![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_sinistraAs the weather’s been clearing a bit, I’ve been out walking more - rather pleasant to get outside in the fresh air, really. And it’s about this time of year that we start seeing the flowers come out. There’s a lovely little burst of snow drops out on my usual way around the lake, and I can just see hints of crocus buds coming up, or trying to.
5th years: It’s also the time of year when my thoughts turn to our year-end exams. I’d like to set up some extra practice sessions with charts, and some chances to try some sample exams so you have the best possible idea what to expect and how to prepare for the OWL format.
Please come to Wednesday night’s class with your schedules, so we can find some dates and times. While I plan to include some evening sessions before May, many parts of the exam can be practiced using the projection stones at other times of day. And of course, I remain glad to work one-on-one - just come by office hours or make an appointment for a mutually convenient time.
(I’ve already spoken to my NEWT students about their own preparation, but several of them have also mentioned they’d be glad to assist in OWL preparation and study under my supervision.)
5th years: It’s also the time of year when my thoughts turn to our year-end exams. I’d like to set up some extra practice sessions with charts, and some chances to try some sample exams so you have the best possible idea what to expect and how to prepare for the OWL format.
Please come to Wednesday night’s class with your schedules, so we can find some dates and times. While I plan to include some evening sessions before May, many parts of the exam can be practiced using the projection stones at other times of day. And of course, I remain glad to work one-on-one - just come by office hours or make an appointment for a mutually convenient time.
(I’ve already spoken to my NEWT students about their own preparation, but several of them have also mentioned they’d be glad to assist in OWL preparation and study under my supervision.)
Private message to Poppy Pomfrey
Date: 2013-03-06 12:40 am (UTC)Would you let me know a good time to stop by (or I can comment here?) A few updates on what we talked about Friday.
Also, I’ve a book or two to lend you that you might be interested in - one touches on that weather prediction, the other’s just for pleasure.
Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey
Date: 2013-03-07 04:18 am (UTC)Of course, I'd love to see you whenever you feel you could stop up. The only thing predictable about my schedule is its utter unpredictability, dependent upon the fraying nerves and queasy stomachs of our young friends. Mind you, if they'd not gorge themselves on sweets and biscuits, they might avoid many unpleasant hours with me.
I would be very pleased to have the loan of those books. Thank you, sincerely!
Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 12:58 am (UTC)I would actually like to set it as a problem for my newts, if you think it’s safe enough to try - ideally, warding a space out on the grounds some weekend as a test - but I don’t want to give them advance warning. Feel free to use it as a public excuse to meet with Raz, too.
Anyway. I have not yet had the chance to thank you properly for your cleverness. Your Berry is the world’s most insistent house-elf, isn’t she? She was never less than scrupulously polite on Sunday (which I appreciate: it took me at least five minutes to manage anything like a coherent response). Just very persistent. Also, obviously completely devoted.
I know Poppy’s right about the importance of food, but I just can’t cope with Acton and Carpenter’s conversation and manage to eat. It’s enough to give one a complex. (Well, it clearly already has. Never mind.)
Just... Thank you. It’s wonderful and exceedingly kind and sneaky in all the ways I admire best. And you’ve clearly been paying attention to my tastes. I promise I'm eating what Berry brought, and as I'm sure she told you very clearly, I'll let her know when I come close to running out.
Beyond that - Madam Headmistress did not pass through Mum’s usual baked goods from yesterday. I’m waiting to see what she says to me about it. (She did pass through the letters and a couple of books that were in the attached package, though I suspect she knows more now about our family dynamics than I’d have preferred. On the other hand, half of Hogsmeade could tell her Diane and I fought a week ago, so it's not like it's secret.)
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 01:31 am (UTC)And as to that, I am pleased you found her helpful. She is enraptured that I have returned so that she might fuss over me once more -- keeping the house in good condition was nowhere near enough to keep her occupied while I was away. When I asked her to look in on you, she was very nearly beside herself with pleasure at the prospect of someone else to feed; I still do not give her nearly enough to do.
But, to speak of more pleasant things: I have not had a great deal of time today to read through the article in depth -- my unscheduled time this afternoon was taken up with Mr Moon -- but I did glance through it. The astronomy is well beyond me, but I did not see anything in the implementation of the warding that would concern me on first glance, and if you are working on the grounds rather than in the castle I do not think it should conflict with the castle magics. Shall the three of us give it a try this weekend, perhaps? Our dear Dolores certainly can't object to the two of you spending time together when it is educationally-related and well-chaperoned.
Yours,
T
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 01:40 am (UTC)I'll let her know, but I've some sources of my own. (I told you, I think, that my friends have worked out a rota for meeting me in Hogsmeade of a Sunday?) But it is good to have multiple options, indeed. If I can talk Mum into sending to you.
(Sending to Raz - well, handing something over under the eyes of the assembled staff at lunch doesn't help much, really, and I'd hate to get the house-elves here in more trouble with her than they need be. It seems entirely too cruel.)
But you are right that a bored house-elf is an unhappy house-elf, and as I said, I'm very grateful for your thought about Berry.
On the warding - dear Madam Headmistress might well complain, but I think in this case it might be worth trying. Out in public, and properly chaperoned and all. Saturday afternoon? (If she allows the open flying on Sunday, Raz ought to be with Harry, I'm sure. And - well, we'd all be happier if I at least made the attempt at sleeping in Saturday morning.)
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 02:24 am (UTC)Your,
T
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 02:29 am (UTC)You are not the one with both her own and her mother's job under threat if we guess wrong, you know. But I will watch the stars fall from the skies before I let her be the reason I don't do something my students would actually learn from, so there you are.
