Aurors

[alt_daphne]

Did anyone else see Mrs Lestrange arrive at supper? She's so impressively tall, isn't she? I love her style of robes, too. I wonder who designs them? They're very crisp and severe, but nonetheless eye-catching. I think I would like to try a look like that in a few years. I imagine she was here to look into the attack on Professor Carrow, since it looked as if she was heading straight in the direction of the hospital wing. I've heard people saying that a few of the older students might have been behind the attack, but it's hard to imagine that someone as important as Mrs Lestrange would be brought in if it were just students. At any rate I am relieved that the incident seemed to happen far away from the castle, on the edges of the Forbidden Forest. I always knew that there had to be a good reason that the Forest was Forbidden.

Mother wrote to both me and Astoria and says she has some tremendous news to pass along once we've come home. I'm quite literally on the edge of my seat (really! Come see me if you don't believe...) wondering what it would be. But then that might be because I'm simply excited to return to Belgravia for the holidays. Mother has all sorts of New London excitements lined up for us girls, including a trip to the new beauty salon in Mayfair. My hair's in sore need of some pruning, so I particularly can't wait for that. Millie, Mother said you could come along, if your parents will allow it! I know you don't believe me, but I still think you would look especially nice with a bit of a fringe.

Who all is attending the Malfoy Christmas party? I know that Draco had planned on inviting everyone in our year last time, but from what I heard that doesn't seem to be the case this year. Blaise, I know you're going... who else? Astoria's thrilled because she'll finally be allowed to attend this year (as Mother and Father's guest, of course, since she doesn't really know Draco), and she's already pestering me about what robes to choose and what all. Queenie's probably beside herself because she'll have to stay home alone with Miss Jessup while we're all out celebrating. I can't say I envy her that. Miss Jessup is a nice woman, but she has a Christmas fixation on gingerbread people (not houses, just people!) that's downright unhealthy. I remember one Christmas, many years ago, Mother and Father were out at an event and Miss Jessup had us decorating gingerbread people until nearly sun-up, and she was weeping into the lace sleeve of her robe because her gingerbread replication of the Lord Protector wasn't quite as symmetrical as it ought to have been. I never told her that Father ate her lopsided Gingerbread Lord at breakfast the next morning. Dunked it into his tea, no less! Poor, dear Miss Jessup.

I love times like this in the common room, when we're all meant to be revising but are really just listening to music and chattering about instead. I think I'll make some tea and get comfortable. My eyes are too bleary to read anymore!

Comments

[alt_draco]

You're going, of course, as well as a few other people. Don't worry about the short list of invites, it should be brilliant.

I think I've heard Mother say that Aunt Bellatrix gets her robes designed by someone at Bella Noir. I've never been there, though. They only do women's robes.

[alt_daphne]

I'm not worried at all.

Oh, I've seen that shop, I've just never been inside it. It wouldn't be Mother's style at all, that's why. You should ask Professor Lestrange where he gets his robes, though. I think that look would suit you very well.

[alt_pansy]

If he's going for the leaner look, he'd probably need a different sort of cut, wouldn't he? Because Professor Lestrange is much more broad about the shoulders.

[alt_daphne]

A good robe designer or tailor should be able to accommodate someone with less broad shoulders, I should think, though you're right that Professor Lestrange's style is more suited to someone older, same as Auror Lestrange's. So perhaps Draco should wait a few years to try that out, just as I'll wait a few years before shopping at Belle Noir.

Private message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_daphne]

Draco was actually starting to look nice and broad until he had to start reducing to play seeker, though, don't you think?

Re: Private message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_pansy]

Hmmm.

Well, he certainly wasn't thick-necked like Gregory, but yes, he was. I think his current look suits him very well, though.

Re: Private message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_daphne]

Ew, Gregory looks like he swallowed a pumpkin and it got lodged in his throat! I don't fancy that look at all.

Draco looks fit no matter what. How couldn't he, with such a gorgeous Mother? Would you rather look like Mrs Malfoy or Mrs Lestrange? I can't make up my mind, myself.

Re: Private message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_pansy]

Well, they both are very elegant, of course. I simply love the way Aunt Narcissa styles herself, but my colouring is closer to Auror Lestrange.

Re: Private message to Pansy Parkinson

[alt_daphne]

Mine is as well. Mrs Malfoy's colouring is quite rare, really. I feel like Hydra has her Aunt's colouring more than her own Mother's, though. It's too bad she doesn't seem very interested in fashion.

[alt_draco]

What's wrong with my shoulders?

[alt_pansy]

Nothing at all, of course!

They're different silly, not wrong.

