Daphne Greengrass

I was just thinking about you, and how I invited you to watch the Geminid meteor showers with me on top the Astronomy tower, and how you nicked up some brandy for us to sip, right there, under the stars. The brandy was so sweet that I somehow thought you must be sweet, too.

Actually, I have no idea why I would be reminiscing about such things. You made me hate meteor showers. And brandy.

So, nevermind.

Oh - and piss off!

Lizzie and I have been trying to put together little care hampers for Darius and Charles, for when they get back. Mid-week, is what I've heard.

So far I've got gourmet biscuits from Fleet's Bakery in Chelsea, drinking chocolate from Harrod's, and a tin of tea and a small packet of scones from the Owlery tea room in Marylebone (I can't wait to attend one of their high teas - supposedly they're exquisite).

That's it, so far. Do you think it's enough? Too much? Barney offered a few phials of some dreamless sleep potion... not the stuff that Madam Pomfrey hands out. I don't know if I should include those, though, and not just because I've no idea where he got his hands on them...

It's just that I feel a bit uncertain about how they're feeling. Darius and Charles, I mean. I'm not sure regular etiquette for the death of a parent applies, considering the circumstances. Lizzie is in prefect mode and isn't really thinking about the nuances of the situation, I fear. I don't want to go about this the wrong way and show my own ignorance, or end up doing something entirely graceless.

What do you think?

Confusion, now hath made your masterpiece.

I mean to say, what a long and tumultuous night, full of both wild celebration and quiet mourning. As exciting as it is to grow up, every now and then there's a moment of sadness, a realisation that even as you gain exciting new knowledge and experience, you lose something, too. However, I'm not one to dwell on lost innocence for long - knowledge and experience are far too valuable in their own right, and only with them is innocence really seen for what it is: ignorance.

Some of us began with charades in the common room, but then it soon grew far too crowded and noisy so different groups split off. I was in the music alcove with Antigone and Elsie and a load of others, dancing to Tintagel and Starstruck. The fairy-lights were charmed to flash with the beat of the music, and some of the boys were pulling crackers so that we all had streamers and confetti in our hair. Eventually, Antigone, Elsie and I went deeper into the dungeons to cool off. We had masses of champagne chocs (Draco, you know the kind!), and we were sat in a little nook under the staircase, hugging and crying for some reason and talking. Then Elsie fetched some parchment and we decided to make lists of what we accomplished in 1994, and a list of what we hoped to accomplish in 1995.

I'll share some of it here, but it's been heavily edited. I don't want to present all my accomplishments and hopes to the whole of the school, after all.

1994 - DONE

Made the "Best Dressed" lists in various magazines.
Started regular correspondence with Athena Belby.
Kept Astoria in line.
Maintained old and dear friendships.
Turned 15.
Endured the (mis-reported) death of a loved one someone I admire.
Did not gain weight.
Improved physical fitness.
Provided moral support for others in times of need.
Made meaningful contributions to YPL.
Performed admirably in CCF.
Improved marks in Transfiguration and Charms.
Dated an older man.
BWP w/Barney
Assisted in the redecoration of the Slytherin common room.
Finally received a compliment on vocal resonation from Mrs Gibbons.
Made it socially acceptable for girls to ask boys to the Yule Ball.
Put in a striking and memorable performance for the school play.
Remained best dancer at Hogwarts.

1995 - TO DO
Break it off with Barney
Find out who my Father is
Solve the mystery of myself.
LV w/???
Bump into A.C. at summer symphony
Convince Mother that a Gerard Joosh original is worth the galleons.
Expand vocal range and balance vibrato.
Improve marks in Potions.
Prove a suitable candidate for prefect or YPL counselor.
Maintain weight.
Improve physical fitness - upper body strength.
Improve dueling/sparring techniques.
Write poetry.
Stop reading trashy romance novels.
Read books of philosophical and political import.


That's as far as I got before Barney called me back for the countdown to 1995 and our midnight kiss. I wish

Looking back, I see that some of my accomplishments might appear quite frivolous. Appearances can be deceiving, though - sometimes, something frivolous can be quite transforming. And I don't believe there's any accomplishment too small that it's not worth celebrating.

So what did you accomplish in 1994? And what do you hope to succeed in now that it's 1995?

Happy New Year, all.

Barney,

If you're not otherwise occupied this evening, I was wondering if I might have a word with you in private before Curfew. There's an excellent view from the sitting area at the top of the Divination Tower, and according to Professor Sinistra's lesson from last week, the Geminid meteor shower is due to peak.

Fondly,
Daphne Greengrass