Since Professor Vector told me. I went in to collect the extra Arithmancy problems she gives me as a reward some weeks -- apparently my tutoring of Vane and Lonsdale is bearing fruit in the form of improved performance -- and she was still fulminating about how the whole thing had quite thrown a billywig into the cauldron. Between Edgecombe's hysterics and the hilarity of the others, there was little progress made in their apprehension of the intricate workings of higher Arithmancy. I managed to keep a straight face when she described the glittery pink ink, but I will own that it was a near thing.

Do not underestimate Bell. It is the sweet-faced ones that can sometimes be the most dangerous, I am told.

Underestimating Hydra Lestrange would be even worse. Underestimating her mother would likely be a very short-lived mistake, as anyone in the Protectorate knows. (I think, given the choice, I'd rather have Hydra cross with me -- but I intend to refrain from anything that would cause either of them to look askance at me, ever!)

Epic poetry has as its natural subject the actions of heroes and villains, Padma, and its scope may encompass the least of us as well as the most formidable among the Lord Protector's supporters. Not that these challenges are as glorious as the exploits of Byron himself, but one works with what one has.

Actually, if Bellatrix Lestrange ever did take something amiss that I'd done, I could do worse than to have verses in praise of her at the ready. Hmm.

Do you think she will come to Hogwarts?