Padma Patil

for the year. It's really hard to think that exams are next week, and then we'll be done. And in third year next year. I'm still trying to catch up on the week we missed because of Sanji.

And I'm thinking about Sanji a little more today. Parkinson came to the table this morning to ask if we could talk somewhere, before lessons. And she wanted Parvati, too, so that we'd be together.

I guess I'm really not sure what to think about what she said. I don't think she'd have any reason to lie - I mean, it's clear she was telling us the truth, she was way too upset for it to be anything else, and plus everyone knows Mr Malfoy met with her again yesterday, so I guess he told her so she'd know, and she wanted to tell us. Which was very decent of her, really, even though it was a terrible thing to have to say.

But Parkinson, we know it's not your fault. I don't think you'd ever have told him to do something like that, it's too awful. I guess...if there's anything I will say, and please don't take this the wrong way, but it always did seem as if he was a little...wrong. In the head, I mean. Not just because it seemed like he'd rather tell jokes that were old and stupid when we weren't even firsties. But all those weird things he wrote, and all the time he spent being, well, you know, sort of creepy. And the fact that he even talked to his brother. I mean, I know you considered him a friend, and all, but...well, maybe it will make you think twice about making other friends like him, is all.

And I don't mean that to sound cruel. It's sad, really, that he was so sick, and that hurting himself was the only way he could keep from doing those horrid things. And I know you're sad that he's gone. But I'm not. And I hope that doesn't mean we're going to start quarrelling again, but I think you can understand why. I just wish...I wish that if they'd known about it, they could have stopped him before. It seems like someone should have been able to stop him.

So, yeah, it's a lot to think about. And I'm really not sure how I feel about it all right now. I think I can't really worry about it until exams are over - which really is rather unfortunate, because it's going to be hard to concentrate on revising with something like this hanging over our heads.

Mum, Dad, I'm sending you an owl, so this'll make a little more sense when you get it. At least, Pansy didn't say it was a secret, and she even said that Mr Malfoy told her so that she'd know before everyone else did, so I figure it's going to be public soon enough. But someone ought to tell you both, too, and not in the papers.

Anyway. I guess I'll go revise after lunch. Maybe outside for a while, since it's nice out. Morag, Su Li, Belinda and Linus are coming, too. Anyone else want to come along? Finnigan? Malfoy? Marvolo? We'll probably be out by the big rock most of the afternoon, it's nice and shady there.