I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

..how amazingly chaotic this time of year is? And of course, it’s much more this year, both due to the Ball and various other commitments. I can see the end of the worst of it in sight, though I do need to catch up on some marking.

I think I’ve finally sorted out my holiday invitations, though I’ve had to decline quite a few due to other commitments. (Now I’m getting the post-holiday ones, including the next Astronomer’s Guild quarterly meeting. Georg: delighted, thanks, details to follow in a day or two.)

I am also very glad I got my holiday gifts arranged early, given the way the past few weeks have gone. Now to get a variety of necessary notes out.

Raz -

There’s another one.

I’ve been up in office hours, working with some of my newts. When I went down to my classroom to fetch the next round of marking, I checked for anything hexed (that is a most useful charm you taught me, even if I am near saying it in my sleep now) and one of the blameless-looking essays from my 2nd years glowed.

Same pink parchment, same hand. It looks like it had been glamoured to look more like an ordinary essay, but the glamour had started fading - that pile came in Monday, and they’ve been stacked on one of my shelves since then. (So, how did it get in there? Because both the hex and the concealment is well beyond a 2nd year.)

The intention of the runes for the hex, based on something in the letter, would be unpleasant. But the more I look at it, there’s something in the design that makes me think it could have ended up being quite a bit worse - whoever set it was a bit too emphatic.

When I came back upstairs, Vesta Chambers took one look at me and immediately got the others to agree to stay longer. I’m glad of the company, and they’re being dears. They’re currently explaining basic chart skills to a couple of second years who came for help, saving me the trouble, and Maxine O’Flaherty has tried twice to get me to drink more tea.

What I really want is a stiff drink or three, but not with two classes still tonight. Later, I suppose.

I am being very cautious. Promise.

Raz -

I have another one to add to the pile of Pink Parchments.

But, oh, it’s nasty. Mean-spirited. And more than a hint of obsession. Apparently my eyes lingered on you for thirty seconds too long in the hallway on Tuesday, and I smile too much when I sit next to you at meals. (There are uglier things, too, but I shan’t repeat them here.)

And this time, I’m sure it’s a student - it was dropped into a pile of assignments sometime earlier today. Besides my classes, there’ve been hordes of students in and out all afternoon, so not much chance of narrowing it beyond that.

It also had a harsh little hex on it that would have left my fingers sore for a few days. (Have no worries: I spotted the hex before opening - I’m suspicious of all pink parchments these days. I opened it with tongs rather than disarming it, so you can look for yourself.) I do think it may be the same as one of your Pink Parchments - the hand looks familiar.

Any chance you’d be up to taking a look at some point? I’ve got double sessions tonight and marking I really need to get ahead on, so tomorrow’s better for me.

(My other mail brought me another five invitations, and we should probably talk about two of them. Also - and far more welcome - a package from Mum, with a bottle of scotch she suggests you might like. I’m not sure what to make of that. I think she’s trying to be friendly without being pushy. Or something.)

Poppy, a few quick things.

First, I think we've actually got a more or less final schedule for December 3rd. I plan to drop a copy off for you when I get a chance. It looks like there will be some interesting discussions, and some particularly useful material for the CCF group. (I'm also hopeful Raz will take Healer Stint off for a friendly drink somewhere in the midst of the afternoon, and make your life easier. And mine.)

Also, quick question for you, if you have a minute - have you had any odd encounters with Milland? Nothing urgent, but if you have time on Monday, tea perhaps, and a chat? (I'm sure you're busy today with preparations we all hope you won't need for tomorrow...)

I know you've been horribly busy this week, dear, so no need to reply if you're still buried. I thought the following amusing moments from my mail might give you a chuckle, though. (Has the fuss over the champions died down on your end any? Gossip has still been running high in the staff room when I poke my head in.)

Anyway:

1 letter accusing me of fixing the Cup, because of course I'd favor my own house. (Well, I do, but not to the extent of fiddling with the charms on ancient magical artifacts. I have rather more sense.) That rumor seems to be more prevalent at school than in the general populace, anyway, and thankfully people seem to have moved on to other candidates.

2 letters from parents of children under the age of 11, worrying that the challenges of the YPL are not going to adequately prepare their children for life in the Protectorate as adults, and what do I propose to do about that?

Favorite sentences: "Our children should not fall backwards when they leave the excellent new village school programme recently established. There, they sing songs, flourish flags, propose projects contributing to their community, all to praise the Protectorate! Surely the YPL programme could do more, with weekly meetings, and far more extensive expectations, rewards, and incentives."

They then go on to propose a yearly play, a student newspaper to highlight essays, events, and profiles of the YPL's shining stars, and the creation of challenges between different groups of students to "ensure that students excell in all areas of the mind, magic, and devoted heart."

I have written back to say that I appreciate their ideas, and am certain the programme will continue to develop, but that at present, we are unable to add any additional formal activities to the schedule.

4 letters from parents of children currently in the YPL programme, two of whom are concerned that the activities are too easy and simplistic, and two of whom argue that they are far too challenging for developing minds and bodies. One of these seems to have gone through the journals to highlight every dangerous event that has happened to students involved in the YPL programme since its inception. (Thankfully, she only knows about the half of it, though on the whole our record is quite good.)

Favorite sentences: "These are our children, the future leaders of the Protectorate. How can we risk their lives and hearts in dangerous pursuits before they are trained?" (I resisted the temptation to ask if she had examined the Hogwarts curriculum in any detail.)

