Padma Patil

Don't forget, Apparation lessons start tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.

I know a lot of CCF members were asking about having successfully Apparated over the summer. I asked Professor Vector. She said that the examiners are aware many of us can do it but they want us to at least go through the first lesson to make sure we've got the technique correct and haven't forgot how since then. They might be willing to let those people who are already of age test at the end of the day and apply for licences right there; everyone else will have to wait until we are legally old enough for the licence, but we might be able to get a waiver for the remainder of the lessons if we can prove we're safe.

(And no, Macmillan, the licence fee is not waived regardless of whether you Apparated at CCF or not.)

Finch-Fletchley found your list of the supplies you're requesting (wow, there's loads! What are they planning to have us do?) and Professor Dolohov just has us doing easy drills for the afternoon, so don't worry. Everything's under control.

What happened, anyway? All F-F said was there'd been a flying accident.

That's not really like you, or Draco. I mean, you two usually look like you were born on broomback. Was Weasley trying to take you out before the next challenge? I bet that was it, you know he's really competitive when he gets going on something.

Oh, Blaise is feeling better and I think he might even get the hang of Apparation by the end of the day. (I managed it again; I think I'll be able to do it when we need.)

But don't feel like you have to hurry back. I mean, we're doing just fine without you.

be a counsellor for New London again?

I got an owl yesterday asking me to do it.

I still haven't heard about continuing CCF. Has anyone else?

And I hope everyone's selected their N.E.W.T.-level courses. I've been talking to some of Ravenclaw Corner about the textbooks and I think I'm going to spend my New London free time going to the bookshops to get ahead on the reading, assuming the books haven't been changed. But then there are a load of books I'd like time to read just for pleasure, too, and I don't know if I'll have time.

It's really summer, now. I hope you're all having a nift holiday.

almost over. I guess with the time away for the CCF and all, there hasn't been nearly as much loafing about as usual. Which is probably a good thing, overall.

Not that there was all that much loafing about, even normally. But this summer, Pav and I were also helping in the shop. (Mum's said more than once that it would be lovely if one of us took an interest in the business.) It's fun, of course, but it's also a load of work. And Mum recently took on some more help, but if anything, going through the CCF training made things more efficient afterward. I dunno, I'm happy to help out but I'm still leaning toward other things. I think it's important that each of us does our utmost to serve the Protector the best possible way we can. I don't think clothes design is really all I'm capable of, is all.

That doesn't mean we didn't have a grand time designing! Mum's putting a few of our robes into production, even. I wish they'd been ready before the end of the summer but holidays will do. (It's also well strange to be designing things for winter when it's hot and for summer when it's cold, but that's the nature of the business, isn't it?)

Ginny, I think Purest Sparkle might even be interested. I mean, young clothes for the young witch about town? Mum's going to see about it, anyway. If you're still modelling for them that would be really snitch, wouldn't it?

That's not the only news we had this summer. Haruman's brought one particular girl round for supper about half a dozen times. Mum's holding out hope he'll make a Big Announcement any day.

They came tonight, too, but not to make a Big Announcement. Haruman wanted to talk to Dad about something in the papers today. Apparently a Healer that he works with occasionally at St M's turned up dead in Wales yesterday. He was really shaken up about it. Not because he particularly liked the Healer but because so many people have been talking to one another about whether it could have been a murder.

It's kind of disturbing and exciting at the same time, isn't it? I wasn't sure why anyone would want to kill a Healer but Haruman said that to know this Healer was to hate him, basically. And apparently he had a string of patients who were always complaining and Haruman was one of the Jr Healers who sometimes had to calm them down while someone else tracked Healer Stint down and well--he's not surprised if someone got cross enough. Or it could have been an accident, too. He was found at the bottom of a cliff, so he could have fallen (though it's odd he didn't Apparate away, if he fell, right?).

Well, anyway.

School starts in only a week! Has anyone heard more about the 'changes to Dark Arts' that Mr Malfoy mentioned? (I saw that and wondered if anyone had been mad enough to buy their books already--I mean, we've all been waiting to find out what would happen since Miss Professor Carrow died, right?)

Oh, by the way, for Ravenclaw Corner: We're meeting up in Diagon at 1:00 tomorrow afternoon. Seamus, Lav, if you want to join us that's fine. Pav and Su Li are coming too and my cousin Darshana, and Desai as well. Cooper, Bole, if you're interested, come and meet us outside Fortescue's.

Best of luck today and all the days hereafter!

