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

Minerva - I'm sorry it's taken this long to follow up, but I realised we really ought to do so.

First, I am sorry we ended up surprising you with it, but we both weren't at all sure what the answer would be, and had no idea Our Lord would ask for your presence. I do know it does complicate things for you, and I'm sorry for that.

But we really should talk, perhaps in person, about the practical implications, as they'll affect some of our choices. We're thinking perhaps a wedding over Easter holidays, which simplifies some things, but does mean we'd want to make a more lasting shift in rooms mid-year. And while I hope you've no undue concern about our behaviour around students, I'd rather talk about that now than have it be a discomfort later.

Beyond that, though, I presume the YPL oversight committee has already been in touch? They've required I not discuss their choices before the public announcement, but at this point, I do not want to be responsible for laying one more surprise at your feet, so if they haven't, I'd rather explain.

I am still tied to Leicester for much of this week, and Raz has commitments for some of the next, but I can get free for an hour or two somewhere here if needed.

..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.

Is it morning already? Ugh. But I have parchments calling my name at the moment, to finalise the schedule for the 3rd, and Felix really wants them before noon so he can smooth ruffled feathers.

Wanted to check in, since we’ve both been busy, and it doesn’t look like the weekend will be much better. (Not that I don’t want to see you, because I do, but I’m assuming Harry may want to find you at odd times with questions until Saturday. At least potentially. And who knows how Saturday will go.)

On Cedric: I did pass along our agreed cryptic message and when I saw him in the hall yesterday, he was heading for the library, looking determined. It does seem like the interviews on Tuesday stirred up some nastiness again, from what I heard in class yesterday morning from the 3rd years (that class is Slytherins and Hufflepuffs, and it’s becoming my barometer for mood) and last night from my 6th year NEWTs.

(Speaking of which. I feel sorry for all four of the champions, really: those interviews looked rather miserable.)

How're things with you?

I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who's worked hard to make the CCF trials this week work as smoothly as they have.

Of course, my thanks must begin with our Headmistress and other staff (including Madam Pomfrey, who's been kept quite busy this week) for rearranging plans and space on short notice, and likewise to the various examiners and Ministry staff who have assisted in testing. My thanks also go to our students, who've met the challenges of this week with remarkably good grace.

This testing has also given the opportunity for various Ministry departments to give a trial run to new methods of guiding people towards the roles in which they can best serve the Protectorate, and I believe the results of these trials will benefit all of us in years to come.

I know that parents may have some questions as students return home, about the decision-making process. While some material has been delivered by owl, I or the CCF programme coordinators (listed in the material sent home) are also available for additional questions.

(For myself: I'll be at Hogwarts for a day or two, and then am taking a quick few days to visit with family, before we dive into the summer YPL programme planning for the younger students. My journal is likely a better way to reach me than owl.)

I'm sure you're both terribly busy, so please ignore this until you've a moment to spare, but a few things that have come up.

I'm in the Hufflepuff common room - I relieved Pomona, so she could focus on poor Hannah and whatever else needs to be done - but the entire House is obviously extremely upset.

Whatever concrete information can be shared would be helpful - they've worked themselves up into quite a fit of fear and speculation (the ones who aren't just in tears). Pomona did tell me the horrible details of what happened, but until I know what's to be shared with students, I won't say anything, of course.

Poppy -

More than a few of them are likely to have trouble sleeping. I know you've opinions about the use of Dreamless Sleep potion, but is there something else that might, well, soften the edges a little? Some of them - especially the second and third years - are so worked up.

If an extra pair of hands would be helpful to you, I think I've also done as much here as I can directly, though of course I'm glad to stay here as long as it's useful. The prefects are helping wonderfully, as much as they can.

And... is there anything I can do for Raz? Or any news you can share?

- A.S.

At least that's what it feels like - at least half my family has sent me one asking for news of yesterday. First, the Prophet had quite a decent story, all things considered. (And yes, Mum, the students in those photos are both in my classes, though I won't teach them till tomorrow.) It was quite a lot of pageantry, though.

We gathered at 2pm in the castle entry, to walk all the students out to the Forbidden Forest. They'd cleared a pathway in, and set up pavillions and seats and it was all quite safe, though several students jumped a bit at some rustling in the underbrush. We all got settled (by house, which is just convenient, since the prefects know their housemates well), and the Lord Protector and the others with him all got there. Some students, of course, got to sit with their parents or guardians - always a treat to see each other during term-time.

Once everyone was quiet, Parvati came out wearing that beautiful dress. The crown was mostly flowers from Pomona's greenhouse (with a few herbs traditionally used for this hunt, so she said at breakfast) and a few very early buds from outside, I think. She sat, and we all waited - well, rather longer than people wished, maybe. It's still not exactly warm out, and our younger students do get a tad restless.

But then the unicorn appeared on the far side of the clearing, away from the seating, and walked very slowly over to her and knelt, and put its head in her lap. Really, there's a reason people make tapestries of it, as it's a beautiful sight, like nothing else on earth. She petted it a little, and then stood, and put a rope carefully around its neck, and led it off. (They'd built a little temporary stable for it on the grounds.)

We then all paraded back - I just had a moment to make my entry yesterday - and all went into feast. Very nice, I must say, with some special treats for the students, and of course, some quite extraordinary dishes for the high table including a gorgeous spun sugar and marzipan subtlety of a unicorn for the pudding course. They set up a number of tables on the dais, though of course I was well toward the back, as we were honoring the Lord Protector and his chosen guests.

At the end, everyone stood, and waited while the Lord Protector and his guests processed out, and then we sent everyone off to bed. I helped Pomona round up the stragglers, and get them all into the house common room at least, and then did a bit of walking the halls to make sure we had no strays before I came up to bed. Quite a long day, all told, especially given we had normal classes in the morning, even though I cancelled last night's observations.

January brings up such complex feelings. On the one hand, the night skies are so clear, especially around the new moon (as occurs on Monday). On the other, even I recognise the challenges of stargazing in northern climes in January.

Wool cloaks and jumpers and good gloves are all well and good - and necessary, this time of year. But a good simple warming charm is even better. It's a wonder Muggle astronomers ever got anything done, really.

Regrettably, the first years are not all up to that level of charms work yet (and to be honest, neither are some of the older students without rather a lot of time-wasting fussing), so I am here at my desk trying to decide on how to balance their observation time this week against Poppy's insistence that I deplete her stock of Pepper-Up potion more than necessary. There are some particular observations I'd like them to make this week, after all, if it's clear enough.

We did have a good conversation in class about the Great White Spot on Saturn, however. At least, I thought so. We'll see how much they retain for exams in the spring.