alt_sinistra | Looking ahead to our first YPL event

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Looking ahead to our first YPL event

First YPL event
As you all know, our first YPL event of the year will be on October 22nd, and we will welcome both our foreign guests with an orienteering scavenger hunt of the Hogwarts buildings and grounds that will test your navigation skills, charms, puzzle solving abilities, and more. There will be small prizes for the winning team on each path (there are four), and small tokens for everyone who makes a sincere attempt to complete the course.

I want to first thank Mr Ronald Weasley and Miss Katrina Bundy for a proposal that has been most helpful in planning this event - well done, and good initiative!

Everyone else is welcome to sign up to participate, and should expect to form groups of 3-5 students, including our foreign guests in your groups. You might want to think now about how to arrange that.

For those who participate, all the puzzles and challenges of the course can be solved with magic no more complicated than our students learn at the end of 3rd year. However, in many cases, multiple solutions are possible, and any method that does not damage other students, property, or beings is permitted. CCF and YPL counsellors will be available if you have any concerns.

CCF members and YPL counsellors
You will be needed to help staff the various positions, and of course set up elements of the hunt in advance.

Please sign up on my office door for a prep shift (either Friday night, the 21st, or Saturday, the 22nd), and plan to be available from 2pm to 5pm for the actual event. (A special tea will follow for participants). I may also be adding one more addition to your Saturday morning (a pleasant one, if the scheduling works out) so plan your study time accordingly.

Other notes
Tuesday evening class: I will be in New London for last minute planning with the YPL committee on Tuesday afternoon, and it is likely the meeting will stretch into the evening. Therefore, I am cancelling Tuesday observing classes, but have asked a couple of my NEWT students to be available from full dark until curfew if you need to get caught up on any assignments.

I will also not be available for questions during that time, obviously, so if you have questions for assignments due Wednesday, ask them by Monday.

Poppy: I'd love a chance to consult with you about a few specific considerations. Are you free tomorrow afternoon, or perhaps Monday afternoon? If not, can we chat in private message here?

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I expect the meeting's going to be quite tedious - we've apparently got a new committee member I know nothing about, replacing the St. Mungo's representative.

I'm hoping everyone will cooperate in getting things done, but if not, I suspect I'm going to be in a foul mood, and may need to stay overnight in New London as well. (There's a small inn they get a room for me in right across the way when that happens.)

I'll let you know either way Tuesday, but if I'm not back by, oh, 7pm, would you mind dreadfully checking upstairs to see how the NEWT students are doing, or letting them know they can reach you by journal if there's a problem? Of course, if it's cloudy, no worries. I can give you the names as soon as they figure out which of them most want the extra credit points for doing it. (They're all so busy already, the dears.)

Small Inn, really? You know you're welcome to go to Spence. But if you feel odd about being there when I'm not, then Small, Ministry-approved Inn it is. Check the drapery for doxies.

If you're not back I shall certainly check on your newts.

You're a dear.

And it'd better be the Inn - people walk me back, and so on, and it'd be hard to explain Spence. (Even if it'd be far more comfortable, and don't I know it.)

I'm hoping to be back here at some point in the evening, but my conversation with Poppy does suggest it's going to be a more difficult meeting than I'd hoped.

If you do find some doxies in the draperies, see if you can bring me a few? I could freshen up my stock for the first years' lessons.

What's going to be difficult about it? Anything I can do?

That's the oddest request for a travelling gift I've ever heard, but certainly, if I do find doxies, I'll bring them back with me. (Note to self: pack small folding cage, apparently.)

On the meeting - well, first, we've got to finalise all the clues and such. I've mostly got that settled, I just need everyone's approval. (Which is the tricky part, of course. Half of them hare off on all sorts of tangents that are not in fact necessary.)

The bit I'm not sure of is that new committee member: apparently he's quite influential at St. Mungo's (Healer Stint, if you know the name). So, how much I'm going to be able to nudge him in productive directions is an open question.

But at least knowing that going in will make things easier - and if you see me buried in the society rags and such between now and then, you may know I am swotting for conversational gambits to distract him and get him (and various of the others) back on topic.

Merlin, don't pack a cage! I'm only teasing, love. Pack your doxycide, instead (though if you do find some of their eggs, they actually would be useful).

Oh, Faci Stint! I know him. Not overly well, but he was one of those from St. Mungos who was brought in after Carrow got one over on me. Did a good job, too, since I'm still alive and all. The headaches are still a bother now and again, but could definitely be worse. He seems a fairly amiable fellow - not the type to be a bent broomstick. I'd be surprised to hear if he was, leastways.

