red firecracker, green firecracker
I barely feel human. That is to be expected after the Lantern Festival this past Saturday evening. I had persuaded Lucius to allow Pansy Parkinson to return to Hogwarts with no further scandal. I'm quite certain that Mr. Malfoy shall be able to let bygones be bygones. Mr. Malfoy is mature beyond his years and is a credit to his family and his house. I am quite sure that Mr. Malfoy can forgive such wild accusations that were so incredulous that people wouldn't even consider them close to the truth, after all.
Portkeyed over to Beauxbatons early Saturday morning, having worked on yet more scrollwork to have Miss Parkinson transferred back to Hogwarts. People can say what they like, but Miss Parkinson has always been a very conscientious student. I was quite pleased to have her return. We portkeyed back to Hogsmeade and then walked back to Hogwarts to see her safely ensconced in the Slytherin dormitories once again. I do believe that she and Miss Bulstrode have much to talk about.
Was quite pleased to receive an owl from Lucius informing of his intent to attend the festival. We did have such a pleasant time the previous weekend, and I was very much looking forward to seeing my old friend again. However, he was not to arrive until after the judging of the lanterns, so I would have to make do until he arrived.
Hogwarts really is quite spectacular by moonlight. However, in the company of half-wits, even the most breathtaking view becomes tedious. Xiomara decided to resort to Plan Firewhisky once again. Not that Sylvia and I were objecting. So, once again, before the lantern judging, there we were passing the flask between the three of us. Let me state right here that Sylvia really cannot hold her alcohol. Before we knew it, she began ranting about receiving notes with suggestions asking for tealeaf and crystal ball readings for the festival. It's no surprise that Xiomara decided that instead of cutting the alcohol off, she should simply give more to Sylvia. Of course, Sylvia doesn't like to feel that she is overdrinking. So, like the polite gentleman that I am, I drank flask for flask. Sylvia and I got into a very heated debate over which was a greater work of art. Mozart's Requiem or Bach's Art of Fugue. In retrospect, I don't think either one of us were making sense. Perhaps it was the alcohol talking. And both of us tripping on the ground was no help. Xiomara had to usher us over to the judges' line for the contest.
So, it was me (and don't ask me how I was sucked into this as Flitwick looked quite put out that he was not a judge), Sylvia, Minerva and Albus who were judging. After bitter debate, Cho Chang was the winner with a very impressive lantern. Sylvia and I argued for Millicent's lantern, which ultimately took 2nd place (awarding fifteen points to Slytherin). We argued for Pansy's lantern to win until Minerva pointed out that Pansy didn't *have* a lantern. So, Ginny Weasley nabbed third place, much to the dismay of the Hufflepuff crowd. Sprout was outraged, but then again, Sprout has much to be outraged about.
Then it was on to the moon cake exchange. I had to confer with Sylvia and Xiomara, but the three of us thought it would be very amusing to throw in some very unfortunate messages. I wrote, "You have an untrustworthy smile and an insidious nature." Sylvia wrote, "Your spirit of adventure will be deadly." But Xiomara wrote the best one by far, "An evil letter or message is on its way to you." We had a good five-minute laugh over that one. Of course, Minerva disapproved, but this is rather tame compared to the hormone induced lust-filled notes that were no doubt going into some of those cakes.
However, the message that I got was most irritating. "Mars is bright tonight." If I couldn't tell who wrote this by the obsessive Divinations "theme," then the sparkly stars and flowery pink script gave it away. Then the parchment was spelled to throw red and gold glitter and confetti over the reader. I was very unamused. Miss Brown will be thinking of her rash actions when she is assigned to write a forty-inch scroll on the uses of toad's liver.
Lucius had chosen that time to show up. He merely smiled and arched an eyebrow at my glitter-covered robes. I had to chew the inside of my mouth not to snap. However, Lucius is nothing but polite and switched to more pleasant conversation. I believe that I may have been concentrating too much on what he was saying, because I believe that Sirius Black barged up to the both of us and tried to start a row. That part seems rather blurred, so I can't be quite sure. I was perfectly fine to stay with Lucius, but Minerva would have none of it. "You have responsibilities as Head of Slytherin, Severus. You need to do your duty." It was like being scolded like a first year. Lucius said to go on ahead and that he would catch up with me later on.
