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...and a more full schedule than ever. Revue rehearsal tonight, Prefects meeting and Revue rehearsal on Wednesday, YPL Thursday, Quidditch Friday, more YPL and rehearsal on Saturday, and so on.

Fortunately, my journal has additional charms to mind my schedule well. And, as a YPL counsellor, I am well aware of how it behooves oneself to keep busy in the service of the school and the Protectorate. Those of you who find it to be overwhelming at times ought to try on this trick for size: sing or hum the YPL anthem to yourself as you go about your day. All those tow row row row's really pick up the pace and make the various tasks go along speedily, and the lyrics bolster the spirit, reminding us of precisely who it is we serve, and why.

See you all around the castle.

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Quite right about the anthem. I hum it while I stride the corridors between lessons. It helps keep me on time for all my obligations.

I know what you mean! It really does lift one's spirits, doesn't it?

What a truly excellent idea, about the song. I'll try that today.

I'd be lost without my scheduling charms! There's simply no other way to fully track all of a busy student's obligations, I think.

Bumbridge is too thick to detect sarcasm, at least. But her recent attempts to try to "limit" PMs is pure rubbish. Sure, it's fine and well to remind people that they ought to be reaching out publicly, as well, but you see that list of names she's just posted? From what I can tell, that's everyone who posted a PM yesterday after she made her announcement. I'd bet a fistful of galleons that she's calling that lot in to tell them off in person, maybe even give detention.

Which brings to mind something else - I thought these coins were going to be used to get around Bumbridge, maybe even figure out a way to get her out of the castle for good. Instead they've been used to announce quaint facts related to history and cultural events that everyone with a coin is already aware of. Is that really what the big plan is, regarding these galleons?

And if Sinbad's inspired oh-so-many people to become leaders, I'd like to know who. I sure haven't met any, lately.

And you know, I've noticed that you're never late. It's obviously working.

Exactly. I've been encouraging the younger students to think of it as a sort of fizzing whizbee for the soul.

I take it as a point of honour never to be late.

It's so clearly a mark of inferiour breeding to be careless about time.

You know, if only there were a way to have my journal sing my schedule to the tune of the YPL anthem. I think that'd be just about perfect.

I'm going to work on it as soon as I have a free moment.

I could fold you an origami dragon that would sing your schedule to the tune of the YPL anthem.

You'd have to re-charm it weekly, though. But that would be a good opportunity to think through your schedule for the week!

(Also, it wouldn't have to be a dragon. I mean, it could be an origami hippo, if you'd prefer.)

You know, I think I fancy a hippo.

Can you guess what colour hippo I fancy?

They can have more than one use, can't they? The coins? Besides, not everyone who has or ever will have one knows all the things you do. And do you really think someone's going to walk up to you in the middle of the 12th Night Ball and announce, 'Oh, hello, Lucius Malfoy's son, I am the leader of an insurrectionist faction bent on bringing down the Lord Protector and all for which he stands'? Of course you haven't met them.

If you want to use the coins to get round her, try writing a message about that and see what happens.

I don't know, what's your favourite colour?

Ha, funny Granger. You take me too literally. What I mean is: where are they? What are they doing? Surely if I feel impatient, you must feel it ten times worse. Unless you enjoy wasting your brain and your time reading shoe repair manuals.

So, it was you who wrote those last two galleon messages, was it?

And we might have to do, if Bumbridge keeps trying to put the clamp down on PMs.

He fancies a pink one, Sally-Anne.

Which is actually amusing. If he weren't being so infuriating in other ways.

Grey. Though I've heard that this Spring it will be all about shades of pink, including, but not limited to: amaranth, carmine, carnation, cerise, fuchsia, magenta, persian rose, salmon, ruby, and puce.

Oh of course he does.

I just wasn't going to say that anywhere that Umbridge might realise that I was making fun of her, too (if she gets cross with Draco...well, that's his affair, right?)

Well I do have a nice selection of parchment in numerous interesting colours, including fuschia, salmon, and even puce.

I never said it was me.

You'd better go or you'll be late for potions. Tow row row.

And now I know that it was.

Potions over, tow row row.

Did you see the card, Father?

Or perhaps you've made the decision to overlook it.

The card you left on my blotter?

Context would be appreciated. Have you any?

(Presume that the 'hippo' in question does not dare to object to this conversation!)

I found it in a flower arrangement that was delivered on Friday morning. White camellia japonica - so, a message praising beauty.

Naturally, I was concerned. Anything addressed to my Mother that says only one word - horrible - would trip the wards.

I firecalled the florist and asked the identity of the person who ordered the flowers. They were reluctant, even fearful, it seemed, to give me a name. Instead, they assured me that the flowers came from a customer who sent flowers to Mother on a very regular basis.

