MICHAEL CORNER's sister BETSY applies to the Auror programme after she finishes school and is accepted.

Her parents reopen their apothecary in London, including a specialty line of protective charms.

That was some curse on that fork, mate. I figured just turning it to a spoon would work, and Professor G did say we were supposed to change the objects as minimally as possible, so that would've been fairly minimal. Do you think he'll deduct points for the number of tries we had to make? Because I went through drinking straw and ladle before I decided to transfigure it into something that wasn't tableware at all.

Just wanted to say well done.

Hey, did Crabbe ever figure out the trick to mine? I was concentrating too hard on yours to see how he was doing.

Thanks for the pocket watch. It's dead brilliant.

Bets wants to know if we can have a proper celebration when we get home at Christmas. I told her she doesn't need any more cake. She's getting plump enough as-is. (Seriously, Mum, remind her that too many transfigured turnips are not good for her, even if they're made to taste like cake. Real cake ought to be right out!)

Mum, you asked about Sally-Anne Perks: She's with Ron Weasley now, but I think we can be mates again. In fact I think I understand a little better why it didn't work out with the two of us. No, there haven't been any other girls yet, and no, I don't think any of the fit ones would have me, anywiz. I told you, Mandy's just a mate. Anywiz I'm not ready to settle down or anything yet!

Terms's been all right so far, hard to believe it's almost over. Course, it'd be hard not to be better than last year but 6th isn't so bad. This week was a little weird, though. I mean, we showed up for Noble Arts and Professor Dovs was nowhere in sight, so we left. Then Transfiguration was right bizarre, I mean I've never seen Professor Brutka in such a bad mood. Not that I'm complaining, I mean, it was great to be able to spend lessons reading and catching up for once. We've got loads of assignments for the end-of-term and it seems like there's always a mountain of work no matter what. It's been okay, though. Since I'm working with Sue, Mandy, and Macmillan for Noble Arts we've also been working together sometimes in other lessons we share. And if one or more of us isn't in a particular lesson we've got other partners. Plus there's the group that was working on O.W.L.s together last year, we've decided to start meeting again and it's been really interesting. I mean, what everyone else is working on, and things like that.

Anywiz, don't worry, everything's fine, and I'm sending Gran a thank-you letter for Grandad's ring, I know she has trouble keeping track of the journals and never checks.

That was some match, wasn't it?

And it was even more fun with Lovegood commentating. Though I suppose it didn't do much for anyone actually wanting to follow the game, still it was educational. I'd never heard of a Bunticle bite before or that it causes people to speak only in limericks. Must be inconvenient for the side when they're trying to call out plays to each other.

(No, Bits Bets, it's not a real thing. I don't think. Probably not.)

I guess it doesn't matter because we won anyway, so

GO, RAVENCLAW!

Mum and Dad,

This week:

On Monday we had Divination, Astronomy lecture, Transfiguration and Defence. Nothing's changed there.

On Tuesday, we made potions in Potions. We cast some charms in Charms. We listened to a ghost in History of Magic.

Wednesday we went back to Divination to see if anything we predicted on Monday came true. Then we did some gardening in Herbology and some animal husbandry in Care of Magical Creatures. And we had another revue rehearsal. And then there was Astronomy at midnight.

Thursday there was an Arithmancy lesson and we made calculations for that. We cast more charms in Charms. We also had another Transfiguration lesson and then Professor Dolohov asked us loads of questions about about Noble Arts.

Friday we read more about Dick and Jane Wizard, brewed more Potions and Professor Dolohov talked more about Noble Arts and defending against them as well. Then we took turns looking at more creatures and trying to feed them without getting our hands bitten off. Then last night we had the revue.

Today we're mostly in Hogsmeade. But I'm thinking more about going home at the end of the week. I think it'll be good.

Oh, and Betsy (you know, Bitsy, I mean), wants me to bring her back some sweets but I don't think I'll be able to get them into the castle, with all the rules nowadays about food and everything. So, I'll try, Bets, but if you see some Junior Councillor with their mouth stuffed with chocs later this evening, you'll know I didn't succeed.

Hi, Mum and Dad,

This week:

On Monday we had Divination, Astronomy lecture, Transfiguration and Defence. Nothing's changed there.

On Tuesday, we made potions in Potions. We cast some charms in Charms. We listened to a ghost in History of Magic.

Wednesday we went back to Divination to see if anything we predicted on Monday came true. Then we did some gardening in Herbology and some animal husbandry in Care of Magical Creatures. And we had another revue rehearsal. And then there was Astronomy at midnight.

Thursday there was an Arithmancy lesson and we made calculations for that. We cast more charms in Charms. We also had another Transfiguration lesson and then Professor Dolohov asked us loads of questions about about Noble Arts.

Friday we read more about Dick and Jane Wizard, brewed more Potions and Professor Dolohov talked more about Noble Arts and defending against them as well. Then we took turns looking at more creatures and trying to feed them without getting our hands bitten off.

We've got a presentation tomorrow by some authors. It ought to be interesting.

