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’There are four questions of value in life, Don Octavio. What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love.’

Thus says Byron, and he is at all times correct, whether we are considering love of the Protectorate, love of our dear Hogwarts, love for the vivacious guiding spirit of our esteemed Head Girl, or that love in which she is to be tonight confirmed before all of us. Yes, indeed, it is true! Though you may gape in astonishment, it has been vouchsafed to me that we are to be the recipients of a signal honour: The Lord Protector Himself will tonight perform the ritual that unites our much-loved Head Girl, Daphne Greengrass, and Auror Barty Crouch, Jr.

Needless to say, it is impingent upon all of us to behave with decorum appropriate to the occasion, including but not limited to donning our most festive apparel. (Ravenclaws, should any of you be in need of sartorial advice, I am sure that Miss Patil stands ready to be of assistance with keen eye and plangent commentary. Do not hesitate to avail yourselves of her wisdom. Those of other Houses will, I am certain, have similar fashion leaders to whom they may turn in hour of need.)

Let us prepare joyfully for the event, and be sensible of the honour done us by the choice of Hogwarts for this most auspicious joining. Felicitations and best wishes to both, and may they ever be to each other what the poet describes:

’Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.’