It's another nice day

[alt_padma]

which makes two in a row! And it's perfect because today Parvati and Rohani, Johns, Goshal and I are celebrating Holi after lunch. We'll be down by the lake, Goshal and Johns had this wonderful idea to use water to create all the colour sprays since there's only five of us, and then we only have to conjure the powder. (Though if anyone else wants to come, that'd be nift, it works best when there's loads of people.) Last year we also had Goshal's and Rohani's sisters, so at least we had a rainbow. So come join if you like! It's one of my favourite festivals, because by the end everyone looks like they've been hit by colourbombs.

I guess we're not likely to go home at Easter. Parvati's sort of homesick about it, but I told her that it's not so terribly bad to be stuck here. I'm sure we'll go home by summer, anyway. And I know there will be loads of things to do, besides start revising for exams. I heard someone say the professors who teach the extra courses are going to hold open houses of sorts, but that might just be a rumour. The idea I heard was to give people a taster of what their subjects will be like. But as we'll already have chosen our subjects it's rather odd to come behind with a sampling, isn't it? Perhaps if someone really gets cold feet, they could go to their head of house and change their mind, and switch to something else. I dunno. I'm quite pleased with my slate and I think it'll be quite enough to be going on with.

Anyway, I don't think it's really the thing to be homesick. I mean, look at Sandoval. She was supposed to have a really amazing party over the holidays, where she got formally introduced to everyone in society, and the Lord Protector was maybe even going to be there, and they've had to postpone that. But she's not going round all broken up about it. She's just going about her business. I mean, not that she's not disappointed, because she was very much looking forward to it, who wouldn't? But she's not moping or anything. She's concentrating on what we can do to make the best of the situation.

I've been thinking about how we can all make the best of it, and I think one thing is that we should take this as an opportunity to all get on better. There've been some childish things going on lately - like that nonsense yesterday with those silly girls trying to give redheads a kiss, honestly, who'd ever believe that it's good luck? - and with Stretton and Bole and getting their hoards confiscated, and that whole business with Archer's uncle, I guess it's been sort of rough for a lot of people. But now the weather's improving and term is nearly half over and, well, if we're going to be kept together for even longer, I think we should all get along a little better.

And I remembered that last year we had those music parties once in a while and that really seemed to help with the tension, so Parvati and I are going to host one. Saturday, after the YPL meeting and supper. Everyone's invited; I asked Professor Vector and she said we could use the really large dungeon left of the Potions corridor, as it's almost as big as the Great Hall. And we're asking for extra pudding, and of course if anyone wants to bring music to share we'll take it in turns.

I think we should each try to get to know at least one other person we've never talked to before, too. Because everyone has a different way of looking at things and different families and traditions, and part of being at school all together like this is a chance to learn about different types of people.

Comments

[alt_seamus]

How hard is it to get the colours off you afterward? I'm not sure I want to look like a rainbow tomorrow.

The party sounds wizard though. I'll definately be there!

[alt_padma]

Oh, it wears off in a couple hours, or if you just wash after. It's sort of like having a snowball fight, only with colour.

The party's going to be ace. Everyone's coming.

[alt_harry]

I'll come if you do mean everyone.

[alt_padma]

Of course I mean everyone, Marvolo, what else would I mean?

And I mean, not just our year and firsties, either. That's why we wanted the larger dungeon, because it's big enough.

[alt_pansy]

I'll be there, Harry. And I'll be sure to make certain Hydra comes too. She looks like she could use some fun lately.

[alt_pansy]

I know we haven't been besties lately, or, you know, ever, but I do think it is a good idea. And I do miss the music parties.

I've got a ton of records I could bring.

If you want, that is.

[alt_padma]

That'd be nift.

Did you really organise that stunt yesterday with Weasley?

[alt_pansy]

Sure, I'll bring some then.

What do you mean? Everyone knows it's good luck to kiss a redhead on the first day of Spring.

[alt_percy]

Very good luck indeed.

[alt_sally_anne]

Did any of them kiss you? Or just your brothers?

[alt_zacharias]

His brothers kissed him? Ew.

[alt_sally_anne]

Of course not. But loads of girls kissed Ron and I heard someone kissed either Fred or George.

Percy's got red hair too though. He'd give you just as much good luck as the others. But, he might also give you detention.

[alt_percy]

All of us Weasleys were rather popular there for a bit, as there aren't too many other ginger-haired people here at the school. Well, some of us appreciated it more than others. Ginny got surprised by a second year in the corridor outside Charms but managed to side-step away just before the fatal moment. I believe she spent the rest of the day revising up in her dorm room. With the bed curtains closed.

[alt_padma]

I just don't understand how so many of them believed that moronic old hags' tale.

(Or, well, not an old hags' tale, obviously, as it was made up especially. I asked and no one in Ravenclaw Corner had ever even heard of that custom.)

[alt_sally_anne]

My goodness, if RAVENCLAWS haven't heard it before it can't POSSIBLY be true!

[alt_zacharias]

Oh, is that what that was about?

I heard Preece saying something funny about it. He said someone had told all those girls some rot about how you could transfigure a toad into a prince by kissing it. But the girls couldn't find Longbottom's pet, as he'd lost it (again!), so they got confused and looked for the next best thing.

Well, I thought it was sort of funny.

[alt_padma]

Hah, that is sort of funny! I mean, obviously, it's not very kind, but, well, it's witty.

Imagine anyone wanting to snog Percy. Or really any Weasley, for that matter. (I heard that Parkinson and Perks made it all up, though. I suppose they must have wanted to kiss Weasley and wanted an excuse to do it. Lakshmi knows why. No accounting for taste, but then at least it keeps the rest of us safe!)

[alt_ron]

Safe?

From Pansy kissing you?

I don't think you need to worry much about that happening.

[alt_neville]

Well, I found Trevor again, hiding behind the plumbing in the loo. Somehow, I don't think that any girls would be eager to kiss him though.