Two notes

[alt_sinistra]

To answer a number of questions I've gotten recently.

First, I've been asked what I think of our new Headmaster.

In the two years I've known him, I've come to greatly value both Headmaster Dolohov's breadth and depth of knowledge and willingness to share what he knows, and also his ability to admit what he does not yet know and learn more about it.

More than that, I deeply respect his approach to teaching, wanting each student to know themselves and what they're capable of. No small thing, that. I look forward to his plans for the school and I like the ones I've heard so far.

Second, I do intend to continue teaching, and cannot imagine being anywhere other than Hogwarts come September. Students, if you have questions about preparing for the coming year or astronomy, you are welcome to write.

Comments

Private message to Poppy

[alt_sinistra]

I am feeling a little better. Reliably, I mean. Managed a more useful sort of walk the last few days (two miles, this morning, which is long enough my head settles a bit.) And some notes for Tosha, sort of.

The books you left are interesting. (I'm most of the way done with Daughter of Time and the setup is very - well. Feels familiar, you know, having just books and the people one can talk into visiting.) And that medieval series also looks good, the herbalist.

The new daybed is helping too, I'm pretty sure. Clever of Storm to think of it. I was sort of dubious, when he brought it - that it'd be too much, him remaking our bed for it. But it's comforting, reaching to touch the carvings. Also comfortable.

Is your week's session going well?

Private message to Harry and Cedric

[alt_sinistra]

Poppy has said that my trying a broom again would likely be good for me. Though having you both here to help would be best, really, the first time. Especially given it's a new broom on my end.

Also. I might be up for baking again. Maybe. I'll try, anyway. Biscuits or scones, don't know if you have a preference.

And perhaps more pleasant conversations than complicated ones, though I'm glad we talked as we did last week.

Re: Private message to Harry and Cedric

[alt_harry]

Good to hear. All round.

I've cleared my calender for Saturday flying, and I'd be up for anything you're in the mood to bake.

I wouldn't turn down lemon biscuits, though.

Re: Private message to Harry and Cedric

[alt_cedric]

I'll be available most or all of the day on Saturday as well.

Lemon biscuits sound delightful!

I'll try to keep the conversation light, if I wonder too much into complaining about bureaucratic dunderheads just pull me up short.

Harry, we may need to end up talking about the DoE and the tutor papers. Today has been... unproductive on that front.

Re: Private message to Harry and Cedric

[alt_sinistra]

Lemon it is.

Mid-afternoon for the flying? Less likely to run into people around here than later.

Cedric, you complaining does not particularly count as difficult. Might have some ideas for you, too, on how to get around blocks.

Re: Private message to Harry and Cedric

[alt_harry]

Swangrove is awful. Go straight to her assistant, Atticus Ito. He's got a tonne more sense, and will let you know about random rules before they become an issue.

And there are a lot of random rules.

Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sinistra]

Our new Headmaster mentioned that you'd recently come across some German you were struggling with. If you've time to visit at some point, I would be quite willing to take a look. Translation spells often don't do well with technical language.

I understand your internship has been challenging, but is going well. (There are very few certain things for me right now, but your cleverness and ability to learn are not a thing I could ever doubt.)

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, yes. That would be brilliant. I've been meaning to write to you since Professor Dolohov suggested it, only yesterday kind of got away from me once I got home from my internship.

My internship is going very well. Right now Healer Korotkova has me adjusting a pair of magical spectacles that are supposed to help the wearer's night vision. (They just needed a careful cleaning, I think.)

Maybe sometime this weekend? I have weekends free.

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sinistra]

Sunday for lunch? Poppy is coming later in the afternoon, not quite sure when yet. I've just told Pansy she's welcome to come with you, or some other time if you'd both rather.

I've been reading some of my research mentor's old journals, the one I was apprentice to, and thinking about how completely overwhelmed I felt most of my first year with her. Over and over. It got better, eventually.

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sally_anne]

First she was dismayed at how little I knew about eyes and eye diseases and eye curses and glasses and spectacles and charms for them and she had me read about 5,000 pages in about a week and a half.

