alt_sinistra | A short interlude

I’m in New London for two days of YPL meetings. It’s hard to be away from Hogwarts - and a long list of things that need attention - but a change in routine is also surprisingly pleasant.

I’ve never been a morning person, and apparating over distance first thing is worse, so I made sure to get here in plenty of time for a walk to clear my head before we started our meetings this morning. But that’s given me time to be delighted by the shop windows, particularly this year’s fashion for sparkling light charms - so delicate - and the wider color palette.

I saw a gorgeous window in silvers and blues and purples, as well as many with more classic greens, reds, and golds. And of course, the charmed displays are wonderful: my favorite was several windows of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade in winter with a cunningly done Quidditch match in progress. And there’s the smell of pine in the air, and the clusters of little stalls, and banners snapping in the breeze... And of course, a pleasant little pastry at one of the nearby cafes to put me in the best possible mood before we started this morning.

I’m looking forward to being able to make a great deal of progress with the YPL plans for this spring and summer, but also a few chances to relax. I’m eagerly anticipating a performance tonight and then there’s dinner with my parents tomorrow, and a few other errands and tasks to finish getting ready for the holidays.

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Glad to go, honest, and no other plans I actually wanted to go to even. (And I do want to get to know people who are important to you, you know.)

On the nerves: we'll need to talk some tomorrow night, but to put it in my own field's terms, being a binary star's different than being solitary, and my sense of gravity's still off. Which makes me feel all shaky.

I could show you easier than tell you, really, but I think talking through how to answer the obvious questions, and getting them in perspective will help the nerves a lot.

Some of it, too, is just overwork - dinner, tonight, Campanella and I were talking about the number of things that got dropped in my lap, (even without Pink Parchment Girl), and, well, it's no wonder I feel scattered. There's fixes for that too, and it should only be particularly bad for another week or so.

Well how do you reckon I feel, going from the protectorate's most eligible bachelor to "officially dating?" I'm leaving Barty all alone to shoulder the burden by himself, and it's bound to make him sour. Granted, I've officially dated various others off and on over the years, but you're the first woman who waited for me to suggest going public first, and then took some time to decide how she felt about that, too.

For the record, despite my choice of words we are not required to do anything official, or even verify anything for the press. It's more that we can just be "us" a little bit more in front of other people, I figure. That's all.

On the overwork, let me know if there's anything I can do to help out, will you? I reckon that if you hadn't had to apparate early this weekend you'd feel a lot more sorted out. And the stars just aren't as crystalline in New London, are they? Good thing they'll be waiting back here for you.

(Imagine me sitting here and laughing, and trying to figure out how to answer you, would you?)

I keep telling you I'm not like lots of other women. I'm glad you're patient with me.

And no - we don't have to do anything official. But people will ask, and it'd settle me to be flat out clear on what I say, and how I say it to handle that well. And there are a few people that, if we're being a tiny bit more public, I really should tell before it gets picked up by the papers as a fact.

And you do know, if I dance with you at the Yule Ball (which I certainly would prefer to do, thank you, given the effort involved in what I'm going to be wearing) that it's going to be undeniable to not only our students but our colleagues? I'm not that good an actress.

It helps Minerva took it well, too. (Though now I'm wondering what my parents are going to ask tomorrow. They're being entirely mysterious about why they really must have dinner on Monday.)

On the overwork: unfortunately, not too much you can do without more gossip. It's those cursed etiquette and dance lessons, and the fact that at least a quarter of the girls in the upper years seem to see me me as the nearest convenient agony aunt. I can scarcely turn them away, but it does take time. I've got a plan for getting my lesson plans and marking so they don't take much time next week now though.

As to the stars - quite. (And I've a lousy view from this window, anyway.) But I've got a projection up, and it's quite soothing. Tomorrow will be much nicer.

Trust me, love, I am bloody thrilled that you are not like the other women I've dated.

We can sort out what to say and practise our dancing all in one go, if you like. Though I don't know that I can help you deal with the upper year girls. I've had a few of the boys come round asking me about how to avoid the clap (at least they haven't forgotten it went around last year), to which I cheerfully tell them to see Madam Pomfrey, "because there's nothing that gives her greater pleasure than helping a young lad avoid strange oozings from his knob."

Being a teacher is really more fun than it ought to be, on occasion.

And now that I've left you with THAT pleasant image, I suggest you concentrate on your projection for a while...

Glad you're all right with that, then.

I'd much appreciate the dancing practice, yes. I've had the proper lessons, and brushed up, but I want to do you proud, and that's easier with practice.

I am glad you're finding amusement dealing with the boys - and that's much simpler than what they ask me, as disturbing as the image is. ("How do I know if he actually likes me, or is just saying yes because he'd like to spend time with my best friend?" is not a question Poppy has tremendous patience with.)

But yes. Projection and sleep for me, so tomorrow will go well (and so I'll have plenty of energy left for talking, dancing, and other things in the evening.)

A short interlude

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