Students

[alt_sinistra]

Several of you have inquired about the kittens in my office: the orange one is Mizar, and the black one is Suha. House points to the first person who can tell me why those names (that didn't hear it from me already.)

They are both quite friendly, but mind your quills if you don’t want them used as toys. In related news, I am currently practiced with ink removal charms, and glad to share the ones I’ve found most effective. Also several that help with more controlled kitten amusement and entertainment.

As usual before exams, I’ve extended my office hours. However, I need to make some firecalls this week in the afternoons. Please knock first if the door’s mostly closed, and it may be a few minutes (not many) before I’m free.

My newts: I’m saving Thursday and Friday for any last questions (your last round of practice theory exams are marked and you can pick them up whenever.) If you don’t come up with anything else, I have more locational magic problems for you, as that seems to be the thing you’re all most worried about.

5th years: for those of you who might be considering the Astronomy NEWT, I’m changing my requirements for continuing in the subject (in favour of more opportunity, rather than less.) We’ll talk more once you’re done with the OWL exams, as the NEWT in Astronomy takes a sharp turn from observation into theory, and it’s rather a different kind of study.

Comments

Private message to Raz

[alt_sinistra]

Love,

(Writing mostly so I don’t forget something before we can talk. I hope all the duelling went well.)

- Seeing Cedric in person was excellent, and we had a good visit. His parents though - I gather his father expects him to just bounce back, and his mother’s fussing.

- Tallie and I have sorted a great many things, and I swear, I delegated as much as I could. Can you do one last look at the invite list? (Our latest revision, with the questions for you marked is on the desk in your rooms.) And you and I need to block out time to sort out seating for the supper itself.

- On student invitations: we can’t have the entire school, and equally clearly we need to invite some of them. Campanella had the idea tonight to invite the CCF students plus Andie, and Cedric (recovery permitting, but walking's going fairly well, apparently) and Melinda as representatives of the school? It’s a manageable number, but it rather tidly covers the people we really need or want there, yes? Campanella’s willing to coordinate the portkeys. And maybe we could arrange something extra nice for supper on the Monday after, here, for everyone else?

- Gilly thinks we ought to invite the whole staff, and make them sort out who gets to mind the students here. I really want Tosha and Pomona. And Popp, if she's back. (Did you hear Kerr ranting yesterday?) And I'm assuming Horace for certain, as well. I will not be petty about making sure Acton stays here..

(We clearly need to talk to Septima about the above two before sending invites out: I made an appointment with her for tomorrow after supper, so tell me if that doesn’t suit. Shouldn’t take long.)

- Delilah reminded me, we should talk about my name. People will start asking - or rather, I need to answer them eventually. I do have an idea, but I’m not sure what you’ll think.

Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_sinistra]

Harry -

Just wanted to let you know that I did get a chance to visit and talk a little with Cedric this afternoon. He says he’ll be writing you soon as he can manage. I brought a couple of dictation quills with me, but he needs to sort out which one works best for him.

He did suggest I might want to talk to you about something. Come up when you get a chance? (I restocked the excellent pastries today, too, if you need an additional lure.) We might want a little privacy, so tomorrow afternoon may be better than evening, but I’ll make whatever work.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_harry]

All right, Professor. Tomorrow's fine.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_sinistra]

You're not in any difficulty with me, that much I promise.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_harry]

Okay.

Private message to Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

I haven’t wanted to mention yet where it could be overheard, but we’ve worked things out so we can get married June 1st. I will spare you the details of making that happen for the moment. I’ve needed every bit of logistics planning the YPL taught me to be sure it could be managed, and we weren’t totally certain until this afternoon. Actual invites are going out Friday, but keep it under the rose until then?

It’s actually fairly pleasant work, given that Tallie is very good at her job, now we’ve got things lined up right. But I would like to pick your brains about a couple of likely seating challenges for the supper. And perhaps whine about the florist. Speaking of roses.

I’ve a few things for you from my errands (the pastries should be on your desk: one of the elves was delighted to oblige), but I have delightfully horrible reading for you, too. There are a few things I’d like to talk over with you - it can wait for Friday, though. (Probably better - I suspect I’ll be more coherent about it if I let it sit for a few days.)

Also, I did get time for a good chat with Cedric. It - just thank you, Toshenka. Again and again.

Re: Private message to Tosha

[alt_antonin]

Mum's the word, dear heart, but I am most delighted for you. And I will be happy to help you along with the seating, though you may want to confirm with Narcissa -- I am not the person to ask for more recent or subtle feuds.

I am glad that Mr Diggory is recovering -- it was a most difficult piece of work, and more than touch and go in a few places. How is his mood? Speaking from experience, a positive outlook can make a world of difference in one's recovery.

Yours,
T (and kitten, who has no manners, and who refuses to accept he does not live here)

Re: Private message to Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

Oh, it's not the information I want your help with (though yes, I will be consulting Narcissa for some of that. And Raz has been very clear about helping too, and he knows most of it anyway.) It's figuring out the best options given multiple criteria. (Strategy, not data, as it were.) At least two of the issues are astronomy related, too.

As to Cedric, I'd say remarkably good, but that leaves out something of his native attitude to difficult things. Very patient, very aware it's going to be a long time. Somewhat frustrated with his parents, but loving them anyway. If I say he's a credit to our house, and continues to be, in ways that shame me more often than I like to admit, that rather covers it.

