Draco C. Malfoy

I was surprised to read the Head Girl's announcement about bullying, as I haven't noticed any behaviour that's more out of line from what we usually see at Hogwarts. But apparently others have noticed, which is unfortunate, given that we currently have guests whose impression of Hogwarts matters a great deal to some of us. Now that such a bright glaring light has been shined on the matter, we can only hope that it will soon die down.

If there are any first-year or visiting students who want to test out their spellcasting skills in an approved environment, they ought to consider attending duelling club on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Also, the NEWT students have duelling club on the first and third Tuesday, and they don't usually mind having an audience. Some of them have developed some dead impressive wand-work, too, which means it can be quite a show some nights.

So yeah, haven't seen this so-called bullying, but I have seen what Krum's been enduring. Last night I was on my way show him and some of the other Durmstrang students our quidditch trophies, when Marjoram Montague and Effie Stevens literally leapt out of the Armour Gallery while waving Bulgarian pennants and shouting the Bulgarian fight song. They had also charmed their hair to be white blond for some reason...to look like Veela? That's all I can figure, though they were just a bit far off on the resemblance.

It was possibly the most hideous spectacle I have ever witnessed. We all had our wands out in an instant - that's just what you do when someone jumps out from behind a suit of armour - and their faces went utterly white. And then when they saw Krum's expression - well, they figured out right quick that not a single one of us was amused. Stevens burst into tears and went wailing in the other direction, and Montague muttered an apology before scurrying off the same way. And then I had to apologise to Krum for their antics.

If people would stop being idiots being so ridiculous in the first place, we'd all be better off. Hopefully there won't be any incidents like that this weekend.

And speaking of - Harry and I will probably help with the set up after supper. Anyone else from CCF interesting in joining?

Father,

I know you're busy and likely weary of hearing more about either Professor Carrow, but I wanted to make you aware of a situation, particularly as it affects my standing both in class and amongst my peers.

Miss Professor Carrow called up myself and Sally-Anne Perks, Pansy's friend, to do a demonstration yesterday. We were to engage in some fairly uncomplicated duelling while she "distracted" us. I was wary of the situation straight away, because she seemed very excited for it, in an unsettling way, as if she had planned it out well in advance. Sally Anne and I did as instructed, though, until it got to the point where I had backed her into a corner, near a bookcase. At that moment, it felt like I had been hit in the elbow with a curse, and my arm jerked upwards and the hex I was casting hit the bookcase, which then toppled over, right on top of Sally Anne. She had a head injury and a fractured arm. She should recover well, but it looked quite bad in the moment it happened, lots of blood. Pansy was, as you can imagine, well upset when she heard what happened. Beside herself, actually--especially when she heard that something had fallen on Sally Anne and trapped her there while she was helpless and bleeding.

I know that you would caution me against jumping to conclusions when it comes to any adult's motivations, particularly a professor's. I also know that Miss Professor Carrow did warn us that she would be distracting us, and that I should have been prepared for anything. Still, I am convinced that the situation was designed to make me look incompetent and reckless, and to make Pansy feel helpless about the safety of her friends.

Advice would be appreciated. Staying out of their way and trying not to attract their attention is something I've always been mindful of, however, and it doesn't seem to make a difference.

You son,
Draco