Mummy is Wiz-Nift!

[alt_lavender]

As everyone can see I have Finally got my journal back!

It's got rather tiresome always having to write in Parvati's and put "This is Lavender" at the bottom of every note. Parvati has been a terrifically sweet friend to let me do it though.

Merci, merci, mon ami! (See Mummy, I am Practising my French!)

Anyhow, I was sitting in our room braiding Parvati's hair when one of the school elves popped in (and Startled me, too!) and said 'Professor Lockhart is wanting Miss Brown to come to his rooms immediately.' Of course I was terribly excited and tried to get the elf to tell me what it was all about but all it would say is 'Professor Lockhart is not telling Saffy his business.' I was hoping that he might want to commend me for my Transfiguration work, because I have been working Very Hard at my revision lately, but it was even better!

I went into his rooms and Mummy was in the fire! She had firecalled him to ask if he would like to read at some sort of charity thing she is organising; it's not until summer hols but she believes in planning ahead. And while they were chatting she mentioned that Whiffy our house elf had found my journal and asked if she could give it to me. So Professor Lockhart called me to get it, and he let me talk to Mummy for quite a long time too, which was wizard of him.

The journal was under my bed the whole time! I must have dropped it while I was packing to come back to school. Of course, Mummy being Mummy, she had to lecture me just a bit on how a Proper Lady would keep her room neat. I said that I didn't mean to be disrespectful but I didn't see how it was so important when we have house elves to help with that. She said that that is not the point; the point is that a neat and orderly Home is a sign of a neat and orderly Mind. But she smiled so I know she wasn't truly cross with me.

I do want to be a Proper Lady, but that part of it still sounds tiresome to me. I think some people are naturally neat and orderly, so that it isn't work for them at all--Padma is like that--and other people are more like me and Parvati. It's nice to have a roommate who is just the same as me in that way. I adore Padma but I think we might get cross with each other if we had to share a room every day.

Comments

[alt_lana]

There's no reason for hysteria, Weasley. Brown's journal was in her home, a pureblood home where there can be no question of infection. It was handed through the fire by her mother directly to her.

Honestly, it's the same as if it had come to school with her in her trunk at the start of term.

[alt_percy]

No question of infection, is it? And yet packages via owl posts have been forbidden, even for pureblood families. Aren't you being inconsistent, here?

[alt_lavender]

There's no rule against firecalling people, is there? I mean, not if you're pure?

I promise it was perfectly Safe--the journal was under my bed the whole time and no one else has touched except for Mummy (and Whiffy of course, but I don't think house elves really count).

[alt_percy]

I wonder if we shouldn't check with Madam Pomfrey. She's probably most aware of the particular restrictions that St Mungo's has declared--just to keep everyone safe, you understand.

I do not know what St Mungo's has said about whether house elves have been entirely ruled out as possible vectors of infection. Sandoval, do you know, per chance?

[alt_lavender]

Do we really need to bother her about it when Professor Lockhart already said it was perfectly all right?

I'm sure she's ever so Busy.

[alt_percy]

I'm sure that Madam Pomfrey would say she's never too busy to answer questions when it concerns the health of students at this school.

[alt_lana]

Do, by all means, consult with Madam Pomfrey.

And be certain to ask her whether Professor Lockhart has acted outside the protocols established for staff. That's your point, isn't it? To challenge his judgement?

What is it with you Weasleys and your Head of House? Is it common in wherever you were raised to defy and mock those in authority?

[alt_percy]

How about authority such as the Headmistress?

She just announced that firechats are now closed. Vindicating my point.

[alt_lana]

I hardly think the Headmistress is acting to undermine the authority of a member of her staff, Weasely. She is clearly responding to the situation as it develops, as we all must do.

And it is hardly a matter for triumphalism, is it, that the disease has reached a stage where we need be concerned about firechats between pureblood parents and their children?

We will obviously follow the new guidelines. I'm sure you join me in expressing gratitude to Director Selwyn and the Headmistress for their unflagging efforts to keep us all safe.

I solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_neville]

Yeah, the Headmistress' and Director Selwyn's efforts, as opposed to Percy's, I guess.

[alt_lana]

It's not for me to say, Weasley. Not when Brown's Head of House is the one who made the judgement call.

Given that Professor Lockhart was there and approved it, however, it is not the place of a Prefect to incite anxiety over the safety of the transaction.

[alt_lavender]

Thanks ever so much, Sandoval. I really do appreciate it!

[alt_lana]

Cheers, Brown.

[alt_percy]

Oh, so when I lent an owl to allow someone to send a letter to St Mungo's, I'm 'reckless.' But when I take you at your word that we must think twice about communications to and from Hogwarts and object to Brown passing something through the Floo, now you tell me I'm being 'hysterical.'

Really, make up your mind, Sandoval. You can't have it both ways.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_neville]

You know, he has a point. The Head Girl is being sort of two-faced, isn't she?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

I'm just shocked, aren't you?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_neville]

I'm surprised she doesn't give herself whip-lash.

[alt_lana]

Are you really this thick, Weasley? Sending an owl on a round trip to St Mungo's, where they treat diseased people, is entirely different than Mrs Brown handing a journal through her own fire to her daughter in her Head of House's rooms.

That journal has never been exposed to anyone remotely in danger of infection.