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So the Easter Party at Gloss House was lots of fun. There were parts of it for little kids that I got to help with, like the egg hunt. Mum charmed the ones that had really great gifts hidden in them to roll away from you once you spotted it, and I helped Arista Selwyn corner one that had a bracelet with a little silver charm in it that she just adored, and she dragged me off right away to show her mum and dad, of course! Antonia and Lucy Baddock were also quite sweet, and had loads of fun chasing down the chocolate frogs we’d set loose in the garden. Everyone loved the favours, too. There were these cunning little eggs, and some of them opened up to look like miniature quidditch pitches on the inside, with a little snitch zooming around it, and others were see-through and had a little model unicorn that galloped around on the inside when you rolled it on the ground. And some of my housemates had never been to Gloss House before, so I got to show them around the grounds, and introduce them to Onions, the horse I ride when I'm here. The boys played a mock game of Creaothceann that Prospero set up, where they used small pillows instead of rocks. It's certainly much safer that way!

And Gloss House looked just lovely. There were loads of flowers in the sitting rooms and entry hall, and branches from flowering trees in garlands, and we hung new curtains and re-upholstered the chairs in this lovely cream colour, so everything was bright and beautiful, especially with all the windows open and the French doors leading to the gardens.

Oh, and Aunt Narcissa, thank you for introducing me to Madame Featherstone and Madame Millingham-Kennilworthy. We had an interesting conversation about music. I'm not sure what Madame Millingham-Kennilworthy thought when I told her I wanted to be a music producer, because at first she thought I'd meant something with classical music, not for bands. But it turns out she liked opera, so we talked for a little about the Tosca opera because she'd seen it too. And it was really nice to see Mrs Baddock, she's always good to talk to. I didn't get a chance to meet too many other people, but everyone seemed to be having a good time. I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk with you or Lucius more, but it was good to see both of you. Rosa and Prospero were both very glad at how many people were able to come, and said after everyone left how lovely it was that you’d thought of them to host.

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When Arista took me over to her father – Director Selwyn – he was talking with Lucius and Mr Baddock and Mr Avery about the Private Messages, and how they thought that people might be speaking in code over them to pass messages back and forth, so they would be reading them closely, even the ones at Hogwarts because Greg’s journal might not’ve been the only student one snatched, and when they started talking about secret codes, Lucius just sort of looked over at me and I thought

Well, I thought he knew.

But of course he didn’t, he was probably thinking about the stuff we used to do a while back with the fish and the colours, but still. It gave my stomach a turn. And then Mr Selwyn remembered the thing I wrote Arista when she took his journal, and made a joke about how I was a 'little bit of trouble,' which was why I got on with Arista so well, and Lucius laughed about it but you could tell he didn’t think it funny.

But any ways, you’ve got to be just absolutely careful about what you say under the Private Messages. Nothing about the lock ever. Or about anything you’ve said under the lock. Because they are going to be paying closer attention to everything. And if you say something that doesn’t fit, that might stick out, and

well

I don’t even want to think about what sort of trouble we’d get into because it’s already making me feel ill just writing it down.

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And I had to pretend to be polite to that stuffy, awful Madame Millingwhatever, after she said all those terrible things about Regulus to Mrs Selwyn. About how he

Let’s just say she was terrible, and I could hardly look her in the eye after hearing what she really thought of me. And him. And... ugh.

I wasn’t able to have any fun after that. At all. I mean, the bits with people from school were okay, I guess, but I wasn’t able to enjoy it. I was glad you were there, Sally- Anne, else I would’ve gone just mental.

I've had words with Mrs Macalister, too. She really oughtn't to have snapped at you like that.

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alt_sally_anne

That Madame Millingperson spilled tea down her dress later if that's any consolation. When Arista tripped and ran into her. Unfortunately she didn't accidentally bite her stupid tongue off. I'm sure St Mungo's would have just fixed it back on for her but it would've stopped her gob for a few hours, anyway.

With Mrs Macalister I just wished there were a way to say 'but it wasn't for ME, I wasn't taking this for ME' without sounding all defensive. There were so many of those little egg things I really thought it would be alright if I took one of the quidditch ones for Philip and one of the unicorn ones for Gemma. The look on her face ... ugh.

Well, Gemma and Philip thought they were brilliant, at least.