Once again, Sylvia and Xiomara snickered and pointed at me, but Minerva was relentless. I had hoped to give her the "slip", but she decided to patrol the grounds with me. It's not easy seeing in the dark, you know. And perhaps I did trip a couple times, but it was enough times for Minerva to mumble about me being "too fond of the flask." So, we patrolled the gardens, trying to prevent teenager lust (impossible, if you ask me). I was irritated, to say the least, so I took much pleasure in blasting the bushes apart and deducting points from the other houses. I took particular pleasure in catching Gryffindor couples. That was the best ten-point deduction that I had in quite a while. I was very proud that I didn't catch anyone from Slytherin. They are much too clever than to pick such an obvious area for privacy as the gardens. You may as well hang a sign that says, "I am here!"
Soon, a couple of students came to get me because once again, Black resorted to fisticuffs instead of having a civil disagreement. I got there at the very end of the argument, but all was a massive whirl of fists and blood. I had to interfere and pull Lucius away from Black, and others were keeping Black at bay as well. Lucius was furious. Not that I blame him, he’s never liked anyone getting close to his face. But he was bleeding and he did have cuts and bruises, so I took him to my quarters to treat the surface wounds and I had to give him a calming potion. It is rather fortunate that I was not called upon to brew a fresh batch, because I think the ground was tilting beneath me rather alarmingly. However, I did manage to run a warm bath for him and it did seem to make him feel better. I think I may have had another two or three (or four or five) glasses of wine, but it was a fitting end for a rather eventful…event, I suppose.
I was left to wallow in my private hell all day yesterday and am barely among the functional today. I don’t believe I’ve felt this wretched since the Bleu Ball. I still do feel bad. My muscles ache and I think I sprained something. Not to mention the dizziness I feel when I try to walk any faster than a saunter. It’s positively humiliating. All I can say is that I’m grateful that I didn’t have to deal with Potter’s gang today. I don’t have those wild beasts until tomorrow morning. And tomorrow I have another Anger session with Black. Oh, he’ll be getting an earful from me. I really thought he was maturing, and I was horribly wrong. However, speaking of Potter, I did have a rather unfortunate meeting with Professor Sprout regarding the detention that Hufflepuff needs to serve on Potter’s behalf. Of course, Sprout had no idea that Potter would still muck about that the punishments should extend beyond Gryffindor. How the portly have fallen, I always say.
So, without further ado, Hufflepuff House (yes, all seven years) are to report to the kitchens immediately after breakfast on Saturday morning where Filch has informed me that the kitchen pipes need to be flushed out and manually cleaned. Children, you are correct, this means no magic. Good evening, Hogwarts.
Portkeyed over to Beauxbatons early Saturday morning, having worked on yet more scrollwork to have Miss Parkinson transferred back to Hogwarts. People can say what they like, but Miss Parkinson has always been a very conscientious student. I was quite pleased to have her return. We portkeyed back to Hogsmeade and then walked back to Hogwarts to see her safely ensconced in the Slytherin dormitories once again. I do believe that she and Miss Bulstrode have much to talk about.
Was quite pleased to receive an owl from Lucius informing of his intent to attend the festival. We did have such a pleasant time the previous weekend, and I was very much looking forward to seeing my old friend again. However, he was not to arrive until after the judging of the lanterns, so I would have to make do until he arrived.
Hogwarts really is quite spectacular by moonlight. However, in the company of half-wits, even the most breathtaking view becomes tedious. Xiomara decided to resort to Plan Firewhisky once again. Not that Sylvia and I were objecting. So, once again, before the lantern judging, there we were passing the flask between the three of us. Let me state right here that Sylvia really cannot hold her alcohol. Before we knew it, she began ranting about receiving notes with suggestions asking for tealeaf and crystal ball readings for the festival. It's no surprise that Xiomara decided that instead of cutting the alcohol off, she should simply give more to Sylvia. Of course, Sylvia doesn't like to feel that she is overdrinking. So, like the polite gentleman that I am, I drank flask for flask. Sylvia and I got into a very heated debate over which was a greater work of art. Mozart's Requiem or Bach's Art of Fugue. In retrospect, I don't think either one of us were making sense. Perhaps it was the alcohol talking. And both of us tripping on the ground was no help. Xiomara had to usher us over to the judges' line for the contest.
So, it was me (and don't ask me how I was sucked into this as Flitwick looked quite put out that he was not a judge), Sylvia, Minerva and Albus who were judging. After bitter debate, Cho Chang was the winner with a very impressive lantern. Sylvia and I argued for Millicent's lantern, which ultimately took 2nd place (awarding fifteen points to Slytherin). We argued for Pansy's lantern to win until Minerva pointed out that Pansy didn't *have* a lantern. So, Ginny Weasley nabbed third place, much to the dismay of the Hufflepuff crowd. Sprout was outraged, but then again, Sprout has much to be outraged about.
