Private Message to Daphne Greengrass

[alt_padma]

A few of us are getting together in New London on Thursday. Want to come? Haruman's taking us to supper after. Right now it looks like Picadilly and maybe Soho.

Comments

[alt_daphne]

Oh, I would love to get out. Queenie's been driving me mad, after me to perform all the roles in our play for her amusement, at nearly all hours of the day, no less! Mother took me to have my hair done but there wasn't much time shopping because she's volunteering so much at St. Mungos this time of year. Who else will be going? Any boys?

What did you think of the party at Gloss House? Nice but sort of juvenile, really. The eggs with whizzing snitches inside them were probably Weasley's idea, he loves anything that flies and goes bang. And did you see what Smith and his mates were up to? Well, I don't blame them so much for getting bored!

[alt_padma]

Brill!

It's just girls, all in our year: you, me and Parvati of course, Lav, Su Li and Belinda Dunstan. Pansy's coming as well. She's checking on whether Perks can come - if her foster-family will let her, I mean - and depending on whether she can or not I may ask Morag MacDougal. Mum's got this notion that we have to be paired so no one will snatch us off the streets - as if we're all still eight-year-olds or something and we'd follow a strange wizard for a lolly! It's daft, but it does rather limit things, since we want to keep things smallish and manageable.

I did see Smith! I even told Parkinson but she said that her step-father doesn't care at all, even encouraged them to nick the cigars. Can you imagine? I know what you mean about the party being dull. And Gloss House itself is so dreary, isn't it? Lav's house is ever so much more cheerful and, I dunno, attractive. If you can say that about a house. The countryside was pretty, though - but I have to admit I think we see enough of the Highlands all year round! They really needed something for us older kids to do besides either hunt eggs with the babies or stand round with the grown-ups. They could have had music, at least. It's rather odd to think of a party involving Parkinson with no music, isn't it?

Anyway. I think we're going to see if we can get our nails lacquered and there's a load of shops round the area where we're going with all sorts of amusing things to window-shop. It should be well snitch.

[alt_daphne]

It's probably for the best, then. Boys would never let us do shopping or other "girly" things without whinging about it. I really can't imagine Sally Anne lacquered but at least she won't whinge.

Ha! Smith was probably trying to be like Draco. A lot of us have heard that Mr Malfoy lets him come in for cigars and brandy at the Malfoy parties. If Smith thinks he's anything like Draco, though...well, about that he'd be wrong!

I guess I'm just a city girl, because the idea of living in the country doesn't appeal in the least. I like visiting our beach house, but that's in Brighton, not really the same at all. Maybe Gloss House just needs a woman's touch, though, and Pansy's mother will re-decorate soon.

[alt_padma]

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!