Students

[alt_sinistra]

Several of you have inquired about the kittens in my office: the orange one is Mizar, and the black one is Suha. House points to the first person who can tell me why those names (that didn't hear it from me already.)

They are both quite friendly, but mind your quills if you don’t want them used as toys. In related news, I am currently practiced with ink removal charms, and glad to share the ones I’ve found most effective. Also several that help with more controlled kitten amusement and entertainment.

As usual before exams, I’ve extended my office hours. However, I need to make some firecalls this week in the afternoons. Please knock first if the door’s mostly closed, and it may be a few minutes (not many) before I’m free.

My newts: I’m saving Thursday and Friday for any last questions (your last round of practice theory exams are marked and you can pick them up whenever.) If you don’t come up with anything else, I have more locational magic problems for you, as that seems to be the thing you’re all most worried about.

5th years: for those of you who might be considering the Astronomy NEWT, I’m changing my requirements for continuing in the subject (in favour of more opportunity, rather than less.) We’ll talk more once you’re done with the OWL exams, as the NEWT in Astronomy takes a sharp turn from observation into theory, and it’s rather a different kind of study.

Comments

Private message to Raz

[alt_sinistra]

Love,

(Writing mostly so I don’t forget something before we can talk. I hope all the duelling went well.)

- Seeing Cedric in person was excellent, and we had a good visit. His parents though - I gather his father expects him to just bounce back, and his mother’s fussing.

- Tallie and I have sorted a great many things, and I swear, I delegated as much as I could. Can you do one last look at the invite list? (Our latest revision, with the questions for you marked is on the desk in your rooms.) And you and I need to block out time to sort out seating for the supper itself.

- On student invitations: we can’t have the entire school, and equally clearly we need to invite some of them. Campanella had the idea tonight to invite the CCF students plus Andie, and Cedric (recovery permitting, but walking's going fairly well, apparently) and Melinda as representatives of the school? It’s a manageable number, but it rather tidly covers the people we really need or want there, yes? Campanella’s willing to coordinate the portkeys. And maybe we could arrange something extra nice for supper on the Monday after, here, for everyone else?

- Gilly thinks we ought to invite the whole staff, and make them sort out who gets to mind the students here. I really want Tosha and Pomona. And Popp, if she's back. (Did you hear Kerr ranting yesterday?) And I'm assuming Horace for certain, as well. I will not be petty about making sure Acton stays here..

(We clearly need to talk to Septima about the above two before sending invites out: I made an appointment with her for tomorrow after supper, so tell me if that doesn’t suit. Shouldn’t take long.)

- Delilah reminded me, we should talk about my name. People will start asking - or rather, I need to answer them eventually. I do have an idea, but I’m not sure what you’ll think.

Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_sinistra]

Harry -

Just wanted to let you know that I did get a chance to visit and talk a little with Cedric this afternoon. He says he’ll be writing you soon as he can manage. I brought a couple of dictation quills with me, but he needs to sort out which one works best for him.

He did suggest I might want to talk to you about something. Come up when you get a chance? (I restocked the excellent pastries today, too, if you need an additional lure.) We might want a little privacy, so tomorrow afternoon may be better than evening, but I’ll make whatever work.

Private message to Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

I haven’t wanted to mention yet where it could be overheard, but we’ve worked things out so we can get married June 1st. I will spare you the details of making that happen for the moment. I’ve needed every bit of logistics planning the YPL taught me to be sure it could be managed, and we weren’t totally certain until this afternoon. Actual invites are going out Friday, but keep it under the rose until then?

It’s actually fairly pleasant work, given that Tallie is very good at her job, now we’ve got things lined up right. But I would like to pick your brains about a couple of likely seating challenges for the supper. And perhaps whine about the florist. Speaking of roses.

I’ve a few things for you from my errands (the pastries should be on your desk: one of the elves was delighted to oblige), but I have delightfully horrible reading for you, too. There are a few things I’d like to talk over with you - it can wait for Friday, though. (Probably better - I suspect I’ll be more coherent about it if I let it sit for a few days.)

Also, I did get time for a good chat with Cedric. It - just thank you, Toshenka. Again and again.

Private message to Pomona

[alt_sinistra]

Pomona -

I did see Cedric today: he is being very patient, though it’s clearly going to be a very long road back. We should talk, sometime, if we can find a time we’re both free.

The other bit of news is that Raz and I are aiming at a June first wedding: please keep it to yourself just yet as there’s a couple of details we need to talk Septima into to Septima about. You are most certainly invited, and I very much hope you’ll come.

More later? I’ve a bit of marking yet to finish before class. If you’re free Friday before supper, or I’d say Saturday afternoon, but there’s Hogsmeade and I'm quite sure I won't be up before noon. (I expect my newts to run late Friday, since it's our last chance before their exam.) Sunday afternoon?

[alt_evelyn]

Professor Sinistra;

Mizar is a star in Ursa Major, and Suha is its binary. But Suha's more common name is Alcor.

I think those are very fitting names.

Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_linus]

As per our recent conversation, I am intrigued by the possibility of pursuing a NEWT in astronomy. Given that locational magics and chronological magics do, as you pointed out, require arithmancy as much as astronomy, it may prove to be a good fit. Insofar as you said that there are indeed many places in the field where an arithmancer is a welcome addition to a project, I believe I could make a reasonably strong case to my Father for the addition of this particular NEWT as a forward-looking choice in diversifying my strengths.

I don't have to tell him that I'm mostly being lured in by the prospect of playing in the theoretical end of the field. That bit about an expanding universe with no outside edge has walloped my mind. A fellow could develop a taste for that sort of mental exercise.

I shall see you at detention as usual. There are several more articles I've finished checking the references on. Still the same two persons with the questionable citations, so it's definitely a good thing someone's looking into all this. I haven't said it recently, but thank you for letting me do something of real import and use during my detentions, rather than just make-work.