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

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.

I... Let me try and get this into words, because if I go back to Spence like this, it'll be no end of worry to Raz. I will be so very glad when we're back at school. I was up at Pembroke with the Malfoys (and various others) for the weekend. Well, Thursday, after that horrid In The Soup article ran. And because Stint died near enough by, they had to ask everyone where we all were.

We had the usual problem of any good mystery novel plot where we were not able to provide a suitable alibi for all possible persons at all possible times. (But really, who can. Even Raz and I spent time apart.) They did let us all go as planned Monday morning. And today I spent the morning in the Guild library, which was lovely and engaging, even if I did get lost in a totally different topic than I'd intended. Sorry. Trying to be clear here, and failing utterly.

I left there around two, and went to the Archetype. But just as I got outside - those benches in the square, just before you turn, Poppy - who stops me but that Meniscus Fulton. And he had question after question for me. I hate not thinking faster on my feet, and I'm better than I was, but well. Delia Forney was all business-like and straightforward with her questions at Pembroke. This was much like that mess in January, where he - well, it was Fulton then too - where it was clear he was after something else.

He kept trying to probe, and I kept pointing out I'd be glad to come to MLE and do it properly, and surely a park bench was not the best place. I seem to have discovered a backbone sufficient to deter that far, anyway, because after about fifteen minutes, he gave up trying, and went away, less than satisfied.

Then, as I was finally collecting myself enough to flee into the Archetype, Heloise Laverty caught up with me. I've only met her very briefly, but she wanted to ask her own set of questions. Though, thankfully, that involved a more comfortable chair, less late-summer breeze, and a pot of my favourite tisane blend of theirs.

And she was much more careful - she had some specific questions about my trip to Snowdon with you, Poppy, which Fulton never bothered to ask about (tried to keep you out of it as much as I could, Pomona, without being too obvious). And then wondering, rather off-handedly, what Fulton had been asking me. If I hadn't seen Chiron in that same mode when Daedalus snuck Diane's wand away at Christmas two years ago to try it out, I'd not know what I was looking at. And she said no need to come to MLE, and if they did need to talk further they'd arrange it properly.

Right. I feel a little better having written it all out, (and I seem to have acquired a certain amount of good will in an unexpected quarter) and am going to apply myself to a cream tea before I go back to Raz. I'm still hoping we'll be back tomorrow night, but right now, who knows. And I'm going to drop a word in what I hope is the right ear and see what comes of it.

It's a pity I can't say "I told you so", sometimes.

You know I've been arguing against synchronised marching all along (and uniforms, and patriotic songs) as a focus for the YPL time.

This weekend so far has been a rather nice illustration of why. All the people who overruled me have not the slightest idea how to get thirty three students all pointed in the same direction at once. (33, incidentally, is a horrible number to try and arrange in any kind of pretty marching order, no matter the arithmantic possibilities).

And as they keep refusing my suggestions of oh, how to manage students I've worked with for years, I am currently sitting on a stone wall in the sunshine and catching up on my journal reading. It's a pleasant enough distraction from about eight other things I'd rather not be thinking about.

I do think it will come out all right on the day - even the students who I expect would like it just to be over with are doing their best to learn the necessary pieces. And I think the end result should be rather appropriately showy if it comes off right. But really. Is this the best thing we could be spending a dozen hours on? (Not counting all the prep time, of course.)

I do hope both of you are well, and Poppy, that your latest round of mandatory education is not too dire. You may expect to avoid Stint, at least largely, as he plans to be here part of most days through Thursday, apparently.

My thanks to the three members of the YPL oversight board (and the invited guests) for an instructive and thoughtful conversation yesterday. I greatly appreciate your time, your decision and your feedback, and I’ll be in touch regarding various items as we discussed.

Students:
I’ll be back to my usual more varied schedule of availability in a day or two, as I finish tidying up a few loose ends. I also expect to be scheduling some practice observation times, particularly for the exam years. They’ll happen whatever the weather: if it’s cloudy, we’ll use one of the projections. Signups in my exam years first, and then they’ll be posted on the board for anyone who wants as there’s room.

A presentation:
Ms Gillian Chadwick, lead designer for the recently released Empyrean 3001 telescope, has agreed to come speak to anyone interested at Hogwarts on March 22nd. Discussion at half-seven, in my classroom, and then we’ll move outside if the weather is decent.

She’ll be discussing the telescope itself, along with the charms, runes, and arithmantic calculations involved in her design work, so there should be plenty of interest to many of you. She’ll also be bringing some of their prototype models so you can see the changes through the development cycle.

YPL students:
Our first meeting with Mrs Pencarrow, for the mural and art project, is on Saturday at 2. She’ll present an overview of the project and common artistic techniques. We’ll then decide on a topic (bring your best ideas).

Finally you’ll have an opportunity to sign up for time to both work on the mural and for the tours of the Hogwarts paintings and portraits she’ll be offering (you’ll be expected to attend two over the next 6 weeks.)

Our guests are welcome to participate as well, of course, to the degree they wish - please come to the meeting and sign up for times that suit you.

Fourth years:
Due to a necessary meeting, I’d like to reschedule our class on Tuesday night the 13th.

I’m open to either meeting at midnight on Sunday (going into Monday) the 11th, or for two hours the following Tuesday (the 20th) beginning at 11 instead of midnight. If you’ve a strong preference, let me know and we’ll decide in our evening class next Tuesday.

I’d say I can’t believe I managed to miss coming before this, but that’s not true: I know perfectly well how it happened. I’m so glad I got ahead on my work, so that I’ve been able to enjoy a day or two of the festivities with an entirely clear conscience.

We started yesterday by a walk through the Faire. I got on skates for the first time since my Hogwarts days, and had forgotten how fun it is. (Though my ankles gave out sooner than I’d have liked.) We spent much of the afternoon wandering through the stalls and other spaces, and I’m equally amazed at the range of wares, the many different small performing groups, and how everything comes together.

The masked ball last night was stunning - the range of masks, and designs were almost overwhelming. I saw one stunning one designed for Ceres, I think, that had across the bottom a field of grain swaying in the wind, with a butterfly flittering across, then disappearing off the edge of the mask and eventually returning, like a perfect late summer afternoon. And a Flora mask, where the flowers budded and blossomed in an endless cycle from spring through summer.

This morning, I had a most enjoyable time in one of the Roman baths they’ve set up. We’re currently waiting for the Terence play to begin - it’s supposed to be very funny - and I’m enjoying watching the little circulating arts groups. There’s a nimble acrobat, and some excellent singers, and I understand at intermission, we have an avian ballet to look forward to.

Raz, love. Thank you again for being so careful caring with me the last week, in every possible way. I can’t begin to tell you how much that’s mattered.

But in that spirit, well.

I adore the new telescope: truly, it’s exactly the thing I’d been wanting since I knew that the new line was coming out, it’s everything I hoped and more, and I’m so looking forward to digging into new research with it. But at the same time, I know perfectly well just how much what it cost.

And you know I can’t ever reciprocate a gift like that, don’t you? No matter how much I want to, and I do, I can’t come close to doing something like that, or that casually. And while I know things are different for you, it’s hard to receive something like that, and I should have turned it down, and I just couldn’t

Am I making any sense?

The pendant is lovely too, and I can’t stop reaching up to touch it, and think of you. And such a perfect design, making me think of all the orbits and circles and patterns.

Thank you, love, for a Christmas far beyond my wildest dreams. The time together and your love would have been more than enough, truly. (And still New Year’s weekend to look forward to!)

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.