Up, up, and away

( Up, and up, and up )

Pob bendith ar Dydd Gwyl Dewi!

( Cut for size )

Rise up the Cymraeg and all. Anybody need a daffydilly, talk to Longbottom, he fixed me up with a big old magic one. It sings Myfanwy and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and Cwm Rhondda, it's sound as anything.

If I was at home it'd be a half holiday today so we could see the parade after lunch. When we were littluns we'd always walk in it with our school all dressed up. You should've seen Sammie in her little skirt and shawl and ffedog apron and that big black hat, ha. We'd always have to say our piece at eisteddfod at school, too, but she was always ace at that. Me, not so much. Could hardly get through "Gwlad, gwlad."

Weather's getting better, looks like. Guess I can say I survived a Scottish winter, yeah? It was rough for a seaside bloke like me, but guess I sorted it after all. Hey. Who's up for a footie league once it starts drying out a bit up here?

Found my journal finally. Guess it disappeared without me, or I disappeared without it, or something. And to answer the questions: nah, it wasn't bad, except the day before they sent in the food, but after that it was all right. Bit boring sometimes, but we played some footie and all, it was good fun in parts.

Anyway, I don't buy it was supposed to be those purist berks. Those terrorist sorts, they're always claiming they did stuff they were nowhere near, like when the Meibion Glyndŵr said they did the Christmas bombings in Llanelli a few years back. Those mad bastards never did it, everybody knows that, even if you English folk got all up in arms about it at the time. The Sons couldn't manage to blow up their own arses if you handed them a map.

So we're all supposed to be back now, yeah? Libby Glass, where're you hiding, luv?

Ace. Hardly even been in a play before and now I've got to do like four songs in this one. Can't be that hard though, yeah? I mean, if Sammie can do it. (Bod yn jôc, bach.)

Luck on the Quidditch sides that are going on next week. Shame Caerphilly didn't make it to the playoff tourney, but Gwyd's not too down about it. He had a solid season, we reckon, and he's proud to play for Wales win or lose. Anyway, there's always next year, yeah?

( Private to Corrie Pye )

JESUS CHRIST

WHAt the hell happened to my That's not normal, is Those cheating northern bints

Y uffern beth ddigwyddodd? Rhai menywod damn oedd rhywbeth iddo. Ni allwch gymryd yn unig chwaraewr Quidditch dde oddi ar y cae, mae rheolau am hynny, ie? Beth mae'r uffern wnaethon nhw ei wneud i Charlie i wneud iddo diflannu

Crist yn y nefoedd, mae'n well peidio cael eu hanafu. 'N annhymerus' lladd nhw os nad mae'n iawn.

O, cachu. Mam yn mynd i fynd dros ben.

Olly says I get to apologise to you lot for causing a bit of bedlam at lunch. His words, not mine. I wouldn't've said bedlam. Ruckus, stir-up, to-do? Not bedlam though, but Olly's word is law round these parts.

Any road, apologies for disrespecting the dress code and setting a bad example for the littluns, all you blokes. I'd apologise to the ladies, but most of 'em seemed fair happy with it, yeah?

Hey, it's my birthday, you lot. I'm seventeen. Got me any presents?

Guess I'm of age in wizard time now. I remember when my brother turned seventeen he was pleased as punch that he could use magic at home finally. Our mum wouldn't let him do magic in the house but he put on some tidy shows for me and Sammie anyway.

Anyway, my mum sent along some birthday sweeties, so if anybody needs chocolates, I'm your bloke. Dad sent all the latest rugger mags, so I'm well caught up now, and my brother sent some Catapults swag. Pretty decent haul for being so far from home, I guess. And hells but it's cold up here already, isn't it? Makes me miss my rainy, muddly Cardiff winters.

Had a letter from C Gwydion today. You lot probably heard he took a Bludger to the chest in the Catapults-Arrows match last week. Well he broke his collarbone and shattered half a rib, was grounded for a few days, missed the last match, grim town for the Catapults. But don't fuss yourselves, lads and ladies, he's sound as a pound again and cleared to fly tomorrow when his squad faces down Puddlemere. Mum's not best pleased he's flying again so soon, but us Upjohns are tough. I'd lay a few quid on the Catapults if I had any to spare, but I'm saving up.

