alt_sinistra | A puzzle

Poppy,

It is an entirely good thing you did not give my cats that toy until after the wards work was mostly done. I keep stopping to watch them.

(I'm quite sure my sister will want one too - you said it was Adiaphoron Entwhistle, in Alnwick? Did I tell you that Sage has been staying with Diane and Chiron for the last month or two? Her job in New London let her go, and besides, security and all. So distractions to keep her cats occupied and off the dog, much appreciated. Diane's still - well, difficult. Distractions for her, much appreciated, too, and I haven't been able to do much beside stay well away and not make things worse.)

There's something about the way it rolls and the tail twitches, and then exactly how long it stops and teases them with the light, before it rolls off again. Not quite predictable, but not startling, either.

I've been thinking about the soothing properties of cats, actually. (I've been handing Linus one of them, at intervals, and he does find it comforting.) On my list, for if we ever get bored, years from now, research into the effects of familiars on various factors and the well-being of students.

Beyond that, I'm feeling at least a little less at sea - Septima and I had the beginnings of a good discussion after lunch, though we got interrupted part way through. You? I'm still juggling various pieces, but if there's something I can help you with, I'm quite willing.

I'm very glad ad to hear that you and Septima are digging into what lies ahead. I gathered she's been finding the whole business daunting to consider, from staffing to security to the likelihood of very low numbers and more.

As for the powers of familiars, particularly feline familiars... I assure you I'd have them on the ward as caregivers were it not for the maddening resistance of cat allergies to magical prophylaxis. If only someone could find the charm for that!

Tea tomorrow afternoon, perhaps? I should be back here by two at the latest and should have discharged my immediate duties on the ward by half-three.

Tea tomorrow, please. I've missed talking with you rather a lot. You're welcome up here if you want to be somewhere people can't find you quite so easily, or I'm glad to come down if you want to be somewhere they can.

It is extremely complex. Even just finding people who might be willing to teach who stand a chance of being at all competent is rather the trick. I'm working up some notes to her now.

And of course, there's the part where we have absolutely no idea whether we might have classes in September (which I admit is looking more and more unlikely) or when, and yes, about having no idea how many students we'll have. And I keep thinking of bits that someone ought to decide about, like is there any chance we could help with refresher courses for muggleborns, as suitable wands come in, and how in the universe would we make that work anyway.

And yes, I suppose that would be a challenge on your ward.

I'll come to you, then. Much better to be out of immediate reach of minor crises.

Oh, and yes, the cat toy was one of Entwhistle's follies. He was at school with Albus, you know. A bit younger, but not by much. Remembers him fondly.

As do I.

Excellent. I'll have some things ready.

I am now feeling rather sorry for the staff that had them both to deal with, really.

Albus. Yes. I kept thinking about both him and Minerva, while I was talking to Septima. Other people, too. (I keep missing Professor Flitwick, particularly, the way he taught.)

Maybe sometime we'll have time to tell all their stories properly, you know? The things they did.

And Pomona. It's still difficult to be here without her.

Pomona, so much, yes.

I keep thinking that if she were here, a lot of us would be doing a lot better, because she'd know exactly the right thing to say and when to say it.

And it -

It doesn't feel like the same school without her.

No, indeed. I quite agree.

Thank you, my dear, for saying so.

Should have said it long since, really.

It must be so much harder for you, being back.

I've Linus coming up, shortly, but - tomorrow. Tea. Conversation. I'm looking forward to it.

A puzzle

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