Imagine my surprise when, at the Ball, I witnessed Barty Crouch fawning all over Mother and drawing her close to kiss her hand. I realise that many people fawn all over Mother, but this has a different look to it. It has for years. When I've broached this subject with you before I've been cut off and dismissed, but I'm asking you now, as straight-forward as I can manage:

Doesn't this bother you? Even a little?

Ah. That context. I see.

I have ~~warned~~ asked you before, Son, not to pry over-much into your mother's affairs. Your concern is ... understandable but unnecessary.

Which answer would you prefer? If I told you that it did not trouble me, would that satisfy you? If I told you that it did do, what would you expect might happen next?

~~affairs~~

I prefer the answer that's honest.

Then I believe I have answered you on previous occasions. There is nothing to concern you here.

I'd be for that.

Thanks for sticking that song in my head all day, by the way.

I didn't ask if I should be concerned. I asked if you were.

Speaking of things that shouldn't concern me: Rowen Robins had a word with me the night of the Ball. She fairly slithered over and told me I was "growing up," and that before long I'd have all the witches on my knees, just like my Father.

If I ever wanted to know how to please a real woman, she could teach me, she knew what someone like me would want. And then she tried to coax me outside.

Naturally, I declined.

~~And while were at it, were you behind~~ ~~The other night at the club, did you~~

Trouble is, we're already making fun of her in the journals and she doesn't even seem to notice. Not sure what good the galleons would do there.

What I'd really like to do is get her sacked.

You're row very welcome.

In that case: No. I am not the slightest bit concerned.

On the other hand, one wonders just how much Miss Robins had imbibed when she accosted you. Cannot imagine she was in possession of her wits to have behaved so inappropriately. (Then again, cannot imagine Fudge has been any better behaved a superior than Dolores - possibly worse. She is ambitious and attractive. Sadly common, it would seem.)

But perhaps we should grow accustomed to your looks and position offering an irresistible draw to that sort of thing. You were right to decline; rather wish you had said something to someone at the time to make sure she refrained from further sampling of the champagne.

Do you wish me to take up the matter on your behalf?

At last. So noted. You're not concerned.

So let's say that you know more about Mother's "affairs" than I do. No doubt. So. You don't care in the least? You don't plan to do anything about them?

Don't you love her?

As for Rowena Robins - If it were my looks and position that drew her to me, then I find myself wondering why it is that she kept speaking of you.

Thank you, but I don't need you to take up this matter, or any other related to women.

Okay. That's a start.

Writing on those are sort of hard.

Haha. Have Granger do it for you next time. She's got the technique down.

Draco. I did not say I do not care. I said I am not concerned. It is nothing to worry me because I know that it is no threat either to your mother's love or her devotion to our family. Your mother loves to be worshipped and Barty is her willing thrall; their dalliance satisfies her vanity; neither of them are foolish enough to ever forget themselves or jeopardise their fundamental loyalties. Until now, have had no reason to scorn their discretion.

But since you ask so baldly, no, I do not plan to do anything unless I am forced to call attention to it. In the meantime, it is to my advantage to conceal what I suspect from your mother and particularly from Barty. Why should I upset a working collaborative relationship with him, when our goals align so well and he is available and willing to put his considerable energy to tasks which achieve my aims and keep my hands clean?

Far better to hold it in reserve against the need for his co-operation over some other venture, in which he is not so complicit nor eager.

You ask if I love your mother. More than life. Now I have a question for you: Were I to interfere, do you imagine she would thank me for it? Can I (or should I) deny her the affirmation that she is still attractive, adored, in order to satisfy my 'manly pride'? Which is more important: Her exclusivity or her happiness?

Let us walk down the path you seem to advocate. Should I challenge Auror Crouch to a duel? Inform your mother we are quits? Arrange him to meet with an 'accident'? Arrange for the Prophet to observe them in a compromising situation?

What good would that possibly serve? Any of us?

Or should I go on turning a blind eye, confident that your mother and I shall continue, as we have always done, to provide each other companionship, support, a public display of our contentment with each other and yes, genuine affection and love, whenever either asks it of the other?

What you have just described... makes no sense to me whatsoever.

If you love her above all else, how could you stand to share her? Let some other man touch her?

How do you know that she doesn't do it because of your infidelities, or that she doesn't do it because, deep down, she wants you to stop her and remind her that you belong only to each other?

It sounds to me as if you're both just pretending.

It does not need to make sense to you, Son, not right now. Someday it will. When you have had more experience of life and the complexity of relationships. They change, develop, bend over time. The ones that do not bend, break.

I do not wish either of us to break our marriage. Neither does your mother - of that, I am quite sure. Just as I am sure of her loyalty - loyalty where it counts, which neither begins nor ends in the bedroom.

It's ... complicated, I grant. But it is, nonetheless, very true, and not pretense at all.

I really can't imagine understanding. Not ever.

But, thank you for explaining. ~~Finally~~

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