You can swot with the best of them, don't you worry.

I do approve of having you in one piece, love. (That was not a particularly pleasant few weeks on my end, either, and on the whole, I would prefer not to repeat them.)

Knowing that he was good to you helps - and I suppose at least means that he won't be pressing me for an introduction to you, like Gimlet has.

At the same time, bringing anyone new into an existing committee's a bit tricky, and I wish we weren't having to do it on such short notice and with such tight timing. And there are times that being young and blonde are not the advantage some people think - it's sometimes dreadfully hard to be taken seriously.

I've no illusions that it was probably harder on everyone else than it was on me. I was blissfully comatose, after all. (though being in stasis isn't actually blissful, it's just a big blank.)

And no, I've already met Stint a few times, so you should be safe there. You could always tell Gimlet I'm still in stasis and' can't possibly be troubled. Though the best thing to do is probably to say "I'll certainly let him know you're interested" - that way it's not you who's snubbing him, it's me. And that's to be expected, of course, from we high society types.

(I told you that you'd be in for this. I take comfort in that fact that it would probably happen anyway, seeing as we work in the same castle.)

As for being taken seriously... just think of them as a bunch of unruly students. You've got no trouble there, after all. You'll do just brilliantly.

Well, that's some comfort.

On Gimlet: that's more or less what I've told him (And he started doing it last year, before any of the gossip at all, so it's definitely that we share a castle. But I'm sure he'll be worse this time, what with the world cup and all.)

On treating them like students - ah, but you forget I've got more tools at my disposal with students. You cannot take house points from departments (I wish: it'd make for far more exciting meetings), nor can you grade them down.

I can, if I wish to invoke powerful names, sometimes get agreement (Pointing out that Auror Lestrange proposed me for the position has been handy, I admit.) And there's a clause in our charter that says that if I - as the chair of the committee, and the only one independently vetted and appointed - feel that an appointed representative from a department is not acting in the best interest of the programme, I can request their removal and the appointment of someone who is better suited.

But really, that's the sort of thing you can only use in the more dire situation - anything else looks like being a doormat, which is anything but helpful.

(And most of them expect me to be a doormat. Why people forget that Hufflepuff's represented by a badger, and badgers are stubborn and have sharp pointy teeth, I have never understood.)

You could always channel ~~Bella~~ Auror Lestrange and her demeanour, but since that would be something of an insurmountable task for anyone, maybe not.

They know you have power, and there are subtle ways that you can let them know that you know you have power, too. Without using words or taking points or anything else. Wear your hair back to make the colour less noticeable, if it concerns you. Somber clothing choices. Speak slowly, with measured tones and pauses - it makes them keep listening. Keep your body relaxed, so they know you're not intimidated. Always, always make eye contact.

But you're good with people. You have good instincts. I think it will go better than you think.

Channelling your sister-in-law is something I think I will not attempt to aspire to, dear.

The rest: thank you for that. I've been reading more about that kind of thing over the summer, and you're quite right. But it's also reassuring to hear you think I'll be fine. I think it may just be a matter of finding my own style, and being able to hold it when pressed.

I just worry and dither a lot beforehand, and it generally works out anyway.

I am perfectly comfortable with you never, ever attempting that sort of channeling.

It will work out. And you can tell me all about it when you're back.

Oh, *good*.

And yes. Looking forward to telling you about it will help a great deal. (I may actually use the journal during, so I remember to tell you the funny parts later. We'll see.)

And I really do like several of the committee members, which does help.

I bet they like you, too. I know I do.

I suspect not entirely in the same way, though.

(I like you too. And if I didn't have to go teach shortly, I'd show you. Tomorrow, between dinner and observing?)

I think - nay, know! - that I should be able to quill you in.

Excellent. I shall count the seconds.

I do have a couple of small things about the orienteering to ask you about, but really, they're trivial - there's brooms and some scrambling in the rocks down the cliff, but nothing that's a particularly dangerous risk beyond that. (And we've got some precautions in both cases.)

What I really want to ask you about is the new representative for the YPL committee from St. Mungo's. Healer Deverill, you may remember, I quite liked, and I'm not sure why he's been replaced. (Of course, I get very little say in that sort of thing.)

The new one is apparently a Healer Stint - I don't have his first name yet. Do you know anything of him?

Ah. I missed this before.

Possibly it was a reflexive avoidance, since you've mentioned one of my least favourite people.

Facinorous Stint.

~~Awf~~

I should say straight off that I'm biased. I fear he's one of those who'd like to see me sacked, and the dislike is mutual.

Deverill was replaced, though? It wasn't simply that his term ended?