THEN she was dismayed because I don't speak German, Russian, French, or anything other than English. She gave me some German healer's journals but as Profes Headmaster Dolohov no doubt told you, I couldn't make any sense of them with translation spells. So then she gave me what she said was a beginner's textbook for learning German but some of these letters aren't even English, I can't make any sense of this, either. Also she decided yesterday that it might be better to have me learn Russian, first. So I have a Cyrillic alphabet to study.

I'm wondering if there are any spells or potions that make it easier to learn another language. I've never heard of one.

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sinistra]

That sounds entirely familiar. Overwhelmed is not the word. I spent months in tears every day even though the actual astronomy part was mostly fine. There are translation charms, and ways to get a fair bit of the language in your head quite quickly.

Alde had an hour's lecture on why people she liked didn't use them them that ended up at "I thought you were supposed to value hard work, and why should I trust you with complicated tasks if you take shortcuts with words." All in the most scathing tone you'd expect of a Slytherin witch in her twelfth decade.

She had a point. I've a much better grasp of the whole of the language than people I know who've done the charm-helped versions. It turns out to make a lot of difference sometimes.

The thing about Latin and German - and Russian, I gather - is that they're inflected languagues, where the part of speech matters a lot. Not just verbs, like in English, but nouns (and adjectives, and so on.) Getting a handle on the grammar parts in English will help. I'll see if I can rummage for a book or two that will help, and send them round, and we can talk more Sunday.

Re: Private message to Sally-Anne Perks

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh and yes, Sunday for lunch would be perfect, thank you. I'll ask Pansy when I see her later if she's coming.

Private message to Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

People do keep asking. About both my teaching and what I think of you. (Still very slow. The above all took me multiple drafts and hours.) Also, several other thoughts. All in a row. Perhaps the walks are helping.

Basic composition and grammar: You should be getting a letter of application from Gordon Holcomb sometime today. Georg can speak to the relevant skills better than I can (I've biases, mostly in his favour), but he is pleasant, diligent, and patient - been a tutor, the family's fallen out of my head again, last of their kids starts Hogwarts this year, so he's looking for something new.

For Potions, first, have you asked Poppy? She's meeting a number of people in the field this summer. Might have ideas that would help you, or know who absolutely couldn't deal with students. You've probably already thought of that, though, weeks ago.

Second, was reminded that Parthenope York (in the WEA office) knows near everyone. I think I remember your last round with her (over the Noble Arts exams) means you may need want to sweeten her.

Have it on good authority (I double checked) that the useful offerings include fancy pastries (the Archetype's are a favourite, citrus or good chocolate, not the marzipan), real green tea, or invitations to meals with other interesting scholars (smaller is better - a lunch with you and two or three others, maybe).

I've notes to talk through in pieces, assuming I remember what I meant by any of them. For tomorrow.

About going places - it's not just the travel. Quite sure I'm not up for dealing with most people yet. Especially in numbers greater than, oh, two. Also, I know you are exceedingly busy, Toshenka. When I think it might actually help, I will ask, promise.

Re: Private message to Tosha

[alt_antonin]

Asking Poppy is a very good idea indeed, and one I actually had not thought of. I've mostly been combing through the Ministry, to no avail. I've also put out feelers with Mysteries, but most of that lot can't tie their own shoelaces without whiffing the charm six times in a row, much less manage a classroom, so I'm reduced to looking for someone who knows someone who, etc.

And I have been slowly coming around to the thought I will likely need to sweet-talk York somewhat. Or throw around my weight, which I do so dislike if there is no other way around it -- it tends to close off so many other options in the future. Still. Mr Marvolo and I have had a very productive discussion in which he has made it clear he is as committed to the idea of a revitalised Hogwarts as I am; perhaps I might enlist him for that battle. He can pull off innocent puzzlement and of-course-I-must-have-misunderstood-you far better than I.

Holcomb's vitae does indeed seem quite strong; I've put him near the top of the list. I doubt we'll be able to offer compelling wages, for the first year at least (if I am not able to persuade the Governors of the rightness of my cause I shall simply finance the positions myself) but his introductory letter does at least seem as though he enjoys the experience of teaching, which has been sadly lacking thus far in the slushpile; that alone warrants a closer look.

