Lavender Brown

I keep thinking about you tonight.

I'm here with Haruman and it feels so strange that you aren't here.

I suppose I'd heard that he was spending some time here at Hogwarts, but this is the first time I've actually seen him. Probably because I HATE the Hospital Wing and usually never come here unless I must. But there is a lot happening right now and I would feel rather foolish if I sat around doing nothing. So I've been charming bandages for Haruman and his crew, stirring what they tell me to stir, and generally trying to be helpful and not a nuisance.

Anyhow, seeing Haruman feels a bit like old times except also completely different. And I miss those times sometimes. I miss us--the old Lavender and Padma from before things started to change. Sometimes I even miss the old Protectorate before the Lord Protector went completely insane. Although it sounds like he was always a lot worse than what we knew.

Haruman is reading over my shoulder (everyone’s taking a short rest before starting up a new round of brewing) and looking disapproving. (I’m sorry I’m not a very good citizen of Albion all right! It’s just how I feel sometimes.)

But then I start thinking about how his closest followers were people like Auror Crouch and I find myself glad those times are ending. Even if these new times scare me

I was supposed to tell you before, Padma--I told Linus I would, but it was hard to find the words. The whole Moon family (except Linus obviously, and Karo) was killed by Crouch. He lost his mind and went into a murderous rage when Prof Dolohov was killed in a raid (only he wasn’t really, but that’s a long story and I don’t really know the details). I still can’t believe he killed children.

Linus would have written himself, but he’s having a really difficult time--made more difficult by his and Karo’s estrangement.

And I want to help him--I want to so much--but right before he got the news we sort of broke up, which makes everything terribly awkward. If you were to send him a condolence note, I think it would mean a lot.

Well, it was quite an interesting day all around!

Always splendid to have an occasion to wear nice robes and go out to the shops, and it's also quite nice to be escorted, even if one's escort succumbs to an unfortunate illness at lunch. Mr. Zabini, I must certainly not fail to thank you for the lovely corsage and the pleasant morning, for as long as it lasted.

In additional to our merry group, I ran into some of our former schoolmates who are out doing interesting things in the world. Towler, it was great to see you and hear all about what you're up to. Bringing credit to our House, clearly!

As befits a Hogsmeade weekend before Valentine's Day, there were much playing of the game of love--although some people seem to view it rather similarly to a Quidditch match. They like to win, and if no one comes out with bruises they're clearly doing it wrong.

It was great to see you at Diagon!

Has your mum been sort of dropping hints about a surprise of some kind waiting for us at school?

Mine certainly has, and she's been putting her head together with your mum, so I'm sure whatever it is involves both of them--and both of us!

Pav seems a little out of sorts about the whole thing, don't you think?

I mean, she's happy for both of us, I can tell, but I think she's afraid of being left out of things.

Which is ridiculous, but maybe we should do something to cheer her up after we get to school?

So Padma, it looked like Roger Davies was giving you Looks across the table this morning.

And they were definitely capital-L looks.

Anything you care to share?

If you're reading this, I've just had the best idea for showing Padma how much we support her!

Come back to the tower with me and let's go through your scarves, all right?