It is so good to hear from you, though I wish the circumstances were happier! Your woes and mine are the same about this upcoming season... I'm sleeping less nowadays, and eating all the scones the house-elves will give me, but can't seem to put on weight. Have I officially entered the grieving period, for the end of my time at Hogwarts?

Speaking of which, I've taken to revisiting all of our old haunts, and cherishing every cobweb corner and sketchy stairstep. It's the nicest day of the year today, and I'm sitting in our old sunny spot in the courtyard. How I wish you were here! I can't bear to think that when we will see each other again, it'll already be the Dashwood ball. Poppy seems very much in her element, of course, so you will be in capable hands to follow by example. I, on the other hand, am sorry to say that I will be of no use to you in the ballroom. Though if you do faint, I promise to catch your head? Oh, and I promise you that a stiff cup of firewhiskey greatly eases the nerves. Perhaps we'll take our medicine together before the festivities begin?

If all else fails, life with your spinster aunt sounds quite charming!

One benefit of my recent insomnia is that I am quite well ahead in my studies. I rather look forward to the exams as a capstone to all my accomplishments, though for what I do not know. My father and I still don't see eye to eye one bit. We never talk about things, of course, not properly. Though I've gathered that if I do not materialize an English suitor this year, it won't be long until I am shipped to Beijing. Exactly how dead would we be, if we simply fled?

Now that's more than enough about me. How are you Tillie? How are your independent studies? I thought you might like this edition of Transfirguration Today where Professor Foxwood was published, page seven includes a rather entertaining range of transformative jinxes to hexes on humans. Edits and fact checks supported by yours truly!

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   Basil Foxwood