I got sidetracked again that year. I'd finally figured out what the creature haunting the school was, and---wouldn't you just bloody know it?---next thing I know it's right there behind me! I must say, I was lucky that time. I think the boys" example may have been rubbing off on me. I must remember to be more careful. However, thanks partly to my brainwork, the monster was quelled and soon I was back on my feet. I must admit, I was very relieved to find that nobody had particularly questioned why my parents hadn't been up to Hogwarts demanding explanations when I stopped writing. They have difficult schedules, you know---important cocktail parties, important social contacts to be made, important trysts with other peoples" spouses---one has to set priorities in one's life, don't you know, and as long as I get good grades and they don't get complaints about my behaviour, I can do very much as I please. This is just as I like it---they are both so shallow, self-important and socially ambitious that they hardly know I exist.