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

I was reminded this weekend that I’ve been teaching seven years now - long enough that I remember this past year’s 7th years being Sorted, and now they’re on to bright and wonderful futures. I cannot imagine where the time’s gone.

Right now, though, I’m glad enough to be settling the final details for the YPL summer events. After several years of doing this, we’re in good shape for the camping week and the New London trips, but the CCF programme continues to grow and develop, which of course takes more planning time.

CCF students: you will be getting further information on Wednesday, but I can mention a few things now. First, you’ll need to find time to come to New London to be fitted for uniforms (provided by the programme) in the next fortnight or so - the letters home will have more details.

And second, I know you’ve all been attentive to physical fitness, but your planned schedule is exhausting to read about, never mind experience. You will likely be grateful to any attention to building stamina and strength between now and then. Your activities will also include a number of water-based events, so if you are not already a strong swimmer, you’ll benefit from practice. (The notes home will list a few instructors glad to assist. If you do not swim at all or need assistance arranging instruction, please let me know promptly.)

Finally, a note of thanks to Miss Padma Patil for a suggestion that’s being incorporated extensively into this year’s CCF programme.

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.

I’ve had a few questions about the mural project from those outside Hogwarts, so I’m delighted to say that at our meeting last Saturday, we selected the founding of Hogwarts itself as our topic.

Thank you to all who came prepared with such excellent ideas, even though we could only pick one. (For the curious, other suggestions included the investiture of Our Lord, the Fall of the Ministry, scenes from Merlin’s life, Quidditch through the ages, and one focusing on various magical creatures.) It was quite a lively discussion.

Mrs Pencarrow is planning on a meeting Sunday afternoon at 3 for anyone at Hogwarts interested in discussion of some different approaches to the design. She expects to have the basic outline plotted on the wall next week. Those interested may also wish to keep an eye on her journal for daily posts on various portraits and other artwork at Hogwarts as well as the progress of the mural project - I’m finding her posts very interesting so far.

YPL students are reminded to keep their commitments for both painting sessions and the artwork tours and copies of the schedule are in all the house common rooms now. Non-YPL students are welcome to sign up anywhere there is space on the schedule at this point.

I’m in New London for two days of YPL meetings. It’s hard to be away from Hogwarts - and a long list of things that need attention - but a change in routine is also surprisingly pleasant.

I’ve never been a morning person, and apparating over distance first thing is worse, so I made sure to get here in plenty of time for a walk to clear my head before we started our meetings this morning. But that’s given me time to be delighted by the shop windows, particularly this year’s fashion for sparkling light charms - so delicate - and the wider color palette.

I saw a gorgeous window in silvers and blues and purples, as well as many with more classic greens, reds, and golds. And of course, the charmed displays are wonderful: my favorite was several windows of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade in winter with a cunningly done Quidditch match in progress. And there’s the smell of pine in the air, and the clusters of little stalls, and banners snapping in the breeze... And of course, a pleasant little pastry at one of the nearby cafes to put me in the best possible mood before we started this morning.

I’m looking forward to being able to make a great deal of progress with the YPL plans for this spring and summer, but also a few chances to relax. I’m eagerly anticipating a performance tonight and then there’s dinner with my parents tomorrow, and a few other errands and tasks to finish getting ready for the holidays.

Minerva:

You know I hate to have YPL matters intrude on teaching, but I’m afraid I’m a bit stuck.

We absolutely must meet for two days, sometime in December (the TriWizard Tournament did havoc to our original plans, and we’ve been scrambling to rearrange ever since.) To make things worse, both of the new committee members have significant plans over our Christmas break, when I’d normally schedule our meetings. The committee has (grudgingly) agreed to meet on a weekend day, but we need at least one day during the workweek for conversations with various Ministry staff.

Would it be all right with you if I planned to miss either the 2nd or 3rd Monday in December? (3 classes: the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw 3rd years, and the 2nd year class and observing time, since I doubt I’ll be up for a midnight class after two days of meetings.) The other option would be either of those Fridays. But that would mean the 5th years missing both class and observing, and the 7th years missing observing and I hate to lose any class time for students in OWL and NEWT years.

Whichever day, I’m glad to either assign them something to work on, or arrange alternate time to make up. Any other ideas most welcome, of course.

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?