And I do understand about the people, for all that -- when I am in extremis -- I draw comfort from interaction rather than finding it a chore. Still. The offer remains open, dear heart. I am not so busy that I do not have time for necessary things, and supporting you falls under that banner.

Re: Private message to Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

I'm glad I thought to mention Poppy, then. She's been quite busy during the weeks, but a bit more time on the weekend. And I've made a note to ask her when I see her Sunday.

As to York, we can talk more over supper. I was in and out of that office during the YPL days (my clerk being their clerk most of the time.) He's no longer there, or I'd have an easier path for you.

My impression of her is that she's fierce about what she does, and gets prickly when people don't understand what's involved or why an independent examination method is best all round. Maybe there's a way in with that? Appealing to her pride, enlisting her directly in your plans rather than trying to go around her. (I'm fairly sure she's a lion by background, and I think of the type that finds the indirect approach quite suspicious by default.)

I'll also tell you a bit more about Holcomb. (He's working here for the summer, one of the projects.) I suspect that moderate wages and time to pick up other work around the edges would do as well as a single source of income. (He's a widower, no children, so more flexible than some, too.)

And yes, on the people, though I have invited Miss Perks and Miss Parkinson to lunch on Sunday, and they are a change of company, at the least. (Miss Perks, indeed overwhelmed by languages. I have sent her some books to help give her a start.)

Private Message to Professor Siz

[alt_pansy]

It is so very good to see you writing again, Professor Siz.

I'm also quite pleased to hear that you're coming back to school. It wouldn't be Hogwarts without you. Truly.

Re: Private Message to Professor Siz

[alt_sinistra]

Thank you. For knowing the right thing to say, too.

I invited Sally-Anne to visit. If you'd like to join her, or come some other time, you'd be welcome. I'd not mind running some thoughts about your year in Astronomy by someone actually in the class, too.

You doing all right? Hard month or so all round for too many people.

Re: Private Message to Professor Siz

[alt_pansy]

I would love to come and see you, yes. And I'd be happy to talk Astronomy. (Merlin, I can't believe next year is NEWTs already!)

And yes. It's been difficult. The Malfoys have been a constant in my life ever since I can remember. Anything I can think of to say to Aunt Narcissa just sounds utterly inadequate. I feel awful for her, and so worried about Lucius, and I miss Draco terribly.

So you might say I feel a little unmoored lately. But Sally-Anne and Ron have been wonderful, and I've got no end of things to keep me busy, which helps.

Re: Private Message to Professor Siz

[alt_sinistra]

Good. Lunch Sunday, if you'd like to come when Sally-Anne's free, or supper sometime next week otherwise. (I'm in Cornwall. Floo to the Astronomy Guild Country Estate, and tell whichever elf meets you I'm expecting you.)

And yes, the Malfoys. So difficult to know what to say, and I keep thinking over bits of it and getting very tangled.

Good friends are a help, though. And distraction.

Re: Private Message to Professor Siz

[alt_pansy]

Sunday would be excellent.

And yes to both. Along those lines, if you ever need any distraction at all, please, say the word.

Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_evelyn]

Dear Professor,

I'm so very glad to hear that you're coming back next term.

I'm working my way through the books you suggested towards the end of term, and they're proving very helpful. Thank you.

Please forgive me if I'm being too forward. I am sorry for your loss.

-Evelyn

Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Thank you, Miss Longbottom. Not too forward, no.

I understand from my brother that you helped Mr Moon tidy up things when I couldn't. I should have thanked you long since. It's good to hear you're finding the things I suggested useful, too.

Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_evelyn]

I'm only glad I could've done something to have been of use.

Fitz and I are making wonderful progress on our Arithmancy project. We'll be collecting data for it all this month, and are quite excited now that we have a proper set of formulas we can use to make sense of it. So yes, quite useful. And I've truly enjoyed reading about the moons of Saturn, too. It's a beautifully written book, and not nearly as dense as I thought it would be.