Quite a night!

[alt_sinistra]

I do want to second Miss Clearwater's compliments and congratulations: excellently done, all of you, for representing Hogwarts in the best possible tradition.

My very deep thanks to the Prefects, YPL counsellors, and to the CCF for all doing their part to coordinate all manner of tasks, and I'm delighted everything went so smoothly. And the surprise of hearing "Hey, Hey Merlin" by two of our own was amazing. Excellent work, both of you!

For those who need to return borrowed robes, or perhaps want an ear for any reason, I'll be up in my office for much of the later morning and afternoon, until about four, outside of lunch. (I've also got a fair selection of the press coverage, if anyone wants to have a look.)

Comments

Private message to Poppy

[alt_sinistra]

Oh, goodness, I'm glad that's over.

(Mind, I had a truly wonderful time, once we got going.)

Though really, everything went far more smoothly than I thought it might. There were the usual minor catastrophes, but thank Circe, nothing that showed too badly before any of our guests.

Now: I didn't get any chance to talk to either you or Pomona last night, but what on earth was the matter with Milland?

Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sinistra]

I do hope the rest of your night was as wonderful as the beginning - you did seem to be having quite a good time every time I spotted you.

I mentioned it above, but I do have the various press that's come out. If you'd like to see, come by - or I'd be glad to arrange a time you can look more privately, if you or Miss Parkinson would like that.

There's some nice bits about both of you, though also some cattier ones, but nothing too horrible, of course. You didn't give them the slightest cause.

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sally_anne]

I've seen a few already. There was one that called me Sarah Jane Parks. Being 'innocent and lovely' was nice to see but 'depressingly dowdy'?!? My robes were BEAUTIFUL even if they weren't from some famous designer like Pansy's Hydra's most everyone else's in Slytherin some.

Pansy told me not to read the nasty ones but I couldn't help myself.

Well. At least Viktor was right, they didn't have any time to look into my family. Though there was one article where they have this whole little side bar explaining that half-bloods in fostering have very little money of their own and outlining the entire BUDGET that our foster families get from the Ministry! And then they talked about the school robes and noted I wasn't in them and speculated that Pansy had bought them for me and wrote about HER family fortune. I hate to think what sorts of things they'd have written about my mum and dad -- my original mum and dad, I mean, not Mr and Mrs Stretton -- if they'd had time. (They'd probably have written all sorts of dreadful things about the Strettons too but I mind less come to think about it.)

Anyway I'll come up later to see the rest of it. There are probably a few no one in Slytherin had.

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sinistra]

I thought you looked entirely lovely, and your dress suited you perfectly. (But yes, I had seen that one as well.)

On reading the nasty ones: I've mostly decided I'd rather know what they say than wonder. But I only read them when I'm in the right mood, and can be more amused than anything. (A couple of the pieces this morning, my goodness, the assumptions.)

And I'm glad they seem not to have had much luck digging into my background, though they've certainly had more time to have a suspicion they might want to. (Not that I've particular ghosts in the closet, but one never knows what innocent thing the press will grab, I gather.)

The sidebar really was a bit much, I thought. And it's not like you yourself have a great deal of control over that sort of thing.

I'll look forward to seeing you, then, later.

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sally_anne]

Trying to find them funny is a good idea. Maybe I'll bring Pansy with me and we can take turns reading them out loud? When I looked at them this morning everyone was watching for my reaction and so I tried just to roll my eyes and say you can't expect much from a group of reporters who couldn't even get my name right (SARAH JANE PARKS, really? Although at least if they think my last name is 'Parks' they'll have a job of it to find my parents.)

I didn't look that much at what they said about you but you were on the front page of nearly everything. Did anyone say anything bad? I don't know how they could, you were so elegant and you and the Razzer Professor Lestrange looked absolutely lovely together. And you've both been completely proper.

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sinistra]

Reading them out loud can be quite amusing, yes. And I quite agree - when they can't even get your name right, there's no reason you should take them at all seriously. It just proves how much of these sort of things are speculation.

On the ones about me - I'm quite glad the photos came out as well as they did, I must say. Nothing I've seen yet has been entirely terrible, but there have been some digs at my family (we're pureblood quite a way back, of course, but certainly not moving in those sorts of social circles at all). And I've seen several speculating on how long it might last.

No matter. I'm quite content, and it'll take more than a few articles to shake that. Feeling gorgeous in new robes certainly didn't hurt either. I'd never quite understood the power of clothing to do that, before this.

Private Message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_narcissa]

Congratulations to you, as well, Aurora.

Now, do remember there's nothing to worry about. Just hold your head high and when you've nothing to say, simply smile. Believe me, sometimes the best comment is no comment.

Regarding today's festivities, as I said last night, family and particular friends are welcome anytime after luncheon. If you can convince Razzer to budge prior to the evening cocktail hour, I do hope you'll come along early. It's more intimate and you'll get a chance to feel more comfortable with the smaller group. That way the throng in the evening will seem less overwhelming and you'll be able to seek out more allies along the way. Diana, Ursula and Pandora are particularly helpful in that regard; they've years of experience smoothing the fabric of social interaction.

Amanda and Emile are coming early as well. I think Emile mentioned racing the Abraxans against our own, so you and Razzer could even come along in the carriage with them, if you preferred!

And of course, should you two decide not to return to Hogwarts the same night, we've a number of guest rooms set aside each year for just such an event. And every year there are a few who take advantage of the offer.

Re: Private Message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Thank you, Mrs Narcissa.

I certainly have a great deal of admiration for the amount of effort involved in your gatherings, now. I'm just so relieved that last night went as smoothly as it did.

Both Raz and I do have some tasks to tend to here, especially as we were rather wrapped up in other things last night. But I do hope we'll be able to arrive on the early side, as you're quite right it would ease things. And I certainly appreciate your guidance. Pandora and I were in the same year at school, of course, but it's always good to know who might be willing to help.

Thank you again - and I should say, once more, Draco is growing into quite a fine young man, a credit to both you and his father.

Re: Private Message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_narcissa]

We're rather inordinately proud of him, yes.

I had no idea you and Pandora were acquainted. How very auspicious.

I'm glad to hear you say you've found a new appreciation of the difficulty of party-planning. It's not nearly as frivolous as people think. In fact, it can be exhausting to ensure that everything is just right, service and activities at the right time, everyone always content, and the trickiest part is to make it all seem effortless!

But shall I tell you a secret? I had a little help this year.

Re: Private Message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

As you should be, about Draco. And he certainly did look quite handsome last night.

And yes - Pandora and I weren't close at school, but we certainly did know one another to speak to. (I admit, I was far too often up the Astronomy tower, so far more my doing than hers, I'm sure.)

I quite agree about the difficulty of making it seem effortless. As to having help - well, someone told me, relating to planning some of the YPL activities - that the trick of a good organiser is knowing when someone's talents and time can be used to save your own for other things.

Re: Private Message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

After a little negotiation, Raz and I think we'll be able to join you around three.

I'm very much looking forward to it, and to seeing how the hints of the theme I've heard come together.

[alt_pansy]

Thank you professor!

Private message to Rory

[alt_rabastan]

What's everyone saying in the private messages?

No, wait, don't answer- let me get out from the bath and I'll come read over your shoulder.