Draco C. Malfoy

Well I have no plans to attend a Deathday Party ever again if I can help it, and I would advise the rest of you to do the same. It was freezing, for one, because if you get a load of ghosts in one place the air goes all chilly. For two, did you know that ghosts eat horrible, rotten food? I didn't. Apparently the more the food reeks, the more they convince themselves they can still taste it. Though they aren't truly tasting or eating it, they're just floundering around in it helplessly. I don't think I can imagine anything more undignified than being a ghost.

That toilet ghost, Myrtle, was at the party moaning on about how much everyone loathes her. Honestly, after hearing her complain I can't see why anyone wouldn't. Peeves was actually useful for once and drove her away with a fistful of mouldy nuts. And then the group of headless ghosts showed up and were awfully full of themselves. Losing one's head - what a brilliant thing to be proud of, that. I don't really care whether or not Gryffindor's ghost gets to go on the headless hunt, but this one particular ghost, Sir Patrick, was pretty rude and gobbing off all over the place, especially to Harry. So when he showed up we were all more than ready to leave, and as we were heading for the Entrance Hall, Harry thought he heard someone or something speaking in Parseltongue. I didn't hear anything, but I don't have a pet snake or study the reptilian tongue. I don't know if Harry could actually make out any words but it must have been the Heir of Slytherin talking, because when we followed the voice up some stairs we ran right into Granger's petrified cat. And then there were those words on the wall, which I suppose everyone must have seen by now. It was all quite exciting but Harry might be a little unhappy because Granger is his mudblood and that means that no one should bother her cat without asking him first. And Granger's gutted too, obviously, because when you think on it the cat's probably her only real friend.

All of that happened but I scarcely had any pudding. Did they serve anything good? Last year there was treacle tart but it was sort of watery, I was hoping for a nicer one this time.

I didn't really expect to miss France but in the weeks since we've been back it's been a complete bore. Father is off doing important political business and Mother has been with Auntie Bella a lot in case the baby comes, which it hasn't yet, even though it was supposed to have come on Sunday.

Mostly, though I don't know where Harry's been keeping himself. He only responded to one of my Owls while I was in France, and he never seems to write in his book anymore, either. Father says that the Lord just has a lot of plans for Harry right now and to be patient, and then he took me to Buckingham so I could see him, and the whole time I was there I just sat alone in a drawing room with Dennis, Harry never came round and neither did Granger. I thought I heard his voice in one of the corridors, but when I went out to look all I could see was a big group of adults talking about the muggle camps.

The reason it matters is because Harry's birthday is in a few days and I haven't heard yet what we'll be doing to celebrate. Last year we played quidditch with the Magpies, and then later at the Magpies-Falcons match they let Harry release the snitch. It was dead wiz-nift. Maybe we can do something with more people this time, though, like a party at Buckingham. What do you think, Harry? I hope you'll read this. I got your present in France but I've been waiting to give it to you. Seamus came over to the manor yesterday and I showed it to him and he was mad impressed and had never seen anything like it, of course. We had a pretty good time, though, wish you could have been there.

Last night's exploding snap game in the common room got cut short just as I was about to beat Blaise for the second time in a row. A load of the seventh years wanted to have a NEWT study party, they were going to stay up all night with the wireless blaring, drinking butterbeer and practising charms and whatnot. So they kicked everyone out, and since it was Ned who was giving the orders there was really no choice but to listen. And then without asking me first, Ned tried to get Dennis to go to the kitchens for more food. And even though Dennis waited for my say-so it's not as if I could say no, since Ned's Head Boy and can use Crucio when he wants to. I suppose he thinks that just because we're cousins, he can use my servant whenever he wants. But too bad for him, because I'm keeping Dennis hidden away from now on. Only I wish I didn't have to, because I like the idea of him being there whenever I need him. I'd take him to class so he could be there to sharpen my quills when they get dull, but I don't think he should listen in on lessons. Hearing about magic might make his magic manifest. Plus I like sharpening my own quills.

Did anyone see that Harry's servant was wearing livery? She's not wearing it now but she did on the train back to Hogwarts. I'd like to get some livery like that for Dennis. He'd wear it much better than Harry's mudblood, who looked more like she was wearing a costume than someone who really understood the part.

Harry, did you ever find that thing you lost? I guess there's not really any way to ask around about it, but still, I wish you hadn't lost it.