Draco C. Malfoy

As you're surely aware by now, Transfiguration is my weakest and most loathed subject. I blame it on the fact that I was a child who was never denied anything material, and thus saw no value in transfiguring porcupines into pincushions (and really, how often does one come across a porcupine? Aren't pincushions far more common, in addition to being less costly?). Also, I don't sew. And who uses pins? That's what sticking spells are for.

You see why I don't much care for it.

So I've no clue why I've gone and had the bright idea to transfigure my colocation box into a ring. Similar to the poison rings, except that I need to make the opening expandable, so that something large could potentially fit into it.

I guess I was thinking that it could be handy next year, when I'm on the council. If I ever get a chance to nick something that could be valuable to the Order, I could send it along to you or Harry straight off, rather than trying to smuggle it out under my robes or something.

I think I'll work on it for a little while in the secret room. If you're not brewing or doing something for Harry and want to take a look, I'll probably just stay there through supper.

I dare say that Slytherin house will not be the same absent Sam Montgomery. There is a certain amount of quiet among us this week, but it is a resilient quiet. Sam filled the dungeons with a certain liveliness that no one else can quite replace, but I suspect she would not want us to mope about in her absence. She made a bold sacrifice in her quest to serve our Lord - far more bold, certainly, than what many others offered - and should be praised for that willing sacrifice.

On behalf of Slytherin, Daphne and I sent the Montgomery family a gift basket which we hope will communicate our appreciation of their daughter, Samantha, and all that she stands for.

Our sponsors have been rather quiet this week - no word of a new challenge since the leg-locker curse.

I imagine they're taking their time to think of something truly limit-testing this go, after those first two relatively easy tasks.

But then they could be a bunch of unimaginative sods, too.

I'm bracing myself for both. Probably at the weekend, since I doubt they want to give us too much time off. I did get an owl from Ned, more or less telling me that I was on a good track, but that I shouldn't hold back or bide my time. The concept of subtlety is lost on him, it would seem, which isn't a surprise given that he used to be Crouch's secretary.

And - well, you might as well know the rest of it. He reminded me that because of my Father, my "position" wasn't as assured as it would have been, once upon a time.

I'm sure it will bring a smile to some of your faces to hear that bit.

At any rate, I think he's wrong. I don't believe it would do to look desperate, or as if I were dwelling on Father's situation. All of this is what I was meant for - that's what I aim to project. It is, after all, what comes naturally. I am the person the Lord Protector needs, the one that my Father couldn't be.

But this has got to look well ridiculous to those of you on the spectator end of this. You should all start a pool on who's going to make top third. Put it up on a big banner somewhere public to make everyone feel itchy. Put Teddy at the top and maybe he'll stop being such a sadistic arse - though who knows, that might make it worse.

I'd like to extend a hand of congratulations to my new cohort. It seems that all our school lessons and CCF training will finally result in real-life reward or consequence. About time, I say.

Those of you not amongst the chosen initiates - do not distress. Remember that you can serve us who serve Him, as is the way of our great Protectorate. Daphne, for example, is a brilliant hostess, and she's told me that she's arranged for an impromptu soirée to take place in the Slytherin common room one hour after supper. This location only seemed appropriate, given that Slytherin House has the most representatives, as well as the youngest.

I see this as a chance for us to meet and mingle before the first challenge is upon us... or, to size up the competition. Six of one, a half-dozen of the other, eh?

I look forward to seeing you all there.