Penelope Clearwater

Well, that's Valentine's over.

I'm glad, actually. I didn't half think about it at all until tea-time, and then it was just to think he was probably working away, maybe eating a cake over his desk and making sure the crumbs didn't fall on some precious parchment of Mr Malfoy's. On reflection I don't know what I was doing with him, anyway. Well. Of course I know. But you're right, I'll find someone better.

Look, you and Ptolemy didn't have to clear out last night, either. I was expecting to go out and leave you to it. But thanks. It was rather a relief to come back at half-eleven and have the place to myself. I didn't hear you come in; did he take you somewhere grand?

But listen, if you two want, let's all go round the pub tonight? There's a small combo playing and I think you'll like them a great deal. I want you to meet the guitarist and tell me what you think. He's an acquaintance of Mr Powell's. Really rather fit, even if he is a little older.

Mum says Dad gave her a bouquet and even suggested they go out for supper last night. I say he's just making up from the last quarrel but you know how she is. She'll never leave, if the house were to burn down around them.

Well, I'm going to pop round the pasty cart while the weather's holding. See you after work?

Look, I know things are--awkward. And I didn't want to disturb you this morning, or upset you or anything, or risk a scene, but I knew I had to be there.

You look okay, all things considered. Tired, of course, you all do, and sort of...glassy-eyed. I guess that's natural, given what you've all been through. But I know you care about appearances and I just wanted to tell you, you look like you're bearing up under it all admirably.

I can tell, though, that you're more upset than you're letting on to the rest of them.

So, I.... Well, I just wanted to say that, if you wanted, last week could be last week and we could, maybe, try again. Forgive and forget, isn't that what they say?

If you want--company, or companionship or someone who you don't have to be strong in front of, I--I'll lift the wards round the flat, for the next couple of days.

I'm--I'll have to go to Mum and Dad's for supper but, if you wanted to come home, it'd be all right.

I may not have shown it the best way, Perce, but I did--do--love your family. And you.

Come home. Okay? Our home.

Karo,

Fancy a drink?

Percy's gone out for a pint with his father, because I suppose whatever's wrong at work this time isn't something he can tell me, just that it's all horrible. I mean, I know his father's worked in offices with demanding wizards longer than either of us but--I just wish he'd let me know more about what's bothering him.

Aside from money, which is almost all he ever wants to talk about now.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't be complaining about living with my boyfriend when you and Ptolemy are busy planning your big day. I'm sure it won't be anything like this with him, for you. For one thing, it's not as if money will be a problem!

But there's also--I mean, I don't think Ptolemy's the sort who'll expect you to work a full day and then have supper on the table for him. (Ironic, isn't it? If we could afford a mudblood, that'd be one less thing to row over, but as we can barely afford the food, we can't very well stand the stipend for someone to cook it!) Has his father said anything to you about getting you one? I suppose it's not the sort of thing you can put on a bridal registry, hah!

Honestly, Karo, sometimes I wonder if we were wiser not to get married straight off, or if that would have made this all better. I know my mother thinks he'll never ask this way--and he may not do, but I'm still not ready for all that, anyway. Especially if he thinks I'll instantly turn into his mum (complete with seven children, goats, chickens and a ghoul in the attic, no doubt!).

I mean, it's weird, right? We talked about so many things before I left school. One of the things he wanted most was to get away from the squalour his family live in. But every Sunday he wants to go tromping back there, milking the Merlin-forsaken goats. And Circe forbid that I don't want to go with him! It's like he wants to build a life in New London but he can't quite bring himself to leave the old one behind completely. I know he loves them, but you should see the way he talks about them in private. And he's so different with them, too! You remember that night we met the two of you down the pub? He's just so informed. He and Ptolemy really hit it off, I thought. He even sounded a bit sophisticated--I think he even impressed Ptolemy a little with that quip about Mr Croaker! But with his family, it's like they turn him into the butt of every joke, somehow. Though it's different when it's just Mr and Mrs Weasley and his brother Bill, though it's still...uncomfortable, sometimes. Like they're all expecting him to put his elbow in the butter dish or something. (Well, not quite. It's just something I can't quite put my finger on. I know. It's like they think he's puffing himself up when really he's just telling the truth about the things he's done and the people he's met. It's like they're a little bit disappointed in him, and I just don't see how that can be. Apart from Bill he's done better than the rest of them put together!)

