alt_sinistra | Spring

As the weather’s been clearing a bit, I’ve been out walking more - rather pleasant to get outside in the fresh air, really. And it’s about this time of year that we start seeing the flowers come out. There’s a lovely little burst of snow drops out on my usual way around the lake, and I can just see hints of crocus buds coming up, or trying to.

5th years: It’s also the time of year when my thoughts turn to our year-end exams. I’d like to set up some extra practice sessions with charts, and some chances to try some sample exams so you have the best possible idea what to expect and how to prepare for the OWL format.

Please come to Wednesday night’s class with your schedules, so we can find some dates and times. While I plan to include some evening sessions before May, many parts of the exam can be practiced using the projection stones at other times of day. And of course, I remain glad to work one-on-one - just come by office hours or make an appointment for a mutually convenient time.

(I’ve already spoken to my NEWT students about their own preparation, but several of them have also mentioned they’d be glad to assist in OWL preparation and study under my supervision.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Saturday sounds lovely, dear heart. And darling Dolores can object all she's a mind to: I will defend the choice wholeheartedly.

Your,
T

Toshenka, dear -

You are not the one with both her own and her mother's job under threat if we guess wrong, you know. But I will watch the stars fall from the skies before I let her be the reason I don't do something my students would actually learn from, so there you are.

Something to look forward to would be good, anyway. I just - February was one long stretch of mostly misery. And it's not like March is an improvement, or that April promises much better. I'm now starting to wonder what Madam Headmistress is going to try to keep me away from Raz over Easter hols.

(Good grief, I'm fatalistic tonight. Either you're rubbing off, or being in New London on Tuesdays is more important than I'd realised. Perhaps both. But I think March promises to be even worse than last March, in its way, and I had no earthly idea that was even possible.)

Little star,

Should any ill come to your family from darling Dolores's machinations, I will stand surety for it. And yes, I am aware that would still not be an ideal answer -- but it will, I hope, reassure you somewhat.

As to the rest, well, this too shall pass; of that I am certain. That, too, may not be as reassuring as it could be, but take it from an old snake -- patience is often rewarded in ways that rushing to action is not. But as bleak as things look at the moment, they cannot last forever.

Your,
T

Mmm.

Tosha, are you all right? You're rather briefer than your usual.

And thank you for the reassurance, but it's... Oh, all sorts of things about stability and reliability and knowing where one can put weight on a branch and where one can't, and I'm having trouble finding words. All the assurance in the world doesn't help with that. ~~With waking up in the dark wondering what you got your family into,~~

Oh, dear heart. I know it's difficult, but have faith -- we will prevail in the end. If for no other reason than I do not lose when the well-being of my family is on the line. It will take me some more time to claw my way back to "well enough to begin the fight in earnest", but darling Dolores set her fate when she moved against Minerva and sealed it with her actions against Raz. She may win a skirmish or two along the way, but she will lose the war.

(As to the rest -- I am well enough, little star; only tired. And distracted by a few things along the way. I will be back to myself after a good night's sleep, I am certain. I suppose I ought start dragging myself to meals; would you care to sit with me for lunch tomorrow and I will do my best to distract you?)

Yours,
T

I had not said, Sunday, how - thank you for considering me family, Toshenka, truly. And for the reassurance.

Seeing you at lunch would be a bright star in the sky. And if you manage supper sometimes, even occasionally, I am quite sure Raz would appreciate the break from having to deal with Dolores by himself. (There are things I do not need to talk to him about to know for certain, after all.)

As much as sitting next to Dolores will no doubt put me off my appetite as much as your dinner companions do to you, I am well overdue for beginning to put my foot down and reminding her that Headmistress does not mean she is the only power in the Protectorate, I suppose. I should have dealt with her back when she was nothing more than an annoyance, and before Raz's and my hands were quite so tied. ~~And before Our Lord decided it would amuse Him to see what happens~~

Ah, well; we are too late wise.

Sleep well, when you do, dear heart. As much as possible.

Yours,
T

Well, it is handy we have a solution for spoiled appetites at meals already planned, isn't it? (Speaking of: may I ask your Berry to provide something for hungry teenagers on Saturday evening? I have volunteered a certain amount of supervision and drilling for a select handful, with more than one purpose in mind.)

As to the rest, well, it is something of a consolation, actually, that I was not the only one reticent to act. As horrible as the consequences turned out to be. I keep wondering if I could have changed all this if I'd been faster to realise what was going on this summer.

I will do my best with the sleep. Fourth years first, though I think it's holding clear enough that we'll be outside, which is a goodness.

My dearest of northern lights, if anyone is to mutter imprecations that they did not act swiftly enough, it is certainly not you. I was muttering about transfiguring the woman into something heavy and dropping her in the lake as far back as, oh, October, and if I had done so, none of this would have been an issue. This is what I get when I attempt to serve as a good example for the children, I suppose.

And yes, by all means, feed the children; it has been years since Berry has had the satisfaction of a teenager's appetite, and more than one at a time will send her into paroxysms of delight. Is whatever it is anything I might help with?

Going to sleep now, really, I mean it,
T

Toshenka, dear -

As I said to Raz, my scruples on the topic wandered elsewhere some time ago. The woman is an utter menace to everyone around her, and as much as I want to believe there are always less - less permanent solutions - well, what is the point of being a voice of experience if you don't use the experience? (Do I shock you? I shock myself, writing that, but it's true. ~~How do people live with hating someone this much?~~)

As to the plans with the children, since Madam Headmistress has made it impossible for me to keep up with my Defence practice in my usual way (and I am missing the practice nearly as much as my partner in it), I had a word with Cedric to propose a small session to Harry. Harry suggested Draco, naturally, and Sally-Anne and Pansy, but also Mr Corner, who I had to think about. (I'd appreciate your impressions of him, actually.)

Harry asks for so very little, and I'd rather set aside my own ~~needs~~ preferences than risk them failing their exams.

By the timing, you might guess that this was still not as much sleep as Poppy - or I - would like me to get, but it was nearly six hours last night, which is better than it might be.

Spring

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