I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: I'm all right for now

[alt_terry]

This may turn out messy. I'm writing it in the dark. They've shoved me into a closet and locked it. The git and the gorgon wants to be alone for se now, without me looking on, I guess.

So, yeah. I tried to get away, with somebody else. But it didn't work. I'd been given a portkey, and it took her, whisked her away. But it left me behind.

Blimey, I hope she's all right. Hermione...do you know, did she get there, wherever-it-was safely? They won't be furious at her, if I'm not there to explain, will they? They're not going to hurt her?

Anyway, there was a sort of magical klaxon as soon as the portkey activated. And he came running. He was furious. He knew someone had ported out. So I had to cobble a story together on the fly, but I guess I convinced him. He wrote to his sister--you probably saw that. When she got here, they did a bunch of spells, as soon as she arrived. I dunno what they were trying to do. But I felt something like a huge silent WHUMP! like all the air on the world suddenly rushed into my lungs and rushed out again. And they did some more spells on me. Made me feel a bit dizzy and sick. Binding spells, I think they were.

Bugger. I'm not going to be able to get away from here now at all. Am I?

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

If you can tell me anything else you remember about the spells they cast on you I'll research them to find out how to break them.

Dark Arts class ought to be good for something.

No matter how they've warded the castle, if you can get OUT of the castle Hermione's friends will still be able to get to you. It's just going to be harder.

Anyway, I'm glad you're okay. Okay-ish. The way you left it I was worried he'd killed y something really bad had happened to you.

[alt_terry]

When she got here, I heard what he told her, that they needed to do something called--I think he said something like the 'fedius charm'?

But the other spells they did on me, they were blood binding spells. More blood binding spells. He took blood from me and put a few drops on a parchment. Then he wrote some words over the blood stains with a steel quill. Didn't see what the words were.

Then he shredded the parchment into tiny bits and mixed it in a flask with the contents of a potion phial she brought with her.

And then he drank it the whole mess down, damn him.

I hope it makes him sick to his stomach.

[alt_sally_anne]

Alright.

I will see what I can find out about the binding spell, but probably not until I get back to school.

[alt_pansy]

It's the fidelius charm, I'll bet.

You make someone your secret keeper, and then you or whatever else you want to stay hidden stays that way no matter what, unless the secret keeper tells the person directly where it is. They could be standing right next to you and never know it.

I read about it in a book. There was this wizarding sailor, Magister Wigbold, and he made his true love his secret keeper to the location of his gold, only she betrayed him and told where it was to one of his enemies.

It's wicked hard to do, though. Really complicated. I don't think the blood stuff had anything to do with that bit, though, because it's not blood magic. At least it wasn't in the book I read.

[alt_sally_anne]

So what does that mean for Terry? Because he doesn't want to stay hidden. If he escaped from where he is, would the Twins not be able to see him even if he were standing right in front of them?

[alt_pansy]

I'm not sure. I mean, from what it sounds like, it was to hide the castle. And as long as people are in the castle, they're hid too. But if he left the castle, I'm pretty sure we could see him.

I'll see what I can find in the library about it.

[alt_sally_anne]

That makes sense, then.

The fidelius charm was to make sure no one can see the castle.
The binding spell with the blood was to keep Terry in the castle.

Probably.

[alt_gredforge]

Those bastards.

[alt_terry]

Bugger.

That means the people who gave me the portkey won't be able to find me anymore.

[alt_terry]

Oh, no. Does it mean I won't be able to get owls anymore either?

[alt_pansy]

We can try it out and see.

[alt_gredforge]

Yeah, us too. Being worried, we mean.

[alt_neville]

I'm so sorry you weren't able to get away.

But who was the other person you were trying to take with you?

[alt_neville]

I suppose you can't read this in the dark.

[alt_terry]

Oh. I can use lumos to light the tip of my wand.

Duh.

[alt_lee]

But what if they catch you!

[alt_terry]

S'all right. I have my wand AND quill both set to vibrate if they're coming toward the closet. I just have to say 'nox' and let go of the wand, and it'll disappear back into the bead.

Anyway, they're sort of busy with each other. They're not paying any attention to me right now.

[alt_terry]

Anyway, the other person. She was one of the slaves here at the castle. A woman called Melli. I caught her trying to snitch unicorn hairs. Turns out she's from a wand making family. And I figured, the wand smugglers could really use someone who knows how to make wands, right? So I hoped they wouldn't be too hacked off if I brought her with me.

[alt_ron]

Terry, mate. I'm, wow.

Yeah. I'm really sorry about what happened today. That's awful.

Why didn't it work? The portkey, I mean? Why didn't it take you? Was it some spell Carrow'd already put on you?

I mean, I guess we could try to find out how to make portkeys and maybe you could make yourself another. Only, I suppose that's really advanced magic, innit?

[alt_terry]

I think it was just sheer rotten dumb luck. I simply lost my hold on it at the last second.

See, it was really small, probably because it was meant to be used by just one person, and they wanted me to be able to hide it safely until I needed it. But anyway, I've never used one of those things before. Do they always give you that sort of jerking sensation when they're activated? Anyway, that's what happened. It jerked itself right out of my hand. And then it was too late.

Dunno if there was any spell on me that the git did that means I can't use one. Sally-Anne, do you know of any spell like that? Could be. I mean, I don't know what all the binding spells he's put on me are supposed to do.

Don't think it'd do any good if I could figure out how to make a portkey now. Because I think that's another spell that he did with the gorgon. One that means that portkeys won't work at all anymore here.

[alt_ron]

Well, that reeks.

Totally bloody reeks.

[alt_gredforge]

We're feeling a great deal of ire here towards Amycus Carrow. It's really gotten personal.

We think it's time we started doing some serious hex and charm research. Because we are NOT giving up on getting you out of this mess, Professor.

[alt_gredforge]

You holding out okay then?

[alt_terry]

Yeah.

No.

Just numb, I guess. Mostly.

(I'd almost started to believe it. That I'd be free tonight.

But I guess it was just too much to hope for such a thing.)

I wish so much

[alt_pansy]

You had a portkey?

Someone just up and gave you one?

[alt_terry]

I'm sorry. I can't explain more, because I made promises that I'd keep their secrets.

Too bad it didn't work out.

[alt_hermione]

Oh Terry I'm so sorry.

It's lunchtime here and I finally got away. – I'll tell people about what you said, about the Fidelius charm and everything else. I don't know what else I can say here. I can't really risk it, I mean, with the promises I've made and everything, I can't talk about that, I just can't.

Yes, she got there. No, they won't hurt her.

I don't know what will happen now, I don't know what's possible, I'm so sorry, Terry.

[alt_hermione]

Can you say anything more about the woman? Could I trust her? How did you meet her?

[alt_terry]

Well, like I said, I caught her trying to snitch some threads from a tapestry.

She was dead terrified when she realised I'd spotted what she was doing. Afraid I'd tell the git. Well of course, I said no way I'd ever do that. Then I asked if she was trying to make a wand, and she turned so white I was afraid she would faint. But then I told her it was okay, that there was no way I would turn her in, you know. She said she wanted a wand so she could have a chance if she could get away, and I told her I wanted to get away myself. That's what led to me telling her about the portkey.

Otherwise, I've known her because she was delivering meals for the git and me.

Maybe it was stupid of me, but I did trust her. I have sort of a knack for being able to tell when people are trustworthy, you know. Think it's part of my magic. Anyway, she seemed kind. She slipped me some extra bread a few times behind his back.

[alt_terry]

Tell her...tell her, I'm glad she got out. One of us, anyhow.