Hic certe mira res sit

[alt_sinistra]

Amor chaos comitatur, praecedit mundum … obscura illuminat, vivificat mortuos, format informia, perficit imperfect.

Marsilio Ficino, De Amore i:iii

Comments

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_pomona]

Well! Your poker face has improved a great deal--I didn't suspect a thing.

Congratulations are certainly in order. (Thus, congratulations, my dear!)

Of course I'll be happy to help with Herbology matters--were you thinking of using the language of flowers, or does you family have its own traditions?

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

One of the skills I've apparently picked up that I rather wish I didn't need so often. But good to know - it might keep the gossip quiet long enough we can tell people ourselves.

I really am very happy. If still a bit stunned.

On the Herbology - there's the language of flowers piece, of course, though some of that depends on when we pick. But Mum's also got a whole lot of family tradition notes from both her side and Dad's. I've not gone into the details too far with her yet, couldn't bear to until we were sure. They disagree on which plants are best for some of the family charms. (Something about number of petals and leaf structure, combined with flowering and budding patterns and harvest cycles. Entirely over my head.)

Which brings me to ask: I don't want to make things too difficult for you, truly, and I know you've not the most pleasant experience of the topic.

If you'd rather I didn't discuss plans overmuch with you, I won't. But at the same time, friends who won't push about their own biases are likely to be in rather short supply. And I do trust your common sense far beyond most people's.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_pomona]

Well, you know Poppy & I will certainly be discreet, though we may well have a good long gossip about it amongst ourselves.

Would it be an imposition if I were to owl your mother directly? It would spare you all the Herbological back-and-forth at least, though the final decisions would all be yours of course.

And as to the latter, well, I won't deny I've biases of my own (and some of my friends would say I don't keep them to myself as well as I ought), but that's old business now.

Theodore is off with his gout and his playing gentleman farmer and his two-Knut Demeter, and I'm well shot of him, but it doesn't mean I've soured on the institution altogether.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

Oh, I don't expect it will stay quiet too long - but a day or two would be pleasant, and give us a chance to get the word out the way we'd prefer. (Must say, having the ring in the proper place is a lovely feeling, too.)

Please do owl Mum directly, if you'd like: you're quite right all the theory would be quite over my head. And until I'm done with the CCF work on the 18th, I've quite enough to juggle right now.

I'm glad to hear you're not soured on the idea entirely. And despite Raz's reputation, he really has been stellar about the whole thing. Very earnest and careful and sweet in the proposing, though I know a good portion of his friends would find the idea of "earnest" and "Raz" in the same sentence laughable.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_pomona]

Indeed. As I've no doubt said before, I don't envy you the pressure of being a public figure that goes along with this--you've been handling it all admirably of course, but the fact that you can put up with all that nonsense for him says good things for the strength of your bond.

That said (and feel free to give me a good telling-off for this if I'm overstepping), be careful not to let go too much of yourself in the midst of all that's expected of you.

That's what I regret most about my own marriage. It takes a damned long time to get that back, when you've stuffed it into a box for someone else's sake.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

You're not overstepping, truly. But we wouldn't be where we are now if he hadn't been exceptionally careful about that for so long.

You're right that there are an awful lot of expectations though. And they're rather boggling sometimes. (Narcissa has been a great help, and far more generous with her advice than I'd have thought to ask for when we started dating.)

It is all nonsense. And the wedding likely more so. Good thing I've never really been one of those girls with strong ideas about what it has to look like or be like. The bit that matters is that we're married at the end, and know already I'll put up with a lot in service to that. (And honestly, it can't be that much worse than everyone's strong opinions about the YPL, can it?)

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_pomona]

I'm glad to hear that Raz has been (and is continuing to be) careful about such things, and that Mrs. Malfoy has been helpful.

She's always struck me as the sort who could be a very good friend or...otherwise, if you take my meaning.

Speaking of which, I don't doubt that at least some of Raz's social circle consider social intimidation their bloodsport of choice, but I get the sense that you're already better than I ever was at handling that sort.

And oh goodness, YPL...I'm so sorry that you have to endure the regular presence of Dolores Umbridge in your life. That woman is an excrescence.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

Narcissa is, yes. I don't want to be her, mind you, but I've got a far greater appreciation for how she does what she does than I used to.

On the social circle, rather. That's part of why I was being so diligent last Saturday - and why Raz was being so attentive. It is one of the places his reputation is a help, really. And why Narcissa's good will matters so much.

There seem to be very few people who'd risk annoying one or the other of them without far better cause than I intend to give. Mostly, I try to listen a lot, which can be rather informative and occasionally amusing.

As to Madam Umbridge, she really is. And I fear it's not going to improve any time soon. She makes my skin crawl. (And I'm dreading whether she notices the ring tomorrow, and comes over all helpful.)

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_pomona]

Ugh. Don't suppose you could do a quick Deflection Charm on it?

Then she might not even notice.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

Oh, that's an idea.

I didn't risk it last Saturday because that kind of thing can set off various wards and alarums. But it shouldn't in Leicester. And I won't be there terribly long anyway.

On the other hand, they're doing rough camping exercises tomorrow, and that's not precisely her favoured location. (Especially if it's as muddy as I think it might be.)

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_pomona]

If she is there, take her on a nice, pleasant walk through some strategically-placed mud for me, would you?

I shall take great pleasure in the fantasy, at the very least.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

It is an exceedingly pleasant fantasy, yes. And I'm sure there are a number of students who would be delighted to assist, as well.

Speaking of: I've had several long chats with Diggory. He's still not sure what he thinks of my advice for the third task. Since I'm not sure what I think of it, I scarcely blame him, but he's been sorting through rather a lot this summer. I've encouraged him to chat with you, too, when that's easier.

He's doing splendidly otherwise, though, and the comments I've heard about his flying suggest the team might actually have a solid chance at the Cup this year. (You may thank Raz entirely for my desire to be interested in Quidditch.)

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_pomona]

I'm glad you've been able to be a listening ear and a mentor for Diggory; he's got a lot to sort out, quite in addition to the general upper-school anxiety that seems to start afflicting them at that age.

Rolanda will probably appreciate your new-found interest more than I! I enjoy a good match, but don't interfere beyond that--I think it's good for them to have to sort it all out themselves.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

He really does, and I hope it doesn't spoil him entirely. He's done so very well in difficult circumstances, and he has so much to offer. He's been very good with the CCF lot - soothing down ruffled tempers so that meals are pleasant enough, that kind of thing. It helps that Harry clearly respects him, of course.

As to the Quidditch, well. Self-defence, really, to learn more about it. And far more enjoyable than some of the other subjects I've been having to pick up. (And honestly, setting up games for that model stadium I got Raz for his birthday is actually quite interesting, now I can make sense of it a bit more.)

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_poppy]

I'd no idea that was the direction your fantasies wander!

Mud and Madam Umbridge?

Bless.

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_pomona]

Really? You don't harbor a secret desire to see great clots of mud blossoming atop that hideous pink ensemble?

I'm surprised at you!

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

Now I'm laughing and laughing. Poppy, you have quite the mind some days.

(Or should we be worrying that your endless course requirements have finally sent you over the edge?)

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_poppy]

It's good to laugh.

(I believe I'm still this side of the precipice. Thank you.)

Re: Private message to Poppy Pomfrey and Pomona Sprout

[alt_sinistra]

Oh, good. I'd miss you rather a lot if that were to change.

(And besides, I fully expect there will be further horrible pamphlets to discuss with you in the next round. And all sorts of other misguided advice.)