_anne]

It's not that we don't get on, it's just --

well, anyway. Let's say you're right about Sirius. What do you think the odds are Mrs Weasley wouldn't read those posts?

[alt_hermione]

Honestly, not very good (sorry, Ron). But we could ask Charlie to make sure she doesn't, maybe.

Or maybe the twins could think of a way to create a lock for more than two people.