Padma Patil

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.

Thanks for yesterday.

It's been really hard this week. I mean, the CCF stuff was good because we were so busy, you know? But since I got back home and we've started getting ready to go back, it's like all Mum can think about is how Sanji was supposed to start this year. I feel bad to Parvati because she's been dealing with her alone while I was gone. Mainly, Mum just throws herself into the studio and keeps designing. Sometimes she forgets to make dinner.

And Dad's not helping, not at all. Haruman says he just needs to get over losing Sanji in his own way. But I just don't understand how moving out helps him get over losing Sanji! It's almost like he thinks if he just pretends he doesn't have a family he can pretend he never had a son either.

I dunno.

Did you talk to Hooper any more about his brother? I know his mum's still upset about it, so that's bound to upset him as well. It's just too bad that someone nabbed Horatio right after he got fired, or Mr Malfoy might have noticed sooner that he was missing. But even when people notice, sometimes that's not enough. I guess even in the Protectorate, bad things happen.

The main thing is that I don't think there's much you can do, apart from just keep being his friend. It's hard when the best thing to do is nothing. Well, not nothing, exactly, but you know, just paying attention to what he might want and respecting whatever that is.

What do you think about that Finch-Fletchley boy? Are you going to meet him before the Cup? You'll meet him there, though, right? Why do you reckon they're just trying to convince him to move to England now and not before he started school?

I hope your hols are off to a good start.

Actually, I sort of have a question that I wish I could ask Draco, only I know he'll not really understand, but I figure you both might be able to answer it without taking it the wrong way. Because I don't really know anyone else whose parents have more than one house, other than the Malfoys.

Erm.

So, my question is...well, you know how Mr Malfoy is always talking about the house in St James' Square? And Parkinson, he stays there sometimes, right, like when you're visiting him?

Well...does Mr Malfoy ever stay there any other times? Like because he's got to stay in New London for, um, meetings or something? And do you think it means anything? Anything else, I mean?

I mean, because.... Well, usually married people don't sleep in separate houses without a reason, right?

Not that the Malfoys are--I mean, there's nothing wrong between them--Mr and Mrs Malfoy, I mean. I just don't know anyone else whose parents need a whole other house to sleep in, I suppose. I mean, I guess Hydra's parents have more than one house, too, don't they, but Auror Lestrange usually only sleeps out because she's doing important work in the field, not because--

Well.

Don't tell Draco I asked. It's not really about his parents at all, I guess. Just parents in general.

I haven't heard back from Sandoval. I expect she's really really busy.

How was the week without the Lunatic? I'm sorry she's coming home soon. But do you think your parents might have us, anyway? I know Parvati wrote to you yesterday. Have they said yes anything yet?

Lav, they had such a row last night! Mum's all upset with Dad because he's been playing in the orchestra more and more and producing less. And it doesn't pay as well, first off, and it's not as responsible, second, or influential. No one notices a cellist but a producer is important, you know? And she's got this idea that if he made himself 'indispensible' at the second wireless station, the one Mr Malfoy mentioned? Well, she's got this idea that if Dad made himself one of the people really running things there, he could 'make something of himself.' Ooh, Dad got so cross at that! He said a good deal about how he provides fine for us, and it's not her place to tell him how to make money. Mum said she made more in a month than he does in a year, and without her they'd never be invited to snitch parties and we'd never have been able to go to Harry's birthday, and all. She said it's down to her and he's shirking. He didn't like that at all.

Then he said...he said that she needn't bother trying to make so much because we've enough now, and it's not like they've got a chance at the Repopulation Rewards anymore. And that if she didn't work so hard at the studio or try hobnobbing with Narcissa Malfoy so much, perhaps the house would be in better order - and they could work on having another son.

Mum looked like he'd slapped her. He didn't really, of course, but she looked gobsmacked. And she said that as far as she was concerned they'd never have more children since he couldn't hold on to the last one they had.

Then Dad Apparated out. And Mum just...she started cooking. At ten at night. This morning she told us to clean all the house and Dad's still not home. She said he'd gone to work but I don't know if that's so.

Lav. I think Haruman wants to get his own place so we can stay there with him instead of Mum and Dad. They're both going mad, I think.

