Padma Patil

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.

this evening's meeting was actually pretty interesting. Thank you again, Madam Umbridge, for organising it and for thinking of all of us.

I think it's a really important opportunity to help make a meaningful contribution to the school and even the Protectorate. I know loads of us have been thinking for some time about how we can make a difference, even though we're still students and some of us haven't passed our O.W.L.s yet.

But there are ways, and the programme Madam Umbridge has in mind is a good avenue for it.

Daphs and I have been talking more about her musical idea. Lines, do you think Karo would be willing to help a bit, even if she is planning her wedding and all?

And Pav, Daphs asked if you'd speak to Madam Hooch about backing us up if she goes to Madam Umbridge about making it part of the YPL's activity for the year. Like the play only Madam Umbridge wouldn't have to lift her wand about it. I told her you and Lav could take care of Hooch.

Lines, I know you're excited for Saturday but we do need to think about History Club for Monday. Maybe something from the 19th Century when the conclaves of West Indian wizards took over the old Whitechapel area of New London? Or maybe you have other ideas.

(And I know you think the Omnioculars are a good idea so you'll be able to see their wandwork but honestly, we'll be indoors. You'll look like an idiot if you bring them. Seriously.)

Oh, Pav, incidentally, I checked with Gambol and Japes and they'll send us the seeds and candles and everything for Navratri next week. Gupta says he's got a few idols his parents sent with him, too. Rohani says she'll arrange for the space to be kept clear for the week, so we can leave it set up and don't have to clear it every night.

I'm sorry you weren't on the list.

Seamus, what did Professor Sinistra say? Lines, has she said anything to you at all?

Did you see the part about the 'anonymous donor' who made it possible to take 11? Who do you think bribed their way on, then? Maybe Parkinson paid so they'd take Perks, or Peakes bribed her to take Thomas. Or someone gave them money for Weasel--only I dunno who'd sponsor him!

Oh, also? Lines, you already know this but Clearwater's probably going to crack before the end of the week. She just grabbed up all her books and shut herself up in her dormitory and told Edgecombe and Anderson to just handle anything that came up and to leave her alone the rest of the night.


And--this is really important--what should we do about Daphne Greengrass? I mean, I know she broke up with Bole but did you notice how the Slytherins are all treating her like a porcelain doll? I don't want them thinking no one but them can keep her safe from him, you know? She should know that everyone thinks he's a lout. But I don't want her to think everyone knows everything, I mean, she was even too embarrassed to say anything to me and tried to make it sound like I couldn't possibly get it.

What gets me is that she thinks Porkinson does get it? Ugh.

So who do you think wrote to that Wagstaff bloke?

Sloper or Capper?

Incidentally, I saw that you wrote to Daphs. Is she okay? She's seemed so quiet lately, and that's not like her at all.

Also, I've been meaning to say, thanks for not making me feel like a dolt for inviting you to Camelot when it was your mum's wedding. I knew it was but I thought since it was in the evening you might not have much to do beforehand. I should have known better! Anyway, even if you couldn't come, I wanted you to know that you'd have been welcome.

And I thought you really handled your mum's wedding and all of that really well. I mean, not that you'd do anything otherwise, but I saw some of the reports about it in Dish and it all looked well grand. Is Cooper nice? He seems nice. I mean, not like some terrifying stepfathers like in a novel. Really normal.

Oh, so what did you think of the mural? I thought it came out all right but there's something...I dunno, sort of common about it. I think traditional portraits are so much more elegant, don't you? But it's also sort of nift the way it sort of changes depending on whether you're looking at it when the staircase is sideways or straight on. And from the 2nd floor instead of the 1st. It's going to take some getting used to, I think.

who was on my team. It's too bad we were just a little too slow on that last challenge but no harm done.

