Draco C. Malfoy

It's a good thing that 12 Grimmauld is hidden. I've been spending a lot of time staring out the window, even though it's not really like me to sit at windows, staring out. There's a bakery across the street. It seems to be popular, though I've never tried any of their bread or pastry. I don't think I would have eaten there before, because it's not a bakery I've heard of, and not the sort of bakery that most of my mates would go to. But now I keep wishing I could walk over and get a croissant, or something. It would probably be a terrible croissant, but that wouldn't matter. I know I could probably ask Kreacher to walk over and get me one, but that's not really the point. I want it to be me who walks over there, who goes inside and buys a terrible croissant.

Of all the ideas we've discussed, I think the only one that will work is for me to die. My parents need to believe I'm dead. If there's a way for them to think I died loyal, that would be even better, but I don't know if it's possible now. Things will be better for them if it looks as if I were trying to get back to them to tell them all I knew, and got killed along the way.

Better for them temporarily, that is.

And then, after that, I might leave New London. I don't feel like I fit in at Sherwood or Moddey, but that's rather the point.

I've been wondering if part of the reason I wanted to join the Council wasn't because I was oh-so certain I could be useful as a double agent, but because it would mean that my life would be disrupted as little as possible. I would be able to eat at the best restaurants, get invited to the best parties, wear the best robes... I could pretend that I was the dutiful son my parents wanted me to be.

That's not an option any more. None of it is. And sitting in what is essentially my ancestral home, staring out the window, isn't really, either. Yet I keep doing it.

Alright. I don't know what else.

Hermione, we're back in New London. I don't know if you've heard, but Mother will have to be Hydra's chaperone for the remainder of the summer, so we've had to cut our holiday short. Shame it had to happen before Barty Crouch made one of his "surprise arrivals" at the weekend to liven up the party.

That's not so important, though. Father's informed me that Yaxley put in some kind of request to access my Private Messages. He didn't get what he wanted - Father said he could be looking for anything, be it indiscretions, family secrets, or whatnot. And while Father didn't necessarily say as much I don't imagine that Yaxley has any grudge against me. It's more politics and jockeying for power, no doubt. Still, if he had got his eyes on our writings...well, I shan't finish that unlovely thought. Hardly worth it, is it? Terrible things would have happened... Odd how a person can almost get used to living with a certain kind of constant uncertainty.

Anyway, I already told Harry about all of this, but you ought to know, too. I thought it was Auntie Bella we'd have to be worried about, but I ought to have known she would have shouldered the journals onto somebody else. Hopefully, the Aurors can keep Yaxley out. Better yet, perhaps someone will squash him permanently - and soon.

Also.

I've been thinking about what Hydra's told me about her father - how he must have tracked her or spied on her with one of his devices.

Now, what a lucky thing that it was only her virtue in question, and not her loyalty.

My parents aren't invasive as Hydra's, fortunately, but nevertheless it's a turn of events that, paired with Yaxley's inquiry, has convinced me more than ever that I must maintain an impeccable charade of tow-row-row. Harry, I'll be going to the next Slytherin social, no matter who hosts it. I reckon I'll take Daphs along as my plus-one again, since it worked well enough last time. Might be good if you made an appearance now and then, too. Or else I can tell everyone that you're very busy working closely with your "Dad," if you prefer - that'd certainly stop any questions.

Harry, I know I was non-committable on Hydra's invitation yesterday, mostly because I still don't much fancy the idea of having tea in some ramshackle Camden shop with a relation I scarcely know, but see here, I've had second thoughts. I think we ought to go.

Do you think you can get leave from Buckingham? And bring Granger? I have something else to give to her, but if you don't think you should bring her then I suppose I'll just give it to you to give to her.

Bit of a quiet weekend 'round Slytherin - socially, I mean. Always plenty of homework to be had. I suppose it's owing to that Thursday night party that there were no other parties going on. Cheers for that, Hydra - a good time was had by all. And many happy returns again, Finch-Fletchley.

Say, has anyone had time to write an essay for that YPL contest? You know, the one on the topic of the Lord Protector's Greatest Achievement. I've been so focused on managing quidditch, homework, and Prefect duties that I almost forgot about it entirely. It's a shame, really, because I reckon I'd do a spiff-up job on it if I put quill to parchment. There's so much to say about the Lord Protector's greatness that it's hard to know where to begin, and how to keep it to the length-limit. And then there's the question of just how to put all my thoughts into words... still, I might give it a go if I can make time this week.

Shouldn't be too hard to find a quiet spot, anyway. Some of the NEWT-level students must have found a new place to practise spells and revise, because the group staking out the far end of the common room (like they usually do on Sunday nights) was a bit thinner than usual. Just Samantha and some of the other girls, talking about Charms theory.

Oh, and Teds - you really planning to go 'round with your sleeves hacked off like that? If so, you might want to use a severing charm to get rid of those bits of ragged fabric on the edges. It doesn't really look like a fashion statement so much as the work of a rebel house elf at large in the laundry.

