Educational Decree Number 24

[alt_umbridge]

Staff are hereby banned from giving students any information that is not strictly related to the subjects they are paid to teach.

In addition to the above decree, I wish to note a staffing change. We are delighted to welcome Healer Luxovius Kerr as our new Healer in Residence. As I noted at supper, he is delighted to join us, bringing his honed and polished skills to the service of the young people of Hogwarts. I'm sure we'll all make him very welcome as he settles into the Infirmary.

Hogwarts Junior Council members: I have a few teensy matters to attend to this evening, but if you have questions about your current duties, you may check at my office.

Comments

Private message to Luxovius Kerr

[alt_umbridge]

Luxovius -

I am just so very delighted to welcome you, and I'm so very glad you're willing to be more accommodating to our shared goals than Poppy Pomfrey was. I particularly appreciate the speed with which you were able to arrange your personal affairs. Now, please don't hesitate to ask the house elves for any little thing you need. One of the little privileges of being staff, of course, is the ability to focus on one's work without the teensy distractions.

Now, I know you're hoping to continue your research while you're here, but before you begin on that again, I really must ask you to provide me with a full and complete inventory of items in the Infirmary. If you see any specific needs, I will do what I can to obtain them (though perhaps you have far better contacts than I, in that little area of the world.)

I am, of course, continuing to insist that students seek you out only when necessary, and not for the teensy punishments I am forced to dole out. Thus, I have every reason to assume that once you've settled in, you should have plenty of time for your own research interests. And of course, if a student or two would be a useful subject, coordination might be possible.

Now, I am of course aware that you hope this will only be a temporary appointment - the end of the year, as we discussed - and that you're hopeful of higher and better things at St Mungo's in future. And of course Healer Acton spoke quite warmly of that to me, if you do what's required here.

Right. I've any number of other matters to attend to this evening, but please do tell me if you find anything the least bit unexpected in the Infirmary or the quarters. I did ensure that the house-elves cleared everything out to storage, but one never knows if something got left behind somehow.

Dolores

Private message to Pomona Sprout

[alt_umbridge]

Really, Pomona, I thought you a witch of far better judgement than you have shown yourself to be this year, being as friendly with both Aurora and Poppy as you have been.

I know that it must be your nature - the flaw of our house, really - to see the best in everyone, but you must harden yourself with the reminder of the equal importance of diligent hard work, self-control, and constant effort toward improving one's teensy flaws and errors.

I do trust you take my meaning.

And more to the point, I trust that you will exert every possible influence on Aurora, and bring home to her the likely consequences of her choices. I know she's young, but really, Cordelia manages so much better to work towards our shared goals as a school, and she's even younger.

Now, I also trust you will inform me immediately if you have any sign at all that there are problems I should be aware of, in any area of the school whatsoever. It is your obligation and duty as a senior member of staff, and as Head of House. If you are no longer willing to serve, of course, we could likely arrange some other solution.

D.

[alt_sirius]

Is that all?

Why not make Decree Number 25 while you're at it: Staff are hereby banned from teaching any information that students might find remotely helpful?

I sincerely hope your Healer Kerr disappoints you thoroughly by following his predecessor's example and putting the students' health and safety above any and all other considerations, including your good opinion. Maybe especially your good opinions, since they seem to be worth less than the textbooks you've provided for your so-called 'Defence' lessons.

[alt_harry]

Madame Umbridge, I had a question about this new decree.

I know that you've only just approved our halfblooded revision group with the four Heads of Houses taking turns supervising. I was hoping we could start meeting again this week.

If they just supervise, or only provide help in their areas of training, do we still have your approval to meet?

Thank you.

[alt_umbridge]

For the moment, yes, Mr Marvolo. Of course, should there be any difficulties at all relating to it, I may have revisit that question.

I trust you have learned your lesson on several counts?

[alt_harry]

I will do my best to lead by example, Madame Umbridge.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

Madam Pomfrey's gone.

Bloody hell.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_terry]

No!

Private Message to Dolores Umbridge and Josiah Peakes

[alt_lucius]

Perhaps I missed some important parchment crossing my desk, Dolores, but when did the Board of Governors approve this 'staffing change'?