So will you ask your parents? I'll try Belinda next, if we can't, but I think her whole family are sill on holiday at that country house in the Cotswolds.

loads of times but every time we come into the city, I mean really properly, it seems so strange that so many people used to live here. Dad used to tell us stories about how dangerous it was to even cross a street, with Muggle cars and all. But the only thing we have to worry about is whether the Azkaban prisoners will try to kill Harry, and really, that's not very likely as there are Aurors and chaperones all over the place.

It's been a bit of a game, though. Not that it's funny, or anything, I mean, it'd be snitch if they caught the fugitives and we could all stop looking over our shoulders, but last night we all sat up in our room here at the Horseguards (and it's really grand, by the way, and so very posh!) and talked about what to do if we spotted either of them. Or both? The papers said they might be travelling together, but I think that's rather a daft thing to do. Two fugitives are much easier to spot than only one, don't you think?

Sandoval says that Auror Lestrange figures the one, Snape, won't be able to resist making a grab for Marvolo while he's here and not in Buckingham. So we practised how to call for help and what kinds of spells to cast. Belinda asked if he would have a wand and we pointed out that he might do if he took it from someone else. So the first thing is, protect your wand. And the second thing is to make a great racket so everyone will know you need help. The third thing is to try to stun him or even use petrificus totalis because then he'd not be able to duel properly. And the fourth thing is to send up sparks so the Aurors can find you.

But imagine if it did turn a proper duel. I think that would be really scary, but sort of nift, in a way.

Anyway, we've all be having a little fun with it today, you know, sneaking up behind each other and then saying, 'It's Snape!' or 'Look! Mr Macnair!' and watching each other jump. Morag surprised me with it just coming out of the loo last night before we left the museum, and I got Daphne Greengrass right as we sat down to breakfast this morning. She went bright red after clutching her wand to her chest - I mean, it looked like she wanted to hug it like a doll baby.

But it's not all japes, either. Today we'll be touring the Prophet offices and the WWN, which will be brill as I've only ever been to work with my dad a couple times before (nor has Parvati, of course). Then I guess there's to be some type of talk about how important it is to ensure that the people receive accurate and approved information from our communications centres, which is completely true, of course, but maybe not quite as exciting as being able to say 'Hullo' on the wireless.

and at least we're moving forward. I do think it's helping, really. Haruman's still being amazing and heroic and taking charge of everything. I'm so proud of him! And I think Dad was better today, too. Not as cross with everyone.

So, Haruman went and talked to Mr Ashton-Scripps and his funeral home is going to help, on account of how Sanji's body really wasn't the kind of sight Haruman wanted Mum or Aunt Sirvati or Dadi or anyone else to have to manage it. They're, er, prepanng

(oops, sorry about that blot)

They're preparing him today in a new set of robes Mum made for him, and we'll have the cremation tomorrow. That way we can observe seven mourning days instead of ten, and Parvati and I can still come back next Sunday and not miss any more school. (And Mum and Dad and Haruman will continue into the week after.)

But some people from the WWN and the Ministry told us that there are so many people wanting to pay respects they're not sure what to do with it all. I guess the coverage on the WWN, because of Dad, has sort of, well, it's got everyone interested. So they're asking if they could have public hours tomorrow before the cremation. Well, the cremation is at sunset, anyway, so I guess it's always possible people could come before then. They want that at the funeral home, but Dad says no way.

So there's still some arguing. But not as much.

I'm really sorry I didn't get back to everyone who commented yesterday. There were so many of you - I think almost everyone at Hogwarts must have left some kind of note - and please don't take this the wrong way, but I really didn't feel like writing 'thanks' over and over and over. I tried. I must have opened up my journal about fifty times, looking at what everyone wrote. I even picked up my quill a load of times, but I just couldn't bring myself to write anything.

Lavender, Parvati and me really, really wish you could be here too! But your mum sent flowers and she said she's coming to the ceremony, she's even going to wear the traditional robes Mum made for her three years ago, remember? And Finni Seamus, Mr Rosier sent over a big basket of fruit from Sainsbury's, including two pomegranates. That was awfully kind of him. Draco, your mother had some things delivered today, too - including Sainsbury's curry with basmati and hot naan for lunch. It was so good! (Better than Cousin Nindira's curry, she always puts in too much mustard oil.) And there were a lot of people to feed, so it was good we had extra. Oh, and Johns, your parents came and they're helping to prepare the site and your brother offered to be one of the bearers.

