What a summer!

[alt_sinistra]

I'd heard a few faint rumors of something amazing while I've been in and out of various Ministry offices this summer (nothing specific - everyone was quite careful not to spill the beans - but it was easy to tell something was in the works). But I had no idea something this fantastic was being planned.

I'm looking forward to attending, though it does seem like everyone I know is being seated in different places - makes it rather hard to see everyone I'd like! I appreciate all the hard work and detail that's gone into making the arrival of so many people work smoothly.

I've been largely in and out of workrooms and studies doing research the past few weeks, other than a brief pause for the end of the CCF camp (to all our rising fourth years, fantastic job!) but enjoying spending some time in New London. It's been quite fun to see all the little stands and stores that have sprung up, and I've enjoyed being able to visit some of the exhibits and performances. I particularly enjoyed a small chamber concert attempting to recreate some of the music of Marsilio Ficino, a Renaissance wizard fascinated by the music of the spheres. I know less about music than I'd like, but of course, planets always attract my attention.

I also got a chance to take my eldest niece shopping, as she starts Hogwarts this year, and it was delightful to answer some of her questions, see the first days of school through fresh eyes. And of course, pause for some ice cream.

Comments

Private message to Aurora

[alt_rabastan]

Hey! Unless you'd rather sit with your family, why don't you take my plus one ticket? I'm up in the top box with my brother and everyone else, and if you come with me that'll mean I won't have to fish for a good excuse when I run into unattached and hopeful young ladies around New London.

-Raz

Re: Private message to Aurora

[alt_sinistra]

Cheers! That'd be lovely.

Though no promises on saving you from the unattached and hopeful young ladies, or the press trying to make assumptions about me being one of them, you know. (Not that I ever was a bright young thing like that, mind you.)

And you're not taking me from my family - I got assigned a ticket in tier 16, with apparently a bunch of mid-level Ministry people, most of whom I would rather not spend hours with. Especially that git in the Office of Wizarding Repopulation I told you about, or whatever the official department title is. I had to hear Diane go on about him for ages when I dropped off Andromeda from her shopping trip.

You and your brother and such will be much more enjoyable, I'm sure.

Where should I meet you and when? I assume you'll be in and out getting ready for things. And I assume I dress nicely, given the top box, but it's not like I've been to one of these things before in such company.

- Rory

Re: Private message to Aurora

[alt_rabastan]

Eh, the bright young things are often a bit dim in other ways. At any rate, I'm entirely accustomed to the press writing about my social life; you, however, are not (though in their own way the students are just as bad, and we survived that). Point is, I wouldn't blame you at all if you declined. But the view, the food, and the drink will all be better on tier 20. Possibly the company, too, and I'll help you to steer clear of those who you're better off not knowing.

So if you're sure about it, why don't you just pop over to Spencer House an hour before?

Re: Private message to Aurora

[alt_sinistra]

As long as we're on the same parchment about the implications, no problem. (Besides, what are the press going to come up with about me anyway? It's not like the Ministry didn't check out my background in every direction before I was hired for the YPL work. Devoid of scandals, we are, as a family.)

And yes, the company is quite certain to be better, or at least more entertaining. Honestly, I have no desire to sit with a crowd of hopeful-up-and-comers at the Ministry playing politics with one each other, usually not very well. I've no illusions that the top box won't be full of it, but at least they're more likely to be, well, competent at it. (And, you are most entertaining, and I look forward to your game commentary.)

Plus, the Ministry folks keep trying to get me to take sides in whatever the argument of the day is, while your lot are inclined to be perfectly polite but not care one way or another about my opinions or support. It's much more restful.

I'll see you an hour before - do owl or journal or whatever if anything changes.

And I know I've said it before, but the loan of a room at Spencer House while I was in New London was lovely. I really enjoyed being able to come and go a bit more easily, and not have to floo or apparate all the time after an evening out. I am enjoying being back at Hogwarts for the moment, though, and all my own things.

Re: Private message to Aurora

[alt_rabastan]

I'm glad that old Spence met your needs, and it was fun to have guests that weren't family, or quidditchers who leave a mess for the elves. Perhaps one of these days I'll get used to it enough to call it "my house" instead of "Spencer House," but somehow I doubt it. I feel quite the guest myself, most of the time. More at home at Hogwarts, even. I've never lived somewhere small before (not that Hogwarts is small, but the quarters, you know), but I see the appeal now. It's easier to feel more ones self in a small, cosy space.

Re: Private message to Aurora

[alt_sinistra]

Oh, more than met my needs, thank you. (And it was lovely to be able to chat without grading on our minds, as well.)

I do know what you mean about a smaller space. Of course, I've never lived in large houses, other than Hogwarts, which is its own thing. But I love how my rooms there are just mine, no one else's. A large house, it seems like so much of it is community space, or drenched in history, and you can't change it and make it yours.

Perhaps that's a good thing, as I'm sure most people don't want to sleep with charmed star charts everywhere. And I like that in my rooms, I have space to store things, but I don't have to remember if the book I wanted to read was here, or in the blue drawing room, or the yellow one, or what. (Which I did one morning while at Spencer House, as you must recall.) I suppose that's a good way to stay fit, but rather inefficient.

[alt_lana]

Oh, the Wilton Consort are magical, aren't they? I love every programme they put on.

And the Ficino was, well, a revelation. I hadn't known much about him at all before we went, and I just felt something so powerful in that music. As though I was being drawn above myself almost.

And the images it created when I shut my eyes!

I admit, though, that Ned wasn't nearly so moved as I was. It's very personal, isn't it, that sort of music?

[alt_sinistra]

They are indeed. This was the first chance I'd had to hear them in person, though I caught one of their broadcasts a while back.

Ficino, I had known - I'd read quite a bit of his work as the foundation for some of my own research, and he's really quite interesting on a number of levels. In particular, how he navigated the era's politics to make his own way, and how he was quite blatant about being a wizard under Muggle noses in some ways.

His theories, though, are quite elegant, and it was fascinating to hear the Consort talk about how they recreated his ideas about music from the notes he left. I'd wondered how they'd approach it, given that he destroyed all his scores before he died, but I thought the results quite good to listen to, as well as intellectually intriguing.

I will definitely have to see if I can get away from Hogwarts for the night of one of their other concerts - the fall one about the French court music as private magical communication method sounds fascinating as well, if rather more outside my normal studies.