We interrupt your regularly scheduled bobbing. . . er, I mean, blogging for a War Update:

1) Cordelia has written the one of the most hilarious Harry Potter, S/S stories ever for my birthday, and I demand that you all go read it here, especially if you regularly read my blog.

2) Nita and I stumbled across even more evidence for S/S last night. Auriga (JKR's original name for Sinistra) is not only related to serpents, but also the name Amalthea (for those of you not in know, that is the name of FM Sinistra). Read all the written-in-the-stars evidence here.

3) I have to share this too, because it makes me happy.

4) There's a summary for Book Five out! Go here to read the lovely back of the book blurb. Feel free to squeal with delight.

5) 71 days.

6) I have a new chapter of FM in beta, so all you rabid fans can stop sending me hate mail (cue: what rabid fans?) and direct it towards a certain person who is sadly behind on a certain fic. I also have ten pages written on what is fondly referred to as the babyfic, but what has an official title-- Baby Makes Three. Just another S/S vignette, and because I'm feeling generous, you get a snippet.

Like everything else that had gone wrong in Severus Snape’s life, the fault lay with a Potter. It was James Potter and his cohorts that had given him the final push towards Voldemort-- it had been the thought of Lily Potter that had brought him into the life of a spy. Harry Potter, of course, had done his best to ruin Snape’s life during his time at Hogwarts.

But none of this compared with the latest travesty a Potter had caused.

Because one Virginia Weasley-Potter was responsible for his standing on the cold stone floor of the Hogwarts kitchen, shivering against the biting night air and waiting impatiently for the house-elves to bestir themselves enough to deliver this godforsaken excuse for a meal. If the damned girl hadn’t decided to marry Potter fresh out of Hogwarts and immediately give birth to a black-haired bundle of “joy,” (named Lily in a thoroughly unsurprising turn of remembrance) Auriga Sinistra would not have decided that she absolutely had to become pregnant before her fortieth birthday.

We now end your transmission from the front. Can I have a go on Operation Shelves in the Closet?

The sky is blue, so blue, almost the colour of pale violets at someone's throat. I see it better reflected onto the long window panes than with my own eyes. I am nineteen-- nineteen. A girl caught in the act of middling, wearing a pleated navy blue skirt, pale blue turtleneck, navy tights, and white-navy-yellow sneakers. Listening to Ewan McGregor sing, I'm supposedly studying French verbs, but really sneaking peeks at old issues of Vogue. Presents for me, celebrating me. A few books, some movies (Iris, Enigma, Mansfield Park). Music. Peppermint striped tissue paper. Stories from these three girls. Good wishes from lovely, lovely, people. A few others, too, and now I've just got to be sentimental and Victorian.

Thanks to Nita for being one of my dearest friends. The first mate of the good ship S/S, my partner in crime, sorta fairytales, and love triangles-- come on, what would I do without you? Obsess less, anyway. We'll be spinsters and lunatics together, right? (And I swear I wrote this before I got your e-mail. Great minds think alike, no?)

Storm, who is an incredible actress (You see, I know this and I haven't even seen her yet! It's all those late nights) and a wonderful friend. Would have definitely torn my hair out by now if not for you, love. Break a leg tonight, darling!

Dia, my lovestruck chum ;)-- you're the best. Because, really, if I didn't say so I would be guilty of capital. . . evasion? Right. My Psychic Snape Sister . . . oh, come on, what else can I say? You're amazing, dahlink. And one day we will have our long sleepover and watch AR movies until Nita's finally gotten over her denial.

Cordelia, I can't imagine who I would talk Jane with if it weren't for you. You're a fantastic friend and a wonderful, wonderful writer. I can't count the number of times I've found a perfect little pick-me-up in my inbox from you. All I can say is, if we don't manage to meet at least once for a spot of tea, there is no justice in the world.

Chels, you already know that you are one of my favorite, favorite people. So hush up, you beauty queen, and we will go to Anthropologie soon for a good bit of lust-after fashion. And you! Tiffa! Don't you dare say a thing, because your birthday's tomorrow, girl, and I'm going to hunt you down and tell you that you're just amazing.

Sea, thank you so much for your note! You're one of the most positive people I know, and the way you continually manage to be kind and happy is amazing. Thanks so much for being my chum.

Madi and Kara, the two of you go together in my mind, so I'll have to combine this. Madi, you are just perfect. If you ever, ever change, I will hunt you down and Hanandleia with you until you come back to being one of my favoritest people. And Kara, darling. . . what can I say? You're just that plain old ordinary adjective of wonderful. The Holly Golightly, the Marilyn. . . anytime you want to pop down to Saks and pick up some Marc Jacobs perfume, I'm with you. You, me, Madi-- we're going to eat breakfast at Tiffany's on at least one summer morning, all right?

Crys and Twix and Norah, thanks for being some of the loveliest friends a girl could have. Fedoras and fanfic and old movies. . . it's always wondersome to chat with yous. You're sweet and just all around lovely. You too, Crystal-Beauty. You're a fantastic writer and a fabtastic person.

I am nineteen, and the sky is blue to match my clothes, and I have some of the best, best friends in the world. You don't think I could ask for much more, do you?

Look. I know I'm supposed to be studying, but I had to tell you this.

I just saw Sinistra. I'm not joking. Unkempt auburn hair (a bit shorter than what I might have expected), whispy bangs (did you know she had bangs, Nita? I didn't), and the determined chin and spectacles (Not horn-rimmed, though! She must have just gotten new ones). She was reading a newspaper and listening to some music on a pair of old-fashioned headphones.

Oh, and she'd borrowed Sev's Slytherin scarf and his copy of Lord of the Rings, and I almost stopped and asked her how he's doing these days, but I was too shy to say hello. Can't you just imagine that conversation?

Me: Auriga!

Her: Um.

Me: So, thrown any coffee mugs lately?

Her: Do I know you?

I need a good afternoon in an art museum, or I will start tearing my hair out. Do you hear me, exams? Tear my hair out.