Padma Patil

Maybe in light of Hydra's message I shouldn't be doing this, but if anyone wants to see what I've written, they're welcome to do. Anyway, I've got used to that over the last few months, and from what I hear, I reckon you'll get used to it, too.

I was sorry to hear about Ned, but it sounds like you didn't care much, anyway.

And I heard your sister was killed on Thursday, but the gossip is that you actually arranged that. That you asked Professor Dolohov to do it, and he did. So I'm sure you don't care that she's dead, now.

They told me you had a baby with Rodolphus Lestrange. That Hydra took her away before you'd even seen her.

The thing is, I've been thinking a lot--I had nothing but time to think, really--and I wonder if you care about that, either.

I wonder if you care about anything, besides yourself.

I got to spend time with Seamus recently, and we talked and talked about how all the things we did, we were convinced were necessary, and how we twisted ourselves into knots trying to justify killing children because their parents were traitors, if they even were. Seamus killed his mother but it was only because they told him he had to do it, that the safety and security of the realm depended on it.

All I ever did, to join the Council, to be part of things, I did because I wanted to please you. To impress you. And once you had what you wanted, you couldn't have cared less about me.

You deserve to be in jail. Way more than I ever did. You deserve to spend the rest of your life in a tiny room with a bucket for a washbasin and chamberpot, and people watching you every minute. You deserve to never hold a wand again.

But if you're a very good girl, Lana, they might let you out someday.

They let me and Seamus out.

But then again, we had people to speak for us.

Have you anyone left to speak for you?

Your friend,

Padma Patil

How is your leg?

Haruman was right there to help heal my arm, only we decided to leave the scar since it will help make me look more fierce. It's not on my face, after all!

But it wouldn't have happened at all if we'd known ahead of time that we'd be doing anything like that! That's the trouble with this sort of thing, I think: I was wearing entirely the wrong outfit. At least I thought to put an anti-blistering spell on my shoes, but they weren't meant for anything like fighting a...a zombie!

(Where did they all come from, anyway? I mean, we're not going to have a problem with villages getting overrun by the walking undead, are we--not when we still have traitors running round the country, too?)

Our Lord's message, though. At the end. What did you--well, nevermind. If you're able to have visitors, I'll come over and we can tell war stories about our not-so-glorious battles.

And then I can tell you something else I found out.

What Hydra said....

That's so much worse than dead. He was a traitor or at least a collaborator, but still....

Krishna, Seamus, that's just horrible.

I still can't believe he came downstairs in those Gryffindor robes. Did anyone say anything to him about it, do you know? I mean, can he even do that?

And then tonight, the tables? I don't know whether to call it a stroke of genius on Antonin's part or complete madness.

But what about Lana being named Head of your House? That should help you, don't you think? I mean, given how the rest of your House tend to take on airs. She'll put them straight.

You don't think Marvolo changed Houses just to keep an eye on you, do you? He's been chummy with Weasley since Malfoy was kidnapped, so maybe it's just so he can turn the Weasel into a new best mate.

I've also been thinking about what Antonin said about rooting out disloyalty. Obviously with Lana as your Head of House now she'll be able to detect any sign of treason but I think we have an advantage because we're a bit closer to things, you know? I think maybe that's why Our Lord wanted a younger group of Councilwizards, maybe, because we'll be better able to determine who might be growing into a traitor, because of what they're questioning or who their other mates are.

Oh, I just thought of something: Remember how Malfoy used to say that Longbum was hiding something? You don't think Marvolo's moved to Gryffindor to spy on him, do you? Himself?

Maybe he's decided to go...undercover, like an Auror. And he wants Weasley and Longbottom and the others to feel like they can trust him, so they'll tell him all their worst, most seditious thoughts.

Pavs, I got your letter!

Yes, it would be spectacularly nift if you could come visit. The first Hogsmeade day is the 25^th.

Things here are--all right. Being on the Council is really different from trying to be on the Council. It would have been so much easier to be Head Girl on top of it all, and Seamus really ought to have been Head Boy, because right now it's so awkward. I mean, Daphs tries, but she's far too concerned about everyone getting on together and not enough about maintaining discipline. There've been all these impossibly horrid incidents among the lower years, I mean, roommates who always got along suddenly fighting and squabbling about all sorts of things. And Lines of course just makes them recite poetry as a punishment (honestly, does he think they'll be so embarrassed they'll be afraid to make waves again? Does he even realise that he's the one people are laughing at?), and Daphne's so busy giving herself airs that she hardly notices when anything else is going on.

