Susan Bones

Got your owl!

The thermos was an absolutely brill gift--those cooling charms have been saving me all week.

I wanted to write you earlier, but it's been completely mad around here. This trip has been a nightmare, honestly--I'm going to have to restrain myself from jumping for joy when we Portkey this lot back to New London and the waiting arms of their parents tomorrow evening.

I've cursed the name of Umbridge so many times this week! With everything else going on, I didn't really pay much attention to what the younger years had been doing in YPL last term, and it turns out that they've learnt absolutely nothing about wilderness survival. Marching and singing patriotic songs was a higher priority, apparently, and it's not as if most of their lessons were very practical either. The first day loads of them showed up with packs that were positively stuffed, then whined when they had to carry them, but didn't want to share with the 1 or 2 halfbloods who didn't have nearly as much.

We've had 3 times as many poison oak incidents as last year, not to mention the sprained limbs, the lost orienteering groups we've had to retrieve, and the rained-out tents because someone forgot to put up the waterproofing charms! Macmillan and I have been working together pretty well, fortunately; there's some tension from last term still, but we're both kind of agreeing to pretend it never happened. But with two badgers as senior counselors, we've had to work extra hard to avoid showing favouritism; I understand why that's needed, but I really wish I could spend more time with the kids I think of as my former first-years, especially Chelsea Abbott.

Enough of my tales of woe, though. Congratulations on getting into the Daughters of the Protectorate! I know it's not hugely your sort of thing, but at least it'll look good at job interviews and such. And I'm sure you look amazing in your gown.

And anything that makes your mum happy enough to change her mind about letting you get a flat is worth celebrating! I can't wait to see it! And maybe, er, christen it sometime when Octavia's away for the weekend.

I'm going to sleep for days when I get back, but after that, I'd love to make plans.

Looks like we're going to need the twins' Charms expertise after all. But it's not an emergency; Iwe didn't misjudge him that badly, he's not going to run off and betray us to Umbridge.

But it should probably get done by tomorrow, and earlier would be better than later. I gave him a signal, and if I flash it, he'll follow me off into some deserted corner and we can get it taken care of.

He requested it.

He likes the idea of the galleons, in theory, but he has reasons--family reasons--for feeling like he can't get anywhere near it. He's scared his family could end up like the Fleets. His secrets aren't for me to tell since he's not joining, but even though Ernie can be a tad, well, paranoid, in this case I think he probably has cause to be.

But he doesn't want to betray us either; if I or anyone else ever gets caught, he wants to be able to say with absolute truthfulness than he didn't know a thing about it.

Hey!

Are you lot doing anything for Ernie's birthday?

Hannah and I were thinking of surprising him--not with anything soppy, don't worry! We picked up some fun things at Zonko's and Honeydukes, and we thought we might have a little something in the common room.