Fred, George, Ron and Ginny

[alt_bill]

I heard from Fred and George by owl that the Hogwarts Headmistress had some definite plans about how the four of you should spend your weekend. Hope it went all right, then?

Sunday family dinner at the Burrow tonight. Charlie managed to double up some shifts so that he could trade for others, so he'll be joining us and Percy, which will be nice. If I'm lucky, I'll manage to stick him with evening chores...let HIM commune with the goats for once. Let me know if you have any messages to pass on to him.

Comments

[alt_gredforge]

It's actually been rather interesting. Mixed. Some of it dead annoying, but some of it quite nice.

There was a charm put on us that kept us from getting too far away from each other. Evenings we mostly spent in the Common Room, because that was just easiest. We tried the library for awhile Friday evening, because George had to do some research for an essay, but that was just frustrating, because he couldn't move around the shelves to hunt for books while the rest of us were parked at the tables revising. George ended up just giving his book list to Lee and asking him to check them out for him.

Quidditch practice started out maddening, because Ron was stuck in front of the Keeper goal posts, which meant we could hardly manoeuvre. Finally, Hooch took pity on us and removed the charm for the rest of the practice. But it went right back on us when practice was over.

The whole thing sort of scrambled all of our plans for the weekend. Ron and the two of us couldn't go to Hogsmeade, because Ginny was forbidden to go. We had to go hang out at Ron's revue rehearsal--actually, that was sort of fun. The two us were helping with set building, and Ginny ended up talking to the costuming crew about fabric and design. (And we did get to see one or two of Ron's speeches. We didn't know little Ronniekins had it in him. Not at all bad!)

And it was kinda fun, really, in the Common Room at the end of the day. Lots of chess (we hadn't played with Ginny in a while), and toasting crumpets and just talking. Sort of reminded us of some of our evenings at the Burrow, sometimes. Had friends stopping by the Weasley corner we'd set up by the chess table, just to talk and play Exploding Snap. Lee Jordan, and Evelyn and Neville Longbottom, Kat Bundy, Honoria Sandoval, a few others. So, yeah. Nice.

Tomorrow will be different, we reckon.

[alt_bill]

Well, I'm glad that there were some highlights to the whole thing.

How did the charm work? Was it sort of like a leash that kept you from taking a step too far?

[alt_gredforge]

It just made us uncomfortable if we strayed too far.

Order Only

[alt_gredforge]

Dead uncomfortable. Like set your teeth on edge, sort of a I-can't-take-another-step certainty. Not like a wall, and not like pain. Just...you felt like you were sure there would be pain if you went any further.

The other really annoying thing was that the two of us had to attend that stupid YPL meeting. And do exercises. We would have much rather been doing something useful, like getting our essays done.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_gredforge]

Oh, and this is interesting...we're pretty sure that Ron was hacked off he couldn't go to Hogsmeade because he had plans to meet a Certain Someone there. You know, since it's the Saturday before Valentine's Day and all?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

Really?!

Well, well, well. How very interesting. Thanks for the intelligence, gents.

Pity I can't twit him about it. He's not very teasable by me right now.

Better keep it from Mum, too, in brotherly solidarity. But I will tell Charlie!

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

Any idea who?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_gredforge]

We have our suspicions. But we'll keep it to ourselves until we're certain.

Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_ginny]

Bill, you said that I should write to you in YOUR journal and not MY journal but you almost never post. EVER.

The Headmistress put a hex on us that made us stay very close together all weekend, which wouldn't have been so bad, except that Ron sulked and glared and made it very clear that he considered being forced near me to be a fate worse than cruciatus! There were also endless meaningful looks, Bill. If there's anything worse than feeling alone when I'm alone, it's feeling alone when I'm with my brothers.

Re: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

That's an entirely fair point, Ginny, that I haven't made public entries that you can comment to. I'm sorry; I'm afraid I didn't think of that, but my primary concern in suggesting you use my journal rather than yours is to keep you out of trouble with you Headmistress. So call it a combination of concern and cluelessness. 'Concern' is habitual for protective older brothers, and 'cluenessness' is common for brothers everywhere. I hope you'll give me credit for the first and forgive me for the second. Anyway, I will try to post more publicly, as well as send you more owls.