If Seamus and I had been Heads, we could have really showed the lower years what's what. We're not afraid to use Crucio if it's called for, you know? But the thing is, old Dovs made his choice, so he clearly thinks it's beneath the two of us to worry about petty infighting at school.

He opened this duelling studio--well, I'm sure you saw the announcement--and Seamus and Professor Desai and even Dovs himself have made it abundantly clear that I need loads of work. Imagine, I have to assign myself my own homework! It's really odd, and Seamus noticed too, how many people in our Defence and Noble Arts lessons are much better fighters than we would have thought. Well, you were in Gryffindor: Was Bundy ever all that? I know she's a pet of Weasel's but seriously, would you have thought she'd be top of the class, just from CCF? I suppose some people just take to it more than others. Anyway, Seamus seems to think we might be called upon to leave school now and then and help enforce Our Lord's peace, so I'm going to be practising loads in there. Between that and preparing for N.E.W.T.s, I'm almost glad I'm not Head Girl--though of course, if I were, I'd have the power to arrange things so that I had more help and more time to fit everything in as a result. (Actually, it's not a bad idea to see if I can get some of the younger ones to help, just based on my status as a Councilwitch--I mean, not with schoolwork, obviously, but all the other little things I need, you know, like making sure the bathroom's available whenever I need it or running to the library if I need a book, things like that.)

Oh, anyway, enough about all that. I want to hear how everything is going. I mean, you said Inderpal's good to you (and that's amazing about the clothes and all), but--are you sure he can afford everything? And all those trips to shops here and there.... Well, I'm sure he has contacts all over the realm, I mean, after all, he's always looking for new bands and personalities and such for the wireless programmes. So I don't think you should be so concerned if he takes you to Bath on Tuesday and Boston on Friday. Honestly, he's probably still just trying to impress you.

What does Mum have to say about all the expense? Have you talked to her?

But other than loads of travelling, you're happy? I mean, really happy?

Well, anyway, come to Hogsmeade and we'll catch up.

Love from,

Pads

Lana asked if I'm going to Snowdonia next weekend and I told her I am. Are you?

I've been trying to think about what to pack. It's just a weekend but there will probably be at least one formal meal, right? And there's that reception thing on the invitation.

Mum says in the old days, witches didn't necessarily have to go broom-back and hunt, they could stay in the lodge and just come out for luncheon and such, but I think that would not look well with the Mark and all.

Have you ever been on something like this, with Mr Rosier? What should we expect?

Oh, and she said Weasley was coming and I thought she meant Ron, but she meant Percy. Isn't that funny! I completely forgot that he got Marked when we did. Anyway, he's coming, but she did tell me a thing or two about his brother, as well. (Unfortunately, he's apparently not completely hopeless.)

I guess he really doesn't have anything else to do now that Lestrange and Marvolo are together.

I'm at St M's. Draco brought me but then he left.

I don't blame him. I made such a fool of myself.

Lakshmi, I'm so tired. I couldn't even sleep last night, I was writing poetry and thinking about ways to win him for myself, or kill Daphne. (Omigosh, Daphne! She probably hates me, I was so horrid!)

They said it had to have been a love potion or a love compulsion but they can't ever be sure unless someone else comes in with the same exact problem. It wasn't one of the commercially available potions, the Healers said. MLE were here just to take a statement but the Junior Auror said not to expect much in the way of investigation. There just isn't anything to investigate.

Haruman's been talking to them and the Healers and to Mum. They want to keep me for a while in case I relapse. But Pav brought me my journal, at least. So maybe I can think of something to say to him. Thank you for saving my life, for a start.


It was horrible.

Oh, Rama! BLAISE!!!

Ugh, every time I think I'm about to settle in I get the shudders from that...thing.

I thought the one at the zoo was the only one of its kind but--obviously not.

Well. I'm glad we have Sunday to go back. Maybe this time with an extra torch; they seemed not to like fire.

Honestly, I thought the spiders were the grossest thing we'd encounter. Not that I wanted to encounter them! But that? Was way, way worse.

Have you figured out who else has cursed pins yet?

I'm fairly certain Lines has one. He's been utterly candid and not in a kind way. I mean, he's usually rather clueless, you know, but it's as if every other sentence has some pronouncement or other about how people can improve themselves. Which is not really like him, much. Or at least, it's not the same as normal.

But I'm not going to tell him if he can't figure it out for himself! I mean, if he's supposed to be so clever and all.

You may have liked the last one where we had to ambush people but I actually find this quite amusing.

Unless you're standing too close to Crabbe.

(I've also got one of Draco's books. He left it behind on his desk after Charms but he hasn't asked about it. Maybe he keeps forgetting?)