So very desolate.

[cleverlyanthony]

Where has everyone gone? The library - a place where everyone should be crowding by the dozens and even hundreds - is horrifically empty. Lately, I feel as though I have stumbled through an abandoned mausoleum, where the dust of our wizard forefathers has settled unattractively onto the great tomes from which we enrich our great, expansive minds.

Comments

[no_opinion]

Anthony, even I don't visit the library on my birthday. Of course you wouldn't have seen me there yesterday, even if I hadn't been on a raft in the Great Lake for a large portion of the day.

I do have some concern for our NEWTs, but I also trust that I will do as well as I can with the amount of effort I put in. Thus, spending much of my time reading and revising will reap high marks. I expect straight Os.

I will join you, though, and I'll bring Spells for the Spellbound with me! It's lovely and you're a lovely person for being so thoughtful with your gift. Thank you, Anthony!

[cleverlyanthony]

Well, I did not just mean the past couple of days, I meant for at least the past few weeks, Padma. Maybe even the entire school year, actually! It's appalling how much people are refusing to worry about up-coming exams and even their homework assignments. Ah yes, the lake - how is Potter, anyway?

Oh, that is wonderful news to hear! I believe that someone who doesn't strive for the best will curse themselves with abysmal grades, and it has been proven in the latest edition of Prolific Prefects Who Gained Power.

I'm glad you will, and I think we should get the study-groups reformed around the Ravenclaw quarters, don't you think? If only everyone wasn't hovering around the sandwich bars constantly.

You are very welcome, Padma. Why wouldn't I get a present for a friend?

[no_opinion]

It has been quite empty of late. But this is, alas, nothing new. I'm not sure I care for the Prefects series, but it does have some good advice.

Why don't we wrap up the study sessions with specials at the Sandwich Bar? Say, request in advance that the House Elves prepare some menu items not normally found there. It would provide some incentive to those who really need the revising-- the ones who are doing well enough don't need a sandwich bribe. If they haven't shown any improvement within the session, they may not participate in the specials, which means they can't just show up and do no work.

Oh, Potter is no longer with us.

By the way, I commend you on your most excellent choice of journal colour scheme! CLAW PRIDE!

[cleverlyanthony]

It is a good leisurely read, I admit that, so if you are interested, do let me know. I am always willing to lend reading materials to my fellow student. Assuming they actually do read it, of course.

That is a brilliant idea! Though I do hope their minds linger more on the studying at hand and not their snacks or else it would have been for nothing. You should initiate this, and we should get the younger years involved. What do you say?

What has happened to him??

Why, thank you. I thought it would be doing the great Rowena proud.

[no_opinion]

I don't really have an interest in gaining power, so I'm wary of those books.

I suppose we could allow them to nibble some of the normal fare while they study, if it helps to take the edge off, but ultimately we hope that the hunger will be for knowledge instead. Yes, they ought to form good habits while they're still young, to carry them through their later years.

Would you mind if I introduce more vegetarian options, especially to this? I hope Lisa doesn't object, but perhaps if I focus them on the study group instead of the regular fare she won't mind. It helps if people can see how delicious such dishes really are.

Harry has been taken out of his life.

You're welcome. I did like the colours I had before, but I'm trying to bring a little more pride into my journal's look. Will you tell me what you think of it?

[cleverlyanthony]

I've never had any problem with have a variety of options, so yes, the vegetarian options would be delightful. Is it anything exotic or foreign and not just another pie? I think I already have enough of my meat from pies, thank you very much.

Potter's DEAD? Oh dear. He was a bit annoying but I never wished anything ill upon him. I'm sure that Hermione... and his other friends, will be very distraught over this.

I think yours is quite nice but could do with a bit more bronze, no?

[no_opinion]

There is no true "death" since we keep going on, until we reach moksha, or nirvana, whichever it might be. This is not his end.

I wouldn't consider it "foreign" or "exotic," particularly the latter. It suggests Orientalism. Can I leave the meat-eating portion of the specials up to you? I wouldn't know what to select.

I tried to incorporate more bronze, but it wasn't working out very well. It coloured too many areas in the bronze because it doesn't allow me to specify as much as I'd like to. Ah well.

[cleverlyanthony]

Oh, well, that's good. I think.

Sounds fine to me, so long as everyone is agrees. I can take care of anything that comes from an animal, yes, and hope they all stay away from Michael's machines.

Perhaps you can make all the writing bronze and the background shades of blue?

[no_opinion]

If we must serve any animal product, please confirm that it died well. Nothing that was slaughtered for its flesh, please. I don't mind if milk or eggs are served, as long as they are definitely cruelty-free and the eggs were absolutely unfertilised. I would feel uncomfortable hosting a study group that served certain things, you understand?

I can try, but I suspect it might be unattractive with my particular layout.