Daphne Greengrass

Welcome, one and all, to a new school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I would like to take pains to make this welcome especially known to our new First Year students, as well as to those who join us this year as new or returning Professors. To Professors Desai, Sandoval-Pennifold, Gimlet, Marwick, Gordon-Kinley, and Holcomb: we are most honoured to have your expertise to guide us. In the time he has been at Hogwarts, our newly appointed Headmaster Dolohov has aptly demonstrated the value of an in-depth, substantial, and nuanced magical education, and I know that we may all rest assured that these appointments were filled with the utmost perspicuity.

While we all look forward to the rigour and perspective that our new Professors will bring to the classroom - indeed, to the very capacity of our wands and minds! - we do not forget those who taught us so well before, and left us far too soon.

To all those in Second Year and above, I hope that before you retire this evening, you will consider taking a moment of silence to reflect on and remember Professor Rabastan Lestrange and Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. Remember them fondly and remember them well, and embark upon this new school year with their wisdom in your hearts.

To those in First Year: Now that you have settled in and completed your first day of lessons, please direct any lingering concerns or questions to your House Prefects. Remember that the school rules were carefully covered by the Headmaster at the Welcoming Feast, and that a list of said rules are clearly posted in each House common room. Failure to familiarise yourself with these rules will not be accepted as an excuse for breaking them in any way, shape, or form. This warning applies to students of every year and every House; trust that your Prefects are adept at disciplining students who fail to adhere to these rules, whether by carelessness or deliberation. One may hope that any misbehaviour will not require intervention by either the Head Boy or Head Girl, but should it come to that, expect a full and thorough reprimand.

And to All: Remember that Hogwarts has stood on this ground for centuries, and that the very legacy of Wizarding and Witching England is embedded within these walls and foundations. You owe it to yourself and to all of Wizard and Witchkind to extend that legacy far, far into the future. The strength, loyalty, and constitution of the Protectorate is intrinsically connected to the strength, loyalty, and constitution that is fostered within this very castle. Aspire to become the calibre of Protectorate citizen who those residing in the future will look back on with admiration and reverence, just as we look back on our great Founders today.

May we all stand together, in future's favour!

As all the birthday wishes for Draco roll across the journals, I wanted to remind everyone that Draco's birthday party will be tomorrow night and not tonight, so that we can all enjoy it with exams well and truly behind us!

The party is open to those in fifth year and above, and will be held in the Slytherin common room starting at 8 o'clock. Naturally, all regular school rules are still in effect, even when celebrating.

Now, that being said, many happy returns to you, Draco, on becoming of age! I'm sure all of those reading will agree with me that many wonderful things are in store for you as you transition to this new stage of your life, and I am so very pleased that I can be the one to accompany you down that path.

I just want those of you in the younger years to know that your prefects will be standing by to discuss today's incident with you during lunch and after our lessons.

Queenie - I'll be able to see you after rehearsals, but until then, that's what the prefects in Hufflepuff house are there for, alright?

It's been quite a tumultuous week, with each day bringing more news, both good and bad. I was very sorry to hear that the Sisters and Brothers programmes will no longer be a part of the YPL for the time being, but even more sorry to hear of Mr Gibbon's passing (I should add, since some people have asked: no, he's not related to my voice teacher - her name is Mrs Gibbons). He clearly did much important work for both the YPL and our Lord's Council, and will be missed.

Things have been particularly fraught here in Slytherin, with so many students having loved ones and family friends who are on the Council, and who have been called to quelle the situation in Ireland. Now that it looks as if the worst of it has passed, we can finally begin to rest easy and reflect on these events. We are so fortunate to have such skilled witches and wizards looking out for us, and - in the case of Professors Lestrange and Dolohov, and Headmistress McGonagall - even luckier to be under their tutelage!

With that said, I do have a bit of good news I'd like to share with you. Planning is well under way for a Spring Revue of Hogwarts Through the Ages: a theatrical showcase of music, song, dance, and comedy. Under the guidance of co-directors Professor Carpenter and Mr Gerald Krumgold (from the West End's Society of New London Theatre), auditions for singing, dancing, and speaking parts will take place before we break for Christmas hols. More information to come on that in the very near future!

Meanwhile, I would like to ask for volunteers for a student-led planning committee. In particular, there is a need for people who are interested in set design, costuming and makeup, music arrangement, historical and theatrical research, effects charms, script writing, and other such backstage happenings. Keep in mind that being on the planning committee will not prevent you from auditioning for a part! But for those of you who would rather make your mark off-stage, but still be involved, this is a perfect opportunity. If you're interested, please meet with us in Professor Carpenter's classroom on Sunday at 2pm. (If that time doesn't work for you, just let either Professor Carpenter or myself know that you're interested and you can come to the next meeting we hold!)

Mr Krumgold, who's been my dance instructor since age 10, has agreed to host a private dance workshop tomorrow at his studio near the West End. I realise it's terribly short notice, but his schedule has been very full, as he's been busy choreographing two of the musicals that will be opening at the end of this summer. For those of you who are unfamiliar with his work, he was the choreographer for the Veela's dance at the Quidditch World Cup.

Now, Gerald doesn't usually offer many private lessons, particularly for free, so this is a wonderful opportunity for those of you who've never had one. Oh, and before anyone says a peep Smith yes, boys are welcome to attend, too. There's only room for about seven or eight people, though, so let me know if you'd like to be considered!

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.

I would like to personally extend my gratitude to Gerard Chabat (merci beaucoup!), Erasmus Croaker, and ah Alfred Montague, who were all gracious enough to ask me to the Yule Ball in the last few days. I hope that none of you took personal offence to my disinclination. Any girl in this school would be more than lucky to be escorted by gentlemen of your calibre, and would, I'm sure, have a lovely and diverting evening.

Before I receive invitations from other male students, I would like to explain my position on the matter.

I have decided that I would like to ask someone to the Ball myself. I realise that this may go against tradition, but I don't really have much use for tradition - at least not in this particular instance. In fact, I find it terribly unfortunate that most girls feel that they must linger back patiently and wait for someone to take notice of them. What a helpless feeling that is, I'm sure. Why rob yourself of the same opportunity that boys are always confident of? That is, the right and privilege of seeking out someone whose company you desire. I have overheard many female students say that they felt they had no choice but to accept the first invitation to the ball they received, out of fear that should they dally, they would lose their chance. But what kind of way is this to live? To be grateful for any old chance, or to be in a position where you feel you have no choice. Well, I am convinced that there's always a choice.

In my case, I'm still trying to decide just whose company it is that I most desire. It will require careful thought and observation, certainly, and I suppose that if there are boys who are eager to make their case as to why I should consider them, then they're perfectly free to do so. I realise that options will run thin the longer I ponder this, but I'm content with taking such a risk. If I end up with no special individual to share the Ball with, then I shall share it with all of the students who are in attendance, instead!

I just know we'll all have the grandest time.

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!