wait a minute

Where would I rather be than here? In Hogsmeade. But I'm not. I'm refraining. It's my son's final Hogsmeade weekend of his time at the castle, and he should enjoy it without his meddling mother. Don't you think?

I am so exhausted.

Alice. ALICE.

Alice
In less than a month, our children will be graduating Hogwarts.

I don't think I'm okay with this.

Jamie
I need a kiss, darling.

I'm not sure which my husband is more excited about. The Kestrals landing nicely in 3rd place currently or the fact that he and Harry got to spend some time together over spring break. Of course, not that Harry's back at the castle ... well, I'm sure I can find other things to get my husband excited about.

Oh! How wonderful it was to hear that Harry won this year's Dueling Tournament! Really, sweetheart, I wouldn't have expected anything less. Your father and I are very proud of you, you know.

April Fool's Day. Besides his birthday, this is the one other day of the year when I have to be worried for my husband's sanity. Thankfully, as he's grown older, things have lessened, at least a little bit.

Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, Viktor Krum
I'd like to invite the three of you to join us for dinner this coming Saturday evening, April 6. Perhaps you can come round about 6?

Severus
Are you going to Spinner's End at all for the break? Would you like to have drinks with James and I before returning to school?

Harry & James
I've invited Cedric, Fleur and Viktor to dinner on Saturday evening. If you have any menu thoughts, please let me know.

Unexpected surprises are always the best, aren't they?

James
I love you, you know that, right?

Marauders, James may read of course
Well, it's happened again. Completely unplanned, of course. And I'm -- well, I'm trying to be optimist, of course but it's so hard if the past has anything to say. Anyway, Jamie and I are pregnant again. It came completely out of nowhere. I'd appreciate it if you didn't let it get around of course just in case.

Harry, James may read
Sweetheart, I know we've been through this before and I'm probably being a bit premature in letting you know, but it would seem as though I'm pregnant! If everything this time goes well, we can all hope you'll have a baby brother or sister by the end of summer.

Though really, sweetheart, please don't get your hopes up. There's no reason to suspect this'll be any different than the last time.

Severus
How nice it was to see you last weekend! We'll have to do it again, won't we?

Private
This is the sixth since Harry was born. I ought to have kept it to myself even longer but I'm just trying to be hopeful. Even at my age. My healer at St. Mungo's isn't very confident and neither am I but I'll just let each day come as it comes. There's a chance I might have to go on bed rest if we're completely sure we'd like this to be successful, but I know I'll go completely stir crazy if that happens!

I wish I had known sooner or I wouldn't have had so much wine lately. ...

Marseilles is absolutely marvelous. Really, I don't know why we didn't do this sooner. The sunshine, the lights, the waters, the cafes -- ! Absolutely everything.

Jamie, darling, I'm not coming home. Also, I would say 'I wish you were here' but that wouldn't be true. And you know how I feel about lying.

To everyone back in England -- how's the spring carnival? It's the one thing I'm sad to miss. Though not too sad since, as I said, Marseilles is simply breathtaking.


The street just outside our hotel.
[Credit: Pinterest]

March is such a wonderful month! So many birthdays to celebrate -- my husband's is coming up, we just celebrated Sirius's, and of course my dear friend Remus has a birthday coming up this weekend. So much to celebrate! Remus, I'll bring you something wonderful back from France, of course, since I'm leaving you and the boys to it. Just don't do anything too awful.

And the spring carnival! Not to worry, Harry, sweetheart, I won't come by any time while you're there. You're safe for now. But really, have a wonderful time, won't you?

Remus
No, really, please make sure I get my husband back in one piece, will you? You always were the sensible one.

Now, Romeo & Juliet is not my favorite of Shakespeare's plays (that honor is reserved for Much Ado About Nothing, due to the bantering of Benedick and Beatrice, who remind me so much of me and James sometimes), however I absolutely loved the performance at Hogwarts yesterday. How nice to see all those young people appreciating the language of the bard!

Of course, it would have been a hundred times better had Harry been in the show, but I get why he didn't take Muggle Studies -- he gets all that sort of education at home, don't you sweetheart?

Glenda, Alice
Now, when's the best time for us to do this mini-break thing, hmn? I need to put in my request for a Friday off. Or a Monday if we'd prefer?

Private
I'd like to give a lecture to those who thought convincing Peeves to toss vegetables at the stage was a good idea. However, giving them that sort of attention is exactly what they want. I've never understood and never will understand why some people like to humiliate and taunt others like that. Some things, it seems, never change for certain houses.

I probably don't say it nearly as often as he would like me to, but my husband is the best on the planet. By far. I am so lucky to have found him. Or, rather, maybe I should say that I'm so lucky that he never gave up and just wore me down until I couldn't do anything but give in.

For Valentine's Day, he gave me the most wonderful present -- a tiny kitten that we've named Minerva. I'm sure she'll be as wonderful as her namesake.

James

My darling man. I realize it's still Valentine's but I thought I'd give you my plans. Us girls are going away on a mini-break. You'll be all right alone, right? No explosions or injuries this time?

Alice and Glenda

Glenda darling, Alice and I were thinking it might be time to head out to Marseilles for a short weekend mini-break. You in?

Ladies, let's make plans.