I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

Tosha, dear -

I have just had a surprisingly insightful conversation with our Mr Moon. Quite sure I startled him in more than one place, and I think very usefully. We started with the challenge of my door wards, though I think he didn’t entirely get the hint about thinking through larger implications.

That done, I was working on leading him toward the ripple effects of actions upon the rest of the school. We got there, but before we did, he arrived at “We nearly became the Carrows!” all on his own. Rather tidily, even, barring a bit of unseemly language I chose to ignore.

Inglebee’s lack of mouth kept coming up - it obviously made a very deep impression. And speaking of influence, he obliquely referenced your conversation more than once. You have certain unmistakeable turns of phrase, you know. Incidentally, did you know that one of the current rumours is that Lucius (in his role as one of the Board) apparently Cruciated you and Raz as punishment for letting students go astray? You have not, I think, covered your exhaustion as well as we might like.

After that, we got onto my actual work for him. One part mapping which projection stones I can make when (easy enough, and useful). And then the other, that I’d hinted at with you, that Georg wants me to look at research of three members of the Guild and see if they’re manipulating data to suit their arguements. It should keep him busily occupied. Me as well. (I suspect I will regret agreeing to do this for Georg. I will almost certainly want to pick your brain about it.)

From there, I laid out the time expectations we’d discussed, got his promise to tell me if it turns out to affect his other commitments too much, and he realises he should not look happy about his prospects with me either. I’m off to pull journals for him to start with on Wednesday, but if you want me to come down and talk through the rest in person, let me know? I should be done up here around half-four.

While I think of it: do you need another round of Reparo, or are you managing that yourself again? Oh, and can I ask your advice sometime soon about a couple of Christmas presents? (Not Raz, but Lucius and Rod, in specific. And part of Draco’s. Ideally before Tuesday noon.)