A few notes

[alt_umbridge]

First, would the following students in the Hogwarts Junior Council please plan to meet with me at 1pm on Saturday: I assure you (and your parents and guardians) that you are not in any trouble, but rather have the opportunity to help with a teensy little project of mine. Mr Milland, I'll expect you as well - it's the matter we discussed briefly after supper tonight.

Mr Bobolis, Miss Calderwood, Miss Edgecomb, Mr Finnigan, Miss Jones, Miss Montgomery, Miss Padma Patil, Miss Robins, Miss Rohani, and Miss Stevens.

Second, I would like to meet with those asked to assist with the Memorial Garden project or those who are interested in assisting on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Please meet in the classroom near my office with ideas, sketches, and any other necessary materials you have arranged so far.

I've a few little messages below, as well.

Comments

Private message to Neville Longbottom

[alt_umbridge]

Mr Longbottom -

I would like to review any notes you may have prior to Sunday's meeting, if you please. I will be available in my office at 9am on Sunday morning to look over your materials so we can have the most productive meeting possible.

Re: Private message to Neville Longbottom

[alt_neville]

Yes, ma'am. I have three potential designs thus far, but which one would be best will probably depend upon the final site chosen: sunlight, drainage, soil condition and so on. I'll bring all my sketches and notes, and I've also been working on a visualisation charm for the one I think is the strongest contender, the Ouroborus design, so you'll have an idea of what the garden will look like if you walk through it. It might even be something you can show the Board of Governors when you meet with them about the budget requisition, although I'd want to tinker with it, first, depending on everyone else's ideas.

One disadvantage of that design, though, is that it would maybe be the one that would take the longest to take shape, meaning it's the most dependent on larger and older plants and trees. Which means it'd take four or five years before it would be starting to look like the intended final design.

Anyway. I've been working on it, yes, and I'll bring all my notes and sketches to the meeting.

Private message to Marston Strangeweale and Latimer Caldwell

[alt_umbridge]

Gentlemen -

There have been more than a few frustrations this week, but in general, I believe we have matters moving forward and well in hand. In brief:

1) The steps to limit food outside the Great Hall and to provide food appropriate to station both seem to be effective in terms of behaviour, and the budget projections are quite promising. I had no idea how much food was being wasted on snacks.

2) I have taken the initial steps toward our own searches of owls. I intend to train the students assisting on the matter on Saturday, and instigate searching on Monday. Auror Crouch was quite helpful in the matter, and Carolus Milland has enthusiastically agreed to oversee the project along with Rolanda.

3) We continue to have a few teensy matters of discipline to attend to, but by and large they are proceeding as we'd expected. I do anticipate they will reduce in frequency as students become more aware of my requirements and expectations.

4) The staff, likewise, are largely settling into the regime, though there are some remaining rough spots. (I had to talk quite seriously to Aurora Sinistra about coming back late without warning on Tuesday night - she claims business with her Guild, and there's really no way to verify it. Antonin Dolohov has been absent from meals. Several parties have shown resistence to my little suggestions about their teaching.)

5) However, I do think the Defence classes are going really quite well, preparing those students whose skills we wish to nurture and develop while keeping the rest out of trouble. Obviously, there will be some effect on their exam results, but it's not as if anyone cares about how well a halfblood does. The best will scrape through with a pass, and the rest, well. Any real attention or time would be wasted on them.

I would like to meet in person at some point before the Easter holidays - I'll consult with your clerks about scheduling. We've a few matters directly relating to the YPL to consider, and there's the matter of the CCF plans for this summer, both the trials and the training itself. And there are a few teensy details best discussed in person, as usual.

Yours in service,
Dolores

[alt_megan]

Oh! Yes, Madam Umbridge, I will be there. Of course I will try to be helpful. It is good of you to think of me.