Private message to Rabastan Lestrange

[alt_sinistra]

Good morning!

I've got a question for you and I'm hoping you can help me out of a spot. I've found excellent activities for all of our YPL meetings this year barring the first one on October 2nd. And all the options for that date I've been able to find are very second-rate.

I have, however, heard a certain amount of interest from students in learning more from - and about - you. I understand that there may certainly be topics you'd rather not bring up with students, but would there, perhaps, be something you'd be willing to discuss? If so, I'd be most grateful.

The YPL afternoons are usually two to three hours, but if you'd be up for even an hour of that, I can come up with some other activity for the rest of the time. There's generally an especially nice tea afterwards. A combination of a lecture with an activity is ideal, but there are certainly other alternatives.

If you'd like to discuss further - or simply want to get away from the place for a bit this evening - I was planning on walking into Hogsmeade for a meal and a drink, around five o'clock this afternoon, and you'd be welcome to join me. Otherwise, I'm glad to stop by whenever is convenient.

If you're not interested, just let me know (though I'd welcome any ideas on alternatives. Sometimes a fresh eye turns up the best option!)

-S

Comments

[alt_rabastan]

Ah, this is unexpected indeed. I'm not really good at talking about myself; other people do enough of that for me, I think, to the point where I've become entirely unfit for the job. Is there anything specific you would want me to discuss?

[alt_sinistra]

Honestly, anything likely to amuse the horde of students and get them thinking a little bit about the benefits of the Protectorate would fit the bill.

If you're less comfortable speaking about yourself - which I certainly understand - would you perhaps be able to offer some appropriate stories, say, about the beneficial changes in New London in the last few years, or new opportunities you've observed? We've had speakers from the Ministry and the Aurors and St. Mungo's in the past, but it might be nice to have the perspective of someone who's got a more general view of the new possibilities our Lord Protector's rule has opened up.

[alt_rabastan]

I might do better at talking about New London, since I've lived there since before it was "new." I'm not sure that the kids realise just how much we depended on the muggle industry before; a lot of wizard-made goods were so scarce that you'd have to owl all over the country to get what you needed. But if you walk through Covent Garden these days there's a multitude of stalls to choose from, all full of quality wares.

Yes, I could certainly talk about that. Why do I get the feeling that they'll be disappointed, though? I think they'd rather hear about all the theoretical vampires I've slayed.

[alt_sinistra]

I'm sure they would, but they must learn to bear up with not learning all the mysteries of the world.

Besides: after the trip with the current third years to New London this summer, I think you might get more interest than previously: I did hear a lot of questions from them about what it was like before. Since I've only ever visited occasionally, I didn't have good examples for them.

Thank you so much! Can I bring you back anything this afternoon as a thank you?

[alt_rabastan]

When Borough Market re-opened I had a stall there of my own, for a few years. Just on weekends, but I peddled these gauntlets and wand-holsters that I made, as a hobby of sorts. Picked up the leather-work from my grandfather, and learned how to lay in various protective and combative charms from my father and Roddy. I got quite into making them when I was playing Quidditch, you see, because there were stretches of time when there wasn't much to do, beyond flying and drinking. And then I stopped for a while, obviously... but yes, when Borough Market re-opened I thought "why not?" People seemed to like the things well enough, or they were very good at indulging me, at least.

[alt_sinistra]

Goodness! That's certainly far better than I can manage: I'm all thumbs at most things involving handcrafts of any kind. (The charms - well, I'm not as up on the protection charms as you must be, nor the combative, but I've a fair hand with a number of others, though I mostly use warming charms and various things to clean up ink spills and splotches these days.)

It seems like a stall like that would be a lovely way to chat and meet people. My mum always enjoys her market trips on the weekend for that, getting to catch up and see what's new.