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

I hope today is treating both of you better than yesterday. I wanted to follow up on yesterday evening, in hopes of helping you make your case more strongly, Minerva, that the Carrows have no business teaching here.

As I told Poppy, Ptolemy Baddock had come looking for me for help with a NEWT question, and we were walking back up towards the astronomy classroom, when we heard quite the commotion from Alecto Carrow's room. By the time we got there, Lucius Malfoy had obviously just gotten the better hand, and given a moment to compose himself, seemed well enough given the circumstances. (I did, of course, carefully ask if he needed assistance of any kind.)

Alecto was in not nearly as good a state: Ptolemy helped me get her to Poppy's care, but she was quite vile in her language as we did so.

By the time I came back, Mr Malfoy had left. I understand that he paused briefly by the Slytherin common room to wish Miss Parkinson a happy birthday, and to speak briefly to both his son and Mr Marvolo, and then went off with Raz for a drink in Hogsmeade.

Raz stopped by later to check in with me. While he was circumspect about Mr Malfoy's thoughts about recent events, he did want to warn me to stay well out of the way of the Carrows - not that I had any intention of doing otherwise, naturally. But when I start to worry about my well-being with them... well, I feel particularly for the children in our care. As you both know, dueling of any kind has never been my strong point, and besides that, it seems so disruptive to the learning they should be doing.

Related to that, I know you've likely seen some of the comments about Brutka's Transfiguration classes, but I've heard even more comments about it today, as my own classes have been gathering. If the students who've been struggling most needed only to have a kind word or another explanation - especially in a topic as key as transfiguration - we're certainly not doing our duty by either our students, or the future needs of the Protectorate, surely?

I do also understand there's been a certain amount of conversation among the Slytherins about events in particular - Ptolemy mentioned it to me today as well. Perhaps Horace might have a word with them to remind them of appropriate topics for conversation and behavior?

Mum -

Two favours to ask...

I'm to have lunch with Mrs Malfoy on Tuesday, and I haven't a clue what to wear, and my wardrobe does desperately need a bit of updating. Do you have any suggestions on where to shop on Monday? (I'd planned to stop in somewhere while I'm in New London, but this obviously puts a bit of urgency into the choice...)

I've got a bit in savings from the YPL work, so for once money isn't the first thing (though I'd prefer a couple of unexciting but usable robes to one that I could only wear a couple of times before people noticed.) What would you suggest that would be suitable for a nice lunch or dinner somewhere, but not need too much attention during the school year?

(Dear Merlin, please don't tell Diana, or I'll be deluged with fashion magazines and advice from her and all of her friends. And you know that they've all got such odd ideas of colour.)

Second, related to the first favour: could you send that copy of that etiquette guide you like by owl this week, so I can review it? I can't imagine Mrs Malfoy lunching anywhere that isn't quite public, and I'd obviously like to make a good impression. I feel tremendously out of practice, especially since I've been eating most of my meals in my room due to the observation schedule.

(And avoiding that certain someone, too, yes. Not that he's made a lot of effort to try and catch me thus far. I did pick up a small gift for him, but I'm still not sure if I'll actually give it to him or not. We'll see.)

Dad said in his latest owl that the connection I'd put him onto for the Sing Amis came through - not any of the rarer ones, but several of the dragons. I'm glad to have helped, and far better than my trying to track them down from here. I've got your previous list of things for the stockings and such, but let me know if you've any additions before Sunday.

Love,
A

Mum -

Nashira's still busy with orders I need for materials before students arrive, so a note this way seems faster.

Sorry again for not managing to visit: I know I said I'd try, but the YPL debriefing took forever and a day. (Well, till yesterday). And now I'm up to my neck in plans for next year, plus that promise to help Rabastan Lestrange settle in. (I certainly don't mind, but it is one more thing on my list. Plus there's that wanting to be helpful part, and yet not wanting to be overeager or anything like that.)

Speaking of: did you get a chance to ask Orion about our new addition? Orion keeps saying he's too busy with that secretive Ministry project to write, and he's a lousy correspondent anyway. If you do get him to come for dinner, please ask for me if there's anything I should know about, since they were the same year. I'd hate to put my foot wrong with some old upset, especially given his (and his family's) current influence. Storm was no help whatsoever, but he was enough younger that it didn't surprise me. (And, well, Storm. Barely notices his own feet until he trips over them.)

Everyone seems pleased enough with the YPL work, and there's talk of adding another person to the planning staff next year - since after all, we'd be up to three separate years to plan for, and only so many weeks when events are really feasible. If you know anyone who's free in the summer for at least three or four weeks, and is interested, do pass on the name, and I'll send it along. (They are, of course, doing very careful screening: have I mentioned again how glad I am you invested all that time in tracing all the family lines back? Made it so much easier when they were interviewing me.)

Dai sent me a very brief owl earlier this week: he still hasn't found a new job, and he's still refusing to let me help him out. I keep telling him it's not like I've got much in the way of expenses - and the extra YPL salary as well - but he keeps refusing. If you do hear of anyone looking for someone with good detail skills, I'm sure he'd be grateful of a referral. It's not like he chose his parents, or to get so sick and have his miser of a boss fire him. The good news is that he really is mostly recovered: still some weakness, and he really shouldn't have a job that requires lifting or lots of walking, but other than that, he's almost back to where he was.

My friend Poppy's gotten some new interesting possible options transfigured foods in her travels - do take a look at her recent journal about it. I know you think that the real foods are best, but honestly, you'd lose it if you had to eat just what we could grow in Scotland in the winter, even with the greenhouses. And feeding students is hard enough as it is. (Though she was grateful for your recipes: if someone's recovering from something, obviously, it's a bit different than feeding the whole horde.)

If things get sorted a bit sooner than I think they will, I'll see about coming for a day or two before term starts, but no promises. Now, I really should go off and poke around the DADA room to make that list.

A.