Zabini, Parkinson, Li, Macmillan, Bundy: excellent job taking each of your groups in hand. And Sandoval, Goshal, Nott, Bones and Whitacre: really, really well done. I've already passed on my thanks to Durand, Stoyanov and Larsen for their contributions.

Wynn-Davis, Archer: better luck next time, but good efforts. To everyone else on our team, again--very well done, indeed!

to have all the visitors here!

That Goblet is well amazing, isn't it? I know at least three people who got up extra early this morning to go down and put their names in before anyone saw them.

Also, we've been getting to know the Beauxbatons students a bit. Everyone's talking about Delacour, she's the utterly gorgeous one (and don't pretend you haven't noticed, Smith!) and how everyone knew she'd be in from the first. Only then someone--sorry, I don't know everyone's name yet--but someone said she'd heard Delacour wasn't going to be allowed, on account of she's part-Veela and all. But anyway, I reckon she's one of Beauxbatons' Headmistress' favourite students so it was hard not to prove she had the proper qualifications.

Justin, it was great to finally meet you face-to-face last night. Your mate JP is well nice, too.

Malfoy, you were sitting next to Krum last night, weren't you? That was a huge surprise, when he walked off the ramp from the ship! Our whole Quidditch side are talking about it. Did anyone even know he was still at school? I dunno if we'd ever have a Quidditch star who's still at school here. It seems like it would be too distracting, doesn't it?

Anyway, after hearing them all talk about the Tournament, I guess there's less chance than ever that one of us 4th-years will make it (and with Krum, obviously, that's going to be hard to beat!) but I still think I'm going to put my name in. No harm, right?

I've been talking with some of the Ravenclaw Corner lot about possible charms to help set up that orienteering course this weekend. Not that I've decided what we'll do! (Since I think some of the older Ravenclaws are thinking of teaming up with older Beauxbatons students to help.) But it's given me some ideas. I suppose we'll learn more after Professor Sinistra gets back from her meeting.

Also, I reckon that some of us better sign up for setup shifts on Friday night, because Saturday morning we'll be busy. Su Li and I are working together, definitely, and--Moon, Finnigan, want to help on our setup?

Oh, and Lav, still no news about you-know-what. I'll keep you posted!

how we'll get through two weeks of this!

So tired I can barely hold the quill.


Excellent job, Bundy, it really must be said. And Zabini - congratulations on finding that key to the cupboard with the map in. We're lucky Lines had an atlas with him; I think everyone else tromped about for at least an extra hour before they found the flag!

It's not even lights out but I'm knackered.

What do you reckon they'll have us do tomorrow? Do the rest of you really think we'll each get a turn to lead groups?

I'm giving myself the morning to rest a bit and relax and then it's right back into training. But I'm also reading the assigned chapters for the summer.

Finnigan, tell me when would be good to come over, if it's all right with Mr Rosier, okay? And yes, I'll want that broom just as soon as possible, thanks. I suppose I could have been worse but I can surely do a good deal better.

Su Li, yes, I meant it when I said you could come next week. I've talked with Parvati and she thinks it's brill; she'll even come along. Lav, you too, of course -it's next Tuesday, unless another day would be better for you. Mum's said it's okay and she reckons we'll be all right in New London but Aunt Sivarti might just go with us anyway. Depends on how she's feeling.

I'm also setting up a target in the back. If I do it right I should be able to use it from the garden and from the balcony.

(Oh and Parkinson, meant to say, well done during that last duelling set on Saturday. And I don't think I would have ever come up with such a creative solution to that slow-motion hex, the way you just sort of did everything backward until you broke it. Clever!)

Last week was really intense, wasn't it? I can't wait for August, now, but I know we've all got loads to do before we get there.

Oh, and does anyone want to meet while we're in New London?

about the CCF.

I was accepted! But Parvati wasn't.

I don't think she's too upset, except that we won't be together for the whole summer.

The letter says I have to report on the 4th - is that what they told everyone? Or are we split up into groups like last summer?

Who else made it?