alt_draco | Entries tagged with holiday

Splendid party at the Manor last night - Mother outdid herself, as ever. The winter garden was particularly festive, with an arrangement of lights, charms, and other delights. The band played until the sun came up, since everyone was loathe to stop dancing and celebrating, so you might say that the party didn't actually end until after breakfast.

Many of the usual faces in attendance, of course, and it was good to see all of you.

Of course, those who were unable to make it were, with a few exceptions, missed. Best wishes for a Happy Christmas to you and yours.

Good show, all of you. Fifth years, there really was an enormous difference between last summer and this one - in most cases it was pretty clear that people kept up a fitness regimen during the school year, in addition to paying attention in Defence class and duelling club.

Congratulations to everyone who got special awards this year, too. They did that bit a little differently than they did last year, if I recall correctly.

And after all of that... I, for one, definitely need a holiday.

Quite sorry to hear you'll be leaving the YPL programme, Professor Sinistra, though of course we'll still be seeing you in Astronomy lessons. And perhaps elsewhere, as well.

People keep asking in their journals how our holiday is going so I thought I'd best write about it. (No, Blaise, I don't know that chip girl's name, and I don't plan on asking for it.)

This town is a pretty snitch place, and all the cottages (ours, I mean) have views overlooking the water. They're not large, but there's definitely enough room for all of us, and we see each other a whole lot more than we would if we were just pottering about New London. Speaking of New London, it's loads quieter here, very peaceful. Except the people can be fun and boisterous, too. Last night they were all lighting bonfires on the beach and turning the smoke into giant coloured animals. We were watching from the windows until Uncle Razzer said it would be safe to go down and join them. One of the men saw Harry and started turning the smoke in his fire into massive, swooping snakes. It was pretty wicked. The animals turned out to just be a warm-up, too; they used the smoke to tell the whole story of Orpheus, and how he became a seer and star-gazer and used magic to speak with all creatures of the magical world. A collection of harps were charmed to play throughout the whole performance, too. After the show a lot of people left but some lingered behind and told ghost stories around the bonfires. The man who made the smoke snakes told us about the Black Hounds. He said they appear in a flash, out of the mist, and just as fast they vanish. They're supposed to be the manifestation of evil, wicked muggles who still want to bring about misfortune. Some people even say that the Hounds can tear people apart with their claws, and then bury your body where it will never be found again. It might've scared Hydra a little but Harry and I thought it was great. The Razzer said it was a good bit of local colour and that it him reminded him of old stories about the Grim.

We ended up staying up very late, because Hydra had only been there a day and there was lots to talk about. I still can't believe some of the things she told me.

Father and I (and sometimes Harry) have been taking beach walks after breakfast. We've been discussing what's going to happen next year at Hogwarts, mostly--regarding both electives and other matters. It's good. I really thought he might have to go away a lot to do things back in New London, but he hasn't done at all. Mother doesn't seem to want to go out much, though; every time we venture out to explore she finds some reason to stay in. And then Mr Crouch has to keep her company.

Flying along the shore line is amazing. Sometimes if the wind is just right you can feel a bit sea water spray on your face. No one will let us fly out very far over the water, though. If you fly a little ways outside the village there are all sorts of mouldering boat houses and dilapidated cottages where the wizards used to live back when the town was a muggle fishing village. I can't imagine how depressing it would have been to have to hide yourself away on the fringes of some isolated countryside, living in a heap of rubble that's on the verge of collapse. What a dreary life that must be.

Anyway, I think we're having pudding soon so I'd better finish up. Teddy, I've owled off the beach pebbles you've asked for. Four of them.

Current Location: sea cottage

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.

Current Mood: curious
Current Location: the manor library

I know I shouldn't of but you were taking so long at the booksellers and I just wanted to find a place where I could get something to drink, a boire, you know, and I walked too far and I don't know where I am! Only there's lots of muggles and some who weren't much older than me were calling me names in French and shoving me about. Oh they were horrid and

well now I'm hiding in a park and there's people sleeping on the benches. I don't know what to do please send someone to find me!

