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

Toshenka, there's something I need to tell you.

Last night, I got an anonymous owl. Short message, in entirely uninformative handwriting, that said "Be careful when you return to the castle. Umbridge has spent today searching staff quarters. -- A friend."

Raz checked it before I opened it - no unusual charms or anything of that kind. But the ink disappeared about ten minutes after we read it. He didn't get one, and it was clearly addressed just to me. (Did you get one? I assume not, or you'd have said?) Whether that means she had more sense than to look, or that I've an unknown friend who doesn't care about warning Raz, I've no idea.

Took me a while to calm down after that. And now I just - I don't know what to do.

It's not that I'm that worried she found anything that'd cause a problem. (A stack of romance novels and the gossip rags, a few letters, but nothing she'd be able to use against me. I have the things that might have in this handy book trunk some extremely prescient person gave me. Just, well. Sentimental things. Letters from Alde and Alcor. Some of my old notebooks. The wedding dress sketches. The things I hate to think of her hands on.)

But I wasn't feeling safe before this. I - oh, Hypatia. I was waking up at night, sure someone was in the hall, or trying to come in. All the things the mind does when it's afraid.

I hate feeling helpless

Raz and I can't decide if him having a look at my wards again would set her off, since presumably she doesn't know that we know that she was there. So would you find some excuse to come up and take a look, when we get back? Help put in something with a bit more of a bite? (There's charms on my doors that aren't wards, too, and they might tell us something, maybe.)

And what do you think about the note itself? I can't check if Pomona got one easily yet (would you ask Horace if he did?) But I can't imagine she sent it - she's got other ways to reach me that would be secure enough to tell me it was her.

Did I thank you properly for Friday yet? Saturday was miserable, but Lucius and Narcissa had us over Sunday, and that helped more than I thought it might. (Much better than my family's managed, anyway.)

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!)

It seems somehow impossible that it’s April already, and yet this has been such a very busy year, given our visitors at Hogwarts. I’m in New London now, looking forward to a bit of a break, after a few necessary tasks get crossed off my list.

I did get in an unexpectedly long walk before my meetings started this morning, and felt much better for it afterwards. It was nice to have a change of pace - along shop windows and parks, rather than the Black Lake or the grounds - too. Always helps me think, a good walk.

This...

I have to say, this isn't what I was quite expecting. I know some of it must be stagecraft of some kind, but, well.

(And are those people trying to leave, across the stadium?)

I must say, it's been a most amazing few days. I've barely had time to catch my breath or sit down for a minute without having something else come along since Thursday afternoon. Not that a great deal of it hasn't been most enjoyable, mind you.

I'm quite looking forward to a few quiet days to settle down, catch up on various pieces of neglected work, and get some quality research time in, just for the change of pace. (And I've certainly got enough to keep me occupied for a bit.)

I woke up to a half dozen notes, but no details, except that apparently you’re much better off than Stint is.

Are you?

And what on earth did you do happened?

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.

Students: I’m delighted to announce a new resource.

As some of you know (particularly my N.E.W.T students who’ve been giving me feedback on some samples), I’ve been working for the past two and a half years on a way to project a portion of the night sky and hold it for study and teaching (steadily, without ongoing need for concentration). I’m delighted to say I’ve reached a point where I believe the work is ready for regular classroom use.

Now, this does not replace our observation time (since you will still need to learn how to use your own telescopes and make your own observations). And, of course, no matter how good or how detailed my created images of the night sky are, they do not contain everything: only what I myself knew at the time I made the image. (And thus, it does not include ongoing or emerging stellar events, comets or meteors, or other things of that kind.)

However, I do think it will be an excellent resource in a number of situtations:
- to illustrate a point in class, so you can make more effective use of your observation time.
- to ilustrate more clearly things that cannot readily be seen with student telescopes.
- to make it easier to study or review before tests (both my own exams, and for O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams).

And of course, it will give us some additional options on cloudy nights without completely losing class time.

This option has limits: it takes me at least half an hour to link a combination of charms and create an image for each area, and it can be much longer for a more complicated or detailed piece of the sky. I plan to add another couple each week, until we have a well-stocked library of examples (focusing first on materials of use for O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. students, and then moving on to items covered regularly in the rest of the curriculum.)

Projections can be checked out by permission during hours I’m in my office, and an updated list of projections will be posted by my door each week. My classroom is available for their use, and I’ve also had the house-elves clean out a space on the floor directly below, as the projections are best viewed without distracting items behind them. (You’ll notice a large white sheet hung in a corner of my classroom for this purpose as well.)

If anyone is interested in the theory behind the project, I have an article in the next issue of the Journal of Modern Magical Theory and Experiment that explains some of the details, and I’d be glad to share my copy of the submitted version. Just stop by my office!

First YPL event
As you all know, our first YPL event of the year will be on October 22nd, and we will welcome both our foreign guests with an orienteering scavenger hunt of the Hogwarts buildings and grounds that will test your navigation skills, charms, puzzle solving abilities, and more. There will be small prizes for the winning team on each path (there are four), and small tokens for everyone who makes a sincere attempt to complete the course.

