Padma Patil

looked lovely today, didn't it? With the sun out much of the day and just that little bit of fresh snow falling as we were all coming back? Almost as pretty as Christmastime.

Although perhaps it's down to having someone to walk with that makes it better. I guess it's true about Valentine's, that it's ever so much fun if you've got someone and utterly horrid if you haven't.

Lares, thanks for the butterbeer. And for being a good sport about Lav and Pav joining us. I'm glad you introduced us all to Nikolai, he's really very nice.

It's almost hard to believe we've got homework to do after a day like today. But I guess I'd better get back to it! Good thing I stopped in at MacGhille's Manuscripts. I found a copy of the Textbook of Rare Runes in really good condition. It's got a whole section on the glyphs of the Mayans.

You'll NEVER guess what happened yesterday! It was so hard not to laugh I thought I'd bust.

You know how we girls went out on a shopping day and all (which is why I didn't bother to invite you, you'd have been bored squib), and of course Parkinson insisted on bringing along her pet Perks. Well. Perks couldn't come unless she could also babysit Stretton's sister as well. Honestly, can you imagine? Gemma has a nanny but the Strettons realise they've got a good thing when they see it. Perks as a free live-in governess, I mean, it's perfect. Honestly it's the kind of thing I could see her doing her whole life. No one's going to want to marry her, so she'll have to raise other people's children, won't she?

Anyway. Well, Perks was feeling all smug because for once in her life, she had the dosh for the outing. I mean, the Strettons gave her gold so she could pay for things Gemma wanted, like ice creams and all. But Gemma wanted to get her nails lacquered along with everyone else's, and while the witch who did the manicures thought Gemma was so adorable that she put hers on for free, she had to charge Perks full price, of course, just like the rest of us. And when Gemma saw what Parvati was getting - she got the unicorn running across a moonlit meadow, I knew she would - well, Gemma just wouldn't rest until Perks got the same thing! (And it looks ridiculous on her, really. Although I think she did convince Gemma she couldn't have exactly the same thing as Parvati, so she just got the unicorn running across a plain pink background - yes, pink, because that's Gemma's favourite colour. And it's the same shade of pink that the witch made Gemma's nails, too.) Actually, it's Parvati's favourite colour too, and you should have seen how Gemma lit up at that! She's still very attached to Perks, of course, but then Perks is round her all the time, so it's not surprising.

Well, after that, and the ice creams we bought with lunch and all, she had used up all Gemma's pocket money. So then we were browsing through the mad fabulous second-hand shops they've got in Soho - you know, the ones all along Oxford street? - well, she saw a charm bracelet that she just loved. I mean, you could tell she just thought it well gorgeous. It was rather beautiful, have to admit, but like the nail lacquer, not something I can really see Perks wearing, you know? But anyway, it was real gold, wasn't it, and all the charms were bespelled so they wouldn't get lost or broken, and it was easily more than her dad probably makes in a year fixing up other people's broken whatnots, let alone anything the Strettons would see fit to buy for her. Gemma was all over getting it for her and then Perks had to explain to her how they didn't have enough Galleons for it. I felt bad for Gemma but really, doesn't she realise that her babysitter is poor as a mudblood?

Oh, but the best part was when Haruman met up with us to take us all to supper. Perks was supposed to go back to the Strettons' so we wouldn't have Gemma with us. Only when she made her excuse, that Gemma had to go home for her bath, Gemma piped right up about how her mama had told them they could stay out all day, and since it wasn't yet dark that meant they didn't have to leave yet! Well, lucky for us, Haruman was just as amused as anything because Gemma really is a very cute little thing, so he said it would be no problem to add them in to supper. And supper was really great, too - he took us to Masala and it was great - except that Naani's saag is better than theirs.

But the funny thing about it was that Gemma had to sit between Perks and Parvati! I think Perks may be in for a surprise now that Gemma's seen what real older girls are like. Of course, she's her own sibs at home, but that's not quite the same thing, is it?

Anyway. Back to school, huh? Have you had a good holiday? Ready for the play? I'm getting so nervous and it's still days away. I'm more worried about this than exams, I think!

Lav,

So far we've got Dunstan, you, Su Li and Parkinson (I know, but mum sort of insisted). And Parkinson's asking Perks, which I said she could do because I knew she'd get shirty if I said it wouldn't be, but she doesn't think Perks will be able to come.

And I've asked Greengrass, too, but then there's the question of whether she'll want Bulstrode along. I suppose if Perks doesn't come, Bulstrode could. But then we can't ask Morag and you know she gets sulky when she's left out of things. Why does everything have to be difficult? We only wanted to have a fun day in town without Dementors floating everywhere.

I really wish Finnigan could come along, he's always good for laughs, but as it's all girls that would just be torturous for him!

Anyway, so Thursday. And you're coming over to stay tomorrow night, still, right?

Mum said I ought to write and thank you and your mother for inviting me Sunday. So thank you. I guess she figured that your mum thinks we're mates or something.

Anyway, Gloss House is sort of nice, I guess. I mean, it's in a very pretty spot, isn't it? With the mountains and all. Did your mum make all those favours?

Oh, I don't know if you noticed, but Smith and Diggory and a few of the other boys kept nicking glasses of punch. The grown-up one, I mean. And I think they nicked one of your step-father's cigars from the den when you gave us all the tour. I know I saw Fleet and Bobolis sneaking off near the stables. Bet it made them really sick.

Do you know Lettice Frobisher? Her sister Vicky's in Gryffindor and Parvati says that Vicky's really sick, too. May not come back to Hogwarts she's so sick. Only not with Black's Plague or anything. Lettice was talking to Euterpe Bobolis and also to Chambers, and they said that Lettice is so worried about her - Vicky, I mean. Thin as a rail - did you ever notice? Her parents took her to one of those clinics, only not to reduce her more, to make sure that she eats and puts some weight back on. Well, anyway, Chambers was asking Lettice about Vicky, how she's doing, and they decided they'd go in to New London shopping and maybe find out if they could visit her to cheer her up.

And I thought, well, maybe some of the girls in our year might like to meet up in New London, too. It'd get us away from home for a while It'd give us a chance to do some shopping that's not in Hogsmeade. I mean, not that there's anything wrong with Hogsmeade but it's no New London, right?

Well, I asked my mum and she said it'd be fine as long as there's at least half a dozen of us (and it has to be even so no one goes off alone. Honestly!). And she thinks you and I are mates, so, she wanted me to ask you as well. If you wanted to have Perks along then once we're in New London, you know, you two could split off and do whatever you like, and we'd all just have to meet up later wherever we agree. Probably Fortescue's or something. So that if any of our parents pick us up or meet us, it looks like we've been together.

Mum's got this notion that if there are six or eight or ten of us it'll be all right and no one will abduct us or anything. But really it'll be Haruman who takes us and picks us up. He even said he'd take us all to supper, with some mates of his.

So are you interested? You don't have to say yes. I just thought you and Perks might want to get into town for a day.

Also I know it's April now, and that's really near to the time those girls got killed and Sanji and everything, and maybe you want something else to do and think about besides all that. I know I do.