(I have however - having noticed a certain pattern with both Raz and with you in recovery - promised him more distracting gossip next week, when he might desperately want something amusing. Do tell me any good stories I can share, please?)

And really, Tosha. You are larger than the kitten, and you have thumbs. And a wand. If you truly want to find a new home for it, I am certain I have some young cousin or other relative who would like a kitten.

Re: Private message to Tosha

[alt_antonin]

I have tried to remove the little monster repeatedly, but either he can teleport or the elves are sneaking him back in. I woke up this morning with a tail in my mouth and a paw in my ear.

(As to the prospect of removing the beast, cats go where they will, and I would not wish to offend Ubaste by interfering with Her messengers. This does not mean I am prepared to tolerate having my ear chewed on at odd intervals; the little demon has taken to tucking himself in between my collar and my neck.)

Mr Diggory does indeed have a long hard road ahead of him. I will look through my shelves for books of suitable interest (and suitable light-heartedness) and place self-reading charms on them. You are correct that the worst danger to one's recovery is when one begins to feel slightly better: the temptation to push too quickly is nigh-irresistable.

Yours, T (and furry collar)

Re: Private message to Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

I admit that the paw in the ear is a little unsettling. (Also the single claw pinprick when one is not adequately paying attention.) Though my mother tells me that if one trains them to sit on one's shoulder's and stay put, they make a lovely block against cold in the winter. (How one does this, she did not share: we've always been a dog family.)

Mine, at least, are still quite convinced that anywhere lower in the castle than my rooms is swarmed with disturbing things. (They are actually right: did you see the sixth years this evening? Someone should have warned you they're prone to pranks at this time of year, really. I did not stop to ask on my way in since they weren't actually in the midst, but there were signs of facepaint charms and bizarrely shaped objects.)

On Cedric, yes, rather. And I'm sure he'd appreciate that. Reading is apparently a bit better than writing, but still difficult - the room was being kept quite dim. I had a thought about hunting up a smallish music player, too, that wouldn't be too much to manage.

Private message to Pomona

[alt_sinistra]

Pomona -

I did see Cedric today: he is being very patient, though it’s clearly going to be a very long road back. We should talk, sometime, if we can find a time we’re both free.

The other bit of news is that Raz and I are aiming at a June first wedding: please keep it to yourself just yet as there’s a couple of details we need to talk Septima into to Septima about. You are most certainly invited, and I very much hope you’ll come.

More later? I’ve a bit of marking yet to finish before class. If you’re free Friday before supper, or I’d say Saturday afternoon, but there’s Hogsmeade and I'm quite sure I won't be up before noon. (I expect my newts to run late Friday, since it's our last chance before their exam.) Sunday afternoon?

[alt_evelyn]

Professor Sinistra;

Mizar is a star in Ursa Major, and Suha is its binary. But Suha's more common name is Alcor.

I think those are very fitting names.

[alt_sinistra]

Ten points, Miss Longbottom. Nicely done. Slightly more precisely, they're the two most visible of a six star group, but we're still working out how all of that works, and I don't think it's actually in your textbook yet in any detail, just in journal articles.

You're quite right on the more common name, but as my predecessor as Astronomy professor was named Alcor, that seemed a little odd. Also, Suha has a tendency to be overlooked at times. (The cat, not the star. Though the star too.)

Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_linus]

As per our recent conversation, I am intrigued by the possibility of pursuing a NEWT in astronomy. Given that locational magics and chronological magics do, as you pointed out, require arithmancy as much as astronomy, it may prove to be a good fit. Insofar as you said that there are indeed many places in the field where an arithmancer is a welcome addition to a project, I believe I could make a reasonably strong case to my Father for the addition of this particular NEWT as a forward-looking choice in diversifying my strengths.

I don't have to tell him that I'm mostly being lured in by the prospect of playing in the theoretical end of the field. That bit about an expanding universe with no outside edge has walloped my mind. A fellow could develop a taste for that sort of mental exercise.

I shall see you at detention as usual. There are several more articles I've finished checking the references on. Still the same two persons with the questionable citations, so it's definitely a good thing someone's looking into all this. I haven't said it recently, but thank you for letting me do something of real import and use during my detentions, rather than just make-work.

Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Linus -

As I said last week, I would be delighted to have you continue for the NEWT (assuming, of course, you do decently on your OWL, but I don’t think that will be a problem in the slightest.)

When it comes to convincing your father - well, I am my father’s daughter. I’ve quite a few suggestions on how to frame things persuasively when it comes to his kind of analysis. Most bluntly, though, you’re right that having a solid grasp of the locational and chronological magics opens some possibilities for employment, even if you never do the astronomical work yourself after leaving school. I also hope there may be some related collaborative projects with other staff that might be of substantial use.

There’s also the larger argument, that one of the things I aim for in the newt years is teaching the methods of sustained research and project management. Namely, taking an idea through from a first question, developing a hypothesis, testing it and gathering relevant data and material, and then organising what one has learned and presenting it in a form others can use. Having a solid example of one’s ability to do that has a number of advantages, whatever the field you choose.

And then you can romp in the theory as well. It really is quite different than the work we’ve done in class so far.

As to tonight, I'll look forward to it. You really have been a significant help, and I'm very glad we went this direction for your detention myself.