private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_megan]

I am sorry to disturb you when you are visiting your father, but there is something I need to ask you. Because I don't know what my choices are and I don't want to pick the wrong one.

It's about when Mrs Stretton sent us out on Boxing Day. Well she went with me to the first few places. But then I had to go to the rest of the places by myself. Where the muggles live I mean. Because there were too many to do unless we split up. Anyhow giving out the clothes and scrip and little boxes was fine but then they asked me for things like they're supposed to but some of them are too hard not things I am good at comfortable enough with yet. I mean I can patch a hole in a roof, that spell is easy enough, or just put an impervious charm on the bit of wall where the mice keep getting in. But Imperius is harder. But I didn't want to tell your mother that I can't do it because everything was going so well and she was even talking about having me back some time to help out again which would be perfect. And so I don't want to disappoint her. But I am not good at Imperius. And the muggles really really need someone to renew it on this one muggle who is very troublesome.

And it's no good saying ask Jeremy. Because he already said I am stupider than a Squib for mixing an order up once. So I suppose I will have to ask Mrs Stretton. Only can you tell me how to ask? Because your advice about the yelling, I mean when she does it, was very helpful.

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Okay, back up. If you were supposed to cast Imperius on someone on Boxing Day why are you all tied in knots over it now? Did you cast it but it wore off, or did you not cast it, or -- what happened?

[alt_megan]

No I tried but it did not work so I told them I would come back only I was

I was going to ask somebody else to do it but I didn't and now my time here is almost over and if I don't fix it Mrs Stretton is going to be really angry with me and not ask me back to work ever.

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh. I see.

Okay. You probably should have

WHY did they want you to Imperius someone, what problems is he causing?

[alt_megan]

He has a very bad temper and a bad habit of hitting the other muggles. Which is not good. Well hitting one of them particularly. And she does an important thing with the jam and so it is inconvenient to have to go and heal her so she can work.

Anyhow Mrs Stretton did it last year but it needs to get done again.

[alt_megan]

And I asked if it wouldn't just be easier to send him back to the camp and then the Strettons could get a different muggle but they got scared and said then his wife wouldn't work well at all and that would be worse for everybody. (She is his wife. The one he hits sometimes I mean.)

So.

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh. I remember these people now.

Okay. I was going to tell you to ask Mrs Stretton and just give it to her as part of a list of things she needs to know, like, 'I fed the owls, I inspected the pineapple jam, there's a broken loom in the cloth mill that needs repair, and Mr Brown of Farm #17 needs to be put back under the Imperius Curse,' like if you're making a report to her.

But she almost sent him away last time. That's probably why they asked you instead of sending word to her. So I'll talk to Jeremy and tell him not to be a git to you. (I don't know WHY she won't just let Mrs Stretton send him back to the camps, he's -- well, he must be pleasant enough the rest of the time.)

[alt_sally_anne]

He says he'll take care of it tonight. You can stop worrying about it.

[alt_megan]

Oh good, thank you! I really didn't want to ask him but it will probably really be best that he does it instead of his mother getting involved. The muggles won't be so scared anyway.

Oh. A different thing -- Mrs Stretton said I should pick out a nice basket and fill it with anything I like from the Bad Jam cupboard to take back to Hogwarts. Is there anything you want that I should be sure and not take?

[alt_sally_anne]

I'm going straight to the train from my father's house. So no, quite the opposite, you should find a jar of blackberry jam and bring it to school for me!

[alt_megan]

Blackberry, yes, I can do that! I am going to bring some things to share with Ernie and Susan and others as well. Maybe I could share them round the next time we get together. In a large group, I mean, for something educational. Because Mrs Stretton just came by and took the basket I picked out and gave me a much bigger one instead and told me to fill it up!

[alt_sally_anne]

Ooh, see if there are any of those packets of crumpets that are charmed not to go stale until you open them. They're usually way in the back left corner, one of the shelves near the bottom.

They go REALLY well with jam, if you're thinking of sharing in a group. And eating crumpets and jam while doing something educational, like for instance if someone is reading improving literature out loud, sounds pretty wizard.

[alt_megan]

I looked and there are five of them! And they are only a little bit crushed. So I will do that. Also there are a few packets of mixed nuts that will be nice for the train. And I got you three jars of blackberry. And I have lashings of other jams and things.

It really is a VERY big basket.

And yes, improving literature is just the thing I was thinking of. Which I will have some questions about actually. I mean about different improving literature. Because Miss Penworthy said I can pick something to have a subscription to, something improving and broadening and increasing my knowledge of how to go on in the world now that I have got a bit of work experience. Because she wants me to be able to make my way when after NEWTs. So I am thinking of something perhaps with fashion advice for young witches who are starting their first job. And gossip. I mean not gossip gossip, but the articles about society witches. Because they are informative.