Inventions and artifacts! Why would anyone think that a waste of time? I’m sure your possessions are more interesting than everyone else’s. Everyone else’s possessions might have aesthetic appeal or sentimental value, but yours presumably have all manner of unique abilities and uses as well, which can hardly be disparaged. There was an auction in Hogsmeade last month – did you have the chance to visit? It sounds like you would have been very much in your element.

The greenhouse was ‘Tortoni’s’, and I suspect its owner is an eccentric, but that my getting trapped was merely bad luck. There were some hungry carnivorous plants, but I must regrettably inform you that I escaped with all my limbs intact.

And I live in London, so I have been in little danger of kidnapping. Or rather – little danger of kidnapping by that serial abductor; I would not say crime is itself foreign to London, so I cannot rule out the risk entirely! I am fond of Hogsmeade, though, and often visit. Speaking of adventuring, of course, is there anywhere you would like to explore? Anywhere in the world, I mean; though if there are still intriguing places so close to home, perhaps within Hogsmeade too.

Indeed, I’ve just read this morning’s paper, and apparently Hogsmeade was just beset by all manner of escaped exotic animals. Did you happen to see any? (That would probably constitute as more of an adventure than garden gnomes.)

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