alt_daphne | A common cause

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A common cause

Ever since we of Slytherin House learnt that we shall be hosting the students from Durmstrang, I and a few other girls (Elsie, Samantha) have been discussing ways that we might make our guests feel as welcome and comfortable as possible. Aside from being as polite and as sociable as we already are, I think that a good starting place would be to reassess the comforts of the Slytherin common room.

Though the common room is used for a variety of activities, from studying to sleeping, I'm sure we can all agree that it's best suited for relaxing and socialising. It's the one place where students, regardless of what year they are in, can share some "common" time together. That said, perhaps those of you who are currently using the common room for other reasons might consider more appropriate locations for your pursuits? The group of second years who have been practising levitation charms, for instance. Why not secure an empty classroom for your charms work? There will be more room for all of you, and you won't risk accidentally bopping the heads of our guests with a vase. After all, those NEWT-level students do their work in empty classrooms for good reason! And those of you with heavy-duty reading will assuredly find uninterrupted silence in a dark corner of the library. The same, I suppose, for those of you who would like to indulge in some heavy-duty napping.

As for socialising, the common room is just the place for it. However, those of you who regularly gather round the fireplace might consider that you don't, in fact, actually own it. Other people, our guests in particular, would like to enjoy the flames, too. Those of you who enjoy more boisterous games, such as exploding snap, might mute your play with the appropriate charm. Also, I think it goes without saying that we should avoid setting the tapestries on fire ~~Gregory~~

Now, while our common room is certainly comfortable and roomy, I do think that it might benefit from a little sprucing up. Firstly, whoever is doing it should stop stuffing toffee wrappers beneath the sofa cushions. Secondly, Samantha has volunteered to speak to the elves about that strange stain on the rug by the clock, as well as the chocolate smears on the chesterfield. Once that's taken care of, if everyone else can pitch in and try to keep things tidy, I think we should present very well.

Let's consider a few rearrangements, too. That almost-empty bookcase by the fire would make for the perfect lending library. Would anyone like to donate some books? Particularly books that are about British wizarding history, or that represent most currently popular reading material in the Protectorate? You know, Wand Society and such. I'm sure our guests would enjoy seeing what we read in our free time, and not just for classes.

That little alcove on the south end of the common room - the one that never gets used because the chairs are so straight-backed and uncomfortable? I thought it might be good to move the chairs off to the side and fill the floor space with big, soft cushions and poufs (like the ones you lounged about on at your Birthday, Blaise). We can put the wireless over there, too, and then it's the perfect area for listening to music. And if someone feels like dancing, simply move the cushions aside and viola! - instant dance floor!

Over by the tables we can stock a chest full of all sorts of games: moving picture puzzles, portkey cards, gobstones, chess. In fact, we might go ahead and set out a chess board or two, so that people feel free to just plop down and start playing with someone. And of course, I'll leave out a dish of linguista chocolates, so that people will find speaking German easier.

If anyone else has suggestions for making our common room a more welcoming and cosy spot, please speak with either myself, Elsie, or Samantha!

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Well done, Miss Greengrass. Are you perhaps interested in the prefecture for next year? Or counseling in YPL? Either take the same sort of initiative you've shown here.

Luckily, the Ravenclaw common room is already quite cosy and organised. I'm sure our guests from Beauxbatons will be quite comfortable.

Oh, I'm just doing what I always do. If the powers the be deem me an appropriate candidate for either prefecture or counseling based on that, then I would of course do my very best to rise to the occasion.

As much as our common room might be just a bit in sixes and sevens at the moment, we Slytherin do like to make sure that we make good showing! Even moreso when we are representing the Lord Protector's house to those who are visiting the Protectorate.

Cheers, Daphs.

I think it's a brilliant idea about filling the alcove with cushions.

You may need to break whatever charm is on those chairs, though. We took one into our dormitory one time, and, do you know, by morning it had returned itself to its spot. It wasn't the elves, either: I heard it shifting itself out the door in the middle of the night. Went right back to its exact spot, which is why I think you may have to break the charm: they seem to have particular notions about where they belong.

Oh, really? That's quite a bother, then. Though if no one can break the charms then I suppose we can always recruit Professor Acton's assistance. Still, we should all try to band together to solve the problem ourselves, first.

I think it really will be just perfect when it's filled with cushions.

Excellent ideas, Miss Greengrass - I must echo Miss Clearwater's comments on your initiative and thoughtfulness. You are an excellent representative of the aims of the YPL.

If you find you have space for some additional light reading, I have a few volumes I can lend you: mostly recent history titles, but a few fiction. (The same offer is, of course, open to Ravenclaw's common room, but I suspect they have quite a number of titles of their own.)

I've started reading a range of magazines due to some of the YPL planning considerations, and I've got a number of back issues handy at the moment, if any of them would be of interest, as well. (Both more serious and lighter fare.)

Thank you ever so much, Professor Sinistra! A lot of students have already brought me books and magazines, but I'm sure it would be ideal to include reading that comes recommended by a Professor.