So, anyway, Parvati and I are hanging in there, and we're doing okay, I guess. Mum's still sort of...numb, I guess. Dadi had to make her eat. And there's still all kinds of family and friends around.

I guess everyone's really wondering what's happening with the search for his killer. Well, the Aurors don't have a lot to tell us. Eventually Dad let them examine Sanji more completely for clues, but they couldn't find anything new. They searched the funeral home all day Wednesday and they said it looked like the person Apparated in and out. He did touch things, so they had a Diviner come yesterday to see if she could pick up any traces, but all she could get was that the person was 'broken,' whatever that means.

They're not giving up, though - that's what Auror Zuckerman says. She says they have places to look still. But she told us not to say too much because the ones they're looking for will just pick up and move somewhere else and it could be months before they catch anyone then.

But I hope they do find who did it. Hydra, I agree with you: someone should pay.

but sometimes I wish I were in Gryffindor.

Not because I want to be a Gryffindor. But because Parvati and Lavender are there.

Belinda and Morag, of course, they're trying. But it's not quite the same.

So, Finnigan, I know I told you I'd be in the library tonight and we could work on History Club. I guess Troy was a little short with you when you came to Ravenclaw Corner looking for me.

What happened was, Sandoval said the Headmistress wanted to see me. Me and Parvati, in fact.

I didn't know what to expect, so I thought at first maybe we were in some kind of trouble. You know, I think that's what everyone thinks because you never think it's going to be something so

Sorry. It's sort of hard to write it all out.

Um.

Professor McGonagall had an open firechat going and it was our parents. Mum was crying and Dad's voice sounded sort of scratchy.

They said Sanji's missing.

I guess he didn't come home from playing, or something. So when it started to get dark, Mum and Dad got really worried and they called MLE. And they're out looking for him. There's a bulletin or an alert or something going out on the wireless in case anyone's seen anything. And the Aurors are organising a sweep of the parkland.

Including the ponds.

So, they said they'd keep Professor McGonagall informed about it and the Auror in charge of the search will let them know through the night what's going on, if they find any evidence of what happened, or what.

Oh, I didn't say, I guess the neighbourhood kids were all at the park near our house, where we usually play. And they said they saw a man, and then later they found this puppy. It's kind of sad because you know Sanji wanted wants a puppy so badly. They made sure he wasn't transfigured or anything, but it's a real puppy, not Sanji turned into a puppy. So I guess they're also trying to find out whose puppy it is. And who the man was.

But in the meantime Dad said they'd keep the puppy for now. In case Sanji gets back.

So, yeah. I guess I just wish Parvati and me could be together tonight.

One was easy and one hard, so maybe that balances?

Herbology, of course - that was fairly simple. I almost forgot the difference between Devil's Snare and Flitterbloom, but at the last second I remembered how to tell them apart (aside from being squeezed to death, that is!).

Then there was Transfiguration. Loads of people were really worried about this one. And it really was nearly as difficult as I expected. But it was far more ... er, random. Not that I'm complaining! I mean, Professor Carrow does tell us that one never knows what life is going to throw at us. So I guess we should of been prepared for anything. I think the extra practice really payed off, though, because I know I did really well on the spellwork. Maybe not as well as Sally-Anne, but My textures were fine and my kitten's nose was perfect, I thought. (The multiple choice, though! I remembered most of it. I don't think he told our class about the fire crab and the scorpion, but I knew that story already. Though of all things, I wasn't sure what that question about his servant's essay was doing on there! I just said 'I didn't read that because a mudblood wrote it.' I hope that was alright to say.)

Oh! And I got an owl from Mum. All about the St Mungo's benefit party at the Malfoy's and there's a picture of Mum and Dad. They look smashing. I recognise the entrance hall from the picture in the Prophet. It's ever so grand!

Mum says Dad did fairly well at the roulette but then spent it again at the auction. He got a custom set of robes for Mum, to be designed by Madam Malkin, that he says is for her birthday, and which she says is just ridiculous. There were sooo many people there! I've been collecting the articles from the papers. You can just see my Mum in one of the photos.

But it sounded like they had a marvellous time. Lav, did your mum write about it? D'you and Parvati want to meet later after dinner and see the letter? We can revise for Defence if you want. I've got Professor Lockhart's library--at least that's an exam where we know all the answers and where to find the questions!