I can't wait to see you both. I'm sure the ceremony will be the talk of the Protectorate for days. I know you're going to be really really happy together.

And it's really so kind to invite so many of us to the wedding.

Well, I don't know if you'll even see this until after, with so much to do today, I'm sure. (Plus we've still got some CCF lessons before we're released to attend, so I really need to keep this brief. Oh, but CCF has been marvellous, really! We're even learning cryptomancy, which is utterly fascinating. I wish I had time to tell you all about the amazing things we're doing and seeing and learning. Maybe when I get home I can write everything up.)

Anyway, I just wanted to wish you both the very best and I hope you're excited that your big day is finally here!

For anyone who is interested, some of us are skipping lunch and taking sandwiches to our first afternoon session, so we can put in a little extra practice on the parade routine.

We're meeting out behind the barracks, right on the edge of the castle park, in five minutes.

Congratulations to the fifth-year Prefects! I got my letter this morning and Linus wrote to say he did, too. And then I got a letter from Diggory (congratulations to you, too, Cedric! And to Melinda Pennifold, Head Boy and Girl) reminding the Prefects that we've got our first meeting on the train to Hogwarts.

I'm sure we're all in well-organised hands this year, though understandably Melinda's distracted by Ned and Lana's wedding in a week. (I can't believe it's a week away! I'm putting the final touches on my formal robes today, too, since we'll be at CCF starting tomorrow, so they have to be ready. I hope they still hang right. It's only a week but given how much weight I lost last summer, with all the exercise and all, it could be a bit of a change.) Thanks again, Lana, for inviting me--and Professor Sinistra, thanks for making sure that the few of us who are going were able to leave CCF for it.

I've still got so much packing to do! It's times like this I wish mum would get us a proper mudblood but then, I guess that's what wands are for, too.

Oh, and I hope everyone was satisfied with the marks from last year's exams? I was a little disappointed in my Charms mark but I'm sure it's nothing I can't make up this year before O.W.L.s.

Remember, History Club is still planning to meet after CCF, but I heard that there'll be loads to interest us on the exercises, as it's an important part of the training this year to study up on the final years of Our Lord's rise. But when we get back, we've also got a walking tour planned in New London (we thought maybe Cheapside, the old cathedral and maybe as far as the Barbican site).

So who else will we see in the Prefects' cars on the train? I'm looking forward to working with everyone!

Brocklehurst take advantage of Leap Day and pop the question, or not?

I was reading in Dish! that Mr Cooper's putting up a monument for the games, which I think is well respectful.

And at History Club tonight, we talked all about times when people have had to sacrifice for a greater purpose and how duelling has always been a matter of honour and privilege. I hope it helped give some perspective to people, even though of course, it's terrible to lose friends or family.

I keep thinking about my brother and how he died, and how it wasn't the same sort of thing as Mr Warrington or the others at all. Because he didn't have any way to defend himself and even if it wasn't supposed to happen, I think it's important, what Auror Crouch said about being ready anytime, just in case. And culling the weak, I think that's something to think about, too. Wizards being weak is part of why we let the Muggles push us aside in the old days, and it's because of the Lord Protector's strength that we were able to push back.

I guess He thought we needed a reminder.

And I've been thinking about all our CCF training, last year, and how we've sort of fallen off over the winter. So I'm starting again. Daphne, if you or anyone else wants to join, we're starting with conditioning exercises again this Sunday. Parvati and I will also lead yoga if anyone's interested.

I thought it might be useful to do a little strategising ahead of Saturday.

I'm looking forward to working with you both. I'm not worried about Su Li, she's actually really clever and pretty well-rounded. Bundy will be fine, too, don't you think? Depends on what we've got to do. MacMillan's strength is in keeping people together, at least from what I've seen, so maybe he'll do best at the sorts of challenges that require loads of coordination.

What about the third-years? Is there anyone we should definitely try to get early in the draft? Oh, and Zabini, do you want Mlle Durand on our team, or not on our team? Because I figure Draco will put his cousins on his team, and then Hydra will likely want Finch-Fletchley. And we have to have at least one each of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, right?

So let me know what you two think and maybe we can all meet as a team, the six of us, before Saturday?

Feeling better?

I suppose that business yesterday must make asking someone to the Ball loads more difficult.

It was utterly impossible no one should have seen it happen. And how that one made such a cake out of 'getting caught with your guard down' - I thought it was well rude. Especially since it was obviously Weasley and Perks. I can't believe no one said anything, especially Clearwater. She's useless.

How are we going to get them back for it?