Re: Private Message to Dolores Umbridge and Josiah Peakes

[alt_umbridge]

It has been my understanding that removing staff from Hogwarts falls entirely under the Head's discretion - my reference is the School Charter, section XIX, part b. Do please inform me if there's some other document with priority, though I cannot imagine so.

Re: Private Message to Dolores Umbridge and Josiah Peakes

[alt_lucius]

That section refers to the removal of staff - though on that point, one must question your judgement, particularly in light of Madam Pomfrey's extraordinary attention to Antosha's continued recovery - but not to the appointment of staff, Dolores.

Leaving aside Kerr's qualifications for the moment, and the overstep you made in appointing him summarily, what possible justification have you for the change in the first place?

Re: Private Message to Dolores Umbridge and Josiah Peakes

[alt_umbridge]

Our previous matron made it a point to subvert my authority in matters relating to both staff and students, refused to provide necessary information about her appointments and treatments, and offered a great deal of disrespect to my authority. I tolerate none of these things under my roof.

As to staff needs, if they feel uncomfortable with our new Healer, I am sure St Mungo's would be glad to oblige with an appointment outside of their scheduled obligations to the school.

On the matter of Healer Kerr's appointment, it is, of course, a matter for the Board to confirm. But surely you would not wish the dear students to risk the slightest unnecessary injury in the meantime. Since, of course, you are still one short on the Board, and the last I heard from dear Josiah, no closer to agreement on that particular matter, hmm?

Re: Private Message to Dolores Umbridge and Josiah Peakes

[alt_lucius]

It's difficult to imagine anyone showing you less than the respect you deserve, truly.

Cannot disagree that there are times the Matron's adherence to her codes of confidentiality have been ... exasperating but on the whole should not expect that she would withhold information of any nature that might endanger a student by not reporting it to the proper authorities. Regarding her treatment of staff - again, while I am not unsympathetic to the obvious frustration you seem to feel at being shut out of their private affairs, surely as adults they are entitled to that basic privacy over their health that you would wish for yourself. Healers' Discretion is, after all, one of the hallmarks of effectiveness.

As to the matter of a replacement, naturally, no one should wish the school without a qualified Healer on staff. Naming him an 'interim' appointment would have been more accurate, of course. Nonetheless, it is not as simple as offering the staff the choice of Healer Kerr or St Mungo's staff - there are complications that must be considered in at least two cases of which I am aware independent of my status as a Governor. Should circumstances conspire - and I sincerely hope they do not do - you may find yourself held to account for endangering the care of one of Our Lord's valued servants.

We both know what a tragedy that would be. I pray you do not regret your choice.

Re: Private Message to Dolores Umbridge and Josiah Peakes

[alt_umbridge]

As to the matter of appropriate exchange of information, I expect each and every staff member under my supervision to inform me of matters that affect the school as a whole. How else are we to avoid the lamentable dangers of some previous years, when staff were allowed to run amuck in the school (Quirrell. Macnair. Lockhart. Need I continue?)

The more I've reviewed past events with those here at that time, the more disturbed I become about the choices Minerva made. Clearly her descent began long before the Board considered any action at all. Disgraceful.

As to your latter, I was assured by Poppy Pomfrey only on Friday that Antonin was well able to take up his duties. In fact, she said, and I quote, "I have no reason to think him anything less than entirely capable of going on with his duties."

Re: Private Message to Dolores Umbridge and Josiah Peakes

[alt_lucius]

To my knowledge, Quirrell, Macnair and Lockhart had no medical ailments to which Madam Pomfrey would have been privy, which might have made any difference in the outcomes.

And for Toshenka, never would I intimate he is incapable of the tasks Our Lord has asked of him; on the other hand, perhaps you are unaware that he recently refused St Mungo's interventions in favour of Madam Pomfrey's, making her, in effect, his personal Healer. Therefore, you see that you have created a conflict in approach to his continued recovery. Had you consulted anyone before undertaking this decision, rather than bumbling through things you do not understand, there are those who could have set you straight and avoided any potential embarrassment.