Goodness, that was busy

[alt_sinistra]

My summer has been one headlong rush after another, it seems, with only a few pauses for breath. I'd thought I was largely done as of Friday, and spent Saturday most enjoyably at a small gathering, but come Sunday morning, there was an urgent owl asking me to come to the Ministry and sort out some additional details for ongoing YPL plans and philosophy (some of which is relevant to decisions about challenges for our current inaugural CCF programme, so we really did need to have a solution by Monday morning.)

We resolved the immediate discussions, but of course, these things grow, and I spent two more days with "Oh, while you're here, why don't we get this out of the way." and "We've got a new way of handling the documentation for this: you must learn how it works." and deep discussions about the balance of challenge and risk in various programmes past and planned.

Fortunately, we seem to have taken care of everything for the moment, so I spent the tail part of the afternoon deep in study at one of the observation archives, looking for details about meteor shower prediction (this year's Leonids are particularly auspicious for several magical potions and crafts.) I intend to go back tomorrow, before taking some time to just wander New London. There's so much to see. I rarely get the chance to do more than come to a meeting and head home again, so I'm taking advantage while I can.

Comments

Private message to Arca Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Mum -

I did have quite a good time on Saturday, though I was of course, quite nervous. I wore that set of deep twilight-blue robes you liked so much out of my last shopping trip, and I think it was a good enough choice.

Everyone was very gracious, and Mrs Malfoy is, of course, a superb hostess, and went well out of her way to make me feel at ease. (And yes, of course I both brought a small token, and sent a note promptly Sunday morning, before I got called to the Ministry. More on that in a moment.) I had a chance to speak to Mr Baddock, and of course, I've enjoyed his son Ptolemy's work both in class, and through the YPL, so we had quite a lot to talk about comfortably for a bit, and that lead naturally into other topics.

The Ministry, though - oh, Merlin. Some people should *never* be let near children. The problem in this case was one man who's quite gotten it in his head that our current students should be 'challenged', as he says, the way that those a little older than I am were, during the Lord Protector's rise. That the tasks we set them should have real risk and chance of serious injury, or even death.

Talking him around from that took the better part of two days, because honestly, half the Ministry staff doesn't listen, and the other half have no idea of what an average third or fourth years student can handle. Of course, we see an extensive leap in understanding once students start working toward their OWLs, as they focus on fewer topics, and go more deeply into practice, not just theory. But do people understand that? Of course not.

I believe we came to a reasonable understanding, and honestly, I did my best, but it was so frustrating.

I am planning to stay here for another week at least. Raz has been quite firm that I should stay if I wish, and that I won't be in his way, and of course, it's most convenient. But of course, I also want to see you, and Dad, before Hogwarts starts up again. I'll be in touch with some possible days.