Then it was on to the moon cake exchange. I had to confer with Sylvia and Xiomara, but the three of us thought it would be very amusing to throw in some very unfortunate messages. I wrote, "You have an untrustworthy smile and an insidious nature." Sylvia wrote, "Your spirit of adventure will be deadly." But Xiomara wrote the best one by far, "An evil letter or message is on its way to you." We had a good five-minute laugh over that one. Of course, Minerva disapproved, but this is rather tame compared to the hormone induced lust-filled notes that were no doubt going into some of those cakes.
However, the message that I got was most irritating. "Mars is bright tonight." If I couldn't tell who wrote this by the obsessive Divinations "theme," then the sparkly stars and flowery pink script gave it away. Then the parchment was spelled to throw red and gold glitter and confetti over the reader. I was very unamused. Miss Brown will be thinking of her rash actions when she is assigned to write a forty-inch scroll on the uses of toad's liver.
Lucius had chosen that time to show up. He merely smiled and arched an eyebrow at my glitter-covered robes. I had to chew the inside of my mouth not to snap. However, Lucius is nothing but polite and switched to more pleasant conversation. I believe that I may have been concentrating too much on what he was saying, because I believe that Sirius Black barged up to the both of us and tried to start a row. That part seems rather blurred, so I can't be quite sure. I was perfectly fine to stay with Lucius, but Minerva would have none of it. "You have responsibilities as Head of Slytherin, Severus. You need to do your duty." It was like being scolded like a first year. Lucius said to go on ahead and that he would catch up with me later on.
Once again, Sylvia and Xiomara snickered and pointed at me, but Minerva was relentless. I had hoped to give her the "slip", but she decided to patrol the grounds with me. It's not easy seeing in the dark, you know. And perhaps I did trip a couple times, but it was enough times for Minerva to mumble about me being "too fond of the flask." So, we patrolled the gardens, trying to prevent teenager lust (impossible, if you ask me). I was irritated, to say the least, so I took much pleasure in blasting the bushes apart and deducting points from the other houses. I took particular pleasure in catching Gryffindor couples. That was the best ten-point deduction that I had in quite a while. I was very proud that I didn't catch anyone from Slytherin. They are much too clever than to pick such an obvious area for privacy as the gardens. You may as well hang a sign that says, "I am here!"
Soon, a couple of students came to get me because once again, Black resorted to fisticuffs instead of having a civil disagreement. I got there at the very end of the argument, but all was a massive whirl of fists and blood. I had to interfere and pull Lucius away from Black, and others were keeping Black at bay as well. Lucius was furious. Not that I blame him, he’s never liked anyone getting close to his face. But he was bleeding and he did have cuts and bruises, so I took him to my quarters to treat the surface wounds and I had to give him a calming potion. It is rather fortunate that I was not called upon to brew a fresh batch, because I think the ground was tilting beneath me rather alarmingly. However, I did manage to run a warm bath for him and it did seem to make him feel better. I think I may have had another two or three (or four or five) glasses of wine, but it was a fitting end for a rather eventful…event, I suppose.
I was left to wallow in my private hell all day yesterday and am barely among the functional today. I don’t believe I’ve felt this wretched since the Bleu Ball. I still do feel bad. My muscles ache and I think I sprained something. Not to mention the dizziness I feel when I try to walk any faster than a saunter. It’s positively humiliating. All I can say is that I’m grateful that I didn’t have to deal with Potter’s gang today. I don’t have those wild beasts until tomorrow morning. And tomorrow I have another Anger session with Black. Oh, he’ll be getting an earful from me. I really thought he was maturing, and I was horribly wrong. However, speaking of Potter, I did have a rather unfortunate meeting with Professor Sprout regarding the detention that Hufflepuff needs to serve on Potter’s behalf. Of course, Sprout had no idea that Potter would still muck about that the punishments should extend beyond Gryffindor. How the portly have fallen, I always say.
So, without further ado, Hufflepuff House (yes, all seven years) are to report to the kitchens immediately after breakfast on Saturday morning where Filch has informed me that the kitchen pipes need to be flushed out and manually cleaned. Children, you are correct, this means no magic. Good evening, Hogwarts.