Right then. Who's going to be next to be rid of sleeves?

Did you know that Cho Chang was seeing Cedric Diggory? I didn't. Trouble is, neither did Harry. So to make a massively long and complicated story more manageable:

Harry asked Cho to the Ball.
Cho said Yes.
Harry found out that Cho only said Yes because he's Harry Mavolo.
Harry found out that Cho fancies Cedric and vice-verse.
Harry suggests that Cho go to the Ball with Cedric instead (response pending).
Harry asks me who he should ask if Cho wants to go with Cedric.
Hydra and Millie are ruled out. For different reasons. As is Parvati.
Brocklehurst is pondered as an option.
Which is where you come in.


Do you think Mandy Brocklehurst would want to go with Harry? I reckon you know her a bit from those strange tea events that you go to every so often. Is she still without a date or has someone asked her since I posted my list last night?

So I know I've already asked you, but are you sure you're not hacked about Sunday's meeting? Because everyone would much rather have you as seeker, you know. No question about it. And I know you've told me it's fine but... well, you don't have your broom and you don't have your spot on the team and I know it's not fine, don't I? I know it's not. But look, things won't stay this way forever. They can't. Snape and MacNair can't hide out that much longer, I'm sure of it. And once they've caught them everything will go back to the way it was before.

I think we should work on that spell together, see if either of us can get any closer to casting it. I know the Raz is helping you during your lessons, but I'd like to learn to cast it too, just in case. I just really want to know what my patronus will look like too. That giant leopard is just so brilliant! I hope mine's a dragon or something equally wicked. It's just so hard to concentrate and think of something happy at the same time. The Raz sure is good at it, though, and he said it's like second nature by now so there's no reason why it can't be that way for us eventually, too. What do you reckon his happy thought is? I bet he thinks about all the girls he's snogged, past, present and future. Speaking of - are people still asking you about what's going on between him and Professor Sinistra? Daphs made some kind of probing comment about it when we were walking back from Creatures. I bet she fancies him like all the other girls do.

Now everyone's asking me about Hydra. What do they expect us to say? When it comes to what goes on between Hydra and Auntie Bella, it's just better to stay out of it.

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.

Can anyone really be that unlucky? Even if he did live at the camps and think he was a mudblood his whole life, it just doesn't seem possible that someone can create that much havoc all on their own. Maybe the Transfiguration classroom is cursed, or that chair that Thomas sits in. I suppose we'll know more if all that mud business keeps up even with a new teacher for Transfiguration.

Harry's still quite upset. He doesn't want to disrespect Professor Carrow but he doesn't like it when people try to mess about with his belongings, especially if its Granger. Professor Slughorn says it's a good manners to share, and Harry normally really likes to share, but I think it's different with Granger because she's not a broomstick or a book, she's a per mudblood, and hardly anyone gets to have one of their very own. And she saved Harry's life once, too. I'd feel the same way if I were him. If it were Dennis who I had to share, I mean.

Now I'm sure that Harry will speak to his Father about it, and he doesn't do that very often because if he ran to his Father every time somebody or something upset him then most people would be terrified of Harry and he wouldn't have any real mates. It's the same reason why Hydra doesn't run off to Auntie Bella every time someone or something upsets her.

I ought to be going on to the Great Hall for breakfast but, I'm not very hungry today. I was trying to read a book father gave me, called The Chess Mind and it tells you how to play chess and also how to be good at it can help you in real life. It says chess builds logical thinking skills, which I guess must be true. I wish I enjoyed chess more but when I play it feels like taking an exam and who wants to take an exam for fun? I will keep reading the book though, because if Father gave it to me then it must be important.

But I think creative thinking skills are as important as logical ones. Back at home Harry and I would always make up games together, and I like that best because then you can come up with your own rules instead of following someone elses. One of the games we played was called Green Ghost. I've never actually seen a green ghost but that was the colour of the blanket the person being the ghost would hide under. Mother put an obscurrity charm on the blanket so it was really dark in there and the ghost wouldn't be able to see anything. Of course real ghosts don't look like shapeless people under blankets, and the ghosts at the Manor would probably be offended if they saw us, but we usually played this game at Kensington or the Lord's Palace. There weren't any ghosts there because muggles used to live there and a muggle never leaves a ghost. I'd say more about how Green Ghost was played but its hard to explain and you would have to see it to understand how it worked.

We played hide and seek a lot too, which everyone knows how to play but at the Lord's palace, especially, it was enormous and the game could go on for a really, really long time and once I hid so well I was sort of lost. Harry was really good at finding people, but I was really good at hiding. Hydra was better at hiding than anyone, but she would always run out of the hiding spot if her name was called so that rather ruined it. And also

Well brilliant, now I'm hungry. Maybe I have time to grab a bun before heading to the greenhouses.