It's good to be home

[alt_padma]

I'm giving myself the morning to rest a bit and relax and then it's right back into training. But I'm also reading the assigned chapters for the summer.

Finnigan, tell me when would be good to come over, if it's all right with Mr Rosier, okay? And yes, I'll want that broom just as soon as possible, thanks. I suppose I could have been worse but I can surely do a good deal better.

Su Li, yes, I meant it when I said you could come next week. I've talked with Parvati and she thinks it's brill; she'll even come along. Lav, you too, of course -it's next Tuesday, unless another day would be better for you. Mum's said it's okay and she reckons we'll be all right in New London but Aunt Sivarti might just go with us anyway. Depends on how she's feeling.

I'm also setting up a target in the back. If I do it right I should be able to use it from the garden and from the balcony.

(Oh and Parkinson, meant to say, well done during that last duelling set on Saturday. And I don't think I would have ever come up with such a creative solution to that slow-motion hex, the way you just sort of did everything backward until you broke it. Clever!)

Last week was really intense, wasn't it? I can't wait for August, now, but I know we've all got loads to do before we get there.

Oh, and does anyone want to meet while we're in New London?

Comments

[alt_pansy]

Thanks, Patil!

Since it was a time-related hex, I figured it was worth a try. And you were ace at running the obstacle course.

[alt_daphne]

Well, Manfr Mr Krumgold is appalled by the state of my arms. He says they look a bit thick and that if I'm not careful they'll be bulky, which means when I dance it'll be like trying to lift up two Sunday roasts. He has me doing all sorts of stretches to try to keep them slim. Of course, he understands that CCF is important and that I have to keep up with that training, too. Only he seemed to think it terribly funny that some of the examiners at school had us do so many exercises. He wouldn't name names, but he says there are a few of them who probably couldn't even walk up Primrose Hill, let alone do pull-ups and all.

[alt_linus]

I'll trade arms with you! A whole week of pulverising them, and I can't even measure the difference with calipers. Dad got me that pull-up bar I asked for, though, so I can keep trying. He says if I work really hard, I'll be able to do two by the end of the summer!!!

[alt_daphne]

They may be a bit thicker, but I'm sure that my arms are still slimmer than a boy's.

[alt_sally_anne]

You might want to take a good look at Moon's before you say that!

(You have lovely arms, Daph. Very toned.)

(Good luck with that pull-up bar, Moon!)

[alt_linus]

Ta, Perks!

[alt_linus]

Well, of course! I mean, not that they're thick at all, or that I ever really looked at your arms, or -

I just want arms that get thick eventually, as opposed to staying all noodly no matter what I do. Not that yours are noodly, either, um.

So this is why Mum says not to write late at night.

[alt_padma]

Haruman says that loads of boys take forever to grow into their frames, Lines. You're probably just one of those late bloomers, is all.

[alt_daphne]

Oh honestly, Linus, you're so easy to wind up sometimes! I know you didn't mean it that way, you realise.

[alt_padma]

I've heard that it's the shoulders that make girls look bulky, but I agree it's not necessary to make one's arms as thick round as tree limbs.

Besides, girls are naturally not as strong in the upper body as boys. Haruman says, anyway. And he says that you can be muscular and slim at the same time. Eating right and all that.

Still. I did want to make sure I've got at least as many sit-ups and all as Thomas and Zabini.

[alt_padma]

Oh, so Daphs, are you interested in a girls' day shopping?

[alt_daphne]

I am! Whereabouts? I only ask because there's this brilliant new ice cream shop in Picadilly called "Precious Delights." They use everything real - cream, sugar, fruit - so it's quite expensive and sometimes they run out, but here's the brilliant thing: they only sell it in the most darling little silver cups, about the size of an egg cup, and since the portions are so small, one serving only has 100 kcal!

[alt_padma]

Picadilly's loads of fun, isn't it? We were thinking Charing Cross, actually, round where they've taken all the old muggle shops out and built that open-air market. But that's close enough to Picadilly I'm sure we could pop over there for tea.

[alt_seamus]

Come over tomorrow, if you'd like. Or Wednesday, if tomorrow doesn't work. My tutor is helping me set up a training course with obstacles to fly around and targets to sling hexes at from the broom. You can help me test it out!

The worst of it's still going to be the running. I could practise flying all day and not get tired of it, but running I'm ready to stop after ten minutes.

Private message to Padma

[alt_seamus]

Oh and you're welcome to take a broom home but you can feel free to come over and use the training course any time you'd like. I wanted to say that privately because Merlin knows I don't want Weasley to think he's invited.

Re: Private message to Padma

[alt_padma]

Oh, well, all right then! I'll probably come a couple times a week, at least, then.

And you're kidding about Hooper! And Weasley?! Mr Malfoy just offered him the job, just like that?

But. Wait, didn't Weasley find a job at the Ministry? Hang on.

Re: Private message to Padma

[alt_padma]

Yeah. I just checked his journal.

He had just started there! He hadn't even been on the job a whole week!

Private message to Padma

[alt_seamus]

Oh. AND. Did you hear the news about Geoff Hooper's brother? He got sacked by Mr Malfoy. I heard that some of the stories he passed onto Geoff he really was NOT supposed to be repeating. Not that he ever said anything to Geoff other than 'you'll never guess...!' or Geoff wouldn't have repeated them to ME.

And for his new clerk Mr Malfoy hired Percy Weasley! Too bad for his brothers, I don't think Percy would pass along gossip from Lucius's office if you crucio'd him to get the news out of him.