I Solemnly Swear That I am Up to No Good: Free!

[alt_terry]

The git Amycus Carrow is dead, and Dudley and me, we escaped.

I can't talk about it, not yet. Please don't ask me about it. Or anyway, not today. 'm exhausted. I've spent a lot of today shaking all over. Can't tell you all the story, but I wanted to tell you this at least.

my name is

wait

want to write this bigger.

My name is Terry Boot.
I am a wizard with my own magic.
I have my own wand.
I am an animagus, and my animagus form is a dog.

I am free.

I am safe.

I am with people who are becoming friends.

I couldn't have done it without you. I listened to and read all the messages you left with knapsack, and they made me so happy.

Thank you.

Comments

[alt_hermione]

Terry,

I'm so glad.

I'm going to talk to people in the morning. I hope that will mean we can talk more then too. By talk I mean write of course.

Hermione.

[alt_sally_anne]

TERRY

I was so afraid Carrow

Thanks for writing. That's brilliant you can turn into a dog, I've always wanted to be an animagus, I won't ask you where you are or how you got away, I'm just really really glad you did. And Dudley too.

[alt_terry]

I'm really glad I did it, too!

Dudley's fitting in fine. Maybe a bit better than me, because I don't think he's quite as nervous around people. And he's used to moving around to different places more than I ever did. But the people we're with are friendly and they're doing everything they can to make us feel at ease.

Don't know if you saw my answer to Lee. I had a physical, and they said that for the most part I'm in good shape. And part of that is thanks to you, to those dried mutton things you sent me. I told them what Madam Pomfrey said, that I used to be anaemic. But they didn't find any sign of anaemia now.

Although I need 'fattening up.'

They have enough food! I can eat as much as I want. I'm sure I don't have to tell you how wonderful that is.

[alt_pansy]

The wand smugglers found you, didn't they?

I'm glad you're rid of the Carrows for good.

And it's snitch that you can turn into a dog whenever you want.

[alt_terry]

I can't tell you that but, um, they're good people who are looking out for me. I'm not sure what I'll be allowed to say about them with all of you on this Lock. I want to keep the people I'm with as safe as possible; I'm sure you understand.

Yeah.

It's so strange that it took me so long to figure out to transform, and I needed help to change back the first time. (Can't go into details, sorry.) But since then I've managed to switch back and forth several times, and I think that soon it'll feel as natural as breathing.

[alt_justin]

Terry,

Well done! Couldn't be happier you got away, what?

And you got the rucksack! I'm jolly glad we set it there for you, old chap!

It's such good news you're safe. When you're ready, of course, in your own time.

-Justin

[alt_terry]

Thank you so much for everything, Justin. I'm so glad I managed to snag the rucksack before I was found. It has really helped, to have all those gifts, and especially the messages from my friends. Because everything's all so new, you see. It's exciting and everything, but it's bewildering and scary, too. So it really helps to be able to pull the messages out and read them and listen to them again.

I'm going to keep it very close to me for quite awhile, I reckon.

[alt_ron]

That's EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!

[alt_terry]

Yeah, too right!

[alt_neville]

That's wonderful to hear, Terry.

Do you need anything? Any money, or food or clothes, or anything?

[alt_terry]

No, I'm lacking for nothing, I promise.

[alt_neville]

I'm glad.

I suppose you can't tell us very much.

You're sure he's dead, though? There hasn't been any announcement or anything. Or at least nothing in the Prophet.

[alt_terry]

I'm certain of it.

[alt_luna]

I'm so pleased you have friends where you are, although we miss you, of course. Will you be able to continue your studies? Can you use your wand openly?

[alt_terry]

It's not anyplace like Hogwarts. But yes, I can use my wand, and there are people here who can teach me. Not just magical stuff, but muggle stuff, too.

[alt_lee]

You're all right, then? You weren't hurt getting away?

The twins are off visiting Charlie on the dragon preserve, or else I'm sure they'd have loads of messages for me to pass along to you. But I'm sure you'll hear from them, through us, when they get back. Blimey, they're gonna be so sorry they missed this!

[alt_terry]

They had someone who gave me a thorough physical, and they said I'm doing well. Oh, and Sally-Anne, they were dead impressed with those dried mutton things you sent me; they said they did a good job of keeping me from getting anaemic.

Neville, I showed them the book you got from your dad, and they said I did a really bang up job of using the information right. I would have been in much, much worse shape if I hadn't had it along. They just had to clear up a few things that I'd missed, but they were the sorts of things that only a trained Healer would have been able to spy.

When you see the twins, tell them my form is the same dog I was when they first met me. You know, when they adopted me as a pet and brought me to the Gryffindor Common room.

[alt_lee]

No kidding! That's the dog form that Carrow turned you into as a punishment, right?

[alt_terry]

Yeah. It's a funny thing, isn't it? He did it to punish me, and it turned out to be the key to getting away from him for good. Guess the joke turned out to be on him.