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Macalister always looks like she's eaten a lemon whole. She's never been nice to me, not once, so I'm not surprised that she jumped at the chance to yell at you a little.

And Milingsnot can go leap off a broom. And her mother ought to come back from the grave and wash out that filthy mouth of hers. Ooooh, I just wanted to slap her so badly.

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What'd she say, Madam Whatevershescalled? Something about you and Regulus Black?

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It was all really ridiculous. She made it out that he liked kids

You know

Like that,

and I was taking advantage of him because I wanted to marry a Black.

It made me really, really angry to hear it at first, that she'd made it so sick and twisted sounding and wrong, but writing it all down makes it sound ridiculous, which is exactly what it was. And she's an awful cow of a woman that no-one likes at all, too, so she probably needs gossip to feel better about herself.

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Ugh.

Why do you want to spend time with people like that, anyway? I mean, why would you want to grow up to go to all the places and join all the clubs and wotnot that people like that do?

You'd be miserable all the time if you do, I'd think.

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I'm pretty sure I would be too.

Mum used to throw interesting parties back when I was younger, with artists and philosophers and writers and people like that. I loved those parties.

These sorts of parties, though, they're the parties that everyone wants to be invited to, but no-one actually seems to have fun at. Except the kids looking for eggs. They had fun.

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alt_sally_anne

I try to use the private messages at least some of the time, because it would be suspicious not to use them at all, especially to talk to you.

But I try to imagine Mr Crouch reading every word I say. I mean, I'm sure no one cares if we talk about how dreadful Professor Carrow is or even the defense clubs, you know? Those aren't a secret really from anyone other than Carrow. I can complain about the Strettons, no one cares if I don't like my foster parents. I can't ever say anything bad about the Lord Protector, though. I can't even hint at it. And we should watch out about inside jokes and such, they might think it was a code and we can't risk MLE wanting to talk to us.

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You're right about the inside jokes. And talking about Him like that, too.

And I think they're looking more to see if anyone else's journal has been nicked, so that the person that nicked it might be talking just like a normal student about going to classes and all, but there's something off about it like talking about the wrong class on the wrong day, so they're using it for code. So it's not like they'll be looking hard at the journals they know are from students, but still. I don't think everyone knows that people like Director Selwyn can read the Private Messages that aren't the people it's addressed to.

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alt_sally_anne

I don't know how anyone could not know that. I mean as IF they would give everyone something that would let people have secret conversations that no one in MLE could read.

Besides there was that person who got fired for gossiping, if anyone didn't know before that they should have known after.

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Yeah. I used a PM the other day to tell Neville thanks after you reminded me that Mum couldn't see the note I sent under the lock. (Mum made a fuss, too, because she thought I'd said I'd write him and then didn't do it.)

It gets complicated sometimes--remembering what to say in which kind of message as much as remembering what not to say in some kinds.

But that's not good about them reading PMs and all.

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Yeah. We just need to be really, really careful, that's all.

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Well--

You know, I

um

I looked back at what I said to Nev the other day in that Private Message, and

well

I might've messed up and talked about stuff I shouldn't've.

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what'd you say?

And I don't think they'd be reading your journal too closely, or pay much mind long as you didn't go, "Hey, you know that secret way we have of writing things over the journals? Where we use special ink and words?"

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Oh, well, um. I didn't say anything about the lock, obviously, but I was talking about how Mum fussed at me for not writing and how I was all confused what she was on about.

And, yeah. I sort of said something about Sally Anne piling on in the journals 'cause I'd messed up, but y'know actually she said that under the lock, so I guess if someone was reading my Private Message, they'd wonder what I was on about.

But you'd have to be really paying attention.

But I guess they would do, wouldn't they?

D'you think I could've got us in trouble?

I mean, wouldn't they have come asking questions already if they were suspicious? Or d'you think they'd wait? Just to see what else I'll say?

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Oh.

Well, that's definitely not good. It could be worse, though, I guess.

It's not like they know that you in particular have a secret to hide, or even what sort of secret it is. They're just looking at Private Messages for odd things that don't fit. And yeah, that doesn't fit, which is the bad part. And if you start writing like you're thinking real carefully about what you're going to say when you're under Private Messages, that might look odd again, which might give them a reason to look closer than they would. So we'll wait and see, but just don't give them anything more to find, yeah? I know I'm going to cut down on the Private Messages with you lot unless I'm really sure that I want other people to know that I've written you, and make it sound like a normal message as much as I can.