Hi, Mum and Dad,

This week:

On Monday we had Divination, Astronomy lecture, Transfiguration and Defence. In Defence we're still just reading out of the same mouldy book about the same boy and girl on their brave journey through a dangerous world, and they're still shooting rainbows out of their wands to defend themselves against all the not-really-very-nasty things that come along. You'd think at least they could shoot a lightning bolt once in a while, for variety.

On Tuesday, we made potions in Potions. We cast some charms in Charms. We listened to a ghost in History of Magic.

Wednesday we went back to Divination to see if anything we predicted on Monday came true. Then we did some gardening in Herbology and some animal husbandry in Care of Magical Creatures. And we had another revue rehearsal. And then there was Astronomy at midnight.

Yesterday there was an Arithmancy lesson and we made calculations for that. We cast more charms in Charms. We also had another Transfiguration lesson and then Professor Dolohov was back in the classroom, so he asked us to ask him questions about things from all the reading we didn't understand, and when no one raised their hands he sort of went over it again, anyway. (He still looks right dreadful but not as knackered as he was back in September.)

Today we brewed more Potions and Professor Dolohov talked about what might be on our O.W.L. for Noble Arts (and even Defence, a little bit). Then we took turns looking at more creatures and trying to feed them without getting our hands bitten off.

Other things that might be interesting: Last weekend there was a Quidditch match but the weather was foul and Gryffindor didn't catch the Snitch until the next day. Or maybe it was Tuesday. I can't remember. Ravenclaw are still ahead of them so it didn't really fuss me much, either way. Let's see. Oh. Mr Krumgold asked if I'd play in the orchestra for the revue, so I've been practising violin more than usual. Oh yeah, and this morning, someone got called up in front of the school and made to drink a foul-tasting potion (at least, she looked like it tasted foul), because someone else wrote something nasty in her journal. I'm not sure how she's supposed to keep other people writing in her journal, though. Now I'm worried that someone will start randomly writing in other people's journals to get them in trouble for no reason.

Oh, and Bitsy said she doesn't want to be called Bitsy anymore, because that's a name for a little kid and she's not a little kid anymore, she thinks. So she wants to be Bets from now on. So call her Bets, okay? (There, was that the way you wanted me to say it, Bitsy?)

Hogsmeade is always a fun time. It's interesting how as we get older, there are other parts of the village that hold more appeal. Everyone always enjoys Honeyduke's or Wiseacre's but I don't know why a third-year would go to Madam Puddifoot's for example, or whether next year we'll still have much use for Zonko's. Then again, maybe we'll never quite outgrow Zonko's.

It's also amazing how different the village is in winter versus our visits last term. Coming down to the village from the castle, the view was really breathtaking, all that snow. I'm glad we only get to go once in a while. It makes it that much more of a treat when we do, and besides that, of course, we can all use more time to catch up on homework.

After a snowy day like that, though, I sure hope there's something warm for supper tonight.


Oh, yeah, I'm looking forward to the YPL tomorrow, too. Anyone know what we'll be working on?

Hi, Mum and Dad.

Here's a rundown for the week:

On Monday we had Divination, Astronomy lecture, Transfiguration and Defence. Headmistress Umbridge observed in Transfiguration and she asked a load of questions and interrupted Professor Brutka a lot. (Dad, you would have called it 'kibbitzing' but I don't think she knows that word, so I don't think she would have called it that. Professor Brutka didn't get the slightest bit upset, though, but by the end of the lesson it was hard to remember what he said at the start of it. I hope my notes make more sense!) We exercised and then there was some revising and a revue rehearsal.

On Tuesday, we made potions in Potions. We cast some charms in Charms. We listened to a ghost in History of Magic. We didn't have Duelling Club because Professor Raz wasn't able to run it. Maybe there will be a newsletter telling you why not.

Yesterday we went back to Divination to see if anything we predicted on Monday came true. Then we did some gardening in Herbology and some animal husbandry in Care of Magical Creatures. And we had another revue rehearsal. And then there was Astronomy at midnight.

Today there was an Arithmancy lesson and we made calculations for that. We cast more charms in Charms. Professor Binns talked some more (actually I think he might have told us about the same goblin battle, but it's hard to tell because after a while they all sound alike). We had more Transfiguration only it wasn't about anything that Professor Brutka taught on Monday, only it made a lot more sense because he wasn't getting interrupted every other sentence. Actually I think a lot of my notes from Monday are the answers to the questions that Headmistress Umbridge asked him. So if you want to know where he taught in Canada I can probably tell you.

We also had a Noble Arts lesson but Professor Dolohov is still not back in the classroom so we have loads of reading assignments and we sort of all talked through the chapter. And there's been more exercising and revising tonight.

Tomorrow I expect we'll brew some more potions and pet some more creatures but I think we'll probably have to read more during Defence and Noble Arts. At least it's a Friday.

Okay, we've heard from everyone and we've looked over the schedules.

Revising will be Thursdays after supper until curfew and also every other Saturday evening. We might add in Sundays later, but not while Sally-Anne's got Quidditch practice.

We'll start this Saturday. I think we'll find out what subjects people want most to focus on and from there we'll decide how to divide up the sessions. Sound good?