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

5th and 7th students:
Revision sessions are now scheduled and posted in the usual places. As usual, additional sessions are possible at mutually agreeable times, and the projection stones not being used in this week's classes are available for brief loans for your own study work. I also have sample questions from past exams available for review.

Upcoming events:
The Astronomy Guild will be hosting another lecture evening on Monday, April 21st at 7pm. This one will focus on the theory of the music of the spheres, and will include both music and charmwork by way of illustration. Students, as this is during holidays, I certainly don't expect any of you to attend. If you'd like to, please see me for more details, and you would be quite welcome.

Toshenka -

I have just spent two hours with Septima crying on my shoulder. Can you help?

I know I told you that one of her students last year failed near everything but his Arithmancy OWLS. Despite several of us doing everything we could. (And curse it, it was not enough, and Horace still holds it over me that he was right about that.) And they broke his wand, sent him to the camps.

You know she was called in Saturday to help, got shaken out of bed, spent the whole night doing calculations at the Ministry. After, it hit home just how much Thomas Capper could have helped. That he could have done the arithmancy near enough in his head.

This morning, after her class, she went to ask how he was doing. I don’t know why - no, I’m lying. I would look too. And because she’d been so helpful, someone tracked down where he - where he’d been.

He died, in October. Of all the stupid things, he fell, hit his head, and no one noticed for too long. Didn’t wake up the next morning. I don’t think his brother and sister even know.

She’s in a bad way. And she’s - all those what-ifs we talked about recently, losing students. She won’t - can’t - hear me about it. Can you come up as soon as you see this? Bring one of the books I found for her, too? I think she’ll eventually want the distraction.

This is me asking a favour. And not asking about other things. Because I can do the arithmancy on those myself. (She is not her most discreet ever - all the more reason for you to talk to her before anyone else does. For the good of the school.)

Tosha, dear -

I have just had a surprisingly insightful conversation with our Mr Moon. Quite sure I startled him in more than one place, and I think very usefully. We started with the challenge of my door wards, though I think he didn’t entirely get the hint about thinking through larger implications.

That done, I was working on leading him toward the ripple effects of actions upon the rest of the school. We got there, but before we did, he arrived at “We nearly became the Carrows!” all on his own. Rather tidily, even, barring a bit of unseemly language I chose to ignore.

Inglebee’s lack of mouth kept coming up - it obviously made a very deep impression. And speaking of influence, he obliquely referenced your conversation more than once. You have certain unmistakeable turns of phrase, you know. Incidentally, did you know that one of the current rumours is that Lucius (in his role as one of the Board) apparently Cruciated you and Raz as punishment for letting students go astray? You have not, I think, covered your exhaustion as well as we might like.

After that, we got onto my actual work for him. One part mapping which projection stones I can make when (easy enough, and useful). And then the other, that I’d hinted at with you, that Georg wants me to look at research of three members of the Guild and see if they’re manipulating data to suit their arguements. It should keep him busily occupied. Me as well. (I suspect I will regret agreeing to do this for Georg. I will almost certainly want to pick your brain about it.)

From there, I laid out the time expectations we’d discussed, got his promise to tell me if it turns out to affect his other commitments too much, and he realises he should not look happy about his prospects with me either. I’m off to pull journals for him to start with on Wednesday, but if you want me to come down and talk through the rest in person, let me know? I should be done up here around half-four.

While I think of it: do you need another round of Reparo, or are you managing that yourself again? Oh, and can I ask your advice sometime soon about a couple of Christmas presents? (Not Raz, but Lucius and Rod, in specific. And part of Draco’s. Ideally before Tuesday noon.)

First, a reminder to our fifth, sixth, and seventh years that the first of our observing opportunities for meteor showers - the Draconids - is coming up this weekend. Depending on the weather, you should have the opportunity either Sunday or Monday not too long after sunset. I’ll be up on the tower after supper both nights until around 9 for those who wish to observe.

(Again, you’re expected to do some brief observations across at least two of the three upcoming meteor showers, weather reasonably permitting. Consult your notes or come by office hours if you are still confused about my expectations. You will in all cases want to work with a partner - it makes things much easier - and doing so is required if you’re out of your dorms outside of curfew.)

Looking ahead, I will not be available on Saturday, the 20th, but the Orionids should - if the weather holds - be most visible between midnight and dawn on the 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Those who wish to stay up on Friday night are welcome to come up the tower at midnight if the weather’s clear (though my 3rd years will be working on a different assignment.) Pre-dawn viewing, you are on your own, but I am glad to arrange permissions as needed.

And second, just a reminder on my office hours - you all know I’m glad to be available. However, I do generally plan to be done at 9pm, and often have some other tasks calling my attention. If you have a longer or more complex question, please do come earlier in the session, or arrange a time with me privately. (I do have to have time to do all your marking, after all!)

In New London for the afternoon, a combination of errands and catching up with two of my sisters. It is amazing how quickly things fall into place after just a week or two back at school, really - I’ve been working tidily through my list and plans, and it’s so satisfying to see things checked off.

The weather, alas, not so much - we’ve had some glorious stargazing weather the last week, but I’m afraid it’s the last gasps before the far more uncertain days of the fall and winter.

Temp - thanks again for rounding more of those up. And for the other set of used-book searching, too. Gilly - no worries that you had to cancel, I found other company, but next week? Could do lunch at one.