Penelope Clearwater

Are the Malfoys going to be all right, Percy? I tried to make it up to the box but they weren't letting anyone in.

Merlin. It's already 1st September and I know I should be sleeping but. I didn't think I'd be this nervous.

I also didn't think we'd barely get to see each other either on your birthday or since.

And starting off a year with this kind of turmoil.... How did you keep everyone calm when there were Dementors on the train and all?

I'll never be able to do it, Perce. I just know I'm going to bollocks it all up.

And I'm sorry. I shouldn't be pestering you when you've got your hands full of much more important things. I'm sure the Malfoys are just overwhelmed with sympathy and get-well notes and all.

I just. I'm off in the morning. And you'll be so busy helping the Malfoys while Mr Malfoy recovers and

I really wish we were together tonight, of all nights. That's all.

I'm going to miss you this year, you know. You big silly ginger. Don't go getting yourself smashed to bits by falling marble, okay? Promise? Or any other fool heroic thing a Gryffindor would do, even if it's for his boss.

First Hogsmeade weekend, right? Butterbeer and a room above the Protector's Circle? It's a date, remember!

It may only be the third day of your CCF training but already the counselors have noted a few things:

1. You may not store your personal toiletry items in the washrooms. These are common space areas. Please remove everything from the washrooms when you've finished.


2. Team leaders' authority expires at the end of each activity. You may not use your leadership during a challenge to demand that members of your team - or the losing team - to do your assigned chores for you.


3. No moving about the campsites after lights out. (Honestly, you lot.)


4. Please respect each other's property. This really should go without saying as well.


5. Members of the CCF are expected to conduct themselves as gentlewizards and -witches at all times. No bullying of other members of any kind will be tolerated.


6. Remember that Friday, you'll have an afternoon of self-study. Use this time wisely.

I'm glad to see that most of you are taking your exercises seriously and that you are dedicated to the process the instructors have devised for you. As with all YPL activities, this is an excellent opportunity for you all to reach beyond your House affiliations and forge lasting alliances that will, with luck, extend far beyond your years of education. I urge you all to suspend your traditional rivalries, particularly as you are mixed together in different combinations, so that you can meet your challenges with maximum effectiveness and success.

Carry on.

This year's trip has been going much better than last year's (though perhaps I ought not to say that too loudly). At least, no hysterical students claiming to have sighted Snape or Sirius Black or anything like that, so that's a plus as far as I'm concerned!

Tomorrow the students will be at museums all day. I'm sure I could slip away for lunch - Avery won't mind, anyway. How about you? Any time to meet and tell me how things are going?

Thanks. It was pretty much the only good thing about yesterday.

I'm staying at the Blue Mooncalf over on Dulwich Road. I did at least find something to wear that won't scandalise you, I think!

Professor,

Sorry this is late coming. I hadn't had a chance to catch Diggory or Avery before tonight's final Prefect meeting. But now, I've talked to the other YPL counselors and below is the list of those who are willing or able to stay next week to help supervise the rising-fourth-years as they undergo their entrance testing:

Avery
Pennifold
Bletchley
Diggory
Tamblyn
Bobolis (Euterpe)
Urquhart

Also, Ritchie Coote, Marietta Edgecombe, Terrence Higgs and Niobe Jones volunteered to stay, though they'll be in their first year as counselors. I told them I'd talk to you about it but I don't know as we need them; after all, the students really only need someone to keep them from burning down the castle while nearly everyone has left.

I asked Pyle specifically if she'd stay as head counselor, since I can't, but she didn't seem too interested.

Under other circumstances, I hope you know I'd be happy to stay on and oversee things. Just now, though, I'm sure you understand that I have other priorities.

Thank you both for taking Percy and me to supper last night. I know we've talked about going to Sorçère but we've never had the chance before. It was truly kind of you to include me and I know we both really appreciated the ability to get away from the castle for a while.

Mr Malfoy, I know Percy is quite grateful for your counsel, as well. He quite looks up to you, sir, and talks often of the time he spent in your office last summer. You'll have to forgive him if he seemed a little subdued yesterday. It's been a very draining weekend for him. I'm sure you realise he's really not himself right now. But your interest in him is something he values, I know.