Oh, and rugger news -- Seven Nations finishes up this weekend with the championship, England and Wales for the first time ever. It'll be an epic match and I dearly wish I could see it. Ah well, forward the Welsh! Y Ddraig Goch ddyry gychwyn!

( Private to MLP participants )

( Private to Sammie )

So I heard something about those kids getting into that Diagonally place. Bit of a muck-up, I guess. Still, taking away the memories from those kids is harsh, yeah? I mean, I don't want anybody magicking around inside my brain.

I had a note from my da with all the rugger news, the Seven Nations tourney is on for the next couple weeks. The biggest shocker is England slaughtered France on Tuesday, 34-14. Hasn't happened that way since '13 back when it was just Four Nations, so good on you lot. Wales and Fiji are on for tonight, we're fair near even in standings just now so it ought to be a good match. Wish to anything I could see it though. Club-wise, my Cardiff lads are clocking up the wins, beat Canterbury for the first time since I think '18 or something, so it's a big victory for our side. That was a hard-fought match though, my da says it was brill. The Super League Championships was last week, Leeds just pulled one over St. Helens for their 17th league win, but our Celtic Crusaders out of Newport made a good showing, fought up to fourth in final standings, and that's two up from last year, over Wigan and Catalan both. Tidy season, anyway.

And hey, I got a fighting part in this play, you lot. You ought to see me tussle it up, you'll be amazed. Bit of a shame the Dursley's not made for acting though, we could've really put on a show.

Oh yeah, and Gryffindor Quidditch, ace flying on the weekend. Well done, the lot of you.

Hey, Libby Glass! Bet your sort of magic can't melt down a house. Still can't get over that, it was so ace.

So I tried out for this play with Sam. They should put me in, I'd be ace as one of those fighty guys. Put me and the Dursley both in and the fights'll be totally realistic even.

Gryffindor Quidditch! You lot will win this match easy, yeah? Can't wait to see it. The last match I went to was January, the Wasps went twenty over the Catapults, but it was a good go for both squads. I got an owl from Ch Gwydion the other day, says training's keeping him too busy to breathe but his squad's psyched up for the season. Only a couple weeks now to their first match. I'm hoping they'll let me out of here for a bit so I can see one of his matches, but if not I won't be too torn up, me and Sam've got plans to see one over term break.

Christ, I love Hogwarts. How much better is this place than any of our schools? Even if we've got like double essays from any of you lot, it's still brilliant just being here.

OW. F

James bloody Potter

Whoever let that mad bloody Dursley into the MLP owes me injury comp. Least I gave him a split lip before he cracked my bloody ribs. Fists like bricks that lad.

( Private to Rhiannon )

( Private to Corrie )

Hey, Secret Santa, thanks for the poem. No clue what it's about but it sounds nice.

Hufflepuff Quidditch! Gwydion said it was great to see you lot fly, really took him back to his Hogwarts days, and he's pretty confident my bet's not misplaced. He's off to training camp tomorrow with the Catapults. Wish I could see that, it sounds ace.

My da's been writing me the rugger league scores since they're never in your lot's papers. Cardiff are still tops in the WRL this season and only behind Newcastle and Canterbury in the All-Britain standings. They've got Internationals coming up, a match with Carcassonne next weekend that's expected to be hard fought. Forward the lads in red, I say.

Private to Claire Molly Poke and Rhiannon Entwhistle
Hey luvs, you're both in Ravenclaw, yeah? I got one of your housemates in this Secret Santa thing, Maeve Cadwallader. I was wondering if either of you know her and want to tell me a bit about her. It'd be a great help.
End private

( Private to Corrie Pye )

Anne Zeller, still taking bets? I want to put five quid on Hufflepuff, luv.

Testing

1 2 3

Anyone out there? That Tristan bird said you lot up at the school can read what we write in here. She's fit, don't mind if she's having me on.

Private to self
Testing, this ought to be private like teacher man said. The English are posh specky gits. Up the Welsh! Y Ddraig Goch ddyry gychwyn! If any of you lot can read it, speak up.
End private