alt_sinistra | My astronomy NEWTs:

Entry tags:

My astronomy NEWTs:

If you get the chance, take a look at the western horizon after sunset the next night or two. Mars, Saturn, and Spica are in an unusually small equilateral triangle - about six degrees of each other. One thing everyone can enjoy are the colours: the crescent moon was nearly white last night, Saturn has a golden glow, and Mars is more orange than red. Spica herself is blue-white.

Spica, for those who don’t remember, is a particularly well-matched binary star system, and the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. 6th years, we’ll be discussing Spica in September as part of our look at precession. And for those of you who are early morning risers, Venus is particularly lovely in the hours before dawn this week as well.

I finally got a chance to spend the evening at the astronomy guild hall doing some research, and had a chance to catch up with several professional colleagues while we worked. There are some exciting topics under consideration for next summer’s guild-sponsored projects. Several have pieces that would make a good focus for the NEWT year-long research projects, and possibly open up internship opportunities for next summer. For those of you more interested in locational magics, there are a few possibilities there, as well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Narcissa -

I hate to trouble you on holiday, but someone left a early copy of today’s In The Soup on the doorstep at Spence, flipped to an entirely nasty story about me and Raz. And I’m sure when he finds out, he’ll be furious.

It’s not what it says that worries me - I know the truth about him and he does about me. And honestly, I’d sort of expected something like this before now. But, look, I’ve been reading In The Soup for a year, and I know perfectly well it’s usually the nastiest of the lot, but this is beyond their usual level of vile.

Implications of my past relationships. Of his. (Dredging out every old rumour imaginable, and yes, I know how many of them are false.) Of my earning the Astronomy position on my back and that I’ve been sleeping around on him all year. (When anyone thinks I’d find the time or opportunity, I’ve no idea.) And all in the most derogatory and belittling terms.

I’ve sent my owl with a note for him, because are some things I’d rather not say even in the journals, but could you tell him it’s coming? And keep an eye on him, if you would? He really is going to be upset, I think.

I was already planning to stay in for a few days - I’ve plenty of research and reading to keep me occupied - so no worries there.

Aurora. He's

Well.

He and Harry are out in the back garden. They were going to play chess but it quickly turned into an impromptu lesson. Rather good for them both, I think.

He's all right but yes, rather upset. I think he's worried it might have implications none of us care to consider.

If you prefer to get out of town altogether, you're welcome to come earlier.

Oh.

Good for them both, I agree. And I hadn't even really thought about that. Hypatia.

Thank you for the offer, but ... perhaps tomorrow evening? If that wouldn't be too much.

Both my parents are - well, now they've seen the details (some of Mum's colleagues are entirely too happy to share that kind of thing apparently), they need a bit of soothing. I don't want to be tricky to reach for a little yet, while they're still fussing.

Or my oldest brother is. (He was at school with Raz, which in this case is not helping. At all. Of all the times for him to actually notice the larger world.)

Do forgive me, dear, but I have not rushed out to obtain the thing in question. If for no other reason than it leaves one free to answer 'I've not read it, nor would I do,' should anyone be rude enough as to ask.

But I, for one, hardly think that either of you were pure as snow before meeting one another. Nor should you have been expected to be (whatever Inigo Sandoval may think about his daughter, we are living in more modern times than all that). Even if it was somewhat, well, wild let us say or impetuous, I should think if you were ashamed of anything in your past, you'll have already told Raz about it, or agreed that it doesn't matter.

He certainly is in no position to cast hexes at you, whatever the accusations may be. And thus far there has been no hint in him of any blame toward you, let me assure you.

I think the best thing you can tell your parents, my dear, is that obviously someone has forgotten their manners at In the Soup and clearly run with a story that shows poor judgement and worse taste. On their part, not yours.

Not to worry. It will sort itself given time. And given a few choice repercussions for the editor and his staff.

Raz does have a copy, should your curiousity get the better of you - that's part of what I sent by owl this morning.

And no. It's not that my parents think I'm pure as the driven snow. (Our family's actually more prone to earthy pragmatism than perennial protestations of chastity.) But I don't like rubbing Dad's face in it too much if I don't have to, and there is the complication of students.

Raz already knew all the (quite few) bits that were truth, and truly, I've no worries there, and know he's been just as honest with me. (Though it's good to be reassured, thank you.)

It's trying to figure out where a couple of the accusations came from that bothers me. There's a couple of pieces that were just detailed enough to have had an ill-informed source of a particular kind. And I didn't think there were more than a couple of people who disliked me quite that much.

If you're sure it's all right and won't be a bother, I think I would like to come tomorrow, rather than wait, though.

Yes, of course. Come whenever you like. We shan't stand on formalities here.

Oh, thank you.

I'll aim for four or so, and be safely out of the way in case my brother thinks better of tonight's conversation tomorrow.

Look. There’s a story in one of the gossip papers that’s coming out today that I think will make Raz very angry. ~~Can you~~ ~~Would you~~ Um. Not at me, on my behalf. And his own. It's extremely nasty. (And very little of it is true.)

Can I ask you a favour? Can you do what you can to make sure he doesn’t overdo it today or do anything too foolish? I hate to ask it of you, or ask you to waste any of your holiday or limit yourself for him. Just - I’m so worried how he’ll take this, and I can't be there.

I've sent my Nashira with a note for him, and she should be there early this afternoon. It explains a bit more.

Just

Thanks.

Okay. I'll try.

And I'm sorry.

~~Is there~~

Is there anything else I could do to help? If you don't want me to say anything about it, I won't, but I could write a letter to the person who wrote it or something. I don't know.

~~Oh, sweetheart~~ You are so very kind to offer, but no, I don't think there's anything you can do to make that better. I'm going to trust to Raz (and the Malfoys) on a response, but I rather suspect ignoring it in public is the best thing to do.

Helping make sure he's all right is the best thing right now. I've got some very nice research to keep me busy, and I'll see you this weekend. (And I know Narcissa is looking forward to time to talk to me, but I'd also love a bit of a fly and seeing what you all have discovered so far about the area.)

And look. It's possible someone might ask you about it. If you want to know if anything they say (or any other gossip you hear) about me is true, you can ask me, and I'll tell you truth and what you can share. As much as I can without giving away someone else's secrets. (Blame my House, but I prefer honesty when I can and especially with those I trust.)

Yeah.

I'll make sure.

And I don't care what it says. I mean, it doesn't matter to me. It wouldn't change anything. And it's not like it's anyone's business anyways.

Thank you. And that does help, if you'd wondered.

Right. I'm sure you've more enjoyable things to be doing, and I'm going to go try and find some of that for myself for a bit.

Thanks - I think it was a great help, from what Narcissa's said.

I'm going to be coming up there a little earlier than we'd planned - late tomorrow afternoon. Anything I can bring with me you'd like?

Dearest,

Narcissa invited me to come earlier, if it'd help. But Mum and Dad are fussing, and Orion's already been on to me (and he is being a total prat about it), so I want to stick around and soothe them a bit.

They'll get over it, it's just messy while they sort out if they should be outraged or offended or disappointed in me, or protective or what. I promise not to leave Spence, and I'm keeping myself as distracted as I can.

But I thought tomorrow evening, maybe. I'll be sensible until then if you will be too. (By which I mean, attempting to get enough sleep and not making rash decisions. Because as tempted as I've been, I'm sure you must be too. Not about you, I rush to add, but about the rest of it.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

My astronomy NEWTs:

Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

Re: Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

Private message to Harry Marvolo

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

Private message to Raz