Well, anyway. Sorry to go ranting in your direction. I guess I just needed to purge it all.

But an ale would also do wonders, if you're free.

Perce,

Remember that I'm working late most nights this week, so you're on your own. Better yet, you could have a takeaway waiting for me when I get in!

Mum says she might come Friday. Is that all right? See if Bill wants a boys' night or something. Or maybe you and he could go get drinks after with some of his Ministry mates.

Love you, see you later.

Mum,

You're so right. It's been absolutely liberating to have a place of our own. And I know what Dad thinks but you're right about that, too: Getting out of there is the best thing I could've done. I wish you could do, too, but I know you won't so let's not worry about it.

The thing is...setting up a household? It's a little more expensive than either of us realised. I guess I thought the Weasleys would send him off with a little more furniture (his mum thought she had a kitchen table in the attic but it turns out the legs were sawed off by the twins years ago to make toy brooms) and she's trying to help through the barter network but...not very successfully. And I went shopping for a sofa and some other things, second-hand, but even second-hand they're all pricey.

Of course, we're very grateful for the silverplate, and we're using it all the time, and the linens, of course, and all the kitchen things, between you and Mrs Weasley. But what we really need is a proper kitchen table, some proper chairs and things, and a bit more dosh for incidentals. Oh, I did take the open container of Mrs Skower's. But every day it seems like we discover something else that we had at home and don't have here, like bins, or a coat rack near the door (there's no proper cupboard), dishes, and so on.

It's almost too much to think how many household presents Sandoval will be raking in today, when she doesn't want for a thing! But I don't think waiting to get married first would have been a good idea, really. For one thing, Percy and I don't want to get married yet. I'm not sure I want to get married at all But for another, you know, it would have taken so much longer to get away from Dad. And honestly I think if I'd had to live with you both for another week I'd've used the Cardinals, much less the months it would take to prepare a wedding!

Okay, I'm kidding. Sort of. You know how he gets, that's all I'm saying.

Well, the point is, we're both great, and living here is great, and being flat-mates is snitch. But if there's any way you could loan me, say, 50Γ? I can pay it back in a couple months, once I've built up a reserve out of my pay.

Oh, speaking of that, work's going well. Mr Powell is very precise but really interesting. And I think I'm making headway on convincing him that I'm trainable!

I think Percy's working late most nights this week, so let me know if Dad goes round the pub and I'll pop over by Floo, all right?

So much love,

Penny

Well, the interview went all right, I guess. I dunno. Mr Powell's not quite as affable as Professor Siz's aunt was.

But he didn't chuck me out or anything. And the work seems interesting. (Well, truthfully, so does Mrs Cumberhatch's--Gera's, I guess, she said I could call her that--but her client base is not quite as interesting as Mr Powell's, you know?)

I guess I'll just see which of them offers me something first. If either of them do. (And yes, I've sent them both their thank-you notes by owl.)

But. Did you get the sample lease agreement for the place on Thornhill Road? (Or is it Barnsbury by then, I couldn't hear what the agent said.) I thought that one was the best of what we saw Saturday. Don't you?

Oh, Perce.

The charm arrived today. It's just perfect.

I managed to get through it and now it's the 5th-years' turn. I remember two years ago going out of my mind for OWLs and now compared to NEWTs I feel like I had nothing to worry about at all.

