Do you think Perks can afford to get her nails lacquered? But then I suppose Parkinson will pay for them both if she wants them done. My cousin Denali says there are salons around there that will paint little miniature portraits or scenes on your nails - each one a tiny little painting! She says that you could get a unicorn running across, for example, from your thumb to your pinkie and back again. (That's what Parvati wants.) But I don't think I'd like that so much - I think it would make me dizzy looking at the poor thing running round all the time. Besides, I think solid lacquer is so much more elegant. Maybe with just a small design on. Sandoval's mother has such beautiful nails, and Mrs Malfoy, too. And of course, Mrs Zab Blaise's mum.

I know that Draco's said his father invites him in with the warlocks when they're visiting, and he's talked about sipping brandy. Has he ever smoked a cigar, though? I can't really picture Draco smoking. I suppose that's silly because he'd look rather like Mr Malfoy, wouldn't he? But I agree with you - cigars smell awful. Pipes are nice, though. Have you ever been around pipe smoke? That's got a very sweet smell to it. My grandmother used to smoke a pipe - my dadi, that is, not my naani - before she died.

I know just what you mean about living out in the middle of nowhere! I suppose if it were someplace grand and beautiful it would be almost worth it, but I can't really imagine being there all the time. I think I'd have to have a house in town, too, wouldn't you?

Well, anyway, I'm so glad you're coming! We're meeting at Picadilly Circus at about half-ten tomorrow, so see you then!