A few quick notes:

[alt_sinistra]

Office hours Saturday, 2-5, as well as my usual this week. Do stop by, if you’re worrying about your work so far. Or if you just want to chat. (I promise biscuits, tea and tisane, and maybe other treats.)

5th years: I know some of you are worried already about exams. I expect to have all your charts marked by Friday, but so far I’m not seeing any unwelcome surprises - and a few pleasant ones. (Remember you can always arrange to do practice charts, especially as we take a break for a few weeks for other topics.)

7th years: I’ve had a few questions about the topic list. Again, the list is just to get you thinking. I’m glad to consider any project that can be done and written up in the course of the school year. (Can be practical, theoretical or a mix.) Come talk to me if you’re still confused.

All my NEWTs: With the unusually large jump in size of our 2nd year class (especially as they’re starting the complications of chart work) I could really use another pair of hands or two during our practical sessions until they’re more comfortable with the process. If any of you would be willing to help out, (without shorting yourself on sleep, mind), please talk to me. They meet Thursday nights, or see below.

2nd years who’d like more time and feedback than our hour allows, I’m also looking to set up some additional sessions with the projection stones (or the last hour before curfew, if it’s clear) where we can work in smaller groups: please come to class with some times that might work for you.

Comments

Private message to Cedric Diggory

[alt_sinistra]

Happy birthday - may you have a truly wonderful year. You more than deserve one.

I do have a little something for you, but I didn’t get a chance to catch you at lunch. (Chelsea Abbott wanted to talk a little right after their class - she’s all right, just needed an ear.) I’m in New London now till sometime after supper (and I hope to catch up with Raz after duelling club’s over) but I’ll find you tomorrow if not before.

S.

Private message to Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_sinistra]

Narcissa -

I am so very glad you were there today. Watching you in your element is - well, Antosha was on at me on Friday about recognising and appreciating excellence. I am entirely in awe of your ability to get at what I wanted and couldn’t find words for.

Thank you, too, for talking both Mum and Diane out of the piles of tulle and froth. I don’t think I’d have managed it on my own. And once we got through the “No, really, try this, some people discover they like it” and the things that were entirely too young for me, it was incredibly helpful to have your comments about what does and doesn’t work for my body.

Who do you suggest for further conversations? I’m certainly comfortable working with Revati, and there’s something to be said for that. But I do trust your recommendations on how to hit exactly the right note.

I hope Diane wasn’t too wearing. (She means well, just it’s a bit much sometimes.) And Mum has already said how glad she was you were there. I do think this whole thing - now it’s hitting home for her - is a little overwhelming. And much as we love each other and get on well, I’ve always been a bit of a puzzle to her, so we’ve never really gone clothes shopping since I was old enough to buy my own.

At any rate - I hope more time to just chat, sometime soon, without my family along. In the meantime, I am entirely appreciative, and I’m sure Raz will be when he sees the end results.

Private message to Raz:

[alt_sinistra]

Love -

Waiting for Mum to do something (supposedly) quick at her office before we have supper, and writing things down so I don't forget them later, mostly.

Survived robe shopping. Well, round one - I’m nowhere near done. But Narcissa was vastly helpful in assuring me I was going the right direction and teaching me how to describe what that is, Diane was a reasonable enough version of herself, and Mum sends her love. Don’t know if you’ll see this in time, but I’ll wander by the tail end of duelling club. I could desperately use a hug and seeing my reflection as it is in your eyes rather than a mirror.

I did stop by Tallie Powell’s office and have the detailed proposal: it looks excellent to me, and more than that, an efficient and not-entirely-terrifying plan and timeline. Did you ever hear back from that last reference?

Looking at the plan does remind me: we’re going to need to sample caterers sometime, and you might actually enjoy that bit. Could we arrange some Saturday in October or November, schedule a visit to several of them and then have a night out, maybe? (Stay over in Spence, even?) October 20/21st or November 17/18th (ending up with us at Dad’s birthday party) both look particularly plausible on my calendar and avoid various school events. Temp would need a little time to arrange to get free, and I do want her input.

Had a late lunch with Gilly, and a very interesting chat about some of what Antosha impressed on me about the projection stones. Also the frustrating stubborness of mutual friends named Dai.

Also, we should talk about some of my conversations with Poppy about managing the various pre-marital diagnostic testing the WRO wants to recommend. (She has an idea for making that far less tedious and difficult for both of us. You’ll approve, I’m sure.) That can wait till we’ve more lesiure, just we should be on the same page about what we tell them.

Right. Mum’s ready now. Love you. I’ll demonstrate how much later.

Private message to Gilly Chadwick

[alt_sinistra]

Gil -

The more I think about it, the more annoyed I am. Stars, planets, and falling meteors. Look. If Dai isn’t ready to talk yet, that’s all right. (Well. Not all right, but I’ll cope.) But do not let him beg you to play messenger. He doesn’t get it both ways. That’s no fair. To either of us.

And especially not to you. Bloody stupid stubborn Welsh badgers.

Right. Robes. I am pleased to say that it was better than I was afraid it might be other than me trying on any number of horrible options.

Mum thought it should be ‘look like a princess from a story-book’, and that’s not what I want. (Among other things, I would like Raz to be able to get within a couple of feet of me on our wedding day without managing layers of skirts between us.) Narcissa put her foot down about the ballgown and the layers of tulle - and about one of those mermaid gowns. (Does anyone actually look good in those? Doesn’t matter, I refuse to wear something I can’t move in.) After that, it was sheaths - nearly as bad, just less foolish looking.

But after that, we settled into something a lot more useful. The magic words are apparently ‘bias cut’ and ‘silk’, though we didn’t find anything like the perfect one yet. Narcissa - well, I’m actually not surprised, it’s what I hoped for - but she was wonderful at asking what I liked and didn’t in a way I could mostly answer, and then suggesting specific things she knew they had. (Even if it was more than a little uncomfortable to have that kind of scrutiny. I’m all over insecurities tonight - and before you say anything, I know it’s stupid. Doesn’t make it less true.)

If we don’t manage next week in private - I do need to chat with Campanella - two weeks from now? And please send those adjustment charm notes: I’d be glad to have a look and see if I can find some way to simplify the explanation.