alternity | Well done, everyone!

I hope everyone had a marvellous time last night.

CCF, Prefects and others: If I didn't catch you last night (and I know I missed some of you, though I tried to find everyone), I've a small something for all of you. I have some of the tokens to Melinda so she could keep passing them along, there were so many to give and some of you left, I think, before I could catch up with you all. Token or not, thank you, each of you, for making Hogwarts shine.

Professor Sinistra, I'm sorry I wasn't able to stay for the whole time. I wasn't feeling very well toward the end. I think probably because I was so nervous before that I didn't have much to eat and then I got too hungry. Well, anyway. Thank you so much for everything. You really looked like a star yourself, last night. I'm so proud that Hogwarts is represented by someone like you.

Bravo to the Champions and their Escorts! Again, it must be said that you all looked marvellous. Miss Sandoval, congratulations in particular on gracing Mr Marvolo's arm with poise, especially for one so young.

And finally: Congratulations to Slytherin's own Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson! Tintagel's performance of 'Hey, Hey Merlin' was the highlight of the night, no matter what other memories we may take away from the festivities. I'm sure we're all very excited and proud that a song celebrating our glorious Protectorate has gained such popularity on a much broader plane than the castle's walls. It's a significant accomplishment for you both, and well done.

Now, I know everyone is probably still quite excited by yesterday's delights and I hope that you all continue to enjoy the rose garden; Mr Milland tells us that it shall remain through the end of the school holidays. Or was that just through the Christmas holiday? Well, the weekend, at any rate.

Just please, please remember No Magic in the Corridors and even though it's holidays, please remember that school rules regarding curfews and other activities are still in effect.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I do hope you're feeling better this morning - but I quite understand about the nerves. I noticed you'd gone as we got later into the evening, but kept having other people I needed to talk to. You did Hogwarts proud, and I know it was hard for you, not to have Mr Weasley able to come.

(And of course, thank you for the compliment: I was most nervous about the whole thing myself.)

There's a nice little piece about your speech in the Prophet, if you've not seen it yet. Really quite complimentary. I expect to be up in my office this afternoon, if you don't have another copy handy.

Oh. I didn't see the article. Thanks.

I guess it's hard to have a wonderful time when all around people are paired off. Do you know I read in a magazine, I don't remember which one but something Melinda had left round the common room--and they're all alike, aren't they, those girls' periodicals--well, anyway, I read that loads of people get really depressed round the holidays. I reckon loneliness is as good a reason to be depressed as any.

But the CCF did very well, and you and Professor Raz look so happy together, and that's a good reason to celebrate.

Thanks again, for those little treats to hand out. I know I'm no Lana Sandoval but

Oh, bother.

I've had quite my share of lonely events myself, and yes, it is hard. You bore up really quite well, everything considered.

(And yes, goodness, on the magazines. I read them to keep up with what's going on with who, and half the time, I can't remember which ones I've already read, they're so similar.)

But they do make a point: it is hard when everyone around you is with someone else, and you're not. Do try to find something you enjoy doing today, that's just for you. (For me, that's always been stargazing, but I think everyone's got something of the kind, don't they?)

On the treats: you're most welcome, and it does smooth over the edges when you do something like that. It's a trick one of the YPL committee members taught me, and it serves remarkably well. (And oddly, works best if it's something consumable, like those truffles, rather than something to keep forever.) People like getting things, so they warm to you a bit more ~~than they might otherwise~~.

Cheers, too, on the rest. It's something of a relief to have it a bit more public.

Well done, everyone!

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