Also in my mail:
- A message from Healer Stint, about some details about the Medwizardry lectures on December 3rd (did I mention to you that he's planning to be here or just to Poppy?)

- A followup from one of my recent errands: I suspect you will be quite pleased by the results.

- 2 letters requesting advice on ways recent halfblood graduates might find it easier to find work, and whether any of the YPL connections might be willing to offer assistance of any kind, no matter how small. (I've started getting a couple of these every month, and they always break my heart: I think I want to add it to the agenda in December if I possibly can. Even a list of employers willing to give halfbloods of good character a chance would be a start.)

- 3 letters accusing me of being a corrupting influence on you. (None of them worrisome, just deluded. One of them may be that woman you were telling me about who persists in pink parchment, purple ink, and charmed glitter all over everything, with Capitals in Every other Word.)

- And the usual range of billing and accounting issues, which are entirely boring.

Good afternoon from a pleasant little cafe near the Ministry. I came in straight after my morning class, to catch up on a few errands before my meeting.

I had a pleasant wander through Flourish and Blotts and picked up Magdalena Wright’s new Equinox (I loved what she did in Goblin Market.) I saw a number of other intriguing titles, though I didn’t indulge (not nearly enough time to read in the near future, I’m sure...) One can always order later.

I also had a look at a new telescope line focused on amplifying brightness (at some cost to clarity) only to discover it also has a completely new approach to aperture adjustment charms, far better than what’s been on the market. Apparently the theory of the process is discussed in the next issue of Visionary Charms. My current project does better with clarity, so not the best use of my galleons at the moment, but it’s quite a nice piece of work, and there’s a new model coming out nearer January that’s expected to solve some of the issues with focus.

My other errands went more quickly than I’d expected, though one will require a followup trip, so I found myself with plenty of time to spare before the meeting starts at half two. It’s been quite pleasant to sit here reviewing my notes on the agenda in the late fall sunshine, and watching people go by. I'm enjoying the treat before what promises to be a long meeting (we've quite a lot to cover.)

.. has brought some cheerful news, for once, in the form of the evening Prophet. It appears that reports of Mr Crouch Jr's death were inaccurate, though at the moment, the details of why that is are rather slim.

If students would like to take a look at the article, I'm in my office at the moment, and would be glad to have you stop by until curfew.

Mum and Diane -

I'm sure Andromeda's gotten around to writing by now, but I thought I'd add a few notes, since I know you were both anxious over her first days at Hogwarts. (I meant to write sooner, but it's been quite chaotic here, getting everyone settled.)

As we'd all expected, Andromeda was promptly sorted into Hufflepuff, and seems to be settling in quite nicely with her classmates. (I don't know any of them well yet, but they seem as pleasant as first-years ever are. It always takes everyone a few weeks to stop being nervously on their best behavior and relax into being themselves a bit more, as well.) There seems to be plenty of cheerful conversation from that part of the table during the meals I've been around for, and of course, I've checked in with her casually several times, just to make sure there isn't anything she needs.

(Her biggest complaint is finding her way around - but really, that's true for everyone and there's nothing for it but practice.)

As you can imagine, we're still all a little bit overwhelmed with the aftermath of the attack, especially having so many of our students actively involved in really quite dangerous situations. At the same time, I'm so very proud of the students in the CCF programme who stepped forward to be of help, and I've received some really quite gracious thank yous from senior ministry officials, as well as those who were directly helped.

Mum - thanks for the package to start the year. It was much appreciated. I've been able to share them with Poppy, and with Rabastan, and I'm sure the rest will quickly disappear once students remember I sometimes have treats out before I go up to observe in the evening.

I'd heard a few faint rumors of something amazing while I've been in and out of various Ministry offices this summer (nothing specific - everyone was quite careful not to spill the beans - but it was easy to tell something was in the works). But I had no idea something this fantastic was being planned.

I'm looking forward to attending, though it does seem like everyone I know is being seated in different places - makes it rather hard to see everyone I'd like! I appreciate all the hard work and detail that's gone into making the arrival of so many people work smoothly.

I've been largely in and out of workrooms and studies doing research the past few weeks, other than a brief pause for the end of the CCF camp (to all our rising fourth years, fantastic job!) but enjoying spending some time in New London. It's been quite fun to see all the little stands and stores that have sprung up, and I've enjoyed being able to visit some of the exhibits and performances. I particularly enjoyed a small chamber concert attempting to recreate some of the music of Marsilio Ficino, a Renaissance wizard fascinated by the music of the spheres. I know less about music than I'd like, but of course, planets always attract my attention.

I also got a chance to take my eldest niece shopping, as she starts Hogwarts this year, and it was delightful to answer some of her questions, see the first days of school through fresh eyes. And of course, pause for some ice cream.

I'm off visiting the CCF programme this week (I am not directly in charge, but I'm handy to help sort out housing and food details, and that sort of thing). Everyone seems to be settling in well enough. Students have a very busy and full schedule in front of them, but I'm confident that they'll thrive.

I've spent the past several weeks catching up on all manner of things that needed doing, including an extended visit to my parents, for a little bit of a breather before the complexities of the YPL activities. Mum and I had an extended conversation about some of the research she's been doing: I could not persuade her to post some recipes, so I'll be doing so myself as I get some time.

I've had a couple of days in New London, mostly taken up by meetings, but I'm looking forward to a bit longer in between the YPL visits, and am looking forward to seeing some more of the sites. I'm almost wondering if I should take up a lease on a flat for the next month or two just to make it easier to manage.