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alt_sally_anne

If Mr Malfoy asks you about those codes we used to use you should tell him they were never intended to fool people like HIM, it was just we could have a bit of privacy from people at school. And now that our lovely Lord Protector has given us all private messages we don't need such childish things anymore because we can keep people like Zacharias Smith from nosing into our conversations.

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He did. I said we used to do it for a bit of harmless fun, like an inside joke, but that we certainly didn't any more, and wouldn't it be funny if we did and they thought we meant something actually serious instead of planning to go for a walk.

Quadruple ugh.

I really wish the Strettons had let you stay tonight.

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alt_sally_anne

I do, too.

I think Jeremy must have been asking to spend the night somewhere they don't want him going, that's why they wouldn't let me. It's not as if they need me to put Gemma to bed these days (though she insists if I'm around, Maureen is perfectly capable of it).

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alt_narcissa

You're quite welcome, Pansy. I imagine they were pleased to meet you, after hearing so much about you from various sources.

Your mother did herself quite proud, I think. It was good of her to plan for the event while you were home.

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I'm not so very certain about their being pleased.

At the party today, before you introduced me to Madame Millingham-Kennilworthy, Arista wanted to show her mum her bracelet, and I overheard her, Madame Millingham-Kennilworthy, I mean, saying lots of really improper things to Mrs Selwyn.

About Regulus.

And me.

And about how she didn't think he was that sort, but it turned out he liked them awfully young. And what was I hoping for, that he'd put a ring on my finger after I left Hogwarts? Because it was just so obvious how I was trying to get Mrs Black's approval and was trying to take advantage of his... tastes and the whole thing was just so shocking.

I'm sorry.

I don't know who else to tell. It was just awful.

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alt_narcissa

Did she, now?

Well. I shouldn't let it trouble you too much. Madam Millingham-Kennilworthy was an acquaintance of my Aunt Walburga Black's you know, so it's not surprising her view is ... biased.

Besides, you'll find that many of the witches 'of a certain age' with whom you must acquaint yourself have quite a taste for the salacious.

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I suppose the most important thing is that you know it's a load of nonsense.

It still hurt to hear, though. Very much.

And I hope Mrs Selwyn doesn't think too badly of me.

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alt_narcissa

Of course it's nonsense, dear. Don't give it another thought.

And equal nonsense is the notion that Mrs Selwyn thinks any ill of you. I don't think Chloe's capable of it, certainly not of anyone so kind to her Arista.

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Thank you for your advice, Aunt Narcissa.

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Not to mention standing on the fringes of conversations about Ministry investigations, hm?

Suppose you and your friends shall think twice before including crude codes in your posts. I saw you blanch, Little Bit.

Caution would be advisable but you've nothing to worry about, I'm sure. Isn't that right?

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I'd make for an awful spy, wouldn't I?

We gave it up ages ago, but we used to think it was terribly fun, of course, and a bit of an inside joke that we could share. But it gave me a bit of a start that someone might think it was so much more serious than asking if people wanted to go for a walk or meet after dinner, and I'm awfully glad we don't do anything like that any more, even if it is meant to be harmless!

Because it really isn't a joking matter at all, is it? Awful people like that Snape using the journals to pass things along in secret, I mean. I felt so sorry for Greg, for losing track of his journal. That's no joking matter either.

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No, it is not a laughing matter at all. Auror Travers spent several hours with your classmate and his father on Friday evening, including using techniques to enhance his memories of where and how long ago he lost his journal, to determine who might have taken it.

Where did you hear that Snape was responsible for the entry? Neither Mr Avery nor Director Selwyn mentioned him while you were with us; did someone else say something today?

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I didn't hear it anywhere in particular. He was just the first awful person that came to mind, because Sally-Anne and me were talking about who could've nicked Greg's journal, and we thought that he could've done it when he broke into the castle.

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Did you have a chance to talk to Aunt Narcissa tonight? About the party?

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Naturally we discussed various anecdotes over supper, if that is what you mean. But she had retired before replying to you here.

Why, did she say anything noteworthy to you in your private conversation?

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I asked her about some really terrible gossip that one of the ladies was spreading about me, and wanted to know if she'd said anything to you about it, that's all.