Too bad Capper didn't take them seriously enough. Can you believe he had the gall to complain last night that if he fails his Astronomy OWL it's Professor Siz's fault? Because she 'wasn't available' when he tried to see her on Tuesday. Everyone knew she wasn't going to be around on Tuesday! She'd made sure everyone knew it. Capper's a brilliant Arithmantist but he's dead oblivious about anything else. It's sad, really. I don't think he'll have a good week.

Oh, and Avery finally did something he can be proud of as a Head Boy. Unfortunately it's one of those things we all wish we didn't have to do. Still, he made a decent enough guard, escorting Barney Bole back and forth to his exams and to the room where Professor Slughorn was making him stay in solitary confinement. I'm sure you've probably heard through Mr Malfoy that Bole was told to pack himself off as soon as NEWTs were over? He thought his father was going to make a big stink on his behalf. No fear of that: His father (Avery says, anyway) wrote him back and said that if he wanted a hope of making the Quidditch sides as a professional, he'd do what the Headmistress and Sluggy told him, keep his mouth shut and slip off quietly on the Saturday train to London. It's appalling that no one realised how brutish he is, honestly. But Gamp and Greengrass are both so visibly relieved he's gone it's hard to believe no one saw it before.

It's so odd to think that in just a few weeks I'll never be back here. If I didn't have Head Girl duties I think I'd be perfectly happy to follow Barney on that train and find a flat right away. Oh, did I tell you in my last letter that Professor Siz got me an interview with two of her contacts? The first is someone who needs a research assistant or something and who'd be willing to spend most of the time in New London looking through records. And the second one's her aunt, who isn't really her aunt but well, anyway, she's a family historian for hire. They both sound like they could be dead boring or they could be brilliant--I guess it'll depend a lot on what they're like to work for.

Things are really coming together.

How's work?

I know how busy Mr Malfoy's been keeping you but please, please say you're going to be able to make it to Hogsmeade on Saturday? I might have to commit some serious dark arts if I don't get a chance to see you.

Only joking. Mostly.

It's Avery, mainly--and all those 4th-year girls! Honestly, I don't remember another class being broadsided by their hormones quite as badly as this lot. But at least the 1st-years have given up their bullying for the time being, and that's a small mercy.

And I'm sure I've been revising way, way too much to be healthy. There's no help for it, though, since I keep falling asleep over the books if I try to read in the dormitory. And my father sent me a stern owl about my marks at the end of last term. So.

To make matters worse, poor Professor Siz has just been having a terrible time, too. I'm sure you heard all about what happened during the CCF exercise last week? I guess someone's not too happy because she's had to answer all sorts of questions and she's even gone down to New London to tackle the fallout. It's really too bad; she tries hard to make the programme run so well.

Between all that and the weather it's just been hard to be anything but glum. So I really hope you don't have to cancel again. Though if you do, I suppose I shan't throw myself off the Astronomy Tower or anything dire.

Just miss you that much more. I wish it were NEWTs week already and I could just have it all done and over with!

How are you doing? I saw Mr Malfoy's sent a few messages here and there, to Mr Crispin and Mr Baddock and such. That must take some of the pressure off.

We're off to a good enough start, here. Avery's stern enough I don't feel quite like I've got to jump on every little thing. Besides, he seems to enjoy it, rather.

But honestly, Perce, your brothers! They act like I can't tell them anything as the Head Girl just because I'm your girlfriend. (Your sister's worse, but at least she hasn't already commandeered a loo cubicle and told the firsties they've got a bake sale running inside.) They'll run me right round the twist.

Now, I know the worst thing would be for you to step in; it'd just cut me off at the knees even more. Oh, but I wish you could!

Well, really, that wasn't why I'm writing... Just wanted to know if your week has any light at the end of it.

Miss you already. I'm proud of you, too, you know. You're showing them the next Minister right now, remember. And I'm sure they'll all take note.

Thank MERLIN CCF is over! I thought I was going to throttle a couple of them.

And I've finally got a few days off in a row! Have you got time to get lunch? Or supper or something? Some day this week?