InsaneJournal

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My entire set of knitting needles has vanished, with the one exception of that which I am currently using to finish up a project. Also missing is a small ball of cord, left over from trimming a quilt. It is an odd combination of things to disappear... and I would appreciate their return, if someone finds them. They would not be the best of materials to use if one wanted to make a very small rope ladder, for instance.

Beauxbâtons (French)

I'd normally say this the night before the game itself, as encouragement, but as certain things have not happened yet, I'm going to say it now instead. Let's face it - the chances are nigh on certain that we're going to have gossip printed about us when the magazine is next published. And as we're playing the host school, I am sure that any content will reflect that. Let us keep a couple of things in mind, however -

1) Forewarned is forearmed. Durmstrang and Salem had no idea that this was going to happen to them. We and Hogwarts do. That means we can take whatever action is necessary beforehand. I know some of you will genuinely not give a shit about whatever bilge the magazine prints, and that's fine. If you are worried, however, then you at least have the option of not reading the magazine, journal network or owl post until a point of your choosing. This is not a foolproof plan, of course, but it reduces the annoyance to a degree. Unfortunately, there is little to be done about idiots who might choose to discuss the gossip within earshot - but as I say, at least we can prepare ourselves.

2) Before the match is better than after the match. Yes, it will be timed to prove a great distraction, but my personal view is this - if we win, as I know we are fully capable of, publication after the match would take the sheen off a victory. If we lose, and we have trained hard to prevent this, then post-match publication would be like kicking someone when they're down. As I say, being prepared for what these ridiculous tabloids have to throw at us is better than going in unprepared. We all know the importance of being mentally prepared for a match, after all.

3) We are Beauxbâtons. We have a strength in each other that the other teams don't. We behave with a dignity that the host school certainly doesn't (and I say this with a great deal of respect for the talent their squad has, and for those in school who have bothered to treat us with kindness).

Whatever happens after the next few days, and after this tournament is finished, I doubt there will be a prouder manager than I. You have worked hard. You have played hard. You have endured much. And yet, every single one of us is still here. That shows a strength in character that many adult witches and wizards will never find in their whole lives. I could not have wished for a better group of people to spend my 7th year with in a strange place, and yes, I mean that of each and every one of you.

Bonne chance, mes amis.