I solemnly swear that I am up to no good

[alt_neville]

I'm all right, everyone. So is Evelyn. At least I think so And they didn't find either of our bracelets, thank Merlin.

Crabbe and Goyle didn't get their way and so at least I didn't have to strip in front of everyone, thanks to Diggory. Bones, could you please pass on to him that I can't thank him enough. Same goes for you, for protecting Evelyn. That was really quick-witted, what you did, palming her bracelet so Jones wouldn't find it. Evelyn told me.

Sally-Anne, I heard you were searched, too. You all right?

Comments

Private Message to Neville

[alt_evelyn]

Sorry I was a bit of a baby earlier. I was worried about you, and the bracelets, and it was a good thing Cedric came along when he did. And Sue was there. So it was okay. Embarrassing, but okay.

You're okay, Pete? You're sure?

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_neville]

Just because--

Anyone would have been upset. Guess I didn't start crying myself because I was too busy concentrating on not flying off the handle and punching Crabbe or Goyle. That would have made things worse.

Our friends stood by us, Lindy. So hang on to that.

I'm just so sorry you were subjected to it in the first place.

I can't believe what this place is coming to.

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_evelyn]

Me neither.

And you didn't punch them because you were stronger than they were. Because you're better than them.

Re: Private Message to Neville

[alt_neville]

Crabbe and Goyle are gonna get what's coming to them someday.

Fred told me this morning that he and George passed on word about what happened to Mum and asked her to tell Dad. Which is undoubtedly better than them learning about it from what Zabini wrote in Lavender's journal.

Ugh.

[alt_susan]

That was awkawful! I had the hardest time keeping a straight face.

I just don't know if I can keep going with HJC; still, it turned out to be a good thing this time! Evelyn, you were well clever too, getting everyone's attention so they'd be distracted from Neville.

And I'll pass that along to Cedric as well; he was livid about the whole thing.

[alt_neville]

I don't blame you for wondering whether you can continue with the HJC. You may end up having to do even worse things. Which, given that things keep getting worse, should all give us pause.

But there's no doubt you were perfectly positioned to give us really crucial help today. We needed you right then, so thanks for being there.

[alt_sally_anne]

Yeah, I'm fine. Jones didn't seem to even see my bracelet.

Evelyn, did she spot yours? Or were you and Susan just being extra careful?

[alt_evelyn]

Her hand brushed it, and she got a funny look. But Sue covered.

Thank you, Susan. For being there.

[alt_harry]

I didn't know about it ahead of time. Otherwise I would've come back sooner and made sure

I should've

I'm sorry.

I'm really sorry.

Both of you.

[alt_evelyn]

It wasn't your fault, you know. And Susan and Cedric were there.

It's okay.

[alt_harry]

That's just it, though. What we've got here is not okay, and it keeps getting more not okay.

[alt_evelyn]

That's why it's even more important that we do something about it.

[alt_sally_anne]

Here's what I don't understand.

EVERYONE hates Umbridge. I mean except for maybe Megan Jones. But Professor Dolohov hates her and Professor Lestrange hates her and I think Professor Lestrange's brother hates her, and I think Mr Malfoy hates her (and he seemed to rather like Headmistress McGonagall).

It's not as if any of them haven't killed people before. WHY don't they kill Umbridge?

It shouldn't be OUR job to feed her to the giant squid.

[alt_harry]

She's got something on Raz. She's blackmailing him or something.

[alt_ron]

Um.

Wow.

So they probably do hate her enough to kill her. If they can work out how to get around whatever she's threatening, yeah?

That's-

I hope they don't do it here. At the school, I mean. Enough bad stuff has happened here.


Do you think Professor Raz would do that?

[alt_harry]

Maybe

Maybe we could work it out. Together. I mean, sort out what the blackmail is.

[alt_pansy]

Sally-Anne and me could talk to Siz and see if she'll say.

[alt_sally_anne]

That's a good idea.

You know what, we should try to find out where she's going for spring hols and tell her we'd really love to come over for tea and a visit because we love chatting with her and it's so difficult right now with Umbridge peering over all our shoulders...

And then ask her while we're at tea. I think she'd be more likely to tell us when we're away from the castle.

[alt_pansy]

Agreed.

I think if she doesn't seem like she wants to talk, we could tell her that we might be able to do something about it. And that we'd be more likely to get away with it than she would, because her hands are so tightly tied.

[alt_neville]

Well, If it helps, I'm already really glad we've added you to this Lock. I think we've given you some information that's gonna help you, and you're bringing information to us that'll help us figure things out. Like letting us know that Professor Lestrange was being blackmailed. None of us could have known that.

[alt_sally_anne]

Harry, none of us expect you to solve everything that goes wrong.

[alt_ron]

Hey. I'm glad you're all right. Both of you.

That was really bollocks, searching people like that. I mean, who do they think they are? MLE?

I mean, I didn't get searched since I was with Daphne. The trickiest thing I had to do all day was get in and out of Zonko's without her knowing what I was buying. I got some False Fire pellets and some Naughty Noises bombs and some Sudden Showers powder that you blow up in the air and it causes an indoor rain storm that lasts ten minutes. I got the ones that have a thunder charm in. They cost a little more, but I figured that would be a better diversion if we need one.

Anywiz. Did anyone else get searched? Nobody got caught, did they?

[alt_neville]

That's brilliant, what you managed to smuggle back.

Fred and George managed to bring stuff back, too. And I bet they have some interesting ideas on how to use it.

[alt_pansy]

I got a tonne of meat pies from the Hog's Head. I didn't see anyone else there, so I decided to take a chance, and the proprietor seemed a bit odd, but he made them and didn't ask any questions.