No offence taken, Miss. I don’t get often asked for advice, strictly speaking, so I suppose you could say I’m honoured, anyway.

Can’t say I know much about South Africa – or any Africa – but if it’s thanks to your your magizoology skills, it’s an exciting opportunity, I’m sure. (Besides, if you can handle the most violent of hedgehogs, you can probably handle any wild African beasts you might find.)

Is it because it’s dangerous and you’d be off by yourself somewhere far away, that you think your people think it’ll be a bad idea? Or is there something else you worry they’ll say? They oughtn’t forget you were a Gryffindor – you ought to be brave. (Unless there’s nothing in Africa you want to see, and it’s just getting away from Hogsmeade you want. That’s a long way to go if all you’re really interested in is running away.)

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