Current Mood: anxious
Current Location: something Rue - I don't know!

Mother sent me a book that's meant to improve my French before we go away on holiday. French used to be a part of my and Harry's lessons before we went to Hogwarts, but neither of us worked at it very hard and I've since forgotten a lot of it. This book actually speaks French if you hold your wand or your finger to the word, because accent and pronunciation is supposed to be important. And last night I fell asleep reading it, but soon woke up because it was squawking "je me rends!" in my ear, which made everybody else laugh.

And then Blaise told us that his Mother used to go to France a lot before, and that she says that all of the muggles there are naked. Not completely naked, but walking around with a lot of their bits showing, or with only a fan or a shawl to cover them. I said his Mother must be exagerating and then Teddy tried to join in and say that he'd heard the same thing, that the French muggles are all naked and also maniacs for sex. Even though Teddy is Welsh and hasn't been anywhere. If it's true and the muggles are all naked and maniacs, then I think that the French Ministry is doing a shameful job of handling them. I know that France has all the best food and robes and entertainment, but they obviously don't know how to govern.

Even if Blaise is wrong and they wear clothes, it will be odd to be around muggles the way they used to be, just out in the open. I know that Mother and Father will try to keep them away from me but still, it's strange to think that they won't know I'm a wizard and how to treat me with the proper respect. That's why we're leaving Dennis behind, because I don't want him to get confused or upset.

Current Location: somewhere in the dungeon

I don't think I like Christmas much anymore. There's too many people, and this year there was even more people than usual. Nanella kept bringing her friend from Brazil along and he was much younger than her and I couldn't understand anything he said. And the Razzer kept trying to do a spell that would make me smile and it made my face stick that way for hours and afterwards my cheeks ached. Ned was being friendly and talking to me about quidditch, but I guess he forgot that whenever I see him in the Great Hall with his chums he'll barely give me a nod. I ate too many chocolate frogs, too, and was sick in the night.

But at least everyone gave me a present. That made me feel better. ~~Except I didn't get my BRO~~

The best night was Christmas Eve because it was just me and Harry at Buckingham Palace. And the Lord was there too of course but we didn't see him after dinner. ~~Harry showed~~ We played green ghost but I don't know how much I like that game anymore. I might be too old for it. Or maybe it's just not such a brilliant idea to play it in a place that's as big as Buckingham. Mostly, I wish that things and people would just let Harry alone! He's never done a bad thing to anyone and he's a much pleasanter person than me, so, I wish that... they would just let him be.

I have to go now. Father's taking me to the Ministry today.

Current Location: the pantries

Mother and Aunt Bella and Nanella want me, Harry, and Hydra out of the way while they finish getting things ready for the party tonight, so after breakfast they sent us to the conservatory to put together a giant gingerbread house! The walls are taller that I am, and sort of heavy, so we've been using wingardium leviosa to get them upright. I might need to find a sticking charm, though, because the icing sugar isn't really strong enough to hold everything together. It is good for sticking peppermints and sugared jellies on for decorations, though. The jellies are nearly the size of quaffles! Hey Harry, maybe we should save one and practise with it once I get my broomstick?

It's a good thing I haven't an allergy to sugar, otherwise I'd be very sick by now. Speaking of, I can breathe much better now that I'm back at the manor. Seems I was right after all and that castle air is all mouldy and bad for the lungs.

Current Location: the conservatory

Does anyone know if the colder whether has changed the air quality of the castle? It seems awfully hard to breathe around here lately. Sometimes when I talk there's a sort of whistle in my words. And also, the back of my neck always itches. I asked Harry to look and he says he doesn't see anything on my neck but it itches like mad sometimes, it really does. Maybe its the shower water that comes out of that gargoyle's mouth. That gargoyle looks like it hasn't been cleaned in centurys, and its teeth are practically black. Its a disgrace, really. Someone ought to speak to the house elves. Oh, I know Hogwarts is supposed to have the best elves in all the land but how often does an ancient castle really get a good, deep cleaning?

On the bright side of things, its only fifteen days and a few hours until we leave for the hols.