Private message to Rabastan Lestrange

[alt_sinistra]

Raz -

I gather through the grapevine that you might have reasons for wanting to be in New London to visit a friend at St Mungo's.

Can I give you a hand with your duties here? I've some observing planned tonight and tomorrow, but Mr Marvolo would be quite welcome to join me, or to spend time in the room at the top of the tower (much warmer!) and catch up on any reading or assignments he needs. (And I'd be glad to give him an appropriate hand with content as needed.) And the rest of my time's my own, except for checking some lists about the upcoming play and what we still need to finish.

Of course, if you're planning to stay here at Hogwarts, and want some distraction instead, I'll be around: the best time for my observing is dusk to 11 pm or so this week, and I'd be free for a drink and a chat (or whatever) before or after.

Rory

Comments

[alt_rabastan]

You heard? I would like to visit him, yes. Big idiot. Lord knows you don't have to have your eyes on him every second, more that I need someone I trust to contact me if anything's amiss - and I mean anything, and straight away, at that.

That includes anything that might involve either Professor Carrow.

Short notice, I know, but would you mind if it was tonight? A few hours at most, and when I'm back we can have that drink.

[alt_sinistra]

Tonight's just fine. I'm up on the tower at the moment setting things up, so send him up when you're ready. (And I've a few nice treats, actually, courtesy a visit to Mum yesterday).

Nice and cosy and well out of the way of either Carrow. (It seems unlikely they're going to start climbing stairs for their health tonight, either.)

You'll have your journal (and keep an eye on it), I'm assuming, if I need to get hold of you quickly.

And I'll look for you tonight, but if you decide to stay there late, just send me a note here. I can certainly walk Mr Marvolo back down to the dungeons at bedtime, too.

[alt_rabastan]

Ta love, I'll send him up shortly. Seems fairly chuffed at the prospect, so maybe he's getting sick of me.

Might seem unlikely, but Amycus in particular has been unpredictable of late, moreso than usual, even. He doesn't go out of his way to bother you usually, does he? I think I'd have noticed if he did....still, he's gone after Harry's girl before, so it's best to be on guard.

That's right, I'll have my journal. Use it if you need to. I'll see you when I'm back.

Thanks again, Rory.

[alt_sinistra]

Well, charming as you are, I'm sure a change is good too, and I'm glad to have him. (Besides, it's got to be hard on him, being here with his friends doing things at home.)

On the Carrows - nothing more than usual though that's bad enough. I've been extra careful to stay out their way since that matter with Alecto and Mr Malfoy. A few mumbled comments when I can't avoid them, but nothing serious. (You know I'd tell you if there were: both of them are well out of my league in terms of hexing, and I've the sense to know it.) Though if you do need someone as a practice partner for defense this week, you know I always appreciate pointers there.

I will throw a charm on the stairs a few flights down to give me a warning if someone's coming up, though. Nothing that'll cause distress, so don't worry about tripping it yourself, just enough that I can be ready for whoever's coming rather than be surprised.

Have a good visit with your friend, and I hope he's recovering quickly.

-R

[alt_rabastan]

So you want to do a bit of dueling, do you? I'm always well up for it. Well, when time allows. But since we're both night owls there ought to be time enough.

At least I know you won't sod off and do something mental...

Soz, just thinking about Barty. He's having a hard go of it, see. He's not the type to try and get himself killed, but he can be very single-minded. Well, you don't run into him much so I suppose there's no harm in telling you that his engagement plans fell through. She was a good match for him, too. Even he agreed on that much, and he can be pretty fucking disagreeable.

Trying to think of what to bring him, but I'm sure Narcissa's already seen to everything. My charming self, as you describe it, shall have to be enough.

[alt_sinistra]

Well, it does seem more and more that it'd be good to be less rusty than I am. And I trust you not to be needlessly nasty in the teaching. (Besides, it might also be an additional amusement for Mr Marvolo if you need one later in the week.)

On your visit - I'd heard something of the engagement falling through, but nothing detailed, just what one picks up. (One odd side effect of the YPL business is people tend to keep dropping tidbits of information in conversation and assume I know what they're talking about, so I've started reading more of the gossip rags than I used to, just so I don't put my foot wrong in a meeting. You know, asking after the wife when there's been a big row or something.)

He's probably not up for it now, but perhaps sending along something amusing later this week might do it? There's a couple of new books about the Protectorate and a few older histories out this spring, actually, that he might find amusing or at least less tedious than a crossword. After we had that historian here last fall, publishers keep sending me things to suggest to Madame Pince, or to encourage students to read. (The History Club does sometimes, actually.)

There's a particularly good one about the Wars of the Roses - the author looks at what Muggles thought they knew about it, and how confusing and mismatched it was, and then slots in all the proper wizarding history bits to demonstrate how it was actually fairly straightforward if you know all the pieces. Rather nicely done, and a lot better than Binns' explanation was.

Anyway, it strikes me as more the sort of thing than a book of crosswords or a chess set or anything like that, but I'm sure you know him best.

[alt_rabastan]

I'd only be just nasty enough, of course!

Well, you know you can always ask me if you're ever so so in the dark that you don't know which way to look. I don't read the gossip rags too often, but somehow end up in the know, anyway.

I appreciate the reading suggestions. And say, I might like that War of the Roses book myself. I'd better wait and see how laid up he is before I make a final decision.

Speaking of, I'd best be off. Cheers again, love.