You are quite welcome. I'll bring some down to dinner, if someone from your house will take them from there.

I should be able to manage them myself, thank you!

I've an idea, Daffs. We ought to post a large, visible calender in the common room, something charmed to re-schedule itself each month, and perhaps written in German as well as English.

The calendar can indicate the time and place that all of our various clubs and study groups meet, like the History Club, the Duelling Club, the Potioneers' Group, and so on. That way we're not just meeting our guests' social needs, but their academic needs, too.

Draco, that's a positively brilliant idea!

Shall I take that to mean you'll be in charge of creating the calendar?

That's right, count me in.

Thank you, Draco.

I saw that look you gave me in the Great Hall today! You'd best be careful how you twist up your face, or it'll be liable to stick that way.

And you know that the levitation was a bother to everyone, so just do the mature thing and band together to find an empty classroom you can practise in, please? This castle is full of them.

You're certainly earning points there, Daphs!

(Oh, and don't pay any attention to Clearwater saying our common room's perfect as-is. She's had the prefects telling us all to tidy up after ourselves all evening!)

Have they put up the notice about when in the day the students are arriving? Only I think we might not all have time to clean up after our girls' workout if they're coming before supper. I think we might want to move it a bit earlier. What about you?

Heh, too funny about Clearwater! You know who really doesn't seem to care for her much? Draco. I only realised because I overheard him say to Blaise that it was too bad they didn't have head girls like Sandoval anymore. Not that I think Clearwater's doing a poor job, but she really does seem very different from Sandoval, doesn't she?

I don't know when they're arriving but we should probably move it up to be safe. I want to make sure to look presentable for everyone.

Really? Huh. That's interesting. I wonder why? Unless it's to do with her boyfriend being his father's clerk and all. Probably she took some liberty or something. Sounds like the kind of thing she'd do, doesn't it?

And yes, exactly. I want to make sure that we've enough time that the only glistening we'll be doing is from the glitter on our eyelashes. Parvati and I have new hair ornaments, too, we've been saving since they announced the tournament.

Oh, and Mum's written to say she's got a new accessory planned for this Christmas. It's going to be utterly nift!

I've never heard him make any comments about Weasley, not that one, anyway. But yes, maybe Draco's worried she'll try to get gossip from Weasley, or maybe she already did something along those lines.

Do you think the boys have even noticed that we're busy running and sprinting and doing push-ups while they're off in some tucked away corner, looking at dirty playing cards? Blaise said my arms looked "sculpted" when he put the bracelet on me at my birthday party, but other than that I really don't know. Have the boys said anything to you?

Oh, good on your Mum! I remember when robe pets were such a hit. I'm not sure that they'd really be suitable for us at this age, but they were so dear when we were twelve.

The boys in our year? Hardly! But - well, I think some of the older boys might be throwing more than a casual glance in a few people's directions, if you know what I mean. And anyway, we'll be able to tell if it's really had an impact when those Durmstrang and Beauxbatons boys arrive. Why, has Auror Crouch sent you anything to reassure you now that he's still alive? (Kidding, of course!)

Can you believe Ronald - and Bundy? - coming up with some orienteering suggestion and getting all the credit like that? Oh, I know the scavenger hunt can't possibly have been all their own idea, really, it's far too creative and thoughtful. But Finnigan and I had a suggestion too, only Professor S thinks it'll have to be during the summer when it's just CCF. Still, I suppose that's better, anyway, since what we want to do I guess we shouldn't teach just anyone.

I know what you mean about robe pets! She still does sell them to the younger kids. I saw Maege Featherstone with a little unicorn on her robes earlier this week. But Mum certainly has a way of keeping up with us as we get older. This is something that older people will like, too, though. I think. It should be very popular, actually.

We probably needn't really do much to get the attention of the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons boys. We shall be new and different and novel, and for any male person with a pulse that will likely be enough. That Justin Finch-Fletchley seems awfully polite and friendly to just about everybody, though, doesn't he?

Well, now you have me curious about yours and Finnigan's idea. The hunt should be a diverting way to get to know newcomers, at least, but you're giving he and Bundy far too much credit for being creative! We did scavenger-hunt type activities in CCF, after all, so it's not as if they had to think very far back.

Good - if it's something older people will like, then I can get one for my Father. He's so hard to buy gifts for. All he ever asks for is gloves, socks, and peppermint humbugs. Dull!

Well, I dunno. I mean, they've got continental girls all the time. We might seem exotic but then again we might seem dull as dry toast, too.

Finch-Fletchley. Yeah, he's quite friendly. Even when he doesn't need to be, I think. I get that he doesn't want to offend anyone, especially when he was coming for so short a time, but - well, I suppose we'll find out when he's here longer. I'm just not sure. There's a line between being polite to everyone and just not having any discerning sort of taste in friends.

And yes! This will be good for men as well as women. Mum's trying to come up with something universal and I really think she's hit the hex perfectly this time. I think she's sending some samples up next week. They might even have an early production shipment in time for our Hogsmeade trip.

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A common cause

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