Something to look forward to would be good, anyway. I just - February was one long stretch of mostly misery. And it's not like March is an improvement, or that April promises much better. I'm now starting to wonder what Madam Headmistress is going to try to keep me away from Raz over Easter hols.
(Good grief, I'm fatalistic tonight. Either you're rubbing off, or being in New London on Tuesdays is more important than I'd realised. Perhaps both. But I think March promises to be even worse than last March, in its way, and I had no earthly idea that was even possible.)
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 04:04 am (UTC)Should any ill come to your family from darling Dolores's machinations, I will stand surety for it. And yes, I am aware that would still not be an ideal answer -- but it will, I hope, reassure you somewhat.
As to the rest, well, this too shall pass; of that I am certain. That, too, may not be as reassuring as it could be, but take it from an old snake -- patience is often rewarded in ways that rushing to action is not. But as bleak as things look at the moment, they cannot last forever.
Your,
T
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 04:11 am (UTC)Tosha, are you all right? You're rather briefer than your usual.
And thank you for the reassurance, but it's... Oh, all sorts of things about stability and reliability and knowing where one can put weight on a branch and where one can't, and I'm having trouble finding words. All the assurance in the world doesn't help with that.
With waking up in the dark wondering what you got your family into,Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 04:27 am (UTC)(As to the rest -- I am well enough, little star; only tired. And distracted by a few things along the way. I will be back to myself after a good night's sleep, I am certain. I suppose I ought start dragging myself to meals; would you care to sit with me for lunch tomorrow and I will do my best to distract you?)
Yours,
T
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 04:33 am (UTC)Seeing you at lunch would be a bright star in the sky. And if you manage supper sometimes, even occasionally, I am quite sure Raz would appreciate the break from having to deal with Dolores by himself. (There are things I do not need to talk to him about to know for certain, after all.)
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 04:49 am (UTC)And before Our Lord decided it would amuse Him to see what happensAh, well; we are too late wise.
Sleep well, when you do, dear heart. As much as possible.
Yours,
T
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 04:54 am (UTC)As to the rest, well, it is something of a consolation, actually, that I was not the only one reticent to act. As horrible as the consequences turned out to be. I keep wondering if I could have changed all this if I'd been faster to realise what was going on this summer.
I will do my best with the sleep. Fourth years first, though I think it's holding clear enough that we'll be outside, which is a goodness.
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 05:03 am (UTC)And yes, by all means, feed the children; it has been years since Berry has had the satisfaction of a teenager's appetite, and more than one at a time will send her into paroxysms of delight. Is whatever it is anything I might help with?
Going to sleep now, really, I mean it,
T
Re: Private message to Tosha
Date: 2013-03-06 01:23 pm (UTC)As I said to Raz, my scruples on the topic wandered elsewhere some time ago. The woman is an utter menace to everyone around her, and as much as I want to believe there are always less - less permanent solutions - well, what is the point of being a voice of experience if you don't use the experience? (Do I shock you? I shock myself, writing that, but it's true.
How do people live with hating someone this much?)As to the plans with the children, since Madam Headmistress has made it impossible for me to keep up with my Defence practice in my usual way (and I am missing the practice nearly as much as my partner in it), I had a word with Cedric to propose a small session to Harry. Harry suggested Draco, naturally, and Sally-Anne and Pansy, but also Mr Corner, who I had to think about. (I'd appreciate your impressions of him, actually.)
Harry asks for so very little, and I'd rather set aside my own
needspreferences than risk them failing their exams.By the timing, you might guess that this was still not as much sleep as Poppy - or I - would like me to get, but it was nearly six hours last night, which is better than it might be.
Private message to Andie Haley
Date: 2013-03-06 01:10 am (UTC)Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing, but also ask you something. You didn’t get your usual treat package from Mum, did you? (I didn’t either: don’t fuss your grandmum or anyone else, all right? Give me a few days to talk to people. In the meantime, I’ve a few things from elsewhere if you want a treat.)
I also gather your mum isn’t too happy with me right now. (Both Mum and your Dad wrote me about it.) I know she’s frustrated about the wedding
so am Ibut I can’t fix that just yet. Part of it is that we know exactly how to annoy each other best when wedisagreefight. I promise we’ll work it out.EventuallyAnd whatever else, I owe you a day out without your siblings, don’t I, over hols? Since we didn’t manage over Christmas. Still not sure of my plans, given everything, but we’ll figure something out.
If Madam Headmistress asks about this, tell her that it’s family business, and I’m glad to discuss it with her if she insists. If you’d like to talk further, come up with whatever astronomy question you’d like and come see me, and we’ll go down to my rooms. (Your most recent charts are better than usual, mind.)
Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 03:46 am (UTC)I think it's a good idea.
I've got some other people in mind who could come along too, maybe?
Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 03:47 am (UTC)Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 03:50 am (UTC)Maybe Corner?
Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 03:52 am (UTC)Mr Corner, mm. I'd rather not advertise some skills too widely. Would it be difficult for Miss Perks if he didn't?
Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 03:56 am (UTC)Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 03:59 am (UTC)But I'd rather you all pass your exams more. And feel confident about it.
Have a word with him about the implications? Or ask Miss Perks to? But if you think it's best, we'll make it work.
Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 04:04 am (UTC)And thanks.
Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 04:07 am (UTC)Saturday evening after supper would work for me, but we can look at other times. And I thought one of the workrooms in the Astronomy tower, if Cedric didn't say.
Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 04:13 am (UTC)Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra
Date: 2013-03-06 04:14 am (UTC)