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

Love -

Writing things down so they don't fall out of my head. (Which is full of other people's exams.)

First, an owl came for you when I was still having breakfast this morning. It looked like it might be related to whatever it is you said you were plotting, so I didn't open it and just left it on your desk. (Nashira's handy if you want to send a reply, and I won't need her for a few days.)

Second, can we practice those chained charms some more before we do another demonstration round for Harry? I've got the beginning of the sequence down - I like that variant of the shielding charm, quite a lot, actually. But when I get to the Deprehensio variant, I keep getting stuck, because I'm not sure what to do next. (I mean, I know it detects magical effects, it's figuring out what to do with what it detects that confuses me.) I might think faster on my feet than I used to, but there are times it's by a very small amount indeed.

Anyway. I'd rather not look a fool.

Third, Mum and Dad want to know if we'd come to supper once we're done here. I thought maybe not the first week we're off, since there's all the unpacking and things, but maybe the week after that? Mum thought Storm and Dittany and us, and that's it. (I think she sort of wants to talk about what to do about Theo, but I might be wrong.)

Fourth, Poppy

Going to try to get through as much of the exam marking as I can this afternoon, and I need to set up early again, but I'll be down for supper at the very least.

I'm always rather amazed at how the spring hols feel so different from the winter ones. Part of it, of course, is a chance to be outside a bit more (I've had one very pleasant lengthy ramble already, and I hope for one or two more.) And of course the social commitments are much less hectic than over Christmas and New Year's.

Naturally, there are a few events I'm looking forward to. The Astronomy Guild lecture next Monday has a number of people attending already. Now I've seen the final programme, I think it's going to be a wonderful combination of explanation and demonstration. (We're already talking about topics for the summer series at the country Guild Hall, and for a lecture series to run through next year, so we're also taking suggestions for future topics. Here, or there'll be a box Monday night, or you can contact the Guild directly.)

And of course, I'm looking forward to our own plans a week Friday.

Beyond that, mostly I'm delighting in the chance to catch up with some reading, relax a little, and have a number of conversations we never seem to find time for during term.

(Mum, yes, I'd love lunch on Friday if you're still free.)

Hypatia’s thrice-cursed sextant and all the lines of latitude.

Raz, love. You know how I was late to supper? And that Madam Headmistress didn’t appear at all? First. I’m fine. Really. Madam Headmistress is unfortunately also fine.

But I need to tell you, because she got the most absurd idea into her head, and I wanted to make sure she didn’t surprise you with it. Or anyone else.

She got the notion that somehow I must be pregnant.

I’m not, I swear on all the stars. And if I ever thought I might be, I’d tell you long before anyone else had the faintest guess. Especially after last year Besides, I’m very certain of the charm I use.

Anyway. She showed up at my rooms at ten to six, dragged me off to see Poppy, and only once I was there did she explain what she wanted. She insisted Poppy was hiding something, puffed herself up until she was red in the face.

And Poppy kept refusing to suggest the obvious - which is to say, testing - until her pinkness insisted flat out. It was clear no one was leaving that room until she got her way, and of the choices, it seemed like telling Poppy to go ahead was the choice that might solve something. And of course it confirmed that I’m not. She made Poppy do the test charm three times.

Madam Headmistress is still extremely put out. So much so that she stomped off. (Apparently not to supper. Small favours.)

I’m including Tosha because, well, strategy. And because I can’t decide now whether our plans for the three of us to test that experimental warding tomorrow and talk a bit are a good idea now or not. Much as I very much want to at least talk to you without half the staff trying to chaperone, Raz-my-love.

I’d half-thought of setting the Wizarding Repopulation folks on her for interfering in our relationship, but after this, I’m sure I don’t dare.

Dearest -

The talk with Dai, well, we are talking again finally, so that’s progress. Took an awful lot of yelling (more me than him) though. Hurrah for the amazing powers of sheer bloody-minded stubbornness, I guess.

Still at the Guild - Georg’s plying me with coffee and comets, and he says he’ll walk me home when I’m ready. Could be another hour or three, since I may as well check a few things in the library while I’m here. (And is that the first time I’ve actually called Spence home? Might be.)

And love? This argument, it made it so very clear how you’ve changed me for the better. Thank you for that and your patience.

Congratulations, all our first years, on making it through your first week. I promise, it does get easier to figure out how to manage it all.

Now that I’ve seen how some changes to my schedule have shaken out, I have posted a chart of my office hours in the usual places (my classroom and office doors, and duplicated copies in the house common rooms.)

In short:
- various daytime hours on Monday, Wednesday, Friday when I am not teaching.
- 7 to 9pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- by request at other times.

In the past, I have offered hours - often very relaxed and conversational - on Sunday afternoons. Between changes to the YPL schedule and my own commitments, it makes sense to schedule these week by week. I also expect to be unavailable on most Tuesday afternoons and early evenings and am generally unavailable in the late afternoon. Additions to my regular hours will be announced in class that week, and posted on Mondays.