If that's the case, I've a suspicion Stint has politicked to get himself appointed to your committee. Who makes those appointments?

Facinorous? Who on earth names a child that?

That said, I'm glad to go in forwarned: I had a suspicion some sort of politics was involved, and it's so much easier to deal with it when I know it's coming. (We had one of those last year: did I ever tell you about that?)

In terms of the committee - other than me (and I had to go through that massive vetting process with all sorts of people), and other than the clerk from the Wizarding Examinations Authority who assists with the paperwork, basically, the departments appoint whoever they see fit.

When we started, it was, I think, not seen as a particularly interesting or prestigious post (and it can be quite a lot of work, though Ministry members get a stipend for time outside their normal work hours, and so forth).

But I've been wondering - after last year, and particularly now - if it isn't starting to attract the interest of those who are seeking status, rather than those who at least somewhat want to be of service. I had a couple of other owl inquiries over the summer about how to become a member, though they thankfully disappeared when I mentioned that it was done by department.

We've a core group, you know, and then usually one or two consulting people year to year - it was the theatre group last year, the artist this year, and we've also got someone from International Magical Cooperation, I believe.

Healer Stint's parents have a good deal more to answer for than merely his naming.

It is certainly true that Stint has a good deal of pull within St Mungo's. I doubt you'd know many of the personalities involved, so I shan't bother you with the details unless you believe it would help you to know.

And I don't believe you did tell me about politicking behind your committee last year. Do share!

I'm torn between asking you now, so I'm prepared, and waiting, so I can give my own unvarnished opinions after the meeting, and compare notes. But I am forewarned to be careful, which is a great plus.

(And warn my clerk, which has come in handy, as you'll see. Do you remember Felix Green? Younger Hufflepuff, was a firstie in my last year, and a seventh year the first year I taught? Halfblood, so as thorough as he is, he doesn't have much hope for advancement, but I couldn't make everything work without him.)

Last year's challenge - and probably this year's, too - is a rather persistent fellow named Edgar Gimlet. He took over Magical Transportation from the previous woman (who I'd liked), and I think for similar political reasons. He's asked me out after meetings several times, but there's something about him that's entirely distasteful. Perhaps the fact he's so clearly disinterested in me, and very interested in who I know, and could introduce him to.

Felix has been quite creative in inventing interruptions, for which I'm very grateful, but it's made meetings more tedious than I would like.

Gimlet's also one of those people who thinks he knows everything about everyone else's job, and is often dead wrong - but convincing him of that takes an age. Which of course, doesn't endear him to me either.

Oh, dear. Those are such terribly awkward situations when they arise. You are fortunate that young Mr Green is adept at his job and sensible about yours.

I do remember him, though I didn't know him especially well.

Young Mr Green is quite excellent at his job, and I make a point of writing a letter for his file after every meeting saying so.

But yes. Quite awkward. Fortunately, it's not all dire - I quite like a couple of the women on the committee, and between us, we can more or less force things the directions we want to go. Or we could last year, and I hope that's still true.

You might actually have advice on that one, actually. One of the problems I'm clearly hitting (and my age certainly doesn't help) is that I think they assume that I'll do what they want.

Obviously, I don't, and I back it up with documentation and our charter and all of that. (And the fact Auror Lestrange was the one who nominated me for the position and supported my appointment has been useful a few more times than I like to think about.)

But if you had any other tips for convincing men who think they know everything that you are not in fact a doormat, I would love to hear them.

(Someone did send me a copy of that The Rules of Play: The Succesful Witch in Boardroom and Bed, but it's really only good for making me howl with laughter after I get home from the meetings.)

The Rules of Play. Really?

Sorry to have disappeared from the conversation so abruptly. Something disagreed with rather a number of tummies tonight. I trust it came from the kitchens and is not something we'll all be passing around for several weeks.

Also. Did you realise there's a game they're playing this year with Bertie Botts beans? I think it's the sort of thing older adolescents play with intoxicants, something to do with having to repeat tongue twisting rhymes without error, where the penalty for failure is eating great handfuls of the things. I've just had a third case of a child presenting with simply horrifying ulcers in her mouth from indulging in this way.

I'm not sure I've any very good advice to offer for ways of managing men in professional situations, except to be confident (project it whether it's truly felt or not), to remain unflappable, and to be absolutely in top form at every moment. Without, of course, ever appearing to upstage any of them.

It's a bit like tightrope walking in a high wind, I imagine.

I do value the fact that in my daily work I don't have to spend much time in the company of such creatures.

Distressing book, isn't it? (Though, as I said, deeply funny afterwards.)