Mrs Malfoy, thank you so much for working with the Sisters in Witchcraft. Abbott was well-liked. It's so good of you to take time away from your own family to think of them. I enjoyed our talk about the state of journalism and publication in our realm, as well. I do think it's an area I should consider when I leave next year. I am also thinking about going into research, or possibly theatre management, but I'd prefer investigative reporting. I thought it interesting the way the Prophet conducted Percy's interview, actually. I'm glad they let me stay - not just because I was able to be moral support for Percy.

Professor McGonagall's announcement is going to upset a fair few students, I expect. Though in the end, I'm sure it's for the best. Our Lord must have a difficult time keeping the peace when there are so many sides to consider. Privately, I must say that I am relieved Mr Carrow has left.

Well, we've still got exams to finish and I'm sure you are both quite busy after spending the weekend up here. So I'll not take up more time. I only wanted to thank you for your generosity and your kindness.

Sincerely,

Penelope Clearwater

Perce?

I saw your PMs to the professors. Everything all right?

Should I give up on meeting you, then? Or do you need more prefects involved in whatever you're doing?

Just a reminder to everyone that we hope to finish blocking Act II Scene 3 tomorrow - that means everyone is expected to be there.

We appreciate your patience on these big scenes. I know they're complicated but they'll really look amazing once it's all done.

If everyone remembers their parts, that is. And please respect each other and don't upstage when it's not your action.

And the sooner you can all memorise your lines, the better.

Hello, again!

I really only want to update the cast of Liberation, but this is the quickest way to get a message to all of you.

First up, again, thanks and my apologies for leaving out Dean Thomas (Y3) from the original cast list. As you all learned on Sunday, he's agreed to undertake the role of Mr Dolohov.

Next, I think we've approached everyone we had on our list to act as an understudy. Please remember, if you've agreed to understudy, it's your responsibility to keep track of the blocking (i.e., movement) for that character (as well as your own), and to be working on the lines in case you're needed. We certainly don't want to lose our fine cast members, but we don't want you to be caught out short, either, if you're called to serve. For those of you who have been assigned understudies, we expect you to help them out. It's not a comment on your ability or our confidence in you; it's merely a precaution since your roles are so pivotal that they can't be replaced at a moment's notice.

Which brings me to my next announcement. As I said, we don't want to lose people, but it's bound to happen: a few students have already left the cast. Vesta Chambers, Elizabeth Stevens and Octavia Anderson have all decided to drop out for personal reasons. As there are so few boys already participating, we really wanted to bring up one of the lads from the Wizengamot chorus to play Vesta's part, so I hope you'll all welcome and congratulate Mr Linus Moon, who will now be our Mr Selwyn!

Finally, as I mentioned on Sunday, we really could use a few more wizards in the Wizengamot - especially with Moon moving up. First- through third-year YPL boys, I'm looking at you in particular! I know you've heard the rumours about wearing makeup, but it's not like that at all. All actors wear some to be seen under the lights. There's no truth whatsoever to the idea that men who are theatrical are all, erm, effeminate. Please consider joining this effort and supporting your fellow YPL members in the project!

On a Prefect note: Whoever jinxed Mr Corner yesterday, you're not helping.

I like that! I had just found the ritual I wanted to include in my Arithmancy essay when Madam Pince told everyone we had five minutes left.

And then -

Well. I'm just glad certain people aren't prefects, that's all. Though I have to say I'd have been a sight happier if Calderwood had punished the right people - the ones who were causing all the fracas. I'm sure we'll be talking about it on the train home but honestly! It's not like Calderwood's shown no restraint so far. I probably would have used it on Donovan and Whitacre long ago if I'd been her. Still. It seemed pretty clear to everyone there that her own sister had thrown the hex that started all the unpleasantness.

And with all the excitement I never got a chance to copy out that ritual! Weasley, you don't have a copy of Lunar Calendars and Solar Flair?