I want to first thank Mr Ronald Weasley and Miss Katrina Bundy for a proposal that has been most helpful in planning this event - well done, and good initiative!

Everyone else is welcome to sign up to participate, and should expect to form groups of 3-5 students, including our foreign guests in your groups. You might want to think now about how to arrange that.

For those who participate, all the puzzles and challenges of the course can be solved with magic no more complicated than our students learn at the end of 3rd year. However, in many cases, multiple solutions are possible, and any method that does not damage other students, property, or beings is permitted. CCF and YPL counsellors will be available if you have any concerns.

CCF members and YPL counsellors
You will be needed to help staff the various positions, and of course set up elements of the hunt in advance.

Please sign up on my office door for a prep shift (either Friday night, the 21st, or Saturday, the 22nd), and plan to be available from 2pm to 5pm for the actual event. (A special tea will follow for participants). I may also be adding one more addition to your Saturday morning (a pleasant one, if the scheduling works out) so plan your study time accordingly.

Other notes
Tuesday evening class: I will be in New London for last minute planning with the YPL committee on Tuesday afternoon, and it is likely the meeting will stretch into the evening. Therefore, I am cancelling Tuesday observing classes, but have asked a couple of my NEWT students to be available from full dark until curfew if you need to get caught up on any assignments.

I will also not be available for questions during that time, obviously, so if you have questions for assignments due Wednesday, ask them by Monday.

Poppy: I'd love a chance to consult with you about a few specific considerations. Are you free tomorrow afternoon, or perhaps Monday afternoon? If not, can we chat in private message here?

First, my condolences to the surviving family and friends of Mr Crouch, Jr. and his mother. As some of you may be aware, Mr Crouch, Jr. was instrumental in consulting on a number of security considerations around YPL event and trip planning, and his devotion and dedication to his duty, the Protectorate, and the Lord Protector were clear in every moment of that work.

Regrettably, time continues to march forward, and we are already behind schedule in making final arrangements for this year due to the exciting recent announcement of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. We've arranged the events at Hogwarts this year to include our visiting students as much as feasible, to better demonstrate the skills, learning, and experience that our students gain through participation in the YPL programme. Further details about each activity will be forthcoming, but I wanted to make the dates available as soon as possible for all those who may need to make relevant plans.

(It is possible that one or two dates may shift over the course of the year, based on various other needs, but we believe these dates are now fairly firm.)

We have had several other interesting proposals for activities this year, and space and time allowing may make optional participation in several activities possible over breaks in classes.

October
On October 22nd, the YPL will welcome our guests with an exercise to introduce them to the grounds and other spaces of Hogwarts, giving everyone a chance to learn more about our richly historic location, and meet a variety of students. CCF students and YPL counselors should be alert for announcements about planning meetings, and will be expected to assist in the practical details of the day, all others are welcome to participate.

December
In late November and through December, YPL students in years three and up should plan on some meetings and tutorial sessions so that they may provide support at an event related to the Tri-Wizard Tournament. We anticipate these sessions will be about 2 hours in length, and happen every two or three weeks, depending on your focus.

On Saturday, December 3rd, we will welcome several medwizards for an extended lecture and training session. A general workshop will be available to all YPL members and our foreign guests, while our CCF students (who have already learned some basic material) will also attend an additional workshop with greater detail and expectations.

January
On January 28th, we will have an excursion for all YPL members that will test orienteering, strategy, and leadership skills. Students should dress warmly, and practice a variety of warming charms. Again, our foreign guests will be welcome to join us, provided they attend the preparatory meeting.

March
On March 3rd, we will welcome a visiting artist, Melete Pencarrow, who will lead YPL participants in creating a wizarding mural depicting an event in Hogwarts history. Students will do much of the background design and painting of the mural, and she will assist with details. Students will also learn about mixing pigments for wizarding paintings, the rich language of symbol in artwork, and lectures on notable painting and portrait technique illustrated by the Hogwarts portraits and other pieces. Mrs. Pencarrow will be residing in Hogsmeade for the duration to assist, with a formal presentation of the finished artwork following the spring holidays.

YPL students should allow two to three hours in their schedule each week (for the duration of the project) for a combination of small group lectures and work on the mural, though of course students wishing to contribute additional time will be welcome. Our visitors are welcome to attend the lectures on request.

May
Finally, on May 26th, we will welcome a panel of distinguished witches and wizards with great experience in international wizarding relations, including those teachers guiding our visiting guests. They will discuss and explore where the new horizons in Protectorate diplomacy made possible through the Tri-Wizard Tournament events, and what opportunities in the field might be open for students in the coming years.

Final notes
As always, all students in years one through three are welcome and encouraged to participate in the YPL and explore the opportunities available to them as future productive members of our Lord Protector's realm. Continuing beyond year three requires a greater commitment and success in a variety of skills. Students who expressed a wish to continue (via application to the CCF) last year, but who did not attend the summer training are welcome to attend general YPL activities, but will not be able to participate in the extra training and opportunities of the CCF courses.

Should you have any questions, I have a number of tasks taking my time this weekend, but you may leave a note here (a private message, if you prefer), or can find me in my office during my usual open office hours this week.