No worries - I always assume something else might require your attention (which is why I ask you things well in advance.)

And I am somehow failing to be surprised that students have found yet new and exciting ways to use ordinary items to cause difficulties. Though I admit, that's a new one on me.

On the rest - well, that is one of the reasons I love working here. The astronomy research I did before I started teaching had some of the same problems (fewer women go into astronomy as seriously, for reasons I've never understood.)

I did have an interesting chat with Raz, who reminded me that Healer Stint was one of the ones overseeing his care last summer. So, at least I won't be pressed for an introduction to Raz, which is a small virtue.

It's quite true that Stint came in to consult when Rabastan was injured. One cannot say that he does not know his craft. He's earned quite a strong reputation, treating curse damage. In fact, I've heard that the Ouroboros Club have a special arrangement whereby it's Stint they call first whenever there's an injury on their sparring courses. He can boast that he's treated many of the most highly placed people in the Protectorate.

And he does.

Hmm. That does give me quite an idea of his personality, at least. And his competence.

Ah, well, I suppose it's better this year than last: this summer made me a little less nervous around that level of social status, too. (Not that I'm not still nervous, mind you: just a little less terrified of immediately putting a foot wrong.)

Though I realise it does little good to say, I will say it nonetheless: you are going to handle this meeting successfully. You'll manage all the personalities with a firm hand and a pleasant demeanor. You have the gifts for this; I've seen them.

Truly.

Thank you: that does help.

And you know me, I do fret beforehand, and then it's fine. Though I wonder if the fretting (and the preparing) are part of why.

I should have a few more society and gossip magazines by Monday that I'm done with, if you could use more reading material for your patients, too. Me, I would like to get back to my other reading, but knowing the gossip has turned out to be useful in these meetings so often it'd be foolish to stop.

I can scarcely imagine you reading those things, but I'm sure you're quite right about the usefulness of the strategy.

And they will be appreciated here when you are done with them. The copies here at present are looking a bit sad.

Really, they are. They've saved me putting my foot in my mouth dozens of times already. Or running out of interesting social conversation.

I've got a lovely new history book, and there's that fiction one, Charmless that looks like a romp.

We could do both, if you like. I could plan tea for either afternoon, though you know that occasionally emergencies arise that overturn such engagements. I would like very much to see you, though, if you've the time.

As for consulting, let's take care of that here so it's not left up to chance.

Tomorrow, please, then. It seems like it's been ages since we've had a chance to sit down, and I always enjoy it.

But yes, the consulting here would be tidy (I've asked, in fact, already above.)

Mr Weasley and Miss Bundy -

Again, thanks for an excellent suggestion and the work you put into your proposal. For various reasons, we've had to adapt several of your ideas, but it saved the YPL committee a great deal of effort to have a starting place.

I wanted to thank you in public - but I'd also like to extend a private thank you. For any one Astronomy assignment this year, you may have a two week extension, on request (at any point before it's due) without penalty to your grade. Since you helped me manage my time and get everything done that needed doing, I thought it would be fair to help you do the same.

Oh, wicked!

Thank you, Professor!

It sounds brilliant, Professor! And it will be a lovely way to introduce the visiting students to Hogwarts.

But - you did say that the CCF are being asked to help set up? That means we shan't be able to actually go on the scavenger hunt, right?

Only I think some people may not realise that they won't be eligible for any prizes if they're part of the crew, is all.

That is one of the regrettable costs of helping make things happen, Miss Patil.

Don't worry, though - we will do our best to make things fun for our CCF students as well, have a token of appreciation. (We're also not talking about anything substantial, of course, for prizes - just little treats to encourage everyone to do their best.)

Honestly, having seen the plan, I'm envious I don't get to try and work it all out as well. I think everyone will be challenged, but have a good time sorting through all the puzzles.

Oh, I'm not complaining, Professor! Truly. I'll admit that my first thought was who to team up with, but that wasn't why I asked. I heard one of the other CCF students talking and thought we'd better make sure we understood it right.

I'm sure it'll be just as much fun helping to set the puzzles as watching who's able to figure them out fastest.

I think you'll also have some fun figuring out ways to set them up - and honestly, some of that will be as challenging as solving them. And it can be quite intriguing to watch how different people try to solve the same challenge - that's part of why we've left method relatively open-ended.

Also, did you get the note I sent this morning about the plans for the morning? It will be a smaller group, not the entire CCF class.

Oh, yes, I did get the note, thank you! Su Li and I are really looking forward to it! Thank you, Professor, ever so much.

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Looking ahead to our first YPL event

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