She said not to pay it any mind, but it still hurt like anything to hear.

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Slander and innuendo inevitably sting. Best not to let it bother you. Better not to leave oneself open to rumour in the first place - but who among us may escape some notoriety if we strive for greatness?

Out of curiosity, who was the witch? You needn't fear I shall challenge her to a duel in your honour.

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Madam Millingham-Kennilworthy.

And you're right. Both of you are right. I oughtn't to let it bother me because it's silly nonsense. And I expect certain people need to have things to talk about so they'll just make it up, even if it's horrid and disgusting and wrong.

I'll be better prepared next time.

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Ah, that one. Eudora Millingham-Kennilworthy. Hateful bat - kindly do not repeat that, if you please.

Your Aunt Narcissa has quietly despised her for years. I am not surprised she had choice bilge to say. To hear your Aunt tell it, she gained the presidency of the Daughters of the Protectorate through blackmail and threat. (Imagine having nothing better to do than attain leadership of a ladies' society - and having to stoop to threat to achieve it!)

In my opinion, she has always been envious of Walburga and Druella for their relative status. And your Aunt Narcissa, for that matter.

But now I think you ought to put that from your mind and get some sleep. As should I.

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That makes a good deal more sense, then.

And it also makes me feel less badly about thoroughly disliking someone who's a leader in a society I'm meant to want to join.

Thank you, Lucius.

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My dear Miss Parkinson! Whatever caused you to think that polite society is populated solely by people whose company one likes?

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I suppose that's a lesson learned, my dear Mr Malfoy!

And I was very good at pretending I hadn't heard her say any such thing, and that I was actually interested in what she had to say, so there's that, too.

It took an enormous effort, though, because she was monumentally boring.

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Mrs Malfoy and I actually have subtle signals we may send one another when either of us is drowning in an undesirable conversation. It's an essential skill for escaping without giving offence (unless of course one wishes to give offence, which is rare but sometimes warranted).

Of course I shan't tell you what they are. But if you are set on maintaining Miss Perks as a companion, you might consider putting her to use by giving her - yes, a code - so she may rescue you from conversational deep water.

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Oooh, I'd bet it comes up often at parties. Depending on the type of party and who's there, that is.

I'll have to come up with something good.

From:

alt_sally_anne

Thank you so much for having me. The flowers were beautiful and it was great fun watching the little kids chase the eggs around.

Arista Selwyn is just adorable, isn't she? I think she and Gemma Stretton might be the same age. I wonder if they'll be friends when they get to school?

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She is! I loved those sweet ribbons in her hair. And I'm sure she and Gemma would get on, they both love to chatter away like anything.

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alt_sally_anne

Yes, the way Arista attached herself to your robes reminded me of the way Gemma attaches herself to mine!

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alt_sally_anne

That reminds me, thank you so much for letting me take home favours for Philip and Gemma. They thought they were utterly nift. (Gemma got the unicorn one of course, and Philip got the quidditch one. He saw Gemma's first and made a face but then when he saw the miniature snitch... well THAT was more like it.)

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alt_sally_anne

There, that way anyone who overheard Mrs Macalister tell me off will know I was NOT taking them for mySELF no matter what she thought.

And even if I had, I'm pretty sure Milli took one of each, too, and those were just because she thought they were nift.

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Yeah.

Figures she'd get angry with you and not Mili. Wonder if she knew Mili's half-blooded?

I hope that's the end of pretending to be in a good mood for now, because I'm really not sure I can keep it up.

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alt_sally_anne

I'm sure she doesn't, Milli's managed to keep it pretty quiet. And even if she knows, at least Milli isn't a halfblood in FOSTERING. She's a quarter-blood like Susan Bones. I doubt she'd have been cross with Susan, either.

I think in the spring we're supposed to learn cheering charms. What do you suppose would happen if you cast a cheering charm on someone you were dueling with? Do you think they'd get all happy and relaxed and be easier to beat? We should try it sometime at defense club just to see what happens.

From:

I'm glad you liked them! We had plenty to spare, of course, and I just knew they'd like them.

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Pansy Parkinson

September 2015

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alt_pansy - I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good
alt_narcissa - (no subject)
alt_lucius - Private Message to Little Bit
alt_sally_anne - (no subject)

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