Advance warning, fifth, sixth, and seventh years, I will be asking you to make some brief (about two hours total) but specific observations and measurements during the Draconids (October 7-8), Orionids (October 20-21), or Leonids (November 16-17). All three include at least one weekend day, and the Draconids are best visible just after sunset, but your actual options will depend on the weather. (Fifth years: we will jointly pick a midnight session to skip in exchange, and I have a thought about evening sessions and bad weather that might please you - we’ll discuss next week.)

If you get the chance, take a look at the western horizon after sunset the next night or two. Mars, Saturn, and Spica are in an unusually small equilateral triangle - about six degrees of each other. One thing everyone can enjoy are the colours: the crescent moon was nearly white last night, Saturn has a golden glow, and Mars is more orange than red. Spica herself is blue-white.

Spica, for those who don’t remember, is a particularly well-matched binary star system, and the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. 6th years, we’ll be discussing Spica in September as part of our look at precession. And for those of you who are early morning risers, Venus is particularly lovely in the hours before dawn this week as well.

I finally got a chance to spend the evening at the astronomy guild hall doing some research, and had a chance to catch up with several professional colleagues while we worked. There are some exciting topics under consideration for next summer’s guild-sponsored projects. Several have pieces that would make a good focus for the NEWT year-long research projects, and possibly open up internship opportunities for next summer. For those of you more interested in locational magics, there are a few possibilities there, as well.

Narcissa -

Please bear with my incoherence, but this is so odd to write. You’re the first person I’ve told.

Raz proposed last night, and of course I said yes. (He completely surprised me, and is rather smug about that. I’m delighted. And overwhelmed.) We both hope you’ll be pleased.

I’m also well aware that Our Lord’s permission is both essential and not at all certain. I can’t bear to think what happens if

Raz thought he’d wait until after the Freedom Day celebrations are over before asking for time at Court and that makes sense to me. But I’ve no idea what to expect, or if I can do anything to improve our chances or, well. Any of it.

I’d welcome whatever you could offer. Advice. Support. Information. Ways not to fret. Recommended potions for nerves. I need to be out at the CCF site much of the next three weeks, but I’m expecting to sleep at Spence, and to be able to get free for a few hours most days.

I’m also bursting to tell my family and a few friends, but it must be better to wait until we know what Our Lord’s answer is. But I equally don’t want them to find out (or guess) before that, and I’ve no idea how to balance things. (Though I suppose keeping busy will help.)

You were so clear in April and since that you wish me - us - well. And now I’m terrified it’s all going to implode and disappear, and I’d do anything for it not to. I’m so grateful for your advice and friendship so far, and I’m desperate to get the next part right. For Raz, even more than for me.

Aurora

It seems impossible that we’re at the end of the year - so much has happened. I know that many will be sorry to see friends and acquaintances from among our guests go, but I’m sure we’ll all enjoy the feast tonight, before seeing the contingents off tomorrow.

At the same time, I do look forward to the summer activities, and then to what next year might bring. And I’ve had a few questions about the summer.

CCF: 4th and 5th years will be participating the same weeks - July 27th to August 18th. You’ll have separate housing and facilities, and largely separate training, but will be working with the same instructors, and sharing some special activities. More information will be sent home as soon as we’ve finished our committee meetings - you should expect an owl June 27th or 28th with all the details.

Students entering 2nd and 3rd year should find information about your trips waiting when you arrive home.

Are you as swamped with last minute panic over OWLs as I am? I certainly want drink and distraction tonight. And good grief, Capper. A few things, so I don’t forget them later.

First: If you met Victoriana on a Tuesday afternoon in New London, you could use meeting up with me after as an excuse if she tried to drag the conversation out uncomfortably. (And if we had supper somewhere public after, it might also squash any gossip before it starts.)

Do you need ideas on locations? I think Campanella and I have eaten recently at several places near the Ministry that suit a visibly public but actually private conversation that might suit.

Second: I keep coming back to the transcripts from the April YPL meeting. Would you be willing to have a look at them - one bit in particular? Something’s still nagging at me about Stint in there. I’ve got the full transcript, plus my and Felix’s notes on body language and tone of voice.

(Doesn’t have to happen this weekend. But if there is something, I’d want to figure out the next step sooner than later.)

Third: Have any of your friends or relations expressed a desire to entertain you for your birthday? (I am sorry I’ve the YPL thing in the afternoon, but of course when we set the schedule, I had no idea I’d want to be otherwise occupied.) I'd understand if you want a night in New London or elsewhere without me, you know.

But if not, I’ve some plans of my own I’d like to finalise. You deserve a particularly excellent birthday this year, after all.

Narcissa -

So sorry, but I am entirely done in, and can’t face going out at all, even for something pleasant.

I do hope it’s not too inconvenient for you (or Madame Ardenia), and I’m sure I’ll be seeing you Friday.