[alt_draco]

Well of course they're not broad. Yet. Maybe I should do some push-ups.

[alt_pansy]

I'm sure they will be just as broad as they are supposed to be when you're fully grown. And I'd bet if we looked at Professor Lestrange's school pictures from his third year, he wouldn't look like he does now.

[alt_draco]

No, he had hair so long it almost reached his collar. Wild, yeah? He was pretty weedy, too.

[alt_pansy]

Oooh, I can't even imagine! I'm going to look it up tomorrow just to see.

[alt_draco]

You should ask to see the photographs in his office sometime. They're all really interesting.

[alt_pansy]

Good idea!

[alt_draco]

The "hero of the protectorate" look? Hear it's a sharp one for Spring with just about everyone. But maybe I will, yeah? My Mother will probably take me shopping over the hols, since she usually does. That won't be until after the party, though.

[alt_daphne]

I'm sure your Mother will guide you right! She has positively impeccable taste.

[alt_pansy]

Oh, no doubt about that!

[alt_pansy]

Milli would look better sweet with a fringe, she should get one!

And maybe it was centaurs? That did that to Mr Professor Carrow, I mean. Professor Brutka would know.

[alt_daphne]

That's what I keep telling her, but she won't listen!

I would think even Madam Pomfrey would be able to tell that, wouldn't she? Being hit by a hoof wouldn't look like a fist. Though centaurs have fists too so I don't know...

[alt_padma]

We're going! Parvati and me and I think Lav may be coming with her parents, but we're not sure. We hope so, though!

Davies was saying at supper that Professor Carrow told Miss Professor Carrow that he saw who attacked him - but he must have been confused in the dark, because he said there were two men and they both looked like Sirius Black! And I heard from Chang and Dames that the whisper among the Prefects is that Professor Carrow was taking a potion that made him hallucinate. I asked Dames why on earth and he said probably it was because the potion aided the Professor in his research into Dementors.

I just hope whomever did it gets caught quickly. It's Hogsmeade tomorrow and I certainly don't want to spend the day constantly looking over my shoulder at every shadow! Luckily we'll be travelling in a group so it's unlikely anyone would try to abduct or assault any of us.

[alt_daphne]

I wonder why Professor Carrow was researching the Dementors? I didn't think there was much that wasn't known about them, just that they enjoy swooping around and making people depressed.

Vince was talking about that earlier, the bit about two Sirius Blacks, and at the time I thought he was just being thick. Oh, but the potion must have been strong if it made Professor Carrow see that!

What are you doing at Hosgmeade tomorrow? Spending time with anyone in particular?

[alt_padma]

Well, Dames says that Professor Carrow has been interested in them since they arrived at the school. The Dementors, I mean. Dames said that the Professor's told his OWL students that one has to conquer any threat to one's own superiority, or something like that anyway. So he's been going where they keep the Dementors, Dames says. Following them, to try to improve his, er, tolerance, I guess. And see if he can figure out ways to get the better of them.

But I guess that potion was pretty unreliable, yeah.

No, no one in particular, Daffs. There's a small group of us who've decided to all go together - me, Parvati and Lav, of course, and Finnigan and his friend Hooper and Page said he'd come along too for a lark. We'll probably just go round the shops. Page still has family to get presents for, and I think Finnigan wants to find something snitch for Mr Rosier. And Lav needs to do all her shopping yet. And maybe we'll get some butterbeer.

[alt_daphne]

That's rather..brave of him, I suppose. And I'm sure with Matron's help he'll make a full recovery soon enough.

Sounds like I'll see you around, then. We're more or less doing the same thing, going around to the shops, only I have to do Astoria's shopping along with my own so I suppose I'll be all loaded down with packages on the walk back. I'll have to make good use of Greg, in that case.

[alt_padma]

Hm. Maybe we ought to see if Summers or Stebbins wants to earn a little pocket money being our porter, too.

[alt_percy]

If you please, Miss Patil. It does no good to repeat unsubstantiated rumours, particularly about the staff.

As for Dames, I shall have a word with him about sharing privileged information from the Prefects' meetings with the students. It simply won't do at all.

[alt_padma]

Don't you have some other students to go and tell off, Weasley? Honestly. It's not like I'm the only one who's heard the stories. It's all over school, it's no use only coming after me.

[alt_percy]

For your information, I happen to be reminding rather a lot of people tonight that it's impolite to spread gossip. And I'll thank you to address me with a bit more respect, Miss Patil: I am Head Boy, after all.

[alt_penelope]

That's right, Patil. I should think you'd want to reflect well on Ravenclaw and do her proud.

Five points, I think.