- On the goblet, I quite agree - he did look immensely surprised. And I do feel for him. Harry's certainly had some of the best teaching available, in any number of ways, but he's at an age where a year or two of experience makes a great deal of difference, and he's smart enough to know that.
I wasn't paying as close attention as I might to some of the explanations: what was supposed to happen if someone put someone else's name in the goblet? Should it just refuse it, or change it, or what? Or do we even know?
- On Cedric: I've been hearing some quiet comments from my Hufflepuff newts that there's been a some nastiness: mostly comments about how Cedric should drop out if he knows what's good for him, that kind of thing, but it's overflowing onto the rest of the house, as well. Nothing directly too dangerous, and yet, so miserable, especially poor Hannah last spring. Cedric himself seems to be handling it as well as anyone can, but that's still not easy.
I'm not sure any adult could solve some of it, but if you do spot a way, I'd love to know (or Pomona: we had our heads together over it tonight for a bit after dinner, though without much progress.)
- On the YPL: pretty much what I was going to say, yes. Felix has worked up a nice formal explanation that he makes copies of for me, of how we decide things, and who has the final say on our plans and so on. It's pretty dreary stuff: usually people don't make it more than six inches in. I still have to read their letters though, just in case they ask something that isn't covered in there.
- Taking Stint to Hogsmeade for part of the time would actually be a great favour: I know he's trying to get a feel for the YPL, but I suspect that some of our invited speakers (and the CCF student session, for that matter) might feel a bit intimidated by him, if you see what I mean.
- That's a good thought on the Borough Market. You're right that it's not easy, but for some of them, it's better than what they've got right now. Which, really, is the whole thing. So many of the options are so awful that even a small improvement looks huge.
- On the pink parchment woman - honestly, we should compare them. I've kept it, as both you and the MLE advised with odd mail. (Did I ever tell you about the really odd one I got in the first year of the YPL? They investigated, nothing to it, but it was weird.)
I think my pink parchment lady might be an adult, because most of what she goes on about is that bit in the Prophet from the QWC, that piece about who was in the top box, and that I send you private messages periodically. (Though, honestly, I think I send Felix two or three times as many: they're just on his entries.) I think if it were a student, it'd talk about other things as well, you know.
I do think there's been a little more gossip, mind you - I overheard a bit walking the CCF honorees back from Hogsmeade, though they mostly shut up about it before I heard any detail. But I don't think there's any particular cause beyond perfectly reasonable public events.
I will, however, remind you where my eyes are if needed at dinner and other occasions, though a shove might draw just as much attention. (If you feel you have inadequate time to admire my chest, we can certainly arrange more opportunities to do so in private.)
- I enjoy leaving you in suspense about my errands, and look forward to showing you the end result. (And I find I like teasing you about this. Do you mind terribly?)
no subject
- On the goblet, I quite agree - he did look immensely surprised. And I do feel for him. Harry's certainly had some of the best teaching available, in any number of ways, but he's at an age where a year or two of experience makes a great deal of difference, and he's smart enough to know that.
I wasn't paying as close attention as I might to some of the explanations: what was supposed to happen if someone put someone else's name in the goblet? Should it just refuse it, or change it, or what? Or do we even know?
- On Cedric: I've been hearing some quiet comments from my Hufflepuff newts that there's been a some nastiness: mostly comments about how Cedric should drop out if he knows what's good for him, that kind of thing, but it's overflowing onto the rest of the house, as well. Nothing directly too dangerous, and yet, so miserable, especially poor Hannah last spring. Cedric himself seems to be handling it as well as anyone can, but that's still not easy.
I'm not sure any adult could solve some of it, but if you do spot a way, I'd love to know (or Pomona: we had our heads together over it tonight for a bit after dinner, though without much progress.)
- On the YPL: pretty much what I was going to say, yes. Felix has worked up a nice formal explanation that he makes copies of for me, of how we decide things, and who has the final say on our plans and so on. It's pretty dreary stuff: usually people don't make it more than six inches in. I still have to read their letters though, just in case they ask something that isn't covered in there.
- Taking Stint to Hogsmeade for part of the time would actually be a great favour: I know he's trying to get a feel for the YPL, but I suspect that some of our invited speakers (and the CCF student session, for that matter) might feel a bit intimidated by him, if you see what I mean.
- That's a good thought on the Borough Market. You're right that it's not easy, but for some of them, it's better than what they've got right now. Which, really, is the whole thing. So many of the options are so awful that even a small improvement looks huge.
- On the pink parchment woman - honestly, we should compare them. I've kept it, as both you and the MLE advised with odd mail. (Did I ever tell you about the really odd one I got in the first year of the YPL? They investigated, nothing to it, but it was weird.)
I think my pink parchment lady might be an adult, because most of what she goes on about is that bit in the Prophet from the QWC, that piece about who was in the top box, and that I send you private messages periodically. (Though, honestly, I think I send Felix two or three times as many: they're just on his entries.) I think if it were a student, it'd talk about other things as well, you know.
I do think there's been a little more gossip, mind you - I overheard a bit walking the CCF honorees back from Hogsmeade, though they mostly shut up about it before I heard any detail. But I don't think there's any particular cause beyond perfectly reasonable public events.
I will, however, remind you where my eyes are if needed at dinner and other occasions, though a shove might draw just as much attention. (If you feel you have inadequate time to admire my chest, we can certainly arrange more opportunities to do so in private.)
- I enjoy leaving you in suspense about my errands, and look forward to showing you the end result. (And I find I like teasing you about this. Do you mind terribly?)