As for Ron, I'm sorry if he's seemed testy, but it doesn't sound as though the weekend was a total failure. The twins at least enjoyed playing chess and hanging out on the Common Room with you. Now, I agree, Ron can sulk like nobody's business, but then that's simply part of our Weasley heritage. (I remember Mum losing her temper with me after one of my snits when I was younger, and she told me that while some hopeful Quidditch players might be asked to play for England, I was world class in only the respect that I might be asked to sulk for England.) I wonder...could it be that it wasn't so much that he was angry at you as he was at the Headmistress? Or simply at the whole situation, if his plans for the weekend were overset?

It really was unfair for the Headmistress to do it to all of you. Which also makes me wonder whether Ron wasn't angry at you. Weasleys, in my experience, may grumble at each other, but they'll always close ranks and watch each other's backs if one of them is treated unfairly.

Re: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_ginny]

I don't think they're watching my back, Bill.

I think they're watching EACH OTHERS backs. And that I'm one of the ones they're watching.

Re: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

Gin: you're a Weasley. Forever and always a Weasley.

We will always, always watch out for you.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

On a more serious note: I'm private messaging with Gin below. I dunno, gents, but something in my gut tells me, she just doesn't sound quite right.

She was talking about looks you were giving her. Well, she was complaining about Ron sulking and glaring. But then she added this, speaking of you three:

I don't think they're watching my back, Bill.

I think they're watching EACH OTHERS backs. And that I'm one of the ones they're watching.

Look, can you figure out what's going on with her? Talk to her or something? Maybe better you than Ron.

[alt_ron]

Yeah. We haven't all spent this much time so close together for a long time. Actually, maybe never because this spell means we have to stick pretty much in the same room. Same part of a room if it's a big place like the library.

And we have to all agree where we're going to go, too, which. Let's just say, we've been trying really hard to be nice, but some people get really touchy and that makes it harder.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_gredforge]

We can't get near her.

The second part of this ruddy punishment started today, the 'separation' part. We can't get any closer than thirty feet of Ginny. Same reason, that charm.

Except now it feels even worse.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

Until when?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_gredforge]

Punishment's supposed to last for three days, so until Thursday.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

Bugger. My instinct tells me we shouldn't wait that long. She just sounds weird. Like she's about to go off or something. Which could be disastrous.

Is there anyone you trust who could talk to her? Someone in the Juniors who's a friend who could maybe sound her out a bit?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_gredforge]

Evelyn Longbottom, maybe? We'll talk to her.

These next three days are gonna stink. No time to write more now, but keep an eye on our journal today. She ordered us to make an entry in it which will explain more. Ugh.

Re: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_ginny]

Did you see the Twins post?

This is UTTERLY HUMILIATING.

And we're having to take it in turns to eat.

Re: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

I did, and I'm so sorry.

Forgive me, but are you sure you should be writing to me right now? As I understand it, you're supposed to be following the rules half-blood students have about talking to their families; I don't want you to get into more trouble.

Re: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_ginny]

Oh Bill, it's fine. She can only see the private message I wrote to you yesterday, and it was still allowed yesterday. How would she even know I'm writing to you today? Unless you're going to tell her and I know you'd never.

Anyway I'm supposed to be pretending to be a half-blood. If I WERE a half-blood I would NEVER give up contact with my family. I'd keep it up in secret, how would they ever know? When Umbridge called us all in she also called in Sally-Anne Perks and told her that her mother had died; Sally-Anne said she was fine because she hadn't seen her mother in years -- can you imagine?

You're right about Weasleys always having each other's backs. We'd never give each other up, either.

Although I'll refrain for now from sending private messages to Ron or the Twins where Umbridge can see because you're right, I don't want to get in worse trouble.

Re: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

Do you really think your determination alone would somehow prevent you from getting sent to the camps?

It doesn't quite work that way, Gin. I work for the damn department, and I know.

Re: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_ginny]

No, I think I'm clever enough not to get caught.

But you're right, to remind me about the dangers. I shouldn't think less of Sally-Anne Perks for being afraid. Not everyone is meant for Gryffindor House.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

Good grief. I hope Evelyn manages to find something out.

I'm trying to reason with her, but Ginny's absolutely not hearing it.

Let me know if your conversation with Evelyn gives you any insight.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_gredforge]

Will do.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Bill Weasley

[alt_bill]

I'm letting her have the last word, even though it's killing me. I think you'd better keep a close eye on her